Latest news with #Wood
The Hindu
an hour ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
Aid finally started flowing into Gaza last week, ending a three-month blockade by Israel. In charge of aid operations was the newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a Swiss-based entity backed by the U.S and Israel. The GHF has started distributing aid in Gaza via four centralised distribution centres, and said it will open more hubs within a month. Aid will be delivered to the centres via armoured tanks operated by private subcontractors, who will also safeguard its operations. The BBC has noted the presence of Israeli soldiers near the distribution centres. The GHF aimed to reach one million people at the end of its first week of operations. Three of its sites are in the Rafah area in southern Gaza. A fourth camp is close to the Netzarim corridor in Central Gaza, controlled by the Israeli military. None of the sites are in the north, the region mainly targeted by Israel's strikes. Thousands have reportedly crossed Israeli military lines to access the aid sites. A GHF spokesperson said on May 30 that the Foundation had already distributed 2 million meals. However, only one site was reportedly active, and shut down after it ran out of supplies. Eyewitness accounts say aid packages have consisted of canned food, pasta, rice, cooking oil, biscuits and lentils. The GHF has said it will distribute meals with 1,750 calories- below the 2,100-calorie per day standard for meals used by UN agencies in emergency situations. A GHF document has reportedly promised to hand out water and hygiene kits at the sites as well. As per a New York Times report, the GHF resulted from 'private meetings of like-minded officials, military officers and businesspeople with close ties to the Israeli government'. Until his resignation last Sunday, it was run by Jake Wood, a U.S military veteran who also headed a relief group called Team Rubicon, and consists of a group of American security contractors, army veterans and aid workers. It is unclear who is now in charge, and funding streams remain vague, with the U.S and Israel both denying financial backing. An AP report noted that the GHF claims that an unnamed government in the EU has committed around $100 million. The GHF aims to sidestep the UN as the main provider of aid to the devastated region. Earlier, Mr. Wood said parallel aid from the UN would continue till eight GHF hubs are established, and that non-humanitarian aid would also be distributed by the UN network. UN agencies had been moving food, medicine and other supplies across Gaza since the war began in October 2023, operating 400 distribution sites for aid before they were blocked by Israel. About a week back, Israel opened up the border to allow a small inflow of supplies, indicating that the UN would be able to distribute the supplies till the GHF was up and running. The initial operations of the GHF were further complicated by Palestinian civilians overrunning the aid distribution centre after it opened on Tuesday, resulting in injuries and at least three deaths. Hunger on the rise Hunger and desperation are on the rise in Gaza. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a multi-partner initiative focused on analysing nutrition and improving food security, warned in March last year that Gaza was facing a famine. UN estimates say that almost 2 million Gazans are on the brink of starvation; the WHO warned that hunger in Gaza threatened to permanently stunt the growth and cognitive development of an entire generation of children. The GHF said in a statement it is apolitical and that it won't displace Palestinians. However, it has been condemned by the UN and other aid agencies, which say that the mechanism would allow Israel to use food as a weapon, and that it violates humanitarian principles. Palestinians have also alleged that the aid effort by the GHF was disorganised, and was hampered by a lack of communication. Misinformation also proliferated on social media about the aid sites, claiming that looting had taken place or that centres were shut down. Further criticisms emerged after videos showed Palestinians running away from the perimeter of one of the aid centres to escape a projectile thrown by the security contractors. The GHF said in a statement that its personnel had 'encountered a tense and potentially dangerous crowd that refused to disperse' and had used 'non-lethal deterrents' to 'prevent escalation and ensure the safety of civilians and staff'. Israel has mooted for an alternative aid distribution system to avoid what it claims is theft by Hamas from the existing aid networks. Aid convoys of the UN have previously been attacked by Israel. Some of these strikes have killed aid workers as well. Hamas, meanwhile, has denied looting allegations. The Hamas-run interior ministry has warned Palestinians to be cautious while dealing with the GHF. In mid-2024, the U.S. built a humanitarian pier off Gaza to enable aid access to the strip, but Palestinians suspected that it would be used for military purposes. Rights organisations pointed out that this was eyewash to obfuscate Israel preventing all land crossings, even for aid. At one point, aid supplies were air-dropped to the war-torn region, a solution considered both dehumanising and ineffective by rights organisations The UN Relief and Works Agency, the primary aid organisation working to help Palestinians, has been undermined and hobbled. It has been targeted by misinformation and faced a withdrawal of funds and a ban imposed by Israel's Parliament. A former UNRWA representative called the GHF initiative 'aid-washing', meant to mask the starvation of Palestinians.
