World

Bogota, March 16 (IANS) Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo has added uncapped defender Juan Cabal to his squad for friendlies against Spain and Romania, the South American country's football federation said on Friday.

The 23-year-old replaces center-back Yerry Mina, who suffered an unspecified injury while playing for Cagliari in a 4-2 home win over Salernitana in Italy's Serie A last Saturday (March 9), reported Xinhua.

"Yerry Mina will not be able to join the squad for the matches against Spain and Romania due to physical discomfort that prevents him from being in peak condition," the federation said in a statement.

Cabal has impressed at left-back for Italian Serie A side Hellas Verona this season and is also capable of playing in the center of defense.

Colombia will meet Spain in London on March 22 and Romania in Madrid four days later.

The South American team is unbeaten in 16 matches since Lorenzo took charge in June 2022.

--IANS

Tel Aviv, March 16 (IANS) A six-week ceasefire is on the cards in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel after both sides communicated to the mediators on stepping down from their earlier demands.

While Hamas has agreed to climb down from the demand for a permanent end of the war to a pause for six weeks, Israel has almost agreed to release 1000 Palestinian prisoners including 100 charged with grievous crimes including murder.

There were a series of meetings in Doha, Cairo, and Paris in the last two days with different negotiators brokering a truce between Israel and Hamas

Sources in Israeli intelligence agencies told IANS that Qatar has communicated to the Hamas leadership that it would "not hesitate to deport them from Qatar if they do not come down from unreasonable demands".

According to sources, the strong position taken by Qatar and Egypt to prevent any Gazan refugees on its soil if Israel invades Rafah has acted as a trigger for Hamas to rework its earlier demands of a permanent ceasefire.

As per the available information, Hamas would release all Israeli prisoners including soldiers in exchange for 1000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli intelligence agencies have communicated to the government that of the 134 remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, 32 have died.

Hamas, according to sources in the Israeli Prime Minister's office, would release the remaining 102 hostages and send the bodies of 32 hostages in exchange for 1000 Palestinian prisoners. However, it is unclear whether all the hostages would be released in a single go or multiple slots.

--IANS

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Rome, March 16 (IANS) Industry ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) have said that artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial for achieving sustainable development, but needs to be implemented in a balanced and safe way.

After a two-day meeting in the Italian cities of Verona and Trento, the G7 on Friday committed to achieving an appropriate balance between fostering innovation and the need for appropriate guardrails in promoting a safe, secure and trustworthy AI, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We recognize that AI and other emerging technologies, if shaped to be safe... can be pivotal for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," representatives to the meeting said in a final declaration.

These tools can have a positive impact on many sectors, and a "vast potential" to boost productivity, efficiency, business opportunities, and scientific discoveries, they said.

Meanwhile, the group also warned that digital technologies, including AI, are posing many complex challenges, including those concerning the respect of privacy, personal data protection, security and safety of intellectual property.

They also noted that online platforms, along with AI-enabled products, could be used to facilitate hate speech and disinformation, and other forms of manipulation, potentially fuelling social divides.

"These challenges and risks reinforce the need to integrate ethical considerations in relation to the development and use of such technologies," they said.

The G7 Ministerial Meeting on Industry, Technology and Digital was chaired by Italian Under Secretary of State for Technological Innovation Alessio Butti, as Italy is holding the G7 presidency this year.

The group comprises Canada, the US, France, Germany, Italy, the UK and Japan, plus representatives of the European Union.

--IANS

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Tokyo, March 7 (IANS) Japanese workers' real wages in January shrank for the 22nd straight month, as salary gains continued to fall short of outpacing inflation, government data showed on Thursday.

Inflation-adjusted real wages were down 0.6 per cent from a year earlier, following a revised 2.1 per cent fall in December, logging their smallest decline in 13 months on weakening price pressures, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Nominal wages, the average total monthly cash earnings per worker including base and overtime pay, grew 2.0 per cent year-on-year in January to 282,270 yen ($1,900), up for the 25th consecutive month, the data showed, Xinhua news agency reported.

Average base pay and other scheduled wages went up 1.3 per cent to 269,359 yen, while overtime pay and other nonscheduled wages edged up by 0.4 per cent to 18,604 yen.

The country's wages are seen as a major indicator whether a cycle of pay increases above inflation is likely to be established, factors the central bank considers in phasing out its massive stimulus programme.

The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, said it aims to negotiate pay hikes of 5 per cent or higher, Kyodo news reported.

Though some major companies have announced big increases, with automaker Honda Motor Co. agreeing to a 5.6 per cent annual pay hike, it remains to be seen whether medium-sized and small businesses, which employ around 70 per cent of the country's workforce, will increase wages.

--IANS

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Seoul, March 7 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for intensifying "practical actual war drills" during a visit to a military training base, state media said on Thursday, as a joint military exercise between South Korea and the US was underway.

During the visit to the base in the country's western region on Wednesday, Kim inspected training facilities and guided the actual manoeuvres of military units, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

"He set forth the important tasks for intensifying the practical actual-war drills ensuring the victory in a war," the KCNA said.

Kim also instructed the military to beef up drills to improve its combat capabilities to contain enemies with "overwhelming force" and their "slightest attempt to ignite a war," the KCNA said in an English-language dispatch.

The visit came two days after South Korea and the US began their annual Freedom Shield exercise Monday to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

North Korea has condemned the joint exercise, warning the countries will pay a "dear price", Yonhap news agency reported.

--IANS

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Islamabad, Feb 26 (IANS) Pakistani President Arif Alvi has called on the nation to work together to fight the challenges of poverty, malnutrition, stunting and maternal and neonatal deaths.

