Iran's ‘12-Day War' leaves plenty of unfinished business
Whether the announced truce holds or not, the fallout will linger, not least the uncertain future of Iran's leadership and national priorities.
Israeli emergency services and security officers search for casualties in the rubble of a building hit by an Iranian missile in Beersheba in southern Israel on June 24.
Regardless of whether
the ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds, most of the world appears to have decided that the war between the Middle East's top military powers is over.
None other than the US President, whose country also briefly entered the war, is now praising all the protagonists in equal measure as though the US were just an impartial observer of the proceedings. 'God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East,' Mr Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, his favourite social media platform.
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Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox – The last thing a country's leader is expected to do is to publicly slag off the proud traditions of their nation. But Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has caused a stir by seeming to have done just that on July 2, when he described the Japanese language and customs as 'very tedious'. The remark was made in the context of helping foreigners better assimilate into society and recognising the need to ease immigration policies to plug Japan's growing labour shortfall, given its falling birthrates and an ageing population . 'We want foreigners to properly learn the 'very tedious' Japanese language and customs – even at the expense of the Japanese government – and only allow in those who follow Japan's laws,' he said, stressing that there is a place for foreigners who respect Japan's traditions. 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Sanseito is fielding 55 candidates and aims to secure a total of six seats in the Upper House. While this election will not unseat the incumbent government, the risk is that the seeds of anti-globalisation are being planted, to be sown in future elections. That is something Mr Ishiba can combat by better conveying how Japan should be a vanguard for globalisation and an accepting place for all, and demonstrate to its voters how that would be a far better option than isolationism. Japan had gone down that route during the feudal era, which stunted its technological, economic and social progress.
