PR in the Philippines

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a prevalent health concern for women; a significant proportion will experience one in their lives. Post-menopausal women are particularly vulnerable due to reduced estrogen levels, which can decrease the amount of protective bacteria that fight infection-causing bacteria. On March 25th, the FDA granted approval for gepotidacin, the first novel antibiotic in three decades designed to combat UTIs. This medication specifically targets E. coli, the primary cause of uncomplicated UTIs in women. Blujepa, the drug's brand name, employs a unique mechanism compared to existing antibiotics. It targets two enzymes that E. coli utilizes to replicate itself through a process involving DNA circles. During this process, DNA can become tangled, but the bacteria possess the ability to untangle them. Blujepa disrupts this untangling process, thereby hindering bacterial replication and the spread of infection. According to Tony Wood, GSK's chief scientific officer (the company that produces Blujepa), this mechanism is specific to E. coli. He mentioned in a press briefing that this targeted approach may reduce the likelihood of bacteria developing resistance to the drug. Current UTI antibiotics often affect a wide range of bacteria, increasing the potential for resistance. Clinical trials submitted to the FDA showed that Blujepa was as effective or slightly more effective than nitrofurantoin, a commonly prescribed UTI antibiotic. In the two studies, Blujepa successfully treated 50% and 58% of women with infections, while nitrofurantoin achieved success rates of 43% and 47%. GSK is also investigating the potential of the drug to treat other E. coli infections, including gonorrhea, according to Wood. The company is also developing another antibiotic for complicated UTIs, where the infection extends beyond the bladder to other tissues. These infections often require hospitalization and extended treatment. This new drug could potentially decrease hospital admissions or shorten hospital stays for patients requiring intensive care. ```

HEBRON, West Bank — After being attacked by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, Israeli authorities released a Palestinian director who recently won an Oscar. He stated that the settlers assaulted him in front of his residence while filming the incident. Earlier this month, Hamdan Ballal and his fellow directors of “No Other Land,” a film highlighting the challenges faced by Palestinians under Israeli occupation, accepted the award for best documentary at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. On Tuesday, Ballal, visibly bruised and with bloodied clothing, was released from an Israeli police station located in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba. He and two other Palestinians, who were also attacked and detained, were subsequently taken to a nearby hospital. Ballal recounted being held blindfolded for 24 hours at an army base and forced to sleep in extremely cold conditions. “My entire body aches,” he told The Associated Press. “I could hear the soldiers laughing at me… I heard ‘Oscar,’ but I don’t speak Hebrew.” Lea Tsemel, the lawyer representing the three men, reported that they received minimal medical attention for their injuries sustained during the attack. Furthermore, she was denied access to them for several hours following their arrest. Palestinian residents reported that approximately two dozen settlers, some masked, some armed, and some in military attire, attacked the West Bank village of Susiya on Monday evening as residents were breaking their fast during Ramadan. Residents added that upon arrival, soldiers pointed their weapons at the Palestinians while the settlers continued to hurl stones. Israeli police stated on Tuesday that the military had transferred three suspects to them for investigation regarding alleged rock throwing, property damage, and "endangering regional security." They were released on the condition that they have no contact with others involved in the incident. Tsemel stated that Ballal and the other two Palestinians denied throwing stones. ‘I’m dying!’ In testimony provided to his lawyer while in detention, Ballal stated that he went out to film the settlers as they attacked homes in the village. According to the testimony, which was reviewed by the AP, a settler known for previously threatening him appeared with two soldiers when he returned to his home. Ballal said that as he stood at his house's entrance, the settler punched him in the head from behind, causing him to fall. The settler then proceeded to kick him across his body and beat his head and face with his boots. Lamia Ballal, the director’s wife, said that she was sheltering inside with their three children and heard him shouting, “I’m dying!” Looking out the window, she witnessed three uniformed men beating Ballal with the butts of their rifles, while another individual in civilian clothing appeared to be filming the assault. "Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more," Lamia stated. "I felt afraid." West Bank settlers are often armed and sometimes wear military-style clothing, making it difficult to distinguish them from soldiers. On Tuesday, a small bloodstain was visible outside their home, and the car's windshield and windows were shattered. Neighbors pointed to a nearby water tank with a hole that they said had been made by the settlers. The settler who assaulted Ballal is seen in a widely circulated video from April, accompanied by masked men, threatening him. "This is my land, I was given it by God," the settler yells in the video, using profanity and attempting to provoke Ballal into a fight. "Next time it won't be nice," the settler warns. Film looked at Palestinians’ struggle to stay on the land "No Other Land" documents the struggle of residents in the Masafer Yatta area to prevent the Israeli military from demolishing their villages. The joint Israeli-Palestinian production has received numerous international awards, beginning at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024. It has also faced criticism in Israel and abroad, such as