Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

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…

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…