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…
Here’s which Alaska services would stop if the state government shuts down next week
June 27 By Andrew Kitchenman Routine road maintenance, veterans services, student loans, the PFD division — these are among the state programs that will be shut down if lawmakers don’t agree to make the budget effective by Thursday, July 1. Many other state services will…
US Domestic News Roundup: Biden meets Afghan leaders as U.S. troops leave, fighting rages; U.S. lawmakers reach policing reform deal, give no details and more
June 27 By Samanta Cam Fllowing is a summary of current US domestic news briefs. Biden meets Afghan leaders as U.S. troops leave, fighting rages U.S. President Joe Biden meets Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his former political foe, Abdullah Abdullah, on Friday to discuss…
‘We’ll remember’: Biden signs law designating Pulse nightclub site a national memorial
June 26 By Michael Collins A nightclub that was the site of a horrific shooting in Florida became a national memorial Friday. President Joe Biden signed a law designating the Pulse nightclub in Orlando as a national memorial at a White House ceremony that included…
Climate change coverage ignores heavy impact of heat on cold deaths
June 26 By Bjorn Lomborg Imagine the news media touting new research showing almost nobody died of influenza last year. The information would be true. In the United States, only 600 people died from the flu in 2020, down 97% from its usual level.But most…