Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

In a strategic shift, Russia suspended the ban on the Taliban that had remained in place since 2003, allowing closer ties with Kabul’s rulers. The Russian Supreme Court lifted the terrorist organization designation on Thursday, acting swiftly on a request from the prosecutor general’s office. The move follows years of warming relations between Moscow and the Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan during the 2021 US withdrawal. According to the state-run Tass news agency, Judge Oleg Nefedov confirmed the ruling, declaring it effective immediately. President Vladimir Putin last year called the Taliban an ally in the fight against terrorism, a…

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected signs of possible life on K2-18 b, a distant exoplanet 124 light-years away in the constellation Leo. Scientists observed chemical footprints of two gases, dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), in the Planet’s atmosphere.  These gases are only produced by biological organisms on Earth, particularly marine microbes like phytoplankton. Lead researcher Nikku Madhusudhan of the University of Cambridge emphasized caution. While these findings suggest potential biosignatures, they do not confirm the existence of life. The signals were detected with 99.7% confidence, still short of the scientific standard of 99.9999% (five sigma) needed…

A new effort to address Alaska’s budget deficit is gaining momentum, with the Senate passing Alaska corporate income tax reform on Tuesday. Lawmakers voted 16-4 in favor of Senate Bill 113, which seeks to capture revenue from online sales made by out-of-state companies to Alaskans.  The bill states that selling to Alaskans qualifies as a business activity within the state, subjecting those companies to corporate tax. Senator Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, sponsored the legislation and said the reform could generate up to $65 million annually for the state treasury. Wielechowski explained that current loopholes let companies claim transactions occur in out-of-state…

North American Aerospace Defense Command tracked Russian aircraft in Alaska ADIZ for nearly two and a half hours on Monday. NORAD reported that the flight involved two TU-95 Bear H bombers, one TU-142 reconnaissance plane, one A-50 Mainstay radar aircraft, and two Su-35 Flanker fighter jets. The incident occurred approximately 290 miles northeast of Shemya Island in the Bering Sea, near Alaska’s westernmost Aleutian point. According to Captain Rebecca Garand, NORAD did not disclose the exact flight path due to classified intelligence and national security concerns. NORAD scrambled fighter jets in response, though officials declined to name specific bases or…

Transportation officials are finalizing a study on the Glen and Seward Highway connection, with results expected by October 2025. The study has gathered over 500 public responses, highlighting strong community interest and concern over neighborhood impacts. Alaska Department of Transportation Project Manager Galen Jones explained that the study aims to determine the need and possible location for a regional highway link. Jone said sub-area recommendations, offering smaller project ideas within affected zones, will likely form the study’s backbone. The Anchorage Transportation Fair featured the study as a key display, drawing attention from residents across the city. Depending on the final…

A proposed bill tied to the Alaska LNG pipeline construction would require a crucial spur line to reduce interior energy bills. Senator Mike Cronk, R-Tok and Northway, is spearheading Senate Bill 114 to prioritize affordable in-state gas distribution before focusing on export profits. Last week, the Senate Resources Committee approved Cronk’s bill and forwarded it to the Senate Finance Committee, even though key funding questions remain unresolved. Cronk and his supporters argue that the spur line is essential for lowering energy bills across households, schools, and local businesses in Alaska’s interior. The discussion gains urgency amid a warning of an…

Former President Joe Biden delivered a forceful speech on Social Security cuts, accusing Donald Trump and Elon Musk of damaging the system Americans rely on. Speaking at a disability advocacy event in Chicago, Biden said that recent federal workforce reductions threaten retirement and disability benefits. Biden referenced staff cuts and office closures to explain how the administration caused damage in less than 100 days. He pointed directly to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), run by Musk, for firing 7,000 Social Security Administration (SSA) employees.  Biden warned that the system is becoming inaccessible and accused the administration of trying to…

The United States escalated pressure on Tehran on Tuesday with an Iran nuclear enrichment program demanding a complete end to the uranium activities. Special envoy Steve Witkoff declared that Washington now expects Iran to halt and dismantle its nuclear enrichment and weaponization programs entirely. Just days before an important round of negotiations between American and Iranian officials starts, Witkoffs remarks seem to solidify the US stance. He was adamant in his statement that any final deal must ensure peace. In a Fox News interview, Witkoff implied that Iran may keep enriching uranium to 3.67% for use in civilian electricity. However,…

President Donald Trump reignited controversy on Monday when he claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky helped start the Russia war. His comments came a day after a devastating Russian missile strike killed 35 civilians and injured 117 more in Ukraine’s Sumy city.  He named Russian President Vladimir Putin, former President Joe Biden, and Zelensky as equally responsible for the war’s heavy casualties. While describing the Sumy attack as terrible, Trump claimed Russia had likely made a mistake, offering no explanation or evidence. Russian officials said their strike targeted Ukrainian soldiers and killed 60, though they failed to support this with verified…

Tribal communities in Alaska are sounding the alarm as Alaska food program funding cuts threaten food security and local economies. Federal grants totaling over $5.2 million supported the USDA’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) program across Alaska’s tribal regions. The LFPA program connected villages like Tyonek to regional food producers, helping build fragile supply chains in remote communities. Tyonek Grown Programs Manager Cayley Eller says their village used LFPA funding to expand local agriculture and feed families year-round. Without direct road access, Tyonek must fly in outside produce, making self-sustained agriculture critical to daily survival and nutrition. Eller emphasized that…

Amid growing backlash, wildlife activists are asking a state judge to stop Alaska’s controversial predator control program this spring immediately. The Alaska Wildlife Alliance filed an urgent request on April 10 for a court order blocking the Department of Fish and Game’s next phase. If granted, the order would halt this year’s planned killing of bears and wolves in Western Alaska’s remote landscape. Since 2002, state officials have killed 180 bears and 19 wolves to help the declining Mulchatna Caribou Herd recover its numbers.  Department leaders insist predators, especially bears, eat too many calves during the caribou calving season, weakening…

A Fort Wainwright soldier was arrested on Friday for murder after the police discovered a man shot in the head inside a Fairbanks apartment. Authorities say 24-year-old Adayus Robertson faces charges of first-degree murder, evidence tampering, and probation violations linked to prior cases. Police responded around 10 a.m. to a report of gunfire at an apartment on 27th Avenue in Fairbanks, Alaska. Joseph Casas, a 37-year-old, was discovered inside by authorities with a gunshot wound to his head; after being brought to the hospital, the staff declared him dead. In a statement, Fairbanks police said Robertson, an active duty soldier…