Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

The Trump administration announced Monday it will revoke protection for 9,000 Afghan refugees, including many who supported US forces. Just days earlier, the Alaska House unanimously passed a resolution urging the federal government to restart evacuations and resume visa processing. House Joint Resolution 13, introduced by Representative Will Stapp of Fairbanks, aims to support Afghan allies left stranded overseas. Stapp, a Republican and Iraq War veteran, described local interpreters and officers who risked their lives to aid US missions. On the House floor, Stapp emphasized fulfilling promises made to those who stood beside American soldiers in dangerous combat zones. He…

A New Zealand committee has recommended suspending the new Indigenous MPs after they performed a protest haka during a controversial vote last year. On Wednesday, the Privileges Committee proposed suspending Te Pāti Māori leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for 21 days.  The committee also recommended suspending 22-year-old MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, the youngest in parliament, for 7 days over her actions. According to their report, Maipi-Clarke received a lighter punishment after sending the Speaker a written letter of contrition. The incident occurred in November when Maipi-Clarke tore a bill and launched into a haka during a legislative session. Her party…

President Donald Trump announced that India dropped tariffs on US goods signaling a significant shift in ongoing trade discussions. Speaking in Doha during a business forum Trump stated India agreed to eliminate tariffs on most American imports immediately. India’s commerce ministry has not yet responded publicly. Trump shared these remarks while discussing Apple’s decision to move iPhone production from China to India in the coming months. He said he discouraged Apple CEO Tim Cook from expanding in India. Trump claimed he reminded Cook that Apple had benefited from US tolerance in its manufacturing in China for many years. The president…

Lawmakers in the Alaska House approved the capital budget for 2025 on Wednesday, advancing a modest construction and renovation package statewide. The House passed Senate Bill 57, the official capital budget, by a 21-19 vote split cleanly along caucus and party lines.  This year’s proposal includes just $167.9 million in general-purpose funds, reflecting tight oil revenues and decreased federal financial support. In contrast, lawmakers spent over $750 million on infrastructure two years ago, but economic conditions limited options for 2025 planning. Representative Calvin Schrage, co-chair of the capital budget committee, said the team had to reject many worthwhile projects this…

Alaska officials responded to a Red Dog Mine water spill after a pump failure released treated water into the surrounding tundra and creek. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation confirmed that approximately 400,000 gallons of treated process water were spilled early Wednesday morning.  A failed slurry pump at Red Dog Mine caused the incident with water escaping the mill and flowing into nearby containment areas. Most of the spill reached a designated gravel road and controlled basin, but some entered the creek and the open tundra. Officials estimate between 100 and 1,000 gallons flowed beyond containment, reaching thawed tundra and…

Burberry has announced plans to cut approximately 1,700 jobs worldwide by 2027 as part of a broader effort to reduce costs by £100 million annually. The British label, renowned for its iconic trench coats and distinctive check pattern, announced a sharp financial downturn, including a £66 million loss in the past financial year.  Most job cuts are expected to affect head office staff, particularly in the UK, where most of its workforce is based. The company also plans to reorganize store staffing schedules to match peak shopping times, increasing job reductions. A notable change will occur at Burberry’s Castleford factory…

Bangladesh’s Election Commission has officially canceled the registration of the Awami League, blocking the former ruling party from contesting the upcoming national election, which is expected to take place by mid-2025. The move follows a sweeping government crackdown under the country’s interim leadership led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. On Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs formally banned all Awami League-related political activity due to the Anti-Terrorism Act.  The order prohibits publications of online content, public gatherings, and all forms of organizational operation by the party and its affiliates until legal proceedings against its leadership are concluded. The…

A man is dead following an officer-involved shooting late Monday night in East Anchorage, according to the local police. Anchorage Police Department (ADP) Chief Sean Case said at a Tuesday morning press conference that two officers pulled over a vehicle near the 300 block of Bragaw Street shortly after 11:30 pm. The car was reportedly stopped for having at least one headlight out. As the officers approached the vehicle, the officer on the passenger side observed a firearm in the driver’s lap area. Following a brief verbal exchange with the vehicle’s occupants, the officer used their weapon, fatally striking the…

CEO Ben Minicucci confirmed that Alaska Airlines will launch its first  European route from Seattle in 2026. The route marks the airline’s first European expansion and follows its $1.9 billion merger with Hawaiian Airlines. Finalized in September, that deal has jumpstarted Alaska’s international ambitions and widened its access to long-haul infrastructure. The company plans to add 12 international nonstop routes from Seattle by 2030, using widebody aircraft to access new markets. Flights to Seoul and Tokyo have already been announced and are scheduled for September and this week. Hawaiian’s prior experience and airport presence in Asia made these routes possible.…

Nissan confirmed Friday that it would eliminate 11,000 more jobs and shut seven factories as it faces mounting losses. The Japanese automaker is restructuring aggressively after weak sales in China and heavy discounting in the U.S. severely hurt earnings. Nissan’s newly appointed CEO, Ivan Espinosa, announced the latest layoffs, totaling about 20,000 job losses over the year. That figure represents roughly 15% of Nissan’s 133,500-person global workforce, including 6,000 employees at the Sunderland plant in the UK. Company officials have not confirmed if these global job cuts will directly affect the Sunderland factory. Espinosa, formerly Nissan’s chief planner and motorsports…

President Donald Trump landed in Riyadh on Tuesday to kick off his Middle East visit, spotlighting business deals while navigating a major international crisis. Trump’s trip includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, where he plans to focus heavily on economic ties.  His first engagements include a Saudi state visit, a summit with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, and a US-Saudi business forum. Senior White House officials confirmed that Trump will prioritize investment, regional stability, and cooperation with US allies in the Gulf. Officials emphasized that a stable Middle East boosts mutual prosperity for regional powers and…

A shooting in Alaska on late Friday night left a woman seriously injured after she pointed a realistic BB gun at an officer. At around 10:26 pm, Alaska State Troopers responded to a home in the Meadow Lakes area west of Wasilla for a welfare check. The woman had made multiple 911 calls, prompting the trooper’s arrival at the residence to assess the situation. Troopers said the officer made contact with the woman at the front door and asked her several times to come outside unarmed. Instead of complying, the woman raised what appeared to be a semiautomatic handgun and…