Texas Weekly Online

Texas-trans-white
Menu
Menu

Year: 2025

Trump admin targets $3.3B homeless housing program, 170,000 people could face return to streets: report

Trump admin targets .3B homeless housing program, 170,000 people could face return to streets: report

The Trump administration is looking to cut funding for a program that provides permanent housing to the homeless, a move that may leave those the program aims to help back on the streets, according to a report. More than 170,000 people could be at risk of experiencing homelessness when more than half the funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) permanent housing program is cut, Politico reported on Monday, citing three HUD employees, internal HUD documents and a person with knowledge of the Continuum of Care (CoC) program. The cut funds will be moved to transitional housing assistance with some work or service requirements, according to the internal documents and those with knowledge of the situation. The cuts could have a greater impact on rural areas that have less access to city and state funds to supplement federal dollars, the people told the outlet. “When the subsidy and the support that goes along with those subsidies is removed, it puts people at grave risk,” said the person with inside knowledge of the CoC program. “And most of these folks without these supports will likely end up back in emergency shelters or back on our nation’s streets.” HUD LAUNCHES CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING: ‘RIDING THE COATTAILS’ HUD Secretary Scott Turner wrote in a  Fox News Digital opinion piecei earlier this month about a “paradigm shift” in the department’s approach to homelessness and housing. “But our goal is to let HUD use real, proven effective strategies, and there is no evidence that giving free apartments to the homeless without preconditions or participation requirements – like job training or treatment – leads to good outcomes,” Turner wrote.  TOP TRUMP OFFICIAL VOWS TO END ‘CYCLE OF GOVERNMENT DEPENDENCY’ IN HOMELESS CRACKDOWN “There is evidence, however, that countless lives have been lost to overdoses in HUD-funded housing because of this failed ideology,” the secretary continued. Turner wrote that HUD wants to continue to help support work that aims to aid those experiencing homelessness and battling addiction to recover and become self-sufficient. Permanent housing funding for 2026 is currently $3.3 billion and could be cut in half to $1.1 billion through the Trump administration’s effort, according to Politico. 

Trump’s Gaza peace plan welcomed by Arab and Islamic countries, the West

Trump’s Gaza peace plan welcomed by Arab and Islamic countries, the West

United States President Donald Trump has proposed a 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza after holding talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who welcomed the proposal. The new proposal, which calls for the disarmament of Hamas, has been welcomed by the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs in the occupied West Bank, along with some regional Arab countries. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Hamas says that it is studying the US proposal “in good faith”, while the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group says that the plan is a “recipe to blow up the region”. Below are the reactions from regional and Western countries. Palestine The PA said that it welcomes the “sincere and tireless efforts to end the war on Gaza, and affirms its confidence in his ability to find a path to peace”. “It reiterates its shared commitment to working with the United States, regional countries, and partners to end the war on Gaza through a comprehensive agreement that guarantees the delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to Gaza, the release of hostages and prisoners,” it said in a statement published by the Palestinian afa news agency. It also called for the “establishment of mechanisms that protect the Palestinian people, ensure respect for the ceasefire and security for both parties, prevent the annexation of land and the displacement of Palestinians, halt unilateral actions that violate international law, release Palestinian tax funds, lead to a full Israeli withdrawal, and unify Palestinian land and institutions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” it said. “It also ends the occupation and paves the way for a just peace based on the two-state solution, with an independent and sovereign State of Palestine living side by side with the State of Israel in security, peace, and good neighborliness, in accordance with international law,” the statement added. Advertisement The PIJ, a Palestinian armed group fighting alongside Hamas, called Trump’s plan a “recipe for continued aggression against the Palestinian people. Through this, Israel is attempting – via the United States – to impose what it could not achieve through war,” the group said in a statement. “Therefore, we consider the American-Israeli declaration a formula for igniting the region.” Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye UAE The foreign ministers of the above countries released a joint statement welcoming Trump’s “sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza, and assert their confidence in his ability to find a path to peace”. “Along these lines, the ministers welcome the announcement by President Trump regarding his proposal to end the war, rebuild Gaza, prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people and advance a comprehensive peace, as well as his announcement that he will not allow the annexation of the West Bank,” the statement added. The statement went on to say that the countries are willing to work with the “United States to end the war in Gaza through a comprehensive deal that ensures unrestricted delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid to Gaza, no displacement of the Palestinians, the release of hostages, a security mechanism that guarantees the security of all sides, full Israeli withdrawal, rebuilds Gaza and creates a path for a just peace on the basis of the two state solution, under which Gaza is fully integrated with the West Bank in a Palestinian state in accordance with international law as key to achieving regional stability and security”. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Erdogan has hailed Trump for his efforts to broker a ceasefire. “I commend US President Donald Trump’s efforts and leadership aimed at halting the bloodshed in Gaza and achieving a ceasefire,” Erdogan said in a statement. He added that Turkiye would continue to support the diplomatic process, and is committed to helping establish “a just and lasting peace acceptable to all parties”. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sharif posted on X that he welcomed the plan. “I am also convinced that durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel would be essential in bringing political stability and economic growth to the region,” he wrote. “It is also my firm belief that President Trump is fully prepared to assist in whatever way necessary to make this extremely important and urgent understanding to become a reality. “I laud President Trump’s leadership and the vital role played by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in bringing an end to this war.” Advertisement He added: “I also strongly believe that the implementation of the two state proposal is essential to ensure lasting peace in the region.” Israeli opposition politician Benny Gantz Gantz said on X: “I laud President Trump’s extraordinary efforts to secure a hostage deal and safeguard Israeli security. Now is the time for initiative.” “President Trump’s plan must be implemented, our hostages brought home, Israel’s operational freedom maintained, Hamas’ terror regime in Gaza replaced and moderate Arab States instated instead as I proposed a year and a half ago. “We must not miss out on the opportunity to bring back the hostages, safeguard our security and catalyse a ‘Strategic Flip’ expanding the circles of regional normalisation,” he added. France “I expect Israel to engage resolutely on this basis. Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow this plan,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement on X. “These elements must pave the way for in-depth discussions with all relevant partners to build a lasting peace in the region, based on the two-state solution and on the principles endorsed by 142 UN member states, at the initiative of France and Saudi Arabia.” United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US Administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery, by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages.” The controversial former prime minister, Tony Blair, called the plan “bold and intelligent”, adding that it “can end the war, bring