when Miami Beach considered terminating the lease of a movie theater that screened it. Basel Adra, another co-director of the film and a prominent Palestinian activist in the area, stated that there has been a significant increase in attacks by settlers and Israeli forces since the Oscar win. "Nobody can do anything to stop the pogroms, and soldiers are only there to facilitate and help the attacks," he said. "We're living in dark days here, in Gaza, and all of the West Bank… Nobody's stopping this." Jewish activists in the area were also attacked by masked settlers wielding sticks on Monday, who smashed their car windows and slashed their tires, according to Josh Kimelman, an activist with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence. Video provided by the group showed a masked settler shoving and swinging his fists at two activists in a dusty field at night. Open-ended military rule Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek all three territories for their future state and view settlement expansion as a major impediment to a two-state solution. The majority of the international community considers the settlements illegal. Israel has constructed well over 100 settlements, housing over 500,000 Israeli citizens. The 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under what appears to be indefinite Israeli military rule, with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centers. The Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s and ordered the expulsion of residents, primarily Arab Bedouin. Around 1,000 residents have largely remained, but soldiers regularly demolish homes, tents, water tanks, and olive orchards. Settlers have also established outposts in the area and at times attack villages. Palestinians and rights groups report that Israeli forces typically turn a blind eye or intervene on behalf of the settlers. The war in Gaza has led to a surge in violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military conducting extensive military operations that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians and the displacement of tens of thousands. There has also been an increase in settler violence, as well as Palestinian attacks on Israelis. ```

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing further instability as five high-ranking officials departed on Tuesday. The resignations were revealed during a meeting with the agency's top executives. The CDC, which is based in Atlanta and comprises two dozen centers and offices, is losing the heads of five of these units. This follows three additional departures in recent weeks, meaning almost a third of the agency's senior management team has recently left or is leaving. These departures, characterized as retirements, were not made public. The Associated Press verified the information with two CDC officials who remained anonymous because they lacked authorization to discuss it. The announcements occurred a day after the White House announced Susan Monarez as its nominee for CDC director. However, it's unclear if this influenced the leaders' decisions to leave. Earlier in the month, the Trump administration withdrew its nomination of Dr. David Weldon, a former Florida congressman, just before his Senate hearing. CDC staff, including leadership, have been anticipating potential staff reductions and a significant agency restructuring by the Trump administration. White House officials are currently reviewing a proposal for workforce reduction at the CDC and other federal health agencies, submitted earlier this month. The specifics of the proposal remain undisclosed. "It must be incredibly challenging for these individuals to perform their duties daily," stated Jason Schwartz, a health policy researcher at Yale University specializing in government health agencies. "The CDC's future is undoubtedly at risk. It's understandable that individuals might choose to leave rather than witness the agency's work, resources, and capabilities diminish." Schwartz added that the loss of experienced leaders is a further setback for an already under-pressure agency. The recent departures include: Leslie Ann Dauphin, who is in charge of the Public Health Infrastructure Center, which has more than 500 employees. This center is responsible for coordinating CDC funding, strategy, and technical support for state, local, and territorial health departments. Dr. Karen Remley, the head of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, which had over 220 full-time employees at the start of the year. Sam Posner, the director of the Office of Science, where over 100 CDC employees work on research and science policy, as well as publish the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Debra Lubar, who manages the Office of Policy, Performance and Evaluation, which has a staff of 65. Leandris Liburd, the head of the Office of Health Equity, with approximately 40 employees. Liburd assumed the role in 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic's disproportionate impact on Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities. In addition, Kevin Griffis, head of CDC’s office of communications, departed last week. Robin Bailey, the agency’s chief operating officer, left late last month, as did Dr. Nirav Shah, a former CDC principal deputy director who was the agency’s leading spokesperson on the evolving bird flu epidemic in animals that has also affected at least 70 people in the U.S. last year. The CDC, with a core budget exceeding $9 billion, is tasked with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. At the beginning of the year, it had over 13,000 employees and nearly 13,000 contract workers. In February, at least 550 probationary employees were laid off, although these layoffs were challenged in lawsuits, and two federal judges ordered their reinstatement. According to some of the laid-off employees, this has not yet occurred, although the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has extended their administrative leave pay in accordance with court orders. Schwartz stated that "it would be unwise to predict the CDC's future" in the coming months or years, adding that it is understandable why senior leaders "might not want to commit to that." ```

