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Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, left, presents the Compass Clock of Conscience to 2016 Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia.

2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman is posed to ring the Bell and make a wish for peace.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze presents the Key to the Heart to 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi.

Media reports indicate that many universities in the United States have historically implemented legacy admissions policies, which prioritize the children of alumni or donors. On September 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that prohibits private schools from continuing this practice, affecting institutions such as Stanford University and the University of Southern California. California thus becomes the second state, after Maryland, to enact such a regulation.

Reports note that Newsom stated: “Everyone should have a fair opportunity to access higher education based on their own abilities and efforts.” Starting September 1, 2025, private institutions in California will not be allowed to consider an applicant’s relationship to alumni or donors during the admissions process. While the state government will not impose financial penalties on violators, it will publish relevant information on the state’s Department of Justice website.

The report also highlights that as of 2022, the percentage of legacy admissions at USC was the highest in California, at 14.4% of incoming students, followed by Stanford at 13.8%. Maryland had previously passed a bill banning private universities from considering privilege as a criterion for student admissions. Similar bans have also been issued for public universities in Virginia, Illinois, and Colorado.

On the 1st, Iran launched over a hundred missiles at Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the country to warn citizens to take shelter. Iran claimed to have successfully intercepted a large number of missiles, resulting in only minor casualties. Iran warned Israel against retaliation, stating that such actions would provoke a more extensive and devastating counterattack. In response, Israel threatened to retaliate against Iranian nuclear facilities.

This attack was a response to the Israeli military's airstrike last week that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the airstrikes against Israel, marking the first use of hypersonic ballistic missiles, dubbed "Fattah." Between 150 to 200 missiles were launched. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and central Israel at 11 a.m. that morning, and the air defense system intercepted most of the missiles fired by Iran. However, some missiles still landed in central and southern Israel, and another wave of missile attacks occurred around 7:20 p.m., resulting in only a few light injuries. On that day, the airspace over Israel, Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan was temporarily closed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Iran would pay a price and indicated that Israel might target Iranian oil and gas facilities, as well as nuclear sites, in retaliation. The following day, Israel reinforced its regular infantry and armored units in southern Lebanon to maintain pressure on Hezbollah. While the U.S. supported Israel's counteractions, it did not endorse strikes on nuclear facilities. The UK, France, Germany, and the European Union also condemned Iran's airstrike, while Iran warned that any Israeli retaliation would face "more comprehensive destruction."

The southeastern United States has recently been hit by the powerful Hurricane Helen, causing severe devastation. As of now, 128 confirmed deaths have been reported, with hundreds still missing. Local governments and rescue teams are working tirelessly to search for survivors, but the damage to infrastructure caused by the storm is significantly hindering their efforts.

Since entering the Atlantic, Hurricane Helen has gradually intensified and made landfall in Florida a few days ago as a Category 4 hurricane. Strong winds and heavy rains have led to widespread flooding, building collapses, and road closures. Power and communication systems have also been damaged, forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.

According to Florida's governor, the hardest-hit areas include major cities such as Miami, Tampa, and Orlando, where flood levels continue to rise in many regions, with some towns submerged over half. Thousands of rescue personnel from fire departments, the National Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been deployed to the disaster areas, but rescue efforts are severely impacted due to many roads being washed away.

With power outages and communication breakdowns, many trapped individuals are unable to contact the outside world, and the number of missing persons is expected to rise further. Local residents are facing a crisis of food, water, and medicine shortages, with many shelters overcrowded and emergency supplies insufficient. Rescue agencies are calling on the international community to lend a hand and provide necessary resources.

Reports indicate that hundreds of roads remain closed, obstructing the delivery of urgently needed supplies. The White House has stated that as long as it does not interfere with emergency response efforts, President Biden plans to visit some affected communities later this week. Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have expressed their condolences to those impacted by the hurricane.

Despite transportation authorities working around the clock to clear damaged roads and airlift supplies, the North Carolina Attorney General has pointed out that recovery could take years and will require billions of dollars to return to normal, a situation that feels hopeless. The Pentagon has announced that thousands of National Guard members have been deployed to the East Coast to assist in recovery efforts after the hurricane.

In the face of one of the most severe hurricane disasters in decades, the President has declared a state of emergency in Florida and promised that the federal government will fully assist local authorities in rebuilding and recovery efforts. He emphasized that climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events, and similar disasters may become more frequent in the future. He urged state governments to enhance disaster preparedness infrastructure to ensure residents' safety.

After wreaking havoc in Florida, Hurricane Helen continues to move north, impacting Georgia, South Carolina, and other areas, with expectations of further effects on the northeastern United States in the coming days. Authorities are warning local residents to remain vigilant and evacuate to safe areas as soon as possible.

Austria held its parliamentary elections on the 29th, and according to predictions by Foresight, a polling agency commissioned by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), led by its 55-year-old leader Herbert Kickl, won 28.8% of the vote, ahead of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) with 26.3% and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) with 21.1%. This marks the first time since World War II that the Freedom Party has become the largest party in parliament, highlighting voter concerns over immigration and inflation, which have fueled the rising support for far-right movements across Europe. However, it remains uncertain whether the Freedom Party will be able to form a government.

