INTERIOR’S ZINKE CHARTERED FLIGHT FROM OIL EXECUTIVE

WASHINGTON» Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke chartered a flight from Las Vegas to near his home in Montana this past summer aboard a plane owned by oil-and-gas executives, documents show.

The flight, along with private flights during a trip to the Virgin Islands, could propel Zinke into the debate over the costs of travel by Cabinet secretaries, some of whom have chosen charter jets and military planes at high expense to taxpayers over flying commercial.

In June, Zinke and staffers took a flight to Kalispell, Mont., aboard a plane owned by executives of a Wyoming oil-and-gas firm. The flight cost taxpayers $12,375, according to a Department of the Interior spokeswoman.

Senate confirms Jon Huntsman as ambassador to Russia.

WASHINGTON» The Senate confirmed Jon Huntsman as the next U.S. ambassador to Russia by voice vote Thursday, filling a critical diplomatic vacancy at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow. The former Utah governor, Republican presidential candidate and U.S. ambassador to Singapore and China went through his confirmation process swiftly and with strong bipartisan support.

Tribal leader who led Dakota Access pipeline fight voted out.

N.D.» The BISMARCK, American Indian official who had been the face and voice of the fight against the Dakota Access oil pipeline has been voted out of office. Results fom the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s general election showed Dave Archambault received only 37 percent of about 1,700 votes cast. His opponent, longtime tribal councilman and wildlife official Mike Faith, received 63 percent, according to the totals released Thursday.

Catalans say secession vote to happen.

BARCELONA,

Authorities in Catalonia intend to ensure that a disputed referendum on independence from Spain will take place Sunday despite a crackdown on the vote by the national government, the region’s interior chief said Thursday. Minister Joaquin Forn said Catalan officials are determined to proceed with Sunday’s vote for the region of 7.5 million people in northeastern Spain even though the central government says the referendum is illegal and can’t happen. “The (Catalan) government’s commitment is very clear: people will be able to vote,” Forn said in Barcelona, the main city in Catalonia.

North Korea claims almost 5 million have signed up to join its enormous army.

North Korea’s state newspaper reported Thursday that 4.7 million students and workers have expressed a desire to enlist or re-enlist in the nation’s army, potentially adding a boost in manpower to what is one of the largest armed forces in the world.

Price promises to repay costs of flights.

Fighting to keep his job, health secretary Tom Price said Thursday he’d write a personal check to reimburse taxpayers for his travel on charter flights taken on government business and pledged to fly commercial — “no exceptions.”