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Dutch Ambassador to the five Central Asian countries, Nicolaas Jacob Schermers, becomes the first to ring the Peace Bell in Kazakhstan, and the 555th bell-ringer.

A cold front accompanied by severe winds and rain has struck Tasmania, Australia, causing power outages for 30,000 households. Authorities have issued flood warnings, with homes and roads at risk of being submerged.

Tasmania, an island state approximately 445 kilometers from Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, is accessible by a one-hour flight or a 10-hour ferry ride. The island has a population of around 570,000, with about 40% of the land designated as wilderness or protected areas.

According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the cold front is gradually moving away from Tasmania, but subsequent thunderstorms still pose a risk of destructive winds. Tasnetworks, the state's power company, confirmed on Facebook that about 30,000 households were without power on September 1.

Meteorologists have warned that another strong cold front will cross Tasmania from the evening of September 1 to the morning of September 2, potentially affecting the western and northern coasts. Emergency services have also issued flood warnings, which could leave Tasmania isolated for several days.

Mick Lowe, Director of the Tasmania State Emergency Service, stated in a release that homes may be submerged and roads impassable. He further noted that 330 requests for assistance had been received within 24 hours of the incident.

On the 30th, Ukrainian officials announced that starting January 1, 2025, they will halt the transit of Russian oil and gas through Ukraine once the current agreement expires.

In an interview, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, revealed that the transit contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz is set to end in late 2024. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decided not to extend the agreement, meaning that the Druzhba Pipeline, which runs through Ukraine, will cease operations.

The Druzhba Pipeline, also known as the Friendship Pipeline, is the longest oil pipeline in the world and serves as a major route for transporting Russian crude oil to Central and Eastern Europe. According to the BBC, currently, a quarter of the EU's natural gas consumption comes from Russia, with approximately 80% of this gas being transported via the Druzhba Pipeline before reaching EU countries. Ukraine and Russia signed a five-year agreement at the end of 2019 to transport gas through Ukraine to Europe. Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, gas and oil continued to flow through this pipeline until the agreement's expiration at the end of 2024.

Foreign media analysis suggests that Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary will be most affected by the pipeline's closure, while other EU countries will experience less impact. Hungary, in particular, heavily relies on this pipeline. Due to Hungary and Slovakia's passive stance on aiding Ukraine, the EU has faced delays in providing over a billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, largely due to Hungary's opposition. Additionally, Slovakia and Hungary have opposed Ukraine's use of Western weapons to attack Russian territory. Some media speculate that Ukraine's recent offensive in the Kursk region and its capture of the Sudzha transit point—located within Russia and the last gas relay station in the Druzhba Pipeline—along with threats to shut down the pipeline, aim to enhance Ukraine's leverage in negotiations with the EU to secure more military assistance.

The conflict in Gaza has continued for 11 months, leading to worsening environmental and sanitary conditions. In mid-August, a 10-month-old baby boy was diagnosed with polio, marking the first polio case in Gaza in 25 years. The World Health Organization warned that if the outbreak is not controlled, it could spread globally, prompting pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire to allow vaccination for 620,000 children under the age of 10 in Gaza.

On Thursday, Israel announced that it would halt military operations in specific areas over the weekend and allow international medical teams to enter and provide vaccines. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that this is a limited agreement and not the first step towards a full ceasefire, as military actions will continue.

According to the agreement, the ceasefire will be implemented in three phases, each lasting three days, with possible extensions to four days if necessary. It will start in central Gaza, followed by the south, and finally the north. The ceasefire will only be in effect during the day, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., to allow vaccine-carrying convoys, which are already stationed at the Egypt-Gaza border, to enter.

World Health Organization (WHO) officials noted that polio vaccines require two doses, so each phase will involve two rounds of vaccination. WHO has identified the Type 2 poliovirus strain in Gaza, where public infrastructure has been severely damaged by the conflict and sanitary conditions have deteriorated significantly, making vaccination an urgent priority.

On the 28th, leaders of Pacific island nations at the Pacific Islands Forum summit held in Tonga unanimously agreed to join the Australian-funded Pacific Policing Initiative. This initiative will organize a multinational police force to maintain security in the Pacific island region.

The Pacific Policing Initiative, funded by Australia with an investment of 400 million AUD, was agreed upon at the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Tonga on the 28th. According to the initiative, four police training centers will be established in the Pacific island nations, a multinational police force comprising over 200 officers will be formed, and an independent coordination center will be set up in Brisbane, Australia. This will assist Pacific island nations in combating drug smuggling, illegal fishing, and economic crimes across millions of square kilometers of ocean.

However, this initiative has faced skepticism from Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, which are friendly with China. Representatives from these countries expressed concern that the multinational police force might marginalize China and reduce its space for signing policing and security agreements in the Pacific island region. China has deployed a small number of police officers to the Solomon Islands and has sent rotating police units to train local personnel in shooting and riot control tactics.

Despite the concerns from Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, Tonga’s Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni stated that the 18 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum are free to decide whether to participate in the initiative. Currently, besides Tonga, leaders from Fiji, Palau, and Papua New Guinea have expressed their support for the initiative.

Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in Pasadena is excited to host a special event celebrating the International Month of Love and Peace (September), the Moon Festival, and the first anniversary of its Pasadena academy.

To protect employees' rights after working hours, Australia passed the "Right-to-Disconnect" bill earlier this year, which came into effect on August 26. The law legally allows employees to refuse company contact outside of work hours, except in cases of company emergencies. Disputes between employers and employees will be resolved by an arbitration body.

