Latest news with #Perception
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Qatargate: Israel Police request extension to Yonatan Urich's detention terms
Yonatan Urich's detention terms expired on Sunday. He was required to appear for questioning if called, forbidden from leaving the country until August 12. Israel Police requested on Sunday that the relaxed arrest conditions of Yonatan Urich, an aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and one of the main suspects in the 'Qatargate' investigations, be extended for another month. Urich's detention terms expired on Sunday – that he was required to appear for questioning if called, that he was forbidden from leaving the country until August 12, and that he could not contact anyone involved with the case. He was released to 10 days of house arrest on May 12. On May 21, Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court Judge Menahem Mizrahi terminated his house arrest but ruled that Urich would still be under surveillance, where he would be allowed to walk freely with someone who had signed as a guarantor for him until June 1. Mizrahi requested on Sunday that police resubmit the request and that the position of Urich's lawyer, Amit Hadad, be submitted as well; only after that would a hearing be scheduled. Hadad completely opposed banning Urich from leaving the country and contacting those who investigators deem 'close to the case.' He also noted that the police's intent to extend Urich's conditions was only made known to him on Sunday, despite the deadline on the detention terms being known from May. He added that the extension request is 'extremely laconic' and doesn't provide specific reasons for extending it. Why is Yonatan Urich being investigated? Urich and former Prime Minister's Office military spokesman Eli Feldstein are two of the main suspects in Qatargate. They were investigated for alleged Qatari connections and influences on figures close to the prime minister in efforts by the Gulf state to improve its image. In the more current context, this was reportedly done to boost Qatar's image in its mediator role in the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal negotiations and to downplay Egypt's involvement. Yisrael Einhorn, another of Netanyahu's close advisers, was questioned last month from where he resides in Serbia. He is suspected of fraudulently receiving money from Qatar as part of the public relations campaign. Urich was arrested on March 30 and was detained until April 7, after which the fight for extensions and terms began. He is suspected of contact with a foreign agent, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering. Hadad noted that since his arrest in March, he had not been in touch with anyone connected to the case – which includes a wildly extensive list, he said – and 'there is no indication of tampering on Urich's end.' He added that the order to not contact anyone from the Prime Minister's Office or any staff from Perception – the company allegedly at the center of the Qatargate affairs – is 'dramatic, draconic, and damaging,' as it meant that Urich has been unable to work and provide for himself for nearly six months now. The court decided that the hearing will take place on Thursday afternoon and that Urich's conditions are to remain as they are until then. Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. Solve the daily Crossword
Cision Canada
26-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Blue Gold Announces Closing of Business Combination with Perception Capital Corp IV
, June 26, 2025 /CNW/ -- Blue Gold Limited (" Blue Gold"), a gold mining company developing a portfolio of assets anchored by the historic Bogoso Prestea Mine in the Ashanti region of Ghana, announced the completion of a business combination (the " Transaction") with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company, Perception Capital Corp. IV (" Perception"), and that its ordinary shares and warrants will commence trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market on June 26, 2025, under the ticker symbols " BGL" and " BGLWW". This milestone marks Blue Gold's inaugural presence on a U.S. stock exchange, expanding its reach to a broader base of global investors. Andrew Cavaghan, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Gold Limited, commented: "We are excited to commence trading on Nasdaq, a significant milestone that reflects our commitment to growth and creating liquidity for our shareholders. We believe that this listing will support our continued expansion and provide greater visibility within the investment community." "With the completion of this transaction and a clear forward strategy, we believe that Blue Gold is well-positioned to bring the Bogoso Prestea Mine back into production in a capital-efficient, environmentally responsible, and community-aligned manner. We view this as a transformational opportunity to create long-term value for all stakeholders by unlocking one of West Africa's most storied gold assets." Rick Gaenzle, Chief Executive Officer of Perception Capital Corp IV, added: "We are very excited to close this transaction. We are especially pleased by the favorable macro tailwinds that have seen the price of gold increase from approximately $2,000 per ounce at the time we entered this transaction, to over $3,000 per ounce at its close. We believe this represents an attractive value proposition for investors." For Further Information Contact: Tavistock Communications [email protected] +44 20 7920 3150 About Blue Gold Limited Blue Gold acquired the historic 5.1 Moz Gold Resource Bogoso Prestea Mine in the renowned Ghana Ashanti Gold Belt in 2024 as part of our long-term strategy to expand and sustainably