Author: The Tundra Drums Staff
Oil prices rose after the Israel-Iran conflict, sending shockwaves through financial markets and sparking concerns about broader economic consequences worldwide. Last week’s missile and drone exchange between Israel and Iran triggered immediate turbulence in global oil markets and investor sentiment. Brent Crude, the leading international benchmark, initially surged to over $78 per barrel on Friday. While it has since dipped to $74.50, the price remains $10 higher than just one month ago. Oil prices frequently shift in response to global tensions, but experts say the recent increase stands out for its timing and potential ripple effect. Though the current price…
Tensions between Israel and Iran have sharply elevated following a second night of heavy cross-border attacks, resulting in mounting civilian casualties and threats of further military action. Sirens sounded across multiple Israeli cities overnight as Iranian missiles targeted central and northern regions, prompting Israeli air defenses into action. In the Palestinian-majority town of Tamra, a house partially collapsed after being struck, while in Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, a 10-storey residential building was heavily damaged. At least six people have been confirmed dead in Bat Yam under rubble as rescue operations continue. In response, Israel launched a wave of retaliatory…
Israel launched Operation Rising Lion early Friday, unleashing over 200 fighter jets to strike Iranian military and nuclear sites. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the preemptive strike targeted Iran’s top commanders, atomic enrichment sites, and missile stockpiles. IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin confirmed Iran had responded by launching more than 100 drones toward Israel’s territory. He stated that Israeli air defenses intercepted many drones and would continue to neutralize any incoming threats. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel acted to prevent Iran’s “growing threat” and to stop its race toward nuclear weapons. Netanyahu vowed the military operation would…
Governor Mike Dunleavy signed Alaska’s budget into law Thursday after vetoing $122 million, with education taking the most brutal hit. He removed $50 million from Alaska’s per-student formula and axed funding for critical school maintenance projects statewide. Legislators said they won’t consider overriding the education budget veto until January, prolonging uncertainty for school leaders. Anchorage Superintendent Jarrett Byrantt warned that districts may face emergency school closures to meet sudden budget shortfalls. Dunleavy announced his decision without holding a news conference and immediately refused to respond to emailed media questions. In a pre-recorded video, he said falling oil prices forced cuts,…
Donlin Gold mine construction paused after a federal judge ruled that serious flaws in government-issued permits must be addressed. On Monday, US District Court Judge Sharon Gleason ordered the US Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Land Management to reassess risks. She directed them to evaluate the possibility of a catastrophic failure of the mine’s proposed tailings dam. Gleason’s order follows a lawsuit filed by six tribal governments from the Kuskokwim region, which argues that the project threatens traditional lands. The tribes oppose Donlin Gold’s plan to build a 471-foot dam to contain toxic tailings waste from gold mining.…
An Air India 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad claimed the lives of all 242 passengers and An Air India 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad claimed the lives of all 242 passengers and crew members on Thursday. The London-bound aircraft exploded shortly after takeoff, slamming into a medical college hostel near the airport in Gujarat’s capital. Black smoke and flames engulfed the site as firefighters struggled to douse the wreckage and surrounding buildings with water. Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror with scattered fuselage parts and charred bodies visible across the crash zone. Indian army teams rushed to assist firefighters and local…
Alaska may soon double its space launch capabilities as officials pursue a Poker Flat spaceport license for commercial use. On Tuesday the University of Alaska´s Geophysical Institute signed a five year collaboration deal with the Alaska Aerospace Corporation. Though the document does not directly mention licensing state budget drafts reveal the university’s plans to obtain FAA approval. The license would transform Poker Flat Research Range from a research only site into a commercial orbital spaceport. Poker Flat has operated since 1969, launching sounding rockets to study the upper atmosphere and aurora phenomena near Fairbanks. This new license would authorize it…
Over the weekend, the federal immigration crackdown resulted in 42 men being sent to the Anchorage Correctional Complex by ICE. The Alaska Department of Corrections confirmed that these men were arrested outside Alaska and transported to the facility under a federal agreement. Two men, Ronaldo Alberto Calderson from El Salvador and Jose Gonzalez-Montes from Peru, were shifted to Washington state within 24 hours of arriving. Department spokesperson Betsy Holley stated that the remaining 40 detainees are expected to be held in Anchorage for about a month. The detainees, originating from 22 countries, including India, Mexico, Afghanistan, and Egypt, were not…
Officials confirmed that significant job cuts under the Trump administration have drastically reduced NOAA’s scientific capacity, putting Alaska seafood harvests at risk. Since January, NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska regional office has lost 28 employees, nearly a quarter of its staff, director Jon Kurland told a recent council meeting. Kurland explained that the cuts severely impact NOAA’s ability to manage fisheries sustainably, affecting permitting, data analysis, and quota oversight. He noted that their IT systems, crucial for tracking real-time seafood catches, now operate with less than a skeleton crew. Director Robert Foy said that NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, which supports research…
Anchorage police arrested a 27-year-old man on Monday in connection with a deadly stabbing at Chelsea Inn. Officers responded to a report of a stabbing late Saturday night at the Spenard Hotel, according to a police statement. Medics found 25-year-old Michael Kaskey suffering from a stab wound to the abdomen inside the lobby. Despite their efforts to save him, Kaskey was declared dead at the scene. Authorities later identified and arrested Mathew Alexie, 27, on charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Court documents said Alexie arrived at the Chelsea Inn with three others, including a woman who allegedly…
A salvage team is set to reach the Morning Midas cargo ship fire scene early next week following a major blaze aboard the vessel. The 600-foot ship, which was carrying around 3000 vehicles to Mexico, ignited Tuesday in remote waters off Alaska’s Aleutian island chain. Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s management company based in London, said a tug with salvage specialists and gear would arrive on Monday. Another tug with firefighting and towing capability is also being prepared to assist with recovery and safety operations at sea. Satellite-connected systems onboard the vessel have helped monitor conditions remotely as smoke continues rising…
Next week, tourists arriving in Alaska’s capital will witness a rare sight of emergency crews in hazmat suits near Juneau’s cruise docks and the State Capitol. The military exercise operations ORCA begins on June 9 and involves a large-scale simulation of a terrorist attack involving weapons of mass destruction. Lt. Col. Brett Haker, commander of the 103rd Civil Support Team, said this year marks the first time Juneau has hosted the exercise. Officials chose the city because of its political significance and its busy tourism season, which sees over a million cruise ship visitors annually. From June 9 through 12,…