The "Right-to-Disconnect" bill, passed by the Australian Senate in February and effective from the 26th, applies to companies with more than 15 employees, while companies with fewer than 15 employees have a 12-month grace period. According to the bill, employees can refuse to respond to company emails and phone calls outside of work hours, and companies cannot penalize or dismiss employees for exercising this right. The maximum penalty for companies violating the law is AUD 94,000 (approximately TWD 2.06 million).

However, there are exceptions: companies can still contact employees for emergency situations or if the employees have irregular working hours. Employees must provide a valid reason to refuse contact, and any disputes will be adjudicated by the Fair Work Commission. Additionally, the bill allows for flexibility in pre-agreed agreements between employers and employees.

Australian unions have welcomed the new law, while employers have criticized it as being hastily implemented and vague, with too many gray areas. This has sparked controversy and concerns about its impact on productivity, with some employees worried about not benefiting significantly from the new regulations. Similar laws have already been implemented in over 20 countries worldwide, mostly in Europe and Latin America, aiming to help employees achieve a better work-life balance.

Japan has recently experienced a deadly outbreak of "flesh-eating bacteria," a rare pathogen that has rapidly spread across the country, leading to thousands of infections and at least 250 deaths. The outbreak has drawn significant national attention, and both the government and medical institutions are urgently responding to try to curb further spread of the disease.

The outbreak of "flesh-eating bacteria" in Japan is escalating, with 1,333 cases reported this year and at least 250 deaths. Most of the patients are concentrated in urban areas, with 184 cases in Tokyo alone. The government is urging people with similar symptoms to seek medical attention as soon as possible. According to the latest statistics from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, more than 1,000 people nationwide have been infected with this pathogen, scientifically known as "Necrotizing Fasciitis" caused by group A Streptococcus. This bacteria primarily infects soft tissues and destroys skin, muscles, and other soft tissues at an extremely rapid pace. Without timely treatment, the condition often worsens quickly and can become life-threatening.

This year, over 60% of infections have been caused by the "rapidly progressive group A Streptococcus," which is higher than the 30-50% reported in previous years. As of June 16, among the 656 patients infected with this strain, 288 acquired it through wounds, while 59 were infected through droplets. The outbreak initially focused on Tokyo and its surrounding areas but has gradually spread to other regions. Medical experts note that the speed of transmission is unprecedented, with many of the infected being elderly or chronic disease patients with weakened immune systems. Due to the high lethality of this bacteria, many patients develop severe symptoms within a few days of onset and ultimately die.

The Japanese government has activated emergency response measures and is urging the public to remain vigilant, practice good hygiene, and avoid crowded public places. At the same time, medical institutions are enhancing monitoring and prevention efforts and accelerating the development of targeted treatments. However, since the transmission routes of the bacteria are not yet fully clear, controlling the outbreak remains a significant challenge.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare emphasizes that individuals who experience symptoms such as skin redness, pain, or unexplained fever should seek medical attention immediately to avoid missing the optimal treatment window. The government and medical institutions will continue to closely monitor the situation and implement stricter control measures as necessary.

South Korea and the United States have commenced their annual amphibious landing joint military exercise, "Ssang Yong 24," from August 26 to September 7 in the eastern waters of South Korea. This exercise marks the first time that the combined command and control system established by the U.S. and South Korean Marine Corps will lead the training operations. Additionally, South Korea's newly established "Drone Operations Command," founded in September last year, will deploy drones for the first time in this exercise to enhance joint defense operational capabilities.

The South Korean Navy stated that the Ssang Yong exercise, conducted along the east coast and in the Pohang area of North Gyeongsang Province, is designed to counter potential threats of a North Korean invasion. The exercise involves more than 40 ships, including South Korea’s amphibious assault ships, "Dokdo" (LPH-6111) and "Marado" (LPH-6112), and the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship "Boxer" (LHD 5). The exercise also includes over 40 aircraft, such as U.S. F-35B fighter jets, South Korean MUH-1 helicopters, and C-130 transport planes, along with the latest Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV) and over 40 South Korean KAAV amphibious assault vehicles, all participating in the amphibious landing operations.

This exercise will also see the first participation of South Korea’s Drone Operations Command, a joint combat unit formed by the South Korean Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The unit will play a reconnaissance role in the Ssang Yong exercise. Additionally, the British Royal Marines are participating for the second consecutive year. This year's exercise, the largest since 2018, involves a series of mission planning, logistics coordination, and projection operations simulating division-level amphibious landing operations to enhance interoperability between the two militaries and maintain regional peace and stability.

The situation in the Middle East is escalating, with Iran threatening retaliation against Israel as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to expand. On the 25th, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General C.Q. Brown began an unannounced visit to the Middle East, aiming to de-escalate tensions and prevent a full-scale conflict.

According to a Reuters report, Brown quietly visited Jordan as the first stop of his Middle East tour on the 25th. He stated that he would also visit Egypt and Israel to gather military perspectives from their leaders. Meanwhile, the U.S. is attempting to broker a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza. Brown noted that if successful, it could help to cool down the situation in the region.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas Gaza war, now in its 11th month, has left Gaza in ruins. Israel has been repeatedly clashing with the Hezbollah group, backed by Iran, at the border. Additionally, in late October of last year, the Houthi movement from Yemen began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea. Pro-Iranian militia groups have also continued their attacks on U.S. forces stationed in Syria, Iraq, and Jordan.

Concerned that Iran might rally its allies to launch new significant attacks, the U.S. military has been actively bolstering its presence in the Middle East in recent weeks. This includes deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, sending a squadron of F-22 Raptor fighter jets to the region, and deploying a cruise missile submarine.
Brown emphasized that the additional U.S. military presence is intended to send a strong message to deter a full-scale conflict and to ensure protection if U.S. forces come under attack, stressing that the safety of U.S. troops is the "number one" priority.