In May 1956, the hospital near the factory reported an “unknown illness” that was later found to be caused by mercury discharges from the Chisso Corporation. Decades later, the wound remains open in this Japanese city. PIME missionary Fr. Ferruccio Brambillasca, now the community’s parish priest, describes a society still marked by stigma and social divisions, while the memory of the tragedy risks being erased even from school textbooks.
At the CAU Arch Summit 2026, architects, urban planners, and designers discussed the future of the urban environment, the role of technology, and the region’s cultural heritage. Star architect Bjarke Ingels: “This region preserves a centuries-old conception of space: the challenge for the new generation is not whether to modernize, but how to develop this heritage without destroying it.”
The religious parties want to move up the vote to 15 September before Yom Kippur (and distance themselves from Netanyahu). The Bennett-Lapid alliance is failing in the polls, giving former General Eisenkot a chance to emerge as the top opposition leader. But no one seems to have the numbers to form a majority without the support Arab parties that Jewish parties reportedly want to keep at bay.
After more than eight years in prison and house arrest, one of the main opponents of the Cambodian government has received a royal pardon signed by former Prime Minister Hun Sen. Still, Sokha is still banned from political activity while the crackdown on dissidents, independent media, and the opposition continues. Analysts believe the government is trying primarily to improve its international image.
A local study confirms the pervasive use of artificial intelligence, even among the youngest children. Researchers call on the government and families to pay more attention to the new technologies. In his encyclical, the pope urges education to also teach “when and for what purpose it ought not to be used it,” so as not to extinguish “the desire to ask questions”.
A priest living in the People's Republic of China writes a letter on the "administrative regulations" that prevent people under 18 from participating in religious activities. China’s constitution protects religious freedom, with no reference to their age. Instead, children today can enter a shopping mall unaccompanied but not a church. Meanwhile, teenage depression, bullying, and a lack of values are hot societal topics.