manage long-life high-quality assets. The mine is currently scheduled to restart operations in 2025. Blue Gold prioritises growth, sustainable development, and transparency in all our business practices. We believe that our commitment to responsible mining will ensure that we create value for our shareholders while minimising our environmental footprint. Advisors Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, is acting as exclusive financial advisor and lead capital markets advisor. Loeb & Loeb LLP acted as US legal advisor to Perception. Simmons & Simmons acted as UK legal advisor to Perception. Integri Solicitors & Advocates acted as Ghanaian legal advisor to Perception. Duane Morris LLP acted as US legal advisor to Blue Gold. Mayer Brown LLP acted as US and UK legal advisor to Blue Gold. Kimathi and Partners acted as Ghanaian legal advisor to Blue Gold. Mourant Ozannes (Cayman) LLP acted as Cayman Islands legal counsel to both parties. Cibreo Partners LLC acted as strategic advisor to both parties. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor for forward- looking statements provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation: statements related to the parties likelihood to enter into a binding or definitive agreement(s); statements related to the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transaction, including the potential amount of cash that may be available to the combined company upon consummation of the Transaction; the anticipated enterprise value of the combined company following the Transaction; sources and uses of cash from the Transaction; the anticipated timing to close the Transaction; the financial and business performance of Blue Gold Limited; and Blue Gold Limited's anticipated future operating results. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: estimates of the combined company's financial performance being materially incorrect predictions; general economic or political conditions; negative economic conditions that could impact Blue Gold Limited and the gold industry in general; reduction in demand for Blue Gold Limited's products; changes in the markets that Blue Gold Limited targets; any change in laws applicable to Blue Gold Limited or any regulatory or judicial interpretation; and other factors, risks and uncertainties, including those to be included under the heading "Risk Factors" in the proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC and any subsequent filings. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by such factors. Blue Gold Limited does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law. Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed Transaction, Blue Gold Limited has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on Form F-4 (the "Registration Statement"), which includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and certain other related documents, which will be both the proxy statement to be distributed to the shareholders of Perception in connection with Perception's solicitation of proxies for the vote by its shareholders with respect to the proposed Transaction and other matters as may be described in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, as well as a prospectus relating to the offer and sale of the securities to be issued by Blue Gold in the proposed Transaction. Shareholders are encouraged to read the Registration Statement as it contains important information. This press release does not contain all of the information that should be considered by Blue Gold Limited's shareholders and is not intended to constitute the basis of any voting or investment decision in respect of the Transaction or the securities of the combined company. No Offer or Solicitation This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination. This press release shall also not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or an exemption.
New York Post
05-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Botox may increase your face value — but you're better off trying this move that doesn't cost a cent, scientists say
Dolly Parton was right. Botox may increase face value for a growing number of Americans, including celebs like Nicole Kidman and Meghan Trainor — but when it comes to making yourself desirable to a prospective partner, researchers say smiling can be even more effective. New research suggests that the popular cosmetic injections do increase users' curb appeal — but when respondents in a survey were asked to rate an array of strange faces, those with upturned lips beat those who merely plumped them up. 4 The research found that smiling could be more effective at enhancing visual appeal than filler injections (pictured). Stasique – Scientists at Tilburg University in The Netherlands also reported that Botox users were likely to be seen as one-night stand prospects — and that getting the costly jabs weren't necessarily useful to those hoping to be taken more seriously as viable life partners. The illusion-shattering findings, published in the journal 'Perception,' come amid a worldwide uptick in Botox usage. Usage of the injectable 'tweakment' has become so frequent that people are actually developing an immunity. Researchers set out to test if people who undergo Botox and other filler treatments are perceived 'more positively by others,' per study co-author Dr. Bastian Jaeger, who claimed that 'existing research on the effectiveness of these treatments is not very strong.' To see if it's worth literally putting one's money where their mouth is, the scientists followed 114 participants who underwent Botox and dermal filler treatments, the Times Of London reported. 