Israeli PM Netanyahu and Syrian President al-Sharaa, backed by U.S, agreed to a ceasefire welcomed by Türkiye, Jordan, and neighbors.

All Druze, Bedouins, Sunnis, and minorities are urged to lay down arms and help build a peaceful, united Syria.

• 39% say they’d be pacifists
• 19% would dodge the draft
• 26% want Italy to hire foreign mercenaries instead.

Source: CENSIS survey

— Says victims died defending their dignity and humanity.

— Rejects division and calls for peace, dialogue, and an end to violence.

— Appeals for wisdom: “Weapons and chaos are not the answer.”

Japanese officials have told companies operating in Taiwan they shouldn't expect help evacuating staff if China attacks, citing constitutional limits and lack of diplomatic ties with Taipei. The stark message has cooled Japanese investment in Taiwan, long one of its top foreign direct investment (FDI) sources.

“There's no government in Taiwan from our viewpoint,” said one official, referencing Japan’s recognition of Beijing. Without host-government approval, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces can't legally operate overseas — and Beijing wouldn't grant it.

The warning, quietly relayed over the past three years, has already had an impact: Japanese FDI in Taiwan fell 27% last year to $452 million, down from $1.7 billion in 2022. In contrast, U.S. and U.K. investment soared in 2024.

Nearly 3,000 Japanese companies operate in Taiwan, especially in semiconductors and retail. Some have begun conducting private evacuation drills, with no official government role. “This scenario doesn’t have any military support,” one executive said.

Despite public reassurances, the private message is clear: companies must handle a Taiwan crisis themselves.

Source: FT