Following the election, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl stated, "We have made Austrian history because this is the first time the Freedom Party has come out on top in a parliamentary election, illustrating the significant change in the political landscape." Founded by former Nazis in the 1950s, the Freedom Party has a history spanning around 70 years. The party has worked to soften its image and broaden its appeal, but Kickl remains extreme in his views, opposing immigration, questioning COVID-19 prevention measures, being skeptical of the EU, and maintaining close ties with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. No political party is willing to form a coalition government with the Freedom Party, which presents a major challenge for Kickl whether he aims to enter the cabinet or become chancellor.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, leader of the People's Party, expressed regret over being surpassed by a far-right party and emphasized that he would not form a coalition government with the Freedom Party. Nehammer said, "Kickl believes in conspiracy theories, accusing the WHO of being the next world government and the World Economic Forum in Davos as a meeting preparing to rule the world. It is impossible to govern the country wisely and responsibly alongside him, and I have always stood by this position." Experts suggest that the People's Party is unlikely to accept being part of a minority and may prefer to form a coalition government with the Social Democrats and NEOS (The New Austria and Liberal Forum), which could result in Austria's first-ever three-party coalition government.

The "Harlem Love & Peace Save The Children Gala," organized by the World Conference of Mayors (WCM) and other groups, was held in Harlem, New York on September 22, 2024.

North Korea Denies Allegations of Illegally Supplying Russia with Weapons, Criticizes U.S. for $8 Billion Military Aid to Ukraine as a "Unbelievable Mistake"

Amid external accusations that North Korea is illegally providing arms to Russia, North Korea responded on the 29th, claiming that the U.S.'s military aid to Ukraine, worth $8 billion (about NT$253 billion), is "an unbelievable mistake" and likened it to "playing with fire" with Russia, a nuclear superpower.

According to a Reuters report, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden announced new military aid to Kyiv, which includes long-range weapons, enhancing Ukraine's ability to strike Russia from a safer distance.

Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, stated that the U.S. is escalating the conflict in Ukraine and pushing Europe towards the brink of nuclear war. In a statement through the state-run Korean Central News Agency, she emphasized that the serious warnings issued by Russia should not be ignored or underestimated by the U.S. and the West, questioning whether they are truly capable of bearing the consequences of "recklessly playing with fire" with a nuclear superpower like Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously warned that if Russia is attacked by missiles, it might resort to nuclear weapons, and he views any attack on Russia by non-nuclear states, with the support of nuclear states, as a collective assault. Kim Yo-jong further criticized the continued military support for Zelenskyy as a dangerous and irresponsible gamble, labeling the announcement of the $8 billion in military aid as "an unbelievable mistake and foolish act." Kim Yo-jong frequently speaks on political and security issues, representing Pyongyang's stance, and is believed to be authorized by Kim Jong-un.

Over the past year, relations between North Korea and Russia have significantly strengthened, with the two nations' leaders meeting twice and reaching several agreements, including a "comprehensive strategic partnership" that includes mutual defense commitments.

The U.S. has claimed that since September last year, North Korea has shipped at least 16,500 weapons containers to Russia, which Russia has reportedly started using to launch missiles against Ukraine. However, both North Korea and Russia deny any involvement in illegal arms trade.

According to a report by Reuters, Hezbollah confirmed on the 28th that its leader, Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. In a statement, Hezbollah vowed to continue fighting against Israel in support of Gaza and Palestine, while defending Lebanon and its steadfast, honorable people. Following the official announcement of Nasrallah's death, Hezbollah’s television channel began broadcasting verses from the Quran.

Israel launched airstrikes on Lebanon on the 27th, later claiming that Hezbollah leader Nasrallah was killed in the attack. Nasrallah's death is seen as a major blow to Iran, which backs Hezbollah. In addition to Nasrallah, reports on social media indicated that several commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were also killed in the airstrike, including Brigadier General Nifrousan, who had served as the deputy commander of Iran's foreign operations and as the acting commander in operations in Syria and Lebanon. After the airstrike, Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei was reportedly moved to a secure location. Several Hezbollah leaders were also killed, with CNN reporting that Hezbollah's command structure was nearly dismantled, marking a significant blow to the organization.

Recently, Israel has shifted its military focus to northern Lebanon. Not long ago, Israel severely disrupted Hezbollah's internal communication network by simultaneously detonating thousands of BB Call devices. This was followed by airstrikes that killed several key Hezbollah leaders, causing shock in Iran, which supports the group. Although Hezbollah has suffered severe short-term damage, external observers believe its leadership can be replaced and the organization still retains considerable military strength.

Additionally, U.S. military sources suggest Israel may launch a limited invasion of southern Lebanon to further attack Hezbollah forces. Israel stated that the goal is to put an end to Hezbollah's attacks on Israel's northern territories, allowing tens of thousands of Israelis to return to their homes.