4 Study authors found that while Botox can make you more attractive as a mate, it won't necessarily get you to happily ever after any faster. Vasyl – They then asked around 3,000 people to rate their before and after pics on a 7-point attractiveness scale. After reviewing said snaps, which were shot carefully to keep the lighting, expression and other factors consistent across the pics, participants overwhelmingly found that Botox does indeed boost people's visual appeal. 'This difference was rather small: a 0.07-point change in our 7-point attractiveness scale on average,' explained Dr. Jaeger per the Daily Mail. 'This means that on average, a person who was rated a 4 out of 7 on attractiveness before the treatment might be rated a 4.07 out of 7 after treatment.' 4 Participants were asked to evaluate the before-and-after pics of Botox recipients. Sage Journals There was also an increase of 0.13 with regards to how youthful the participants were thought of. However, this paled in comparison to another, less expensive way of enhancing one's attractiveness: smiling. Researchers found that turning one's frown upside down — and not cosmetically — caused one's so-called hotness to soar by 0.4 points, six times more than Botox. 4 'We did not see any benefits of treatment on how competent, intelligent, charismatic, friendly or trustworthy people were perceived to be,' said Jaeger. Drobot Dean – Meanwhile, applying makeup gave people's perceived looks a boost of 0.6 points compared to the filler treatment, which starts at around $300 for a simple forehead injection and involves obstructing nerve signals to muscles, relaxing them and curbing wrinkles. There was another major caveat to alleged Botox-enhanced hotness. While the aesthetic accelerant increased people's desirability as a short-term fling prospect and as a platonic pal — a rise of 0.09 in both categories — there was no statistical improvement in how they were seen as long-term partners. It's unclear why Botox didn't up people's image as soulmate material, but scientists noted that the jabs had no effect on the perception of character traits either. 'We did not see any benefits of treatment on how competent, intelligent, charismatic, friendly or trustworthy people were perceived to be,' said Jaeger. Interestingly, while small amounts of botox did not significantly enhance physical appeal, many people report that, 'after treatment, they find it easier to make friends and that they make a better impression on others,' per Jaeger. Dr. Jaeger attributed this phenomenon to a placebo effect of sorts. 'It is plausible that people have more success socially, not because they look different and people treat them differently, but because they think they do and act more confidently around others (sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy),' he said.
The Independent
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Study finds deceptively simple solution to attractiveness beats botox
Botox promises smoother, wrinkle free skin and a fresher face, but researchers have found there is a much cheaper option if looking more attractive is the aim - simply smiling. Researchers found injectable treatments such as dermal fillers and Botox boosted the participants perceived attractiveness by 0.07 points on a seven points scale. That means if someone was rated a four out of seven on attractiveness before the treatment might have been rated a 4.07 out of seven afterwards. However, there were far simpler methods that did not involve a needle that reaped even greater rewards. Simply smiling rather than sitting with a blank expression improved perceived attractiveness by about 0.4 points out of seven – that's six times greater than the effects of Botox. Make-up also offered an even greater attractiveness boost of about 0.6 points. Botox is the brand name for botulinum toxin an injectable prescription medication that's used to temporarily block nerve signals to muscles causing them to relax, and as a result, smooth out wrinkles. But prices for the treatment start at around £300- making make-up a far cheaper option if you are looking to make yourself appear more attractive. The study, conducted by researchers in the Netherlands and published in the journal Perception, followed 114 people who underwent Botox and dermal filler treatments. More than 3,000 judges marked their changes in appearance from before and after photographs. They judged attractiveness and other character traits including how intelligent they were, charismatic, healthy, friendly or trustworthy just from looks. Although Botox did not boost a person's perceived intelligence or health, it did boost how youthful people were perceived to be by 0.13 points. There was also a small but statistically significant boost of 0.09 points for how desirable people were seen to be for a short romantic fling. Similarly, Botox gave a 0.09-point increase for platonic likability. But when it came to how desirable people were perceived to be as a potential long-term partner there was no statistically significant improvement. 'Our results suggest that a single session of minimally invasive facial aesthetic treatment leads to more positive perceptions on dimensions related to attractiveness, but these effects are relatively small,' study authors said. But researchers also suggested that people seek out treatments such as Botox to 'improve feelings of self-worth, confidence, and happiness' rather than their attractiveness. Bastian Jaeger of Tilburg University, who led the research told the Times: 'It is plausible that people have more success socially, not because they look different and people treat them differently, but because they think they do and act more confidently around others — a sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy.'
