Protected portion of Alaska Permanent Fund grows by $4B thanks to apparent mistake
July 7 By Andrew Kitchenman The portion of the Alaska Permanent Fund protected by the state constitution has grown by $4 billion. That’s the result of a transfer from the fund’s earnings reserve. Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on Thursday he had stopped the $4 billion…
China’s Xi takes dig at U.S. in speech to political parties around world
July 6 By Yew Lun Tian Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged political parties worldwide to oppose any country that engages in “technology blockades”, an allusion to the United States which views China as its strategic competitor. As U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has…
U.N. envoy tells Belarus to free political prisoners as U.S hints at sanctions
July 5 By Alison Williams The U.N. Special Rapporteur told Belarus on Monday to immediately free some 530 jailed people whom rights groups consider “political prisoners” as Washington’s envoy hinted at the possibility of further economic sanctions against Minsk. Belarusian authorities have cracked down hard…
Alaska’s fiscal crisis — and a proposed solution
July 4 By Cliff Groh The state of Alaska has a problem taller than Denali. We cannot pay for our education, roads, public safety and residents’ Permanent Fund dividends. This problem has gotten much worse in recent years, and every year that passes makes it…
Here’s how Gov. Dunleavy’s vetoes affect foster youths, tourism marketing, legal services and more
July 3 By James Brooks On Wednesday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy unilaterally cut $215 million from Alaska’s state budget, eliminating increases proposed by the Alaska Legislature and mostly reinstating a budget proposal he introduced at the start of the year. Dunleavy, explaining his vetoes on Thursday,…
IOC giving athletes slightly more leeway to express views on political, social justice
July 2 By Rachel Axon The International Olympic Committee is giving athletes slightly more leeway to express views on political and social justice issues, according to new guidance it issued on Friday. Three weeks before the opening of the Tokyo Games, the IOC clarified its…
US and UK agencies accuse Russia of political cyber-campaign
July 1 By Gordon Corera US and UK intelligence have accused Russian military hackers of being behind an ongoing cyber-campaign to steal emails and other information, including from parliaments. The campaign is primarily focused on the United States and Europe. There are said to be…
Crews find more partial human remains from 1952 Alaska crash
June 30 By Mark Thiessen The solemn task of sifting through rocks, twigs and ice to find human remains as small as a fingernail continued this month on a glacier north of Anchorage, nearly 69 years after all 52 members of a military transport flight…
US Troops in Syria Attacked After Airstrikes on Militias
June 29 By Robert Burns U.S. troops in eastern Syria came under rocket attack Monday, with no reported casualties, one day after U.S. Air Force planes carried out airstrikes near the Iraq-Syria border against what the Pentagon said were facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups…
Voicing ‘affection’ for Americans, Francis meets US Secretary of State Blinken
June 28 By Frances D’Emilio Pope Francis on June 28 voiced affection for the American people as he met at length with the U.S. secretary of state, the Vatican said, without indicating whether the two discussed the sharp divide among U.S. bishops over giving Holy…