Second Lady Usha Vance and a U.S. delegation are scheduled to visit Greenland on Thursday. According to the White House, the purpose of the trip is to “celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity.” Vance is expected to tour historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend Greenland’s national dogsled race. Trump’s national security advisor, Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are also slated to visit. However, the visit has generated scrutiny, particularly given the Trump Administration's continued aggressive pursuit of control in the region. During his March 4 speech to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump emphasized the importance of allowing Greenlanders to determine their own future, stating, “We need it really for international world security, and I think we’re going to get it one way or the other.” The trip also coincides with Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, confronting a new reality due to climate change. Rising temperatures are accelerating the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the largest ice mass in the Northern Hemisphere. This impact, along with warming oceans, has changed the area's landscape and environment. At first glance, these changes might appear to create new economic and strategic opportunities that the U.S. and other nations may wish to exploit. However, the situation is more complex. “There’s a perceived military benefit and there’s a perceived economic benefit,” explains Paul Bierman, a natural resources professor at the University of Vermont. Greenland's strategic location in the Atlantic Ocean, between the U.S., Russia, and China, along with its vast untapped natural resources like minerals, oil, and natural gas, make it attractive. Yet, Bierman adds, “I actually think both of these [ideas] are false.” Natural Resources The U.S. Geological Survey estimated in 2007 that East Greenland holds 31 million barrels of undiscovered oil. Greenland also possesses minerals like lithium, niobium, and zirconium, essential for producing batteries, electronics, and electric vehicles. However, experts caution that accessing these resources is challenging. The limited accessibility is a major reason why many resources remain untapped. Greenland's road network is limited, and its population is less than 60,000. Additionally, much of the region is built on permafrost, posing infrastructure development challenges. “It’s a tricky ground to create infrastructure on,” notes Asa Rennermalm, a professor in the Department of Geography at Rutgers. Climate change has fueled hopes of a mineral rush, as receding ice could make natural resources more accessible. However, many areas in Greenland are currently off-limits to extraction. In 2021, the territory’s parliament voted to halt oil and gas exploration due to environmental concerns and also banned uranium mining that same year. Greenland’s changing climate also presents possibilities for the U.S.’s artificial intelligence goals. During a Feb. 12 symposium on the acquisition of Greenland, Rebecca Pincus, director of the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center, mentioned the potential of the melting ice sheet to supply energy for hydropower-fueled AI data centers. A New Trade Route The melting sea ice has the potential to create a new trade route, and President Trump appears to be seeking control over it. “What we’re seeing globally in the Arctic is a dramatic decrease in the coverage of sea ice,” says Bierman. “And so as the Arctic Ocean has less and less sea ice, it potentially is open to vessels that are not icebreakers to get through.” Robert O’Brien, Trump’s former national security advisor, has stated that Greenland's location is crucial not only in relation to China and Russia, but also as an alternative shipping route as climate change makes the Panama Canal more unreliable. Prolonged drought, intensified by climate change, has reduced water levels in the canal, making it more difficult for ships to transit. “[Greenland is] strategically very important to the Arctic, which is going to be the critical battleground of the future, because as the climate gets warmer, the Arctic is going to be a pathway that maybe cuts down on the usage of the Panama Canal,” O’Brien said in an interview with Sunday Morning Futures in December. China and Russia initiated a shipping route along the Arctic Sea in 2023. In that year alone, 80 voyages reached Chinese ports via this route. Referring to the potential security risks of open Arctic waters, Trump told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte earlier this month, “We have a lot of our favorite players cruising around the coast, and we have to be careful.” Climate Risks Experts argue that the Trump Administration’s focus is shortsighted and overlooks a much larger problem. The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world, and last year, Greenland’s ice sheet lost 2.5 million liters (over 660,000 gallons) of fresh water every second. The melting ice sheets will not simplify resource extraction. “There’s this fantasy that the ice sheets are going to melt away overnight, and all these new exotic minerals are going to appear where they used to be a thousand feet of ice,” says Bierman. “That’s not going to happen.” Ice melt caused by climate change can lead to landslides, which can quickly damage mining infrastructure. “It’s going to destroy the port infrastructure, or, if you’re unlucky enough, destroy your mine,” says Bierman. Moreover, complete melting of Greenland’s ice sheet would raise global sea levels by 23 feet. “Even just a fraction of that is going to have huge impacts on global sea level rise,” says Rennermalm. It will dramatically change the rest of the world—coastal areas from Mumbai to Mar-a-Lago could be submerged. “If we don’t take care of that ice sheet. There are estimates in the many trillion dollars of economic losses if that happens, and that’s going to eclipse any critical minerals,” says Bierman. “That to me is the piece that doesn’t fit in the four year political cycle.”