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What is the 'Qatargate' scandal roiling Israel?
Israel has been gripped by allegations linking aides of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to financing from Qatar, which hosts Hamas leaders and helped broker the release of hostages from Gaza. Dubbed "Qatargate" by Israeli media, the reports that sparked the investigation claimed that some of the people closest to Netanyahu were recruited to promote the image of Qatar, an enemy state, in Israel. - What do we know? - At least two of Netanyahu's aides are suspected of receiving payments from the Qatari government to promote Doha's interests in Israel. With the investigation ongoing, some details in the investigation remain unclear. Allegations of ties between members of Netanyahu's close circle and the Qatari government have swirled in the Israeli press since mid-2024. The affair ramped up Monday when two aides, one current and one former, were arrested and Netanyahu was called in for questioning in a probe he slammed as a "political witch hunt". Though the Israeli leader is not a suspect, he is separately on trial over corruption and breach of trust allegations. "They are holding Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein hostage," Netanyahu said in an angry video post after being questioned. An Israeli court on Tuesday extended the detention of the two aides for an additional three days, until Thursday. Qatari officials did not immediately respond for comment when contacted by AFP. - Who are the suspects? - Yonatan Urich, who has been working closely with Netanyahu for most of the past decade, started out as the social media manager for the prime minister's Likud party. Urich also co-owns a media consulting firm called Perception with Yisrael Einhorn, who has also worked with Netanyahu. It is not the first time influential Israeli figures have been accused of receiving payments from Qatar. According to Israeli media reports, Perception was reportedly hired to improve Qatar's image ahead of the 2022 World Cup, though Urich and the firm denied the claims at the time. Eli Feldstein is already under investigation for leaking classified documents to journalists during the short time he worked unofficially as the prime minister's military affairs spokesman. According to reports, Netanyahu was seeking to offer Feldstein a more permanent role but after failing to receive the necessary security clearance, he remained an external contractor. Last month, an investigation by Israel's Channel 12 alleged that while working for Netanyahu, Feldstein received a salary from Jay Footlik, a known US lobbyist for Qatar. Further reports on Monday said that Feldstein promoted Qatar to Israeli journalists and arranged trips for them to Doha. Footlik owns a consulting firm, Third Circle Inc., registered under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) as working for Qatar. An Israeli court on Tuesday said suspicions were related to Third Circle and funds aimed at "projecting a positive image of Qatar" in relation to its role as a mediator for a truce and hostage release agreement in Gaza. A final name that has been linked to the affair is Israeli businessman Gil Birger, who this month told Israel's state broadcaster that he had been asked by Footlik to pay Feldstein through his company. - What's the significance? - Jonathan Rynhold, head of political studies at Bar-Ilan University, told AFP that the affair "ties all bad things relating to Netanyahu together in one package." "This links Netanyahu directly to the policy of appeasing Hamas," Rynhold said, referring to Israel allowing Qatar to send millions of dollars in cash into Gaza that many now believe strengthened Hamas and enabled it to conduct its October 7, 2023 attack. Qatar has previously rejected the claims as false, saying they were driven by internal Israeli politics. Still, the affair has piled more pressure on Netanyahu, who has clashed with the judiciary over his bid to sack Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet domestic security agency. Bar's relationship with the Netanyahu government soured after he blamed the executive for the security fiasco of Hamas's October 2023 attack, and crucially, following a Shin Bet probe into Qatargate. - What next for Netanyahu? - It is unclear how Netanyahu will manage the fallout from the affair. "It is too early to say how it will develop," said Professor Gideon Rahat of the Hebrew University. "Will he need to sacrifice these two people? If he sacrifices them, will they open their mouths?" Rahat said. For now, he is fighting back and "framing it as though the secret service is after him because he wants to kick out the head of the secret service", Rahat added. "In a normal country, if the prime minister had spies in his office, he would resign, but we are not in normal times." reg/acc/ser