The Advertiser
15 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Mum begs to know missing daughter's whereabouts
A mother's spirits have dimmed as she admits her missing daughter may not be found alive, as a police investigation drags into a third week. Pheobe Bishop was last seen near Bundaberg airport in southern Queensland about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. There has been no sign of the 17-year-old in more than a fortnight and her mother Kylie Johnson is facing the reality that she may not find her daughter alive. "I still hold hope that Pheobe will come home, but I have to consider the possibility that she also won't," she said in a video statement released by Queensland Police. "If the worst-case scenario has happened, I at least need to know where she's resting." The family's lives have been changed for the worse since Pheobe disappeared, Ms Johnson said. "This is a pain no person or family should ever have to experience," she said. The teen has been described as a "beautiful, loving and kind person" with every day that passes without knowing her whereabouts weighing heavily on the family. Ms Johnson begged for anyone with even the smallest amount of information to contact police, as she believes her daughter would not just disappear and someone knows something. "I know that this investigation isn't over ... it will not be over for me until we find Pheobe," she said. Police are continuing to search the Gin Gin area, a town near Bundaberg, which is now the focus of the investigation. "Investigations are ongoing and police are continuing to run out several lines of inquiry," police said in a statement on Saturday. Officers had earlier focused on combing through Good Night Scrub National Park with homicide detectives, volunteers, cadaver dogs and divers deployed. The national park search has since been abandoned after several items of interest were seized for forensic examination. Police also received information that some other evidence may have been removed from the area. Meanwhile, two of Pheobe's housemates, James Wood and Tanika Kristan Bromley, have been charged with unrelated weapons offences. Police allegedly found a shortened firearm, two replica handguns and ammunition during a search of a grey Hyundai ix35 and a Gin Gin home. The home - where Pheobe lived with the pair - and the car, which was thought to have been used to take the teen to the airport, were declared crime scenes in the disappearance investigation. Wood, 34, was charged with one count each of unlawful possession of weapons (short firearm) and authority to possess explosives. Bromley, 33, was also charged with possessing/acquiring restricted items, unlawful possession of weapons and two counts of authority required to possess explosives. Bromley was granted bail at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday while Wood has been issued a notice to appear on June 13. Police have said the weapons charges were unrelated to Pheobe's disappearance and there was no suggestion Bromley or Wood were involved. Police are still appealing for information - particularly regarding the movements of the grey Hyundai between May 15 and May 18 in the Gin Gin area - to come forward. Pheobe is about 180cm tall with a pale complexion, long dyed red hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a green tank top and grey sweatpants, and carrying luggage. A mother's spirits have dimmed as she admits her missing daughter may not be found alive, as a police investigation drags into a third week. Pheobe Bishop was last seen near Bundaberg airport in southern Queensland about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. There has been no sign of the 17-year-old in more than a fortnight and her mother Kylie Johnson is facing the reality that she may not find her daughter alive. "I still hold hope that Pheobe will come home, but I have to consider the possibility that she also won't," she said in a video statement released by Queensland Police. "If the worst-case scenario has happened, I at least need to know where she's resting." The family's lives have been changed for the worse since Pheobe disappeared, Ms Johnson said. "This is a pain no person or family should ever have to experience," she said. The teen has been described as a "beautiful, loving and kind person" with every day that passes without knowing her whereabouts weighing heavily on the family. Ms Johnson begged for anyone with even the smallest amount of information to contact police, as she believes her daughter would not just disappear and someone knows something. "I know that this investigation isn't over ... it will not be over for me until we find Pheobe," she said. Police are continuing to search the Gin Gin area, a town near Bundaberg, which is now the focus of the investigation. "Investigations are ongoing and police are continuing to run out several lines of inquiry," police said in a statement on Saturday. Officers had earlier focused on combing through Good Night Scrub National Park with homicide detectives, volunteers, cadaver dogs and divers deployed. The national park search has since been abandoned after several items of interest were seized for forensic examination. Police also received information that some other evidence may have been removed from the area. Meanwhile, two of Pheobe's housemates, James Wood and Tanika Kristan Bromley, have been charged with unrelated weapons offences. Police allegedly found a shortened firearm, two replica handguns and ammunition during a search of a grey Hyundai ix35 and a Gin Gin home. The home - where Pheobe lived with the pair - and the car, which was thought to have been used to take the teen to the airport, were declared crime scenes in the disappearance investigation. Wood, 34, was charged with one count each of unlawful possession of weapons (short firearm) and authority to possess explosives. Bromley, 33, was also charged with possessing/acquiring restricted items, unlawful possession of weapons and two counts of authority required to possess explosives. Bromley was granted bail at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday while Wood has been issued a notice to appear on June 13. Police have said the weapons charges were unrelated to Pheobe's disappearance and there was no suggestion Bromley or Wood were involved. Police are still appealing for information - particularly regarding the movements of the grey Hyundai between May 15 and May 18 in the Gin Gin area - to come forward. Pheobe is about 180cm tall with a pale complexion, long dyed red hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a