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Dr. Hong presents several distinguished guests with the "Compass Clocks of Conscience,” reminding people to follow their conscience, seize the moment, and practice goodwill and good deeds in their lives.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) and the Zhang-men-ren (leader) of Tai Ji Men, rings the Bell of World Peace and Love. He rang the bell nine times to pray for lasting global peace.

The 2024 World Leader Summit of Love and Peace themed “Fostering Peace: Conscience, Love, and Hope in Action,” takes place in New York on September 23.

Following its attacks on Gaza, Israel launched strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. On the 26th, 12 countries led by the U.S. and France issued an urgent joint statement calling for a 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border, but this was rejected by Israel. Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and Foreign Minister Israel Katz denied agreeing to a ceasefire. On the same day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out 220 airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, rocket launchers, and weapon caches, resulting in at least 92 deaths and over 150 injuries. Hezbollah confirmed that its drone unit commander, Mohammad Surur, was also killed in an Israeli airstrike in the suburbs of Beirut.

In response to the U.S. and French ceasefire proposal, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated on the 26th upon his arrival in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, "We will continue to fight Hezbollah with full force until all objectives are achieved." This stance received unanimous support from various factions within Israel. Foreign Minister Katz reiterated, "There will be no ceasefire in the north." Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that ongoing operations against Hezbollah had been approved. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi emphasized at the Israel-Lebanon border that the IDF is preparing for a ground offensive and that airstrikes are being conducted throughout the day to weaken Hezbollah's capabilities while preparing for a possible ground attack.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the current military operations are supported by $8.7 billion in U.S. aid, making it difficult for the U.S. to persuade Israel to cease hostilities. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that since the IDF began large-scale airstrikes on the 23rd, nearly 700 people have died, with animosity between the two countries continuing to escalate.

On the 24th, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Visa, accusing the company of using its market position in financial debit cards to force merchants and banks to use its payment network, thereby restricting competition and increasing costs for both merchants and consumers, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, "Through the transactions restricted by Visa’s financial debit cards, the company has generated over $7 billion in network usage fees." This amount far exceeds what could be charged in a competitive market, resulting in higher prices for all goods involved in these transactions.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki also emphasized that "Visa has achieved its monopoly and profits through exclusionary practices and punitive measures, rather than through innovation or normal competition."

Visa is currently the largest payment network operator in the world, handling over 60% of credit transactions in the U.S. The company stated that these allegations are unfounded and that it will directly confront the Department of Justice’s lawsuit in defense.

Two senior Iranian security officials revealed to Reuters that following last week's deadly chain explosion, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has ordered all members to stop using any form of communication devices. This directive came after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon were found.

According to one of the security officials, the IRGC is conducting a large-scale equipment inspection, which is not limited to communication devices. Most of this equipment is either locally made or imported from China and Russia. Additionally, Iran is concerned about potential infiltration by Israeli agents and is now focusing on mid- and high-level IRGC members, carrying out thorough personal investigations, including reviewing members' and their families' bank accounts and travel histories both within Iran and abroad.

As for how the 190,000-member IRGC communicates, officials did not reveal many details but mentioned that "we are currently using end-to-end encryption technology for communication systems." Furthermore, the IRGC has contacted its ally Hezbollah to conduct a technical evaluation, and the remnants of the explosive devices have been sent to Tehran for examination by Iranian experts.

As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon intensifies, the U.S. State Department on the 21st urged American citizens in Lebanon to leave while commercial flights are still available. The State Department reiterated that U.S. citizens should "depart immediately" from southern Lebanon, areas near the Syrian border, and near refugee settlements.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the State Department stated in its latest advisory: "Given the unpredictability of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, and the recent explosions across Lebanon, including in Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial options remain available. Commercial flights are still operating, but with reduced capacity. If the security situation worsens, commercial departure options may no longer be available."

In late July, after an Israeli strike in southern Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander, the U.S. raised its travel advisory for Lebanon to the highest "Do Not Travel" level.

On the 20th, Israel launched a heavy offensive on southern Lebanon, with airstrikes on Beirut, including parts of Nabatiyeh and the more northern area of Jezzine, claiming to have killed key leaders and other commanders of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.

Hezbollah responded by firing rockets at at least seven military positions in northern Israel and the annexed Golan Heights, raising concerns of an "all-out war." Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that 37 people were killed in the attack. Earlier this week, explosives planted in pagers and two-way radios used by Hezbollah detonated, killing dozens and injuring thousands.

Dr. Hong presents several distinguished guests with the "Compass Clocks of Conscience,” reminding people to follow their conscience, seize the moment, and practice goodwill and good deeds in their lives.

Constellation Energy, a U.S. energy company, has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft, planning to restart Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant by 2028 to supply electricity for Microsoft’s AI data centers. This initiative focuses on restarting the Unit 1 reactor, which is expected to provide 835 megawatts of power, sufficient to supply electricity to 700,000 homes.

This move highlights the growing demand for reliable and low-carbon energy among tech companies, particularly with the rapid expansion of AI and cloud computing, which significantly increases power needs. Nuclear energy, known for its stable power output and low carbon emissions, has become an attractive option for companies like Microsoft.

According to reports by Agence France-Presse (AFP), the agreement between Constellation Energy and Microsoft aims to restart Unit 1, which was unaffected by the 1979 meltdown. Constellation Energy noted in a statement that Unit 1 had "operated for decades with industry-leading safety and reliability until it was shut down five years ago due to economic reasons." However, this plan still requires approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the plant’s operation is expected to extend until 2054. Three Mile Island’s Unit 1 was shut down in 2019​.

On the 20th, the Israeli Air Force launched an airstrike against targets in Lebanon, killing Hezbollah's top commander, Ahmad Ali. He was considered one of the core leaders of the organization, significantly influencing Hezbollah's strategic planning and armed activities.

According to Israeli military sources, the airstrike targeted Hezbollah's command center in southern Lebanon, aiming to weaken the organization’s military capabilities. Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion was deafening, causing severe damage to surrounding buildings and prompting local residents to flee in panic. The airstrike resulted in at least 8 deaths and 59 injuries in the area.

Hezbollah subsequently condemned the airstrike and vowed to retaliate against Israel. A spokesperson for the organization stated that Ahmad Ali's death would be viewed as a "historic failure" for Israel and called on supporters to remain vigilant.

This incident has heightened tensions between Israel and Lebanon, drawing concern from the international community. The United Nations urged both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.

Analysts noted that Ahmad Ali's death could have some impact on Hezbollah's internal structure, but the organization’s influence in Lebanon and the surrounding region remains formidable. The future development of the situation warrants continued attention.