Cuban Minister Quits After Scoffing at Communist Island's Poor
Marta Elena Feito Cabrera's resignation was accepted for her 'lack of objectivity and sensibility' in discussing 'real and unwanted issues that affect our society,' state-run news outlet Cubadebate reported Wednesday.
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FEMA Chief Quits in Disgust at Kristi Noem's Texas Flood Response
The head of FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue Branch has resigned, telling colleagues that the Trump administration's disastrous response to the deadly flooding in Texas had driven him over the edge, CNN reported. Ken Pagurek, who had worked in that branch for more than a decade, reportedly told colleagues that his departure Monday from FEMA had come after mounting frustrations with the Trump administration's efforts to gut the disaster aid agency. But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's pitifully delayed response to the flooding over the Fourth of July weekend was apparently the straw that broke the camel's back. Noem had severely botched FEMA's Texas response by failing to renew contracts with companies staffing FEMA call centers, resulting in a majority of calls going unanswered for days as the floodwaters raged. The secretary dismissed the reporting as 'fake news.' She also reportedly delayed FEMA's initial response by instituting a policy that required her to personally sign off on all DHS expenditures exceeding $100,000. FEMA officials, who were unaware of the new rule, didn't receive Noem's go-ahead for 72 hours. In his resignation letter, Pagurek didn't mention the floods at all. 'This decision was not made lightly, and after much reflection and prayer, it is the right path for me at this time,' he wrote. 'I have been continually inspired by the unwavering dedication, unmatched courage, and deep-seated commitment we share for saving lives and bringing hope in the face of devastation.' One DHS spokesperson defended the response to the floods, while another criticized Pagurek's decision, saying that it was 'laughable that a career public employee, who claims to serve the American people, would choose to resign over our refusal to hastily approve a six-figure deployment contract without basic financial oversight.' 'We're being responsible with taxpayer dollars, that's our job,' the second spokesperson said. Last month, Donald Trump said he plans to 'phase out' FEMA after this year's hurricane season, and future disbursements would come straight from him. 'We're going to give it out directly. It'll be from the president's office. We'll have somebody here, could be Homeland Security,' Trump said at the time. Clearly, putting Noem in charge of personally approving decisions in a disaster comes at a cost, and the Trump administration's mismanagement of relief is more far-reaching than just the flooding in Texas.
Bloomberg
an hour ago
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Here's Who Could Replace Japan's Ishiba If He Resigns
Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is facing speculation that his days are numbered after facing a historic defeat in the upper house election on Sunday. So far he's denied local media reports that he will be resigning, but reports have said he could announce his resignation as soon as this month to take responsibility over the electoral losses.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba reportedly preparing to resign by end of August
Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba is preparing to step down by the end of August, according to local media reports, following a significant electoral defeat and the conclusion of a high-stakes trade agreement with the United States. Mr Ishiba, who has faced mounting criticism from within his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after his coalition lost its majority in Sunday's upper house election, has reportedly informed close aides of his intention to resign. Japan's Yomiuri newspaper reported that Mr Ishiba told his inner circle on Tuesday that he would explain how he planned to take responsibility for the election results once trade negotiations with the US had been resolved. The Mainichi and the Sankei newspapers also reported that his formal announcement is expected next month, once key national events conclude. On Wednesday, US president Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he had finalised a 'massive' trade deal with Japan involving $550bn in Japanese investments into the US economy. The agreement also includes a reduction of tariffs on Japanese goods from a proposed 25 per cent to 15 per cent. "This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for the fact that we will continue to always have a great relationship with the Country of Japan,' he wrote on Truth Social. Mr Ishiba responded cautiously when asked about the impact of the deal on his political future. 'I can't say until I scrutinise the outcome of the agreement,' he told reporters, adding that he intended to speak with Mr Trump once he had been briefed by Japan's chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa. Auto exports, which represent more than a quarter of Japan's total exports to the US, will also see reduced tariffs under the agreement, Mr Ishiba noted, calling the 15 per cent rate 'the lowest figure among countries that have a trade surplus with the US'. Despite widespread calls for him to step down, the prime minister had argued that it would be irresponsible to vacate his position amid ongoing economic challenges. 'I will stay in office and do everything in my power to chart a path toward resolving these challenges,' Mr Ishiba said in a news conference on Monday. He is expected to meet senior LDP figures and three former prime ministers later on Wednesday to discuss the implications of the election results and his likely resignation. Once Mr Ishiba formally steps aside, the ruling party must organise a leadership election to select his successor. However, with the LDP-Komeito coalition no longer holding a majority in either house of parliament, the new leader may face difficulty securing the required support in a parliamentary vote to become prime minister. August is traditionally a politically significant month in Japan. This year, it includes commemorations of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the anniversary of the end of World War II on 15 August, and the Tokyo-hosted international conference on African development from 20 to 22 August. Sources suggest Mr Ishiba is likely to resign only after these events have concluded. Meanwhile, Mr Ishiba's approval ratings have dropped sharply in recent days, with a major national poll showing support for his administration falling to just above 20 per cent – a threshold often considered unsustainable for a sitting government. 'What this means is that we're sort of entering a period of speculation as to who's going to be the next leader,' William Chou, deputy director of the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute, told Bloomberg. 'Right now it's just a lot of speculation.'
