Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Alaska lawmakers took a significant step Friday to overhaul how the state processes sexual assault evidence and supports victims in the aftermath. With a 39-0 vote, the Alaska House advanced House Bill 62, a proposal to speed up testing and add transparency. The bill would create a system that allows survivors to track the status of their forensic kits privately. Representative Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, explained the bill is about trust, accountability, and restoring power to victims. Currently, no firm legal deadlines require health providers or law enforcement to act quickly after collecting a sexual assault exam kit. If enacted, the…

Nissan announced it may expand the Dongfeng factory partnership globally as it restructures operations and cuts 11,000 jobs. The Japanese carmaker revealed it would shut seven factories worldwide but did not confirm where the closures would occur. Nissan executive Ivan Espiona emphasized that UK operations will remain stable, reassuring workers at its Sunderland facility. “We have announced that we are launching new cars in Sunderland,” stated Espiona. Facing declining sales in the US and China, Nissan said it will reduce global production by 20% as part of a cost-cutting effort. These layoffs add to the 9,000 job cuts Nissan announced…

The Alaska voting access bill passed the Senate 14-6 along party lines on Monday, sending sweeping election reforms to the House. Lawmakers said the bill would streamline voting processes, update registration rules, and expand ballot access across rural and urban Alaska.  Senator Bill Wielechowski, a democrat from Anchorage, said the bill merges twelve prior proposals from all the political affiliations. Wielechowski emphasized that the voter rolls need urgent cleanup. “We have 106% more registered voters in the state than citizens,” said Wielechowski. The bill clarifies the definition of residency and shortens the timeline for marking voters inactive if they don’t…

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.…