` tags. ```xml TIME has released its second annual list of top GreenTech companies in the U.S. and its first list of top GreenTech companies worldwide. Both lists are produced in collaboration with Statista, a leading provider of market and consumer data and rankings. These studies identify the companies that are significantly contributing to a greener future, both in the United States and around the world. Here’s a breakdown of how the winners were chosen. Methodology The "America’s Top GreenTech Companies 2025" and "World’s Top GreenTech Companies 2025" projects are in-depth analyses designed to pinpoint the leading GreenTech companies in the U.S. and globally. To be eligible, companies must primarily focus on developing and offering green technologies, products, or services that help lessen or reverse the impact of human actions on the environment. The "America’s Top GreenTech Companies 2025" list considered only companies headquartered in the United States, while the global list included companies from all over the world. Both studies are based on three main factors: positive environmental impact, innovation drive, and financial strength. Companies received scores in each of these areas, which were then combined into a final score. Statista collected and examined data from over 8,000 companies using desk research, online application forms, and partnerships with data and market intelligence firms. To evaluate positive environmental impact, Statista partnered with HolonIQ to assess companies based on the quality and impact of their product/service portfolios, using KPIs specific to each industry, such as carbon capture, offsets, and renewable energy generation. For financial strength, Statista analyzed revenue, employee numbers, and funding data from publicly available sources like annual reports, company websites, media monitoring, and databases. Information submitted by companies through an online application form on the TIME website was also taken into account. To determine innovation drive, Statista worked with LexisNexis® Intellectual Property Solutions to analyze the size and value of companies' IP portfolios. Scoring was based on the Patent Asset Index found in LexisNexis® PatentSight+. After data collection and evaluation, the information was combined and weighted within a scoring model. The final score was calculated as follows: 45% x Impact score + 45% x Financial strength score + 10% x Innovation score. The 250 companies with the highest scores in each study were featured on the respective "America’s Top GreenTech Companies" and "World’s Top GreenTech Companies" rankings by TIME and Statista. ```

TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli parliament approved the state budget on Tuesday, bolstering Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government. This development provides the embattled leader with a period of potential political stability, despite growing public discontent over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The budget vote was considered a crucial test for Netanyahu's coalition, which includes ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox factions. These parties secured substantial funding for their constituencies in exchange for supporting the budget. Failure to pass the budget by March 31 would have legally triggered the government's collapse and new elections. With the budget's passage, Netanyahu secures a period of relative political calm, potentially allowing his government to remain in power until the end of its term in late 2026. This is a significant political achievement for Netanyahu, who is facing widespread protests regarding his decision to resume the Gaza war while hostages remain in Hamas's captivity, as well as criticism of his government’s policies. The budget vote may also influence potential ceasefire negotiations. According to Gayil Talshir, a political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Netanyahu might feel more inclined to pursue a lasting ceasefire agreement with Hamas. This is because his political allies, who oppose ending the war, have little motivation to initiate new elections while their approval ratings are low. However, Talshir added that the vote does not guarantee Netanyahu will work towards ending the war. She anticipates he will continue to advance his ultranationalist partners' agenda to maintain their loyalty and strengthen the nationalist right wing in preparation for future elections. “Netanyahu is always thinking about the next elections,” Talshir said. “His goal is to make sure the extreme right will be in his government now and in the future.” ```

WASHINGTON — Mike Huckabee, President Trump's choice for ambassador to Israel, is scheduled for a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. This comes as efforts by U.S. and Arab mediators to broker peace between Israel and Hamas resume following recent Israeli airstrikes. Trump nominated Huckabee, a prominent evangelical Christian known for his strong support of Israel, for the key ambassadorship in Jerusalem shortly after his reelection, fulfilling a campaign promise to resolve the ongoing 17-month conflict. Huckabee's confirmation could further destabilize the already tense situation in the Middle East, given his past stances on the conflict that diverge significantly from established U.S. policy. The former Arkansas governor has previously expressed support for Israel's right to annex the West Bank and integrate its Palestinian population. He has also