Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Plans to accept a Qatari jumbo jet as a temporary substitute for the presidential Air Force One were defended by US President Donald Trump. Despite possible moral and legal objections, Trump told reporters Monday that turning down the offer would make him a “stupid person.” Officials from Qatar have made it clear that they are just negotiating the short-term transfer of a high-end 747 aircraft, not the transfer of permanent ownership. Ali Al-Ansari denied a formal agreement and emphasised that legal reviews by both defence departments remain ongoing without final decisions today. The luxury plane’s approximately four hundred million dollars…

US citizen Edan Alexander ended his 18-month captivity when Hamas handed him over to the Red Cross on Monday morning. Alexander returned swiftly to Israeli-held territory, arriving at a military base for a medical evaluation and a family reunion. His mother, Yael, described hearing her son’s voice on the phone as the greatest gift imaginable after springing into action at Mother’s House. Hamas announced Alexander’s release following several days of indirect negotiations involving US mediators, Qatar, and Egypt. President Donald Trump claimed credit on social media, calling the American hostage release in Gaza a monumental step for peace efforts in…

140 miles from the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks has long battled severe air pollution during the cold months. However, recent data show a promising shift. Since 2015, Fairbanks’ winter air pollution levels have dropped by about 50% on the worst days.  Most of this pollution comes from wood-burning stoves, which release fine particulate matter into the air. These tiny particles, less than 2.5 micrometres wide, can enter the lungs and bloodstream, posing serious health risks. Despite challenges from natural geography like long-lasting temperature inversions and a lack of sunlight, the borough has taken practical steps. Burning practices have taken root from…

The India-Pakistan ceasefire appears to be holding, days after intense military exchanges killed dozens along the disputed border. Fighting erupted after gunmen killed 26 civilians, including tourists, in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam region on April 22.  India blamed a Pakistan-based group and responded with a military operation targeting nine locations across Pakistan and its part of Kashmir. Pakistan denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack but launched counterstrikes, claiming to hit 26 military sites in India, including its capital, Delhi. On Wednesday, India reported destroying multiple militant camps and said it killed over 100 fighters in retaliatory precision strikes. As the conflict…

US President Donald Trump proposed an 80% tariff on Chinese imports just days before critical trade negotiations with Beijing began. On Friday, Trump announced on social media, signaling a strong stance ahead of the talks in Switzerland. China’s Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying responded by expressing confidence in Beijing’s ability to handle trade disputes with the United States. The announcement comes after Trump imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese goods in April, which rattled global markets and reduced bilateral trade. Recent government data showed that China’s exports to the US declined more than 20% yearly in April, although exports rose 8.1%.…

A new study published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment suggests that a permafrost thaw in Alaska could damage roads and buildings by midcentury, costing between $37 billion and $51 billion. The findings highlight the growing financial toll of climate change on Alaska’s infrastructure. Lead author Elias Manos of the University of Connecticut said the study’s estimates surpass earlier projections thanks to more comprehensive data. Improved satellite imagery enabled researchers to inventory more roads, buildings, and structures, like storage tanks. A 2023 Arctic infrastructure study had previously pegged Alaska’s thaw-related transportation costs between $14 billion and $24.5 billion, plus $3…

A state judge has ruled that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game cannot proceed with its controversial bear killing plan this spring. Superior Judge Christina Rankin declared the agency’s predator control program unconstitutional despite an emergency authorization from the Alaska Board of Game.  The program designed to increase caribou numbers in the Mulchatna region has eliminated 175 brown bears, five black bears, and 19 wolves since spring 2023. Officials aimed to remove predators threatening the declining caribou population, but critics argue bears are not responsible for the herd’s collapse. On Wednesday, Judge Rankin responded to the Alaska Wildlife Alliance’s…

Apple has asked a federal appeals court to pause a judge’s ruling that threatens the company’s lucrative App Store model. The iPhone maker submitted its request on Wednesday after US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple deliberately violated her earlier injunction. That 2021 orders customers to use external payment systems beyond the App Store. Epic Games originally filed the antitrust lawsuit in 2020, accusing Apple of maintaining an illegal monopoly through its 15-30% commission fees. Judge Gonzalez Rogers rejected monopoly claims but agreed Apple unfairly blocked developers from offering cheaper outside payment options. She ordered Apple to change its…

President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget proposal aims to slash funding for Alaska’s Essential Air Service program by over 50%. On May 2, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announced the proposal, which reduces Essential Air Service funding by $308 million.  The administration argued the program wastes taxpayer dollars by subsidizing half-empty flights between airports located within easy commuting distances. Congress created Essential Air Service in 1978 to ensure rural communities retained air access after airline deregulation, fearing carriers would prioritize profitable urban routes. Alaska’s participation has steadily declined from 184 communities to 65, with Anchorage, Fairbanks,…

Alaska lawmakers have passed an internet sales tax to generate millions in new state revenue without raising taxes on residents. On Wednesday, the Alaska House voted 26-14 to approve the measure, which targets companies earning more than 50% of their sales online from Alaska customers. This tax is tied to funding a major education bill, House 57, awaiting Governor Mike Dunleavy’s decision. Senator Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, who sponsored the legislation, said it corrects a longstanding unfairness. The sales tax would require these companies to pay taxes on sales shipped to Alaska, even if the transactions are processed out of state.…

The Trump administration has moved to eliminate key climate services, announcing NOAA Arctic monitoring cuts that scientists say threaten vital research. This week, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information officially shut down its snow and ice data programs, impacting global and regional climate reporting. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) confirmed that NOAA’s discontinued services will halt updates to several core datasets for tracking Arctic changes. These datasets have long supported daily updates and historical analyses that show how Arctic sea ice is shrinking due to climate change. Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at the University of Alaska…

The Walt Disney Company made history on Wednesday when it announced that Abu Dhabi will open its first theme park in the Middle East. This landmark project will be located on Yas Island, a premier entertainment hub developed by Miral. Disney executives confirmed the new park will serve as the company’s seventh global resort, marking the first expansion since Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016. Officials expect the resort to open in the early 2030s, featuring one theme park and several hotels, though exact details remain undisclosed.  Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based company, will lead construction, development, and operations while collaborating closely…