green tank top and grey sweatpants, and carrying luggage. A mother's spirits have dimmed as she admits her missing daughter may not be found alive, as a police investigation drags into a third week. Pheobe Bishop was last seen near Bundaberg airport in southern Queensland about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. There has been no sign of the 17-year-old in more than a fortnight and her mother Kylie Johnson is facing the reality that she may not find her daughter alive. "I still hold hope that Pheobe will come home, but I have to consider the possibility that she also won't," she said in a video statement released by Queensland Police. "If the worst-case scenario has happened, I at least need to know where she's resting." The family's lives have been changed for the worse since Pheobe disappeared, Ms Johnson said. "This is a pain no person or family should ever have to experience," she said. The teen has been described as a "beautiful, loving and kind person" with every day that passes without knowing her whereabouts weighing heavily on the family. Ms Johnson begged for anyone with even the smallest amount of information to contact police, as she believes her daughter would not just disappear and someone knows something. "I know that this investigation isn't over ... it will not be over for me until we find Pheobe," she said. Police are continuing to search the Gin Gin area, a town near Bundaberg, which is now the focus of the investigation. "Investigations are ongoing and police are continuing to run out several lines of inquiry," police said in a statement on Saturday. Officers had earlier focused on combing through Good Night Scrub National Park with homicide detectives, volunteers, cadaver dogs and divers deployed. The national park search has since been abandoned after several items of interest were seized for forensic examination. Police also received information that some other evidence may have been removed from the area. Meanwhile, two of Pheobe's housemates, James Wood and Tanika Kristan Bromley, have been charged with unrelated weapons offences. Police allegedly found a shortened firearm, two replica handguns and ammunition during a search of a grey Hyundai ix35 and a Gin Gin home. The home - where Pheobe lived with the pair - and the car, which was thought to have been used to take the teen to the airport, were declared crime scenes in the disappearance investigation. Wood, 34, was charged with one count each of unlawful possession of weapons (short firearm) and authority to possess explosives. Bromley, 33, was also charged with possessing/acquiring restricted items, unlawful possession of weapons and two counts of authority required to possess explosives. Bromley was granted bail at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday while Wood has been issued a notice to appear on June 13. Police have said the weapons charges were unrelated to Pheobe's disappearance and there was no suggestion Bromley or Wood were involved. Police are still appealing for information - particularly regarding the movements of the grey Hyundai between May 15 and May 18 in the Gin Gin area - to come forward. Pheobe is about 180cm tall with a pale complexion, long dyed red hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a green tank top and grey sweatpants, and carrying luggage. A mother's spirits have dimmed as she admits her missing daughter may not be found alive, as a police investigation drags into a third week. Pheobe Bishop was last seen near Bundaberg airport in southern Queensland about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. There has been no sign of the 17-year-old in more than a fortnight and her mother Kylie Johnson is facing the reality that she may not find her daughter alive. "I still hold hope that Pheobe will come home, but I have to consider the possibility that she also won't," she said in a video statement released by Queensland Police. "If the worst-case scenario has happened, I at least need to know where she's resting." The family's lives have been changed for the worse since Pheobe disappeared, Ms Johnson said. "This is a pain no person or family should ever have to experience," she said. The teen has been described as a "beautiful, loving and kind person" with every day that passes without knowing her whereabouts weighing heavily on the family. Ms Johnson begged for anyone with even the smallest amount of information to contact police, as she believes her daughter would not just disappear and someone knows something. "I know that this investigation isn't over ... it will not be over for me until we find Pheobe," she said. Police are continuing to search the Gin Gin area, a town near Bundaberg, which is now the focus of the investigation. "Investigations are ongoing and police are continuing to run out several lines of inquiry," police said in a statement on Saturday. Officers had earlier focused on combing through Good Night Scrub National Park with homicide detectives, volunteers, cadaver dogs and divers deployed. The national park search has since been abandoned after several items of interest were seized for forensic examination. Police also received information that some other evidence may have been removed from the area. Meanwhile, two of Pheobe's housemates, James Wood and Tanika Kristan Bromley, have been charged with unrelated weapons offences. Police allegedly found a shortened firearm, two replica handguns and ammunition during a search of a grey Hyundai ix35 and a Gin Gin home. The home - where Pheobe lived with the pair - and the car, which was thought to have been used to take the teen to the airport, were declared crime scenes in the disappearance investigation. Wood, 34, was charged with one count each of unlawful possession of weapons (short firearm) and authority to possess explosives. Bromley, 33, was also charged with possessing/acquiring restricted items, unlawful possession of weapons and two counts of authority required to possess explosives. Bromley was granted bail at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday while Wood has been issued a notice to appear on June 13. Police have said the weapons charges were unrelated to Pheobe's disappearance and there was no suggestion Bromley or Wood were involved. Police are still appealing for information - particularly regarding the movements of the grey Hyundai between May 15 and May 18 in the Gin Gin area - to come forward. Pheobe is about 180cm tall with a pale complexion, long dyed red hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a green tank top and grey sweatpants, and carrying luggage.