consistently advocated for using the biblical term "Judea and Samaria" to refer to the West Bank, a change that right-wing Israeli politicians and activists have unsuccessfully urged the U.S. to adopt. Notably, Huckabee has long opposed a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. In a previous interview, he questioned the very existence of a distinct "Palestinian" identity, arguing that the term was appropriated by Yasser Arafat in 1962. “There really isn’t such a thing,” he said on the podcast show “Think Twice” with Jonathan Tobin. “It’s a term that was co-opted by Yasser Arafat in 1962,” referring to one of the early leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organization. During the same interview, Huckabee identified himself as an "unapologetic, unreformed Zionist." As the situation in Gaza has worsened following the breakdown of the ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas, Israeli officials are reportedly considering re-occupation of the territory, a move strongly opposed by the Biden administration. Trump has also proposed potential U.S. involvement in Gaza, sparking both interest and strong condemnation from Arab nations and other parties. Huckabee is expected to face questions on these issues, as well as the ongoing Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the persistent threats posed by Iran and Iranian-backed groups like the Houthis in Yemen. In his prepared remarks, obtained by The Associated Press, Huckabee avoids specific mention of annexation or Trump's Gaza plan. However, he is expected to express implicit support for both, criticizing past Mideast policies as "failed" and emphasizing the need for "entirely new ways" to achieve peace. He intends to reaffirm his strong support for Trump's pro-Israel policies during his first term, including the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the relocation of the U.S. embassy, the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and the brokering of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, such as the UAE and Bahrain. “President Trump’s first term was the most consequential for Israel and the Middle East ever with his historic Abraham Accords, and finally moving our embassy to Jerusalem, the ancient, indigenous and biblical eternal capital of the Jewish people,” Huckabee’s prepared remarks say. Trump’s pick for ambassador to Panama also testifying Kevin Cabrera, Trump's nominee for ambassador to Panama, will also testify before the committee on Tuesday. Panama has reportedly resisted Trump's repeated calls for the U.S. to seize the Panama Canal for national security reasons, citing potential threats from China. The status of the canal was a key focus during Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Panama City in February. “One of the key aspects of our cooperation is ensuring the security of the Panama Canal, a critical international waterway that facilitates global trade and economic growth,” Cabrera will say according to remarks prepared for the hearing. He plans to commend the Panamanian government's decisions to withdraw from China's Belt and Road Initiative and to review contracts with a Chinese company operating ports at both ends of the canal. The company has tentatively agreed to sell its interests in the port subsidiaries, but the deal is not yet finalized. ___ Amiri reported from New York. ```

The standard email greeting, “I hope this email finds you well,” often feels disconnected from reality, as burnout and disengagement plague numerous sectors. This widespread exhaustion prompts leaders and employees alike to question its origins and, more importantly, how to resolve it. Even workplace wellbeing specialists are grappling with this issue. As Industrial-Organizational Psychologists with extensive experience in workplace wellness, we posited that current wellness programs might not align with employee needs or are simply following trends without proven effectiveness. Beyond identifying the problem, we aimed to discover actionable solutions for leaders to enhance employee, team, and organizational wellness. Our findings, though unexpected, offer clear strategies to combat workplace burnout. Our research indicates that conventional workplace wellness initiatives like step challenges, mindfulness sessions, pizza parties, and yoga, while seemingly beneficial, have minimal impact. While these programs may benefit a select few with the time and energy, the majority remain overwhelmed by excessive responsibilities, toxic environments, and constant pressure to be available. The real key to employee wellbeing, energy, and productivity lies not in perks but in leadership. Employees thriving in their roles consistently cited their leader's behavior as a crucial factor. Analyzing extensive interview transcripts and survey responses, we found near-unanimously that leaders, not wellness programs, were key to employees' health and wellbeing at work. To improve engagement and performance, organizations should shift from quick-fix programs to investing in better leadership. Our research identified core strategies that distinguish exceptional leaders, whom we call “Generators.” These leaders consistently achieve results without causing burnout in their teams or themselves. One particularly effective strategy is demonstrating vulnerability and authenticity. Contrary to expectations, employees don't need superhero leaders. They seek genuine individuals who show up authentically, flaws and all. This authenticity fosters trust, creating a safe environment for employees to share challenges, enabling meaningful support and the development of real solutions, which in turn boosts productivity. Consider a personal example of a Generator in action. Early in my career, I (Patricia) worked for Jill, a leader who exemplified the Generator mindset. I had a high-pressure, client-facing role that required frequent travel and executive presentations. The onboarding was rigorous, with intense presentation skills training, complete with practice sessions and relentless feedback. Jill's approach was impactful. She shared her own struggles during presentation training, admitting she hadn’t been a natural either. Her openness made all the difference. