Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Santos, the Australia-based oil company leading Alaska’s Pikka Project, extended merger discussions with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company this Friday. The Santos ADNOC merger talks began months ago and were expected to conclude, but both sides announced negotiations will now continue for four weeks.  Santos confirmed that collaborative discussions and final due diligence remain ongoing, yet the parties have not finalized acceptable binding agreement terms. The potential $18.7 billion deal values Santos shares at $5.76, though stock prices fell 3.5% to reach a five-week trading low.  Investors are concerned that the extended timeline could undermine momentum, though analysts believe…

The Kremlin dismissed speculation of imminent Putin-Zelensky summit talks even as US President Donald Trump renewed calls for negotiations. On Monday, Trump met Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week and welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside seven European leaders at the White House.  The president admitted that resolving the war remained difficult and conceded that Putin might not genuinely seek peace despite suggesting openness during conversations. Although initially advocating a three-way summit, Trump pivoted, now proposing that Zelensky and Putin should meet directly without his participation. He said he would join later if necessary but preferred watching developments unfold first,…

As students return to classrooms across Alaska, officials urge families to prioritize school road safety through simple but essential reminders for children. Authorities emphasize that parents should discuss safe walking practices, particularly for kids traveling to and from school buses during busy mornings. Children must always look in both directions before entering the roadway, ensuring vehicles stop before continuing across intersections or marked pedestrian crossings. Safety officials encourage students to stay as far toward the road’s edge as possible when sidewalks remain unavailable. Experts remind families that children should make direct eye contact with drivers before crossing, which increases safety…

The Alaska State Medical Board will vote Friday on whether to formally oppose gender affirming treatments for minors, escalating statewide political debates. This decision follows a March letter to the board to pursue its initiative to restrict such controversial medical practices. Board members appointed by Gov Mike Dunleavy are scheduled to vote on Friday at 8:30 a.m. in Anchorage. Agenda documents show members plan to consider resolutions opposing gender affirming care for minors and also statements challenging late-term abortion procedures. Board critics argue members are targeting a tiny population, as fewer than 100 Alaskan children receive gender affirming care annually.…

Alaska took a significant step toward potential drug reform as officials certified a psychedelic ballot initiative seeking voter approval in 2026. Lt Gov Nancy Dahlstrom confirmed last Thursday that she approved a proposed statewide measure allowing organizers to begin required signatures immediately. The Alaska Natural Medicine Act initiative is sponsored by a nonprofit group, Natural Medicine Alaska, which advocates for regulated psychedelic access. This act proposes decriminalizing the personal use of specific natural psychedelics for adults over 21 while establishing a supervised therapeutic framework.  Supporters say the measure would regulate substances including psilocybin, ibogaine, mescaline, excluding peyote and dimethyltryptamine, also…

After months of negotiations with US intelligence officials and senior political leaders, the British government has withdrawn its controversial UK Apple backdoor demand. US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed on Monday that Britain dropped the global access requirement to encrypted Apple data. Gabbard said she worked alongside President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance to reach a deal protecting American citizens’ private data. Prime Minister Keir Starmer traveled to Washington for meetings with Trump and European allies, focusing mainly on Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia. While confirming cooperation with the US, a British government spokesperson declined to…

A proposed Alaska LNG marine mammal rule could allow companies developing a natural gas pipeline to take marine mammals in Cook Inlet. The rule submitted July 29 by 8 Star Alaska, an Alaska Gasline Development Corporation subsidiary, seeks a five-year authorization.  If approved, the rule would permit incidental harassment of marine mammals during construction, though officials stressed no fatalities are expected. Current law prohibits taking marine mammals unless companies secure federal authorization for specified activities within designated areas, tied directly to specific projects. Governor Mike Dunleavy confirmed Friday that he updated President Donald Trump, predicting forward momentum on the long-delayed…

Tom Begich, former Democratic state senator and son of the late US Rep Nick Begich Sr., has filed a letter of intent to run for Alaska governor. The letter enables him to begin campaign preparations but does not formally launch his candidacy. The Democrat emphasized that this step is exploratory, and his decision to move forward depends on whether US Mary Peltola enters the race. Begich, 64, said that he promised Peltola that if she chooses to run for governor, he will step aside. Begich was 11 when his father disappeared in a 1972 plane crash and credits his mother,…

The Trump administration has accelerated the development of a controversial voter database tool, sparking nationwide debate over privacy, democracy, and election integrity. The system, originally called SAVE, was built to verify immigration status for benefits but has been rapidly repurposed to scan voter rolls. Officials say the new version enables bulk checks against federal databases, allowing states to upload millions of registered voters for citizenship verification. Supporters argue the upgrade ensures cleaner lists, while critics warn it risks becoming a sweeping federal voter surveillance program. Democrats caution that the administration could misuse the tool to suppress votes, target opponents, or…

President Donald Trump escalated tensions Sunday by unleashing scathing attacks against Senator Chris Murphy following criticism of his recent Alaska summit. The feud erupted on social media, where the President branded the Connecticut Democrat “unattractive”, “stupid,” and “a lightweight.” Murphy appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press, calling Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin a “disaster,” “embarrassment,” and “a failure.” Sharing the clip online, Murphy accused Trump of giving Putin legitimacy without securing sanctions, new weapons, or even a ceasefire agreement. Trump fired back, insisting nobody got anything while accusing Murphy, John Bolton, and others of obstructing peace efforts with stupid commentary.…

The Trump-Putin Alaska summit showcased extraordinary optics as Donald Trump warmly welcomed Vladimir Putin with military honors in Anchorage. Trump welcomed Putin on a red carpet flanked by saluting US troops while aircraft thundered overhead in a symbolic military display.  The Russian leader appeared unfazed, treating the event as his return to global diplomacy despite facing a war crimes indictment from The Hague. In press remarks Trump called Putin his friend signaling a political shift that surprised US allies and encouraged Kremlin confidence significantly. The White House dropped its earlier insistence on an immediate ceasefire, instead pursuing a broader settlement…

At the Alaska summit, Putin demanded Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk, tying this concession directly to a broader peace proposal with Trump. The Russian leader insisted that Ukraine abandon these regions entirely and offered to freeze the frontline in southern Ukraine, including Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. He presented his proposal as a necessary path to stability, positioning himself as the dominant actor capable of deciding the war’s trajectory and potential settlement outcomes. Although Luhansk remains almost fully controlled by Russia, Ukrainian forces still hold key areas of Donetsk, particularly Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. These positions are heavily fortified, and their defense has…