Perth Now
16 hours ago
- Perth Now
Mum begs to know missing daughter's whereabouts
A mother's spirits have dimmed as she admits her missing daughter may not be found alive, as a police investigation drags into a third week. Pheobe Bishop was last seen near Bundaberg airport in southern Queensland about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. There has been no sign of the 17-year-old in more than a fortnight and her mother Kylie Johnson is facing the reality that she may not find her daughter alive. "I still hold hope that Pheobe will come home, but I have to consider the possibility that she also won't," she said in a video statement released by Queensland Police. "If the worst-case scenario has happened, I at least need to know where she's resting." The family's lives have been changed for the worse since Pheobe disappeared, Ms Johnson said. "This is a pain no person or family should ever have to experience," she said. The teen has been described as a "beautiful, loving and kind person" with every day that passes without knowing her whereabouts weighing heavily on the family. Ms Johnson begged for anyone with even the smallest amount of information to contact police, as she believes her daughter would not just disappear and someone knows something. "I know that this investigation isn't over ... it will not be over for me until we find Pheobe," she said. Police are continuing to search the Gin Gin area, a town near Bundaberg, which is now the focus of the investigation. "Investigations are ongoing and police are continuing to run out several lines of inquiry," police said in a statement on Saturday. Officers had earlier focused on combing through Good Night Scrub National Park with homicide detectives, volunteers, cadaver dogs and divers deployed. The national park search has since been abandoned after several items of interest were seized for forensic examination. Police also received information that some other evidence may have been removed from the area. Meanwhile, two of Pheobe's housemates, James Wood and Tanika Kristan Bromley, have been charged with unrelated weapons offences. Police allegedly found a shortened firearm, two replica handguns and ammunition during a search of a grey Hyundai ix35 and a Gin Gin home. The home - where Pheobe lived with the pair - and the car, which was thought to have been used to take the teen to the airport, were declared crime scenes in the disappearance investigation. Wood, 34, was charged with one count each of unlawful possession of weapons (short firearm) and authority to possess explosives. Bromley, 33, was also charged with possessing/acquiring restricted items, unlawful possession of weapons and two counts of authority required to possess explosives. Bromley was granted bail at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday while Wood has been issued a notice to appear on June 13. Police have said the weapons charges were unrelated to Pheobe's disappearance and there was no suggestion Bromley or Wood were involved. Police are still appealing for information - particularly regarding the movements of the grey Hyundai between May 15 and May 18 in the Gin Gin area - to come forward. Pheobe is about 180cm tall with a pale complexion, long dyed red hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a green tank top and grey sweatpants, and carrying luggage.