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I trusted her enough to be honest about my challenges, allowing me to improve more quickly than expected. Jill’s vulnerability wasn’t a weakness; it unlocked my potential. Another strategy Generators employ is supporting employees as individuals with unique needs and personal lives. They see employees as whole people and work to build quick relationships to understand their needs. As part of that, they serve as boundary bouncers—helping employees set boundaries important to them, enforcing those boundaries, and blocking employees from people or situations that violate their boundaries. Going back to Jill, she did a great job of supporting each of the team member’s needs and being a boundary bouncer. I distinctly remember a situation where a client needed someone to come onsite and the person assigned to the account was unable to go. I raised my hand and told Jill that I was happy to help and step in – since I didn’t have kids, I figured I had less responsibility than my colleagues and should volunteer. Jill took me aside and told me that my personal boundaries and needs mattered just as much as those who have kids. She said I could, of course, step in to help if I actually had the time. But she also urged me to stick to my own boundaries. After that conversation, I really thought about my boundaries, shared them with her, and we worked together to protect them. Jill saw me as a whole person with a valuable personal life that deserved protection. From our research and our personal experience, we can confidently say that these types of behaviors truly support employee wellness while leading to great results. Our study participants all shared that they worked harder with better leadership, and that investing in leaders isn’t just good for wellness—it’s good for business.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa refuted claims of white persecution in the country on Monday, calling it a "completely false narrative." This statement marks his latest effort to counter allegations made by Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and certain white minority groups within South Africa. Musk, who was born in South Africa and has frequently accused the South African government of anti-white bias, reiterated his claim on social media this past weekend, asserting that some South African political figures are "actively promoting white genocide." In his weekly address to the nation, Ramaphosa urged South Africans to "not allow events beyond our shores to divide us or turn us against each other." He specifically stated, "In particular, we should challenge the completely false narrative that our country is a place in which people of a certain race or culture are being targeted for persecution." While Ramaphosa didn't mention names, his denial alluded to allegations made by Trump and others, accusing South Africa of deliberately mistreating white citizens by inciting violent attacks on their farms and proposing legislation to seize their land. These allegations formed the basis of an executive order issued by Trump last month, which cut funding to South Africa as a form of punishment, mirroring similar sentiments expressed by some conservatives in the U.S. Afrikaners, primarily descendants of Dutch and French colonial settlers who arrived in South Africa over 300 years ago, were central to the apartheid regime that systematically oppressed non-whites. Despite this history, South Africa has largely succeeded in fostering reconciliation among its diverse racial groups since the end of apartheid in 1994. In his X post, Musk, an influential advisor to Trump, referenced a political rally held last Friday in South Africa. At the rally, Black leaders from a far-left opposition party sang a song containing the lyrics "Kill the Boer, the farmer." "Boer" is a term used to refer to an Afrikaner. "Very few people know that there is a major political party in South Africa that is actively promoting white genocide," Musk wrote, including a link to a video of the rally. Senator Marco Rubio stated on X late Monday that the song "is a chant that incites violence. South Africa’s leaders and politicians must take action to protect Afrikaner and other disfavored minorities. The United States is proud to offer those individuals who qualify for admission to our nation amid this continued horrible threat of violence.” The political party in question, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is the fourth largest in Parliament and a political rival of Ramaphosa's African National Congress. It secured 9.5% of the vote in last year's national election. The EFF has faced scrutiny for inciting racial tensions and for singing the aforementioned song, which was used during apartheid