Nine Palestinians have been killed and at least 14 others were injured by the Israel Defence Forces during an hours-long daytime raid on Jenin city and its refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

In the latest escalation in violence on the West Bank, occurring against the background of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, the IDF said an aircraft hit an armed squad of men in the flashpoint city.

Local sources named one of the dead as Ayham al-Amer, an officer in the Palestinian security services.

Myanmar at risk of breaking apart, junta-backed leader says

Ethnic armed groups claim to have taken control of military outposts and blocked trade routes to China. Beijing’s Foreign Ministry has warned its citizens to avoid the north of Myanmar.

Myanmar is at risk of breaking apart if the junta fails at putting down armed groups, the country’s acting president Myint Swe said.

Fighting has raged for almost two weeks across the northeastern Shan state, near Myanmar’s border with China.

“If the government does not effectively manage the incidents happening in the border region, the country will be split into various parts,” Myint Swe said.

“It is necessary to carefully control this issue. As now is an important time for the State, the entire people need to support Tatmadaw (the military),” he stressed.

Spanish PM Sanchez reaches deal with Catalan separatist party to remain in power

Spain’s prime minister has clinched agreement with Catalan separatists, officials said on Thursday, in a deal that will enable him to remain in power but that has raised tensions and sparked protests in the country.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez‘s Socialists finished second in the July 23 parliamentary elections and he has until November 27 to cobble together a working coalition, or face fresh elections.

Sanchez needs the support of Catalan independence parties, and has accepted their demands to offer amnesty to all those being pursued for their role in a failed secession attempt in 2017.

He has proposed a highly controversial bill that would grant amnesty.

In response, conservative opposition parties and members of Spain‘s judiciary have stepped up criticism, with some accusing Sanchez of corruption and abandoning the rule of law.

Classroom avatar creating constructive conflict at small Japanese schools

By Kai Nishino

What would happen if a student avatar joined a classroom one day and tried to break the mold of everyday discussions or deliberately opposed the consensus reached and pushed by the classroom leader?

That is what is happening at some small schools in Japan where an avatar app is creating constructive conflict by playing the role of devil’s advocate in discussions to deliver improved learning outcomes by challenging the status quo.

The “Virtual Transfer Student” app created in a collaborative effort among academics “can change the atmosphere of classrooms, where it is difficult to express diverse opinions and stimulate discussion,” said Keita Kobayashi, an assistant professor of educational technology at the University of Fukui, the main developer of the software.

Luis Díaz’s father released by Colombian guerilla group

The father of Liverpool soccer star Luis Díaz, who was kidnapped by a Colombian guerrilla group last month, was released on Thursday and handed over to representatives of the Catholic Church in Valledupar, Colombia, according to Colombia’s Episcopal Conference.

“We thank God for the release of Mr. Luis Díaz!” the conference posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“With him already are Mons. Francisco Ceballos, bishop of Riohacha, and Mons. Héctor Henao, delegate for Church-State relations, who formed the humanitarian commission in charge of facilitating his release.”