Our daily journey around the world

🇮🇹 A deceased Italian teen is one step closer to becoming the first Catholic millennial saint. Carlo Acutis, aka “God’s Influencer,” is known for launching a website seeking to document miracles before he passed away from leukemia in 2006 at age 15. Last week, Acutis was recognized by Pope Francis for the second of two miracles necessary for sainthood, both of which involve sick people becoming healed after praying for Acutis’ help. The decision kicks off a process that could see Acutis canonized by late 2025.

🇨🇳 China is investing a record $47.5 billion in its domestic semiconductor industry. It marks the third major investment in a Chinese government fund, established a decade ago, which aims to boost the country’s domestic chip manufacturing, design, equipment, and materials. China currently ranks fifth in global chip production with a ~15% market share – though it’s projected to add more production capacity this year than the rest of the world combined.

💥 Israel-Hamas war: Palestinian officials say an Israeli airstrike on a camp near the Gazan city of Rafah late Sunday killed at least 45 people (mostly civilians) after a fire broke out. Israel’s military initially said it killed two senior militants in a precise airstrike on a Hamas compound – but after reports of the casualties emerged, PM Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as a “tragic mistake” and said Israel is investigating the reported civilian deaths.