as a call to resist government oppression. The modern use of the song has drawn criticism from various groups in South Africa, including other political parties. A group representing Afrikaners challenged its use in court, leading to a ruling over a decade ago that deemed it hate speech and effectively banned it. However, the song was subject to several other legal battles before a 2022 ruling determined that it was not hate speech and was protected under freedom of speech, citing a lack of evidence that it incited violence. The EFF maintains that it is a historical chant that should not be interpreted literally and has, at times, altered the lyrics to "kiss the Boer." Since Trump's executive order, the South African government has attempted to address concerns surrounding white farmers, who are sometimes victims of violent attacks in their homes. While the government has condemned these attacks, experts assert that there is no evidence of widespread targeting of whites, and that these incidents are part of South Africa's overall high violent crime rates, affecting all racial groups. The group representing Afrikaners claims that the police have, at times, underreported farm homicides in official statistics. They recently stated that their figures indicated eight farm homicides occurred in the three-month period between October and December of last year, while police records only reflected one. According to police statistics, there were a total of 6,953 homicides across South Africa during that same time period. ___ Associated Press writer Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

TOKYO — A Japanese court on Tuesday ordered the dissolution of the Unification Church following a government request prompted by the investigation into the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The church stated it is considering immediately appealing the Tokyo District Court’s decision to revoke its legal status. This revocation would eliminate its tax exemption and necessitate the liquidation of its assets. The order was issued after the Education Ministry of Japan requested the dissolution of the South Korea-based religious group in 2023. The ministry cited manipulative fundraising and recruitment practices that instilled fear in followers and negatively impacted their families. The Japanese branch of the Unification Church has previously stated that the request poses a significant threat to religious freedom and the human rights of its members. The church described the court's decision as regrettable and unjust, asserting in a statement that it was based on "a wrong legal interpretation and absolutely unacceptable." The investigation into Abe's assassination revealed long-standing close ties between the Unification Church, headquartered in South Korea, and Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The church initially gained legal recognition as a religious organization in Japan during the 1960s as part of an anti-communist movement supported by Abe's grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. The man who confessed to Abe's murder harbored resentment towards the church, blaming it for his family's financial woes. The church, officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, is the first religious organization to face a revocation order under Japan’s civil code. Previous cases involved criminal charges, including the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult responsible for the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack and the Myokakuji group, whose executives were convicted of fraud. To support its request for the church’s dissolution, the Education Ministry presented 5,000 documents and pieces of evidence to the court, based on interviews with over 170 individuals. According to officials and experts, the church employed manipulative tactics to control its followers’ decision-making, pushing them to purchase expensive items and donate beyond their means, thus causing fear and harm to them and their families, which constitutes a serious violation of the law governing religious organizations. The Agency for Cultural Affairs reported that settlements, both in and out of court, totaled over 20 billion yen ($132 million) and involved more than 1,500 people. The church was established in Seoul in 1954, following the Korean War, by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who proclaimed himself a messiah and advocated novel interpretations of the Bible, along with conservative, family-centered values. It cultivated relationships with conservative global leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as his predecessors Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. In the 1970s and 1980s, the church faced accusations of using deceptive recruitment methods and brainwashing followers to donate significant portions of their income to Moon. In Japan, the group has been subject to lawsuits for offering "spiritual merchandise," which allegedly led members to purchase costly art and jewelry or sell their properties to raise funds for the church. The church has acknowledged instances of excessive donations but maintains that the issue has decreased since the implementation of enhanced compliance measures in 2009. Experts indicate that Japanese members are often pressured to atone for sins supposedly committed by their ancestors during Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945, and that the majority of the church's global funding originates from Japan. ```