Have Trump and Netanyahu really agreed on a Gaza peace plan? Key takeaways

Have Trump and Netanyahu really agreed on a Gaza peace plan? Key takeaways

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, US President Donald Trump said the leaders were “close” to achieving peace in the Middle East. “At the very least, at a minimum very, very close,” Trump said during a joint news conference at the White House. He outlined his new 20-point plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza and secure the release of Israeli captives still being held in the Palestinian territory. Diplomatic sources have told Al Jazeera that Hamas’s negotiating team is studying Trump’s plan to end the war. Here are the key takeaways: Trump thanks Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan “Thank you very much, everybody. This is a big, big day, a beautiful day, potentially one of the great days ever in civilisation,” Trump said as the news conference started. “And I’m not just talking about Gaza. Gaza is one thing, but we’re talking about much beyond Gaza. The whole deal, everything getting solved. It’s called peace in the Middle East,” he added. “Prime Minister Netanyahu and I have just concluded an important meeting on many vital issues, including Iran, trade, the expansion of the Abraham Accords, and, most importantly, we discussed how to end the war in Gaza, but it’s just a part of the bigger picture, which is peace in the Middle East, and let’s call it eternal peace in the Middle East,” Trump said. He thanked Netanyahu and leaders from the Middle East, as well as Turkiye, Indonesia, Pakistan and Europe. US President Donald Trump [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters] Trump introduces his plan Trump introduced his plan to end the war, noting that many countries had contributed to its development. Advertisement “This afternoon, after extensive consultation with our friends and partners throughout the region, I’m formally releasing our principles for peace, which people have really liked, I must say,” Trump said. He went on to outline some of the central commitments in the plan: “Under the plan, Arab and Muslim countries have committed, and in writing, in many cases … to demilitarise Gaza, and that’s quickly. Decommission the military capabilities of Hamas and all other terror organisations. Do that immediately,” he said. “We’re relying on the countries…  to deal with Hamas. And I’m hearing that Hamas wants to get this done, too. That’s a good thing,” he added. “The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for PEACEFUL and prosperous co-existence.” https://t.co/Vk7K5YNIhj — The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 29, 2025 He then expanded on dismantling Hamas’s operational capacity. “And destroy all terror infrastructure … including the tunnels, weapons and production facilities. There’s a lot of production facilities that we’re destroying. It’ll also help train local police forces in the areas that we’re discussing, right now, in particular in and around Gaza, working with the new transitional authority in Gaza.” Turning back to the role of Arab and Muslim nations, Trump emphasised the need for collaboration. “Arab and Muslim nations need to be allowed the chance to fulfil these commitments of dealing with Hamas. They have to deal with them because they were the one group that we have not dealt with. I haven’t dealt with them.” “But the Arab countries are going to, and Muslim countries, are going to be dealing with Hamas. And I believe they’ve already been there. I think they probably have an understanding. They haven’t, maybe, mentioned that, but I would imagine they do. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone as far as they’ve gone.” Governing Gaza Under Trump’s plan, a “technocratic” leadership of Palestinians, unaffiliated with any political faction, will govern Gaza on a day-to-day basis after the end of the war. But that Palestinian leadership will be selected not by the Palestinian people, but by a new international body that would oversee the implementation of the peace plan. Trump said this organisation, called the “board of peace”, would be tasked with ensuring the agreement’s success and bringing together key regional and international leaders. He said that the oversight body would be chaired by him, personally. Advertisement “It would be headed by a gentleman known as President Donald J Trump of the United States. That’s what I want, some extra work to do, but it’s so important that I’m willing to do it,” Trump said. Trump explained that the body would also include other leaders. “We’ll do it right … We’ll have a board. One of the people that wants to be on the board is the UK former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Good man, very good man. And some others.” “Hamas and other terrorist factions will play no role in the board,” Trump added. Gaza’s security and long-term governance Trump’s plan speaks of an international stabilisation force (ISF) that the US and its Arab and other partners will set up to oversee the security of Gaza after Hamas is demilitarised. “This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces,” the plan outlines. But Netanyahu, standing next to Trump at the news conference, suggested that Israel has other ideas. “Israel will retain security responsibility, including a security perimeter, for the foreseeable future,” Netanyahu said. “Gaza will have a peaceful civilian administration that is run neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority, but by those committed to a genuine peace with Israel.” Netanyahu’s comments are also at odds with Trump’s plan on Gaza’s long-term governance. The plan suggests that the Palestinian Authority can take over Gaza’s governance in the long run if it implements a series of reforms. Hamas still needs to respond “So now, it’s time for Hamas to accept the terms of the plan that we’ve put forward today. And again, this is a different Hamas than we were dealing with, because I guess over 20,000 have been killed,” Trump said. “Their leadership has been killed three times over. So, you’re really dealing with different people than we’ve

Beyond Himalayas: Ladakh’s cry for justice

Beyond Himalayas: Ladakh’s cry for justice

On September 24, protests for local rights turned violent in Leh, where an office of the BJP was vandalized and set on fire.Locals accused the BJP of giving false promises. Later, four protesters were killed in police firing.