Business Insider
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Cathie Wood Loses Confidence in Palantir Stock (PLTR) Ahead of Q1 Earnings
Cathie Wood's ARK Investment Management continues to trim holdings of Palantir (PLTR) ahead of the AI-driven data analytics firm's Q1 earnings, due on May 5. On May 2, ARK Invest disclosed selling $30.7 million worth of Palantir stock. Earlier on May 1, the investor reported a $2.65 million sale of PLTR shares. Protect Your Portfolio Against Market Uncertainty Discover companies with rock-solid fundamentals in TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter. Receive undervalued stocks, resilient to market uncertainty, delivered straight to your inbox. For those tracking ARK Invest's moves, ARK Invest has consistently held PLTR stock in multiple ETFs, showing Wood's strong belief in its data analytics and AI potential. Thus, the latest sales appear to be profit-taking, as Palantir stock has gained over 64% year-to-date, partly due to new defense contracts and expanding commercial applications. ARK Bets Big on Roku, GH, ABNB While selling PLTR, ARK Invest has increased its positions in other tech and healthcare companies. This shows a shift in capital toward areas with faster growth in the near future. On May 2, ARK doubled down on Roku (ROKU), buying 369,016 shares worth $24.8 million. With streaming competition heating up, Wood's bet suggests confidence in Roku's ability to maintain a strong position. Another major purchase was Guardant Health (GH), with ARK investing $20.5 million in the oncology-focused biotech firm. This aligns with ARK's long-term focus on precision medicine and AI-powered healthcare solutions. Also, Wood bought 49,560 shares of Airbnb (ABNB) valued at $6.1 million. The investment signals optimism in short-term rentals amid a strong travel rebound. Analysts' View Ahead of PLTR's Q1 Earnings Ahead of Q1 results, analysts expect Palantir to report earnings per share (EPS) of $0.13, up 62.5% from the prior-year quarter. Also, the company's revenue is expected to increase 35.9% to $862.17 million in the first quarter. While the projections show year-over-year growth, analysts remain less optimistic heading into Q1. Last week, RBC Capital analyst Rishi Jaluria reiterated a Sell rating on PLTR stock. Also, his price target of $4o implies a 67.8% downside potential from the current level. Is PLTR a Good Stock to Buy? Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on Palantir stock based on two Buys, eight Holds, and three Sells assigned in the past three months. The average PLTR stock price target is $89.17, implying a downside potential of 28.25%.
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Sky News AU
Pheobe Bishop's housemate James Wood pictured sleeping in car with dog after Gin Gin property declared crime scene as police discover weapons
Pheobe Bishop's male housemate, who was one of the last people to see the teen before she disappeared, spent the night sleeping in his car after his Gin Gin house was declared a crime scene. Gin Gin couple Tanika Bromley and James Wood were seen driving Pheobe, 17, to Airport Drive, Bundaberg, on May 15 before she vanished without a trace. Footage showed Pheobe never entered the terminal, despite her housemates claiming she was dropped off at the airport. Days after her disappearance, police established two crime scenes; one at the Gin Gin property she was living in with Wood and Bromley, and a second in the grey Hyundai she was last seen occupying. On Thursday, Wood was captured on video at a local park dozing in his car, as he slept in the drivers seat with his dog in the back. He was also seen with his hair coloured blonde and a long grown out beard, marking a drastic change in his appearance prior to Pheobe's disappearance. Speculation about Wood's dogs has run rife since the Gin Gin property was declared a crime scene. Neighbours have reported a stomach-churning smell from the house, as almost a dozen dead dogs were reportedly removed from the property, since police arrival. However, in the latest video Wood's dog appeared alive and sleeping in the backseat of his car. The public sighting of Wood comes after he was charged with weapons-related offences on Wednesday night. "Police allegedly located a shortened firearm and ammunition during a search of a grey Hyundai ix35 and a Gin Gin home, both of which had been declared crime scenes for an unrelated matter," Queensland Police wrote in a statement. Wood has been given a notice to appear before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on June 13. His partner Bromley also faced court just a few days prior to request bail for similar charges. Bromley was arrested in Bundaberg on Sunday, with offences including possession of restricted items and unlawful possession of weapons. Police allegedly located a shortened firearm, ammunition and two replica handguns, inside her grey Hyundai, but she was granted bail for her offences on Tuesday. Magistrate John McInnes told Bundaberg Magistrates Court, the 33-year-old seemed to have an "unhealthy interest" in weaponry, but her limited criminal record and possible subjections to "coercion, violence and duress" were in her favour, the ABC reported. She was granted bail with a curfew, and an order to report to the police station three times a week. Her matter is set to return to court on June 23. It has now been just over two weeks since Pheobe was last seen alive on her way to the airport to meet her high school sweetheart. She is described as approximately 180cm, pale complexion, long dyed red hair, and hazel eyes. Detectives are appealing to anyone with information, vision or sightings of a grey Hyundai ix35 between May 15 to 18 in the greater Gin Gin area to contact police. Her heartbroken mother Kylie Johnson has also urged people to "anyone and everyone" in the rural community of Gin Gin to help bring her daughter home.