The President made the remarks during an event, noting that 26 million children in Pakistan remain out of school, Xinhua news agency reported.

He said China focused on the health and education sectors, which helped the country lift nearly 800 million people out of poverty, adding that Pakistan should follow the same development model.

Highlighting the role of women in the country's growth, Alvi said that the provision of health and education facilities to them is an important element in achieving the goal of women empowerment in Pakistan.

He underscored the importance of providing a safe working environment to women in order to include them in the workforce and make them contribute to the economic growth of the South Asian country.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANSlife) Nestled in the Indonesian archipelago, Bali has truly earned its nickname "Island of the Gods." This captivating destination offers something for everyone - from serene beaches kissed by turquoise waters to majestic temples steeped in history. No wonder for years, travellers have sought its shores to restore and revitalise their spirits.

So what sets Bali apart from the other sought-after spots in the world? CRED Escapes invites guests to take a trip down these bustling, narrow streets to find out.

Tracing the history

The history of the Balinese people reflects a series of migrations. Thousands of years ago, people from nearby islands like Java and Kalimantan sailed over to Bali and made it their home. In the 15th and 16th centuries, as Islam gained prominence in Java, many Hindus, including both nobles and commoners, sought refuge in Bali. This mix of people and beliefs over time shaped Bali's unique culture, visibly evident in Bali's architecture, traditions, and even daily life.

The Present Landscape

Bali's rich history shapes its vibrant cultural scene today, with numerous temples dotting the island's landscape. From grand landmarks to intimate household shrines, these temples symbolize resilience and community spirit. Balinese culture is renowned for its warm hospitality, providing a refreshing contrast to the hustle and bustle of contemporary living.

Before ending a trip to Bali, don’t miss out the chance to witness the centuries-old traditions at Tirta Empul's water cleansing ritual, join a family-hosted cooking class and learn the art of creating authentic Balinese dishes. Savour the flavours of these vibrant markets and check out the ancient art of Batik, a renowned dyeing technique. Participate in a hands-on workshop, learn from local artisans, and you can even create your personalised souvenir.

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

--IANS

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Kiev, Feb 26 (IANS) Around 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion began two years ago, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

The Ukrainian President said at a news conference on Sunday that he is providing the updated death toll in response to the inflated figures that Russia has quoted.

"31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in this war. Not 300,000 or 150,000, or whatever (Vladimir) Putin and his lying circle are saying. But each of these losses is a great loss for us," Zelensky was quoted as saying by the BBC.

The Ukrainian President said he would not give the number of wounded as that would help Russian military planning.

Speaking about the wider losses in the war, the Ukrainian President said that tens of thousands of civilians had died in the areas of Ukraine occupied by Russia but the true number was unknown. "I don't know how many of them died, how many were killed, how many were murdered, tortured, how many were deported," he was quoted as saying by the British news broadcaster.

Zelensky’s tally differs sharply from estimates by US officials, who, in August last year, put the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed at 70,000.

In terms of Russian losses, he said that around 180,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and tens of thousands more injured.

--IANS

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Baghdad, Feb 26 (IANS) The leader of an Iraqi armed Shiite militia has said that the current period of calm among Iraqi armed groups in their conflict with US forces is a "temporary tactic", stressing that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq did not abandon its support for the Palestinians.

Akram al-Kaabi, secretary general of the Iranian-backed al-Nujaba Movement, said in a statement on Sunday that the current calm is only a tactic for repositioning and deployment, stressing, "It is only the calm before the storm".

He said that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq "is an essential part in the battle to confront the Zionist aggression (the Israeli military campaign) and its supporter America against the Gaza Strip", Xinhua news agency reported.

Al-Kaabi also said that there is high-level coordination between different "open fronts" against the Americans and Israelis in the region, stressing that "any calm on one front and ignition on another is an intentional, purposeful and coordinated strategy".

"Although the Islamic resistance did not reject the government's negotiations to schedule the US withdrawal from Iraq, we affirm that the US occupier is a liar, a deceiver, and an arrogant one," the statement said.

Days after fighting broke out between the Gaza-ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel in the Gaza Strip on October 7, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq launched rocket, drone, and mortar attacks on military bases housing US forces in Iraq and Syria.

On January 27, Iraq and the United States began the first round of dialogue to discuss ending the US-led international coalition's mission in Iraq, but later three US soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base near Jordan's border with Syria. The US said the attack was carried out by Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella term for pro-Iran Shiite Islamic armed groups in Iraq.

The death of the US soldiers prompted the US forces to retaliate by striking some headquarters of Iranian-backed armed groups affiliated with the Iraqi paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, killing and wounding dozens of them.

Later, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq suspended their attacks on US bases to pave the way for the Iraqi government to hold negotiations with the US-led coalition to end their presence in Iraq.

--IANS

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Gaza, Feb 26 (IANS) At least 25 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza City on Sunday, medical sources and eyewitnesses said.

Fifteen people, including children, were killed and several others were wounded after warplanes hit a residential building in the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, Xinhua news agency reported, citing medical sources.

According to local sources and eyewitnesses, the warplanes fired a missile at the three-story house without prior warning.

According to Israel's state-owned Kan TV news, the Israeli army has been conducting operations in the neighbourhood since February 20, targeting infrastructures belonging to the Hamas movement.

On the same day, 10 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the coastal road west of the Gaza City.

Local sources and eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces launched artillery shells and conducted airstrikes targeting individuals waiting for aid trucks, killing 10 of them and injuring others.

--IANS

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