Author: The Tundra Drums Staff
In a surprise vote on Friday, the Alaska House dividend cut slashed the proposed Permanent Fund dividend from $3,900 to $1,400. Lawmakers aimed to trim a looming $1.9 billion deficit, reducing it to $400 million with this move. The dramatic vote passed 20-17, shocking many in the Republican minority caucus who weren’t expecting budget action that day. Several Republicans, having been told there would be no votes, were absent when the decision was made. Representative Neal Foster, a Democrat from Nome, joined 16 minority Republicans in opposing the amendment, calling the move harmful and poorly handled. House Minority Leader Mia…
Strong gales swept Beijing and northern China on Saturday, grounding flights, halting trains, and closing popular attractions citywide. By 11:30 a.m. local time, Beijing’s two airports had already cancelled 838 flights due to violent wind gusts and dust storms. Winds reached speeds of up to 92 mph, marking the most severe wind event in Beijing in over 50 years. Authorities shut down subway lines, including the airport express, and suspended multiple high-speed rail services across northern and coastal regions. Emergency crews rushed to trim and secure ageing trees, but nearly 300 trees collapsed throughout the city, damaging cars and public…
The administration of President Donald Trump decided to exempt smartphones, computers, and other essential goods from the new tariffs on imports from China. The exclusion from Trump’s 10% global tax and the 145% China-specific levy was announced in a US Customs and Border Protection notice. Tech giants concerned about the rising costs of consumer devices made mainly through Chinese manufacturers heavily influenced the decision. According to Wedbush Securities, Apple, a major player in the US smartphone market, produces about 90% of its phones in China. Industry analysts at Counterpoint Research noted that 80% of iPhones sold in the US are…
Prince Harry visited Ukraine’s war-scarred city of Lviv on Thursday, adding star power to a significant diplomatic week. His appearance coincided with NATO allies in Brussels pledging $23 billion in new aid for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against Russia. During the trip, Harry toured the Superhumans Center in Lviv and met wounded veterans supported by his Invictus Games Foundation. The Duke of Sussex visited Ukraine unofficially after stopping in London to attend a court case about his security detail. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, accused Russia of recruiting Chinese nationals as fighters, calling it part of a systematic and deliberate campaign. He said over…
India has taken custody of 64-year-old Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin accused of aiding the 2008 Mumbai attacks. After prolonged court proceedings, the United States extradited Rana, and he arrived in Delhi under tight security on Thursday evening. Authorities say Rana helped Lashkar-e-Taiba carry out the deadly assault by assisting his childhood friend David Headley with logistical support. Headly had opened a Mumbai office for Rana´s Chicago-based immigration business, allegedly using it as cover to scout targets. On November 26, 2008, ten armed men arrived by sea and launched coordinated attacks across Mumbai, killing 166 people and…
Senator Dan Sullivan and Alaska’s congressional delegation celebrated a new $25 million annual investment in strengthening aviation safety. The funding comes through the FAA, which will allocate $25 million annually from 2025 to 2028 under the Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative. Sullivan said this funding is only a starting point and emphasized the urgent need for expanded aviation infrastructure across rural Alaska. He credited close collaboration with US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who quickly responded after the deadly Bering Air crash in February. After the crash, Duffy contacted Sullivan to ask what more the federal government could do to…
The Alaska Senate is preparing to vote on a revised education funding bill that could boost public school budgets statewide. The Alaska K-12 funding bill approved Thursday by the Senate Finance Committee proposes a $1,000 increase in the base student allocation formula. This proposal which affects the core of the state’s education budget aims to add $253 million annually to Alaska’s public school system. The Senate’s version strips out education policy changes that Governor Mike Dunleavy had demanded during closed-door negotiations. The committee opted instead to focus solely on raising the base student allocation. Governor Dunleavy criticized the bill’s current…
Consumers in the US could soon face an iPhone price increase as new tariffs target Chinese-made electronics. Donald Trump’s trade policy imposes a 125% tariff on Chinese imports, including many tech devices Americans rely on. Analysts warn that Apple may pass the added cost onto buyers, potentially raising iPhone prices by hundreds of dollars this year. Since China produces 80% of Apple’s iPhones for the US market, these tariffs hit the company especially hard. Apple recently planned multiple cargo flights from India, shipping over 600 tons of iPhones directly into the US. Industry observers say this move aims to reduce…
Authorities raised the death toll from the Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapse to 184 as rescue efforts turned toward recovery. Emergency director Juan Manuel Mendez confirmed the updated toll on Thursday, calling it preliminary and subject to change. Speaking at a press briefing, Mendez vowed that responders would continue searching until all victims, living or deceased, were recovered. The Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo had hosted dozens of guests, including athletes and government officials, during Tuesday’s tragic event. Witnesses said dust began falling from the ceiling into drinks just moments before the structure crashed. Outside the National Institute of…
According to a long-delayed state employee salary study, many workers in Alaska make less than similar market pay. The survey, which was made public on Wednesday, found that 32% of state workers receive salaries that fall below the 50th percentile for their job categories. When the 65th percentile, Alaska’s usual criterion, is applied, the number of underpaid state employees rises to an alarming 57%. The study was carried out at the request of Governor Mike Dunleavy’s administration by the private company Segal, which was contracted for $1 million. The contractor originally aimed to complete the study in June, but delays…
Anchorage police and the FBI are actively searching a property behind the home of a man missing for over a month. The investigation of the missing man from the Eagle River gained traction Tuesday when officers arrived at the Mercy Drive residence around 11:30 am. By Wednesday, several police vehicles, including an Anchorage Police Department RV, remained stationed outside the house. Municipal records confirm that the home belongs to Christopher Sternhagen, a current Anchorage police officer. Police have not yet stated whether the search at Sternhagen´s home directly connects to the disappearance of 40-year-old Joshua Kronbach, also known as Tony…
China has openly called for international unity against Trump’s tariffs, which have stunned its fragile economy. State-run China Daily urged countries like Japan and South Korea to stand with Beijing against trade tyranny. Another editorial encouraged Europe to defend free trade by resisting Washington’s aggressive economic strategy. At a press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the move, accusing the United States of hegemonic and bullying practices. These record-breaking tariffs hit China’s economy hard, and it relies heavily on sluggish exports and weak consumer demand. Chinese exporters say they are scrambling to rebuild supply chains amid unpredictable levies that…