Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump reunited in Rome for their first encounter since February’s fiery Oval Office confrontation. The Trump-Zelensky meeting took place at St. Peter’s Basilica just before Pope Francis’s funeral began on Saturday. Captured photos showed both leaders in intense discussion, seated across from each other, minutes before the solemn ceremony started. The White House called the 15-minute conversation “very productive,” while Zelensky praised it as “symbolic” and potentially “historic” if progress followed. Later that day, Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting fresh sanctions might be necessary after renewed missile strikes on Kyiv. In a pointed social…

Rome witnessed an extraordinary turnout as Pope Francis’s funeral ceremony brought together more than 400,000 mourners on a hazy morning. Teenagers, nuns, and priests of every denomination silently walked toward the St Peter’s Basilica, filling the ancient streets with solemn anticipation. By 8 a.m., St Peter’s Square reached capacity, buzzing with voices from every Italian region blending Scillian and Milanese accents. Hundreds of photographers gathered atop the colonnade, eagerly snapping pictures of US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two presidents met privately before the mass and later described Zelenskyy as a meeting with historic potential for…

A recent diesel spill in the Yukon River has reignited public concerns about Hilcorp’s plans to drill in Alaska’s remote Yukon Flats. Earlier this month, a Brice Inc. truck leaked around 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel in a parking lot near the river. Brice, a native-owned construction company, has partnered with Hilcorp to stage equipment for upcoming drilling operations north of Fairbanks. The spill happened at Yukon River Camp, where the Dalton Highway crosses the river, a significant route for Alaska’s oil fields. Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reports confirmed no fuel entered the Yukon River directly during the…

Interior designers working on large construction projects may soon face a new interior design license agreement under a bill. On Wednesday, the Alaska Senate voted 18-2 in favor of Senate Bill 54, moving it closer to becoming law. If the Alaska House and Governor Mike Dunleavy approve the measure, interior designers must register with the state licensing board. Senator Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, sponsored the bill, emphasizing that licensing will enhance the safety and quality of commercial construction projects. During a speech on the Senate floor, Claman stated that the bill helps Alaska remain open and ready for business in the…

Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday to push for a Ukraine peace deal. This high-stakes meeting happened just hours after a top Russian general died in a car explosion outside his home near Moscow. Trump, speaking Thursday, said Witkoff’s fourth trip to Russia might finally bring the war to an end within a few days. Putin hosted Witkoff in the Kremlin, where both men shook hands, exchanged greetings, and sat at a long oval table. Putin’s aide, Yuri Ushakov, described the closed-door talks as constructive and said both sides had narrowed differences…

On Wednesday, India suspended a decades-old water-sharing treaty with Pakistan and closed the only operational land border crossing. That treaty had survived two wars, but the latest attack on tourists in Kashmir triggered a wave of diplomatic retaliation.  India followed the move by revoking all visas issued to Pakistani citizens effective Sunday, deepening the standoff. In response, Pakistan canceled visas for Indians, suspended all bilateral trade, and blocked airspace for Indian-operated commercial flights. Hundreds of citizens from both nations crossed back through the Wagah border near Lahore as the standoff intensified further. Pakistan’s government warned that any Indian diversion of…

Alaska lawmakers focused on a new education bill after failing to override Governor Mike Dunleavy’s veto of HB 69. The vetoed bill would have raised the Base Student Allocation by $1000, bringing annual per-student funding to $6,960 statewide.  Legislators fell short of the three-quarters majority needed to override the veto, securing only 37 of the required 45 votes. Following the failed override, a Senate Education Committee hearing featuring school district testimony was abruptly canceled and is expected next week. School officials from the state’s largest districts had prepared to speak about shrinking budgets and their hopes for increased funding. On…

The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels decided to put a hold on hostilities while peace talks in Qatar move toward resolution. The truce follows intense fighting since January, when M23 launched a major offensive and seized key eastern cities in DR Congo.  According to authorities, over 7,000 people have died during this conflict, which has displaced thousands more in the mineral-rich region. In a joint statement, both sides pledged commitment to peace, rejecting hate speech and calling for unity among local communities. The M23 ceasefire agreement emerged from more than a week of direct negotiations, which delegates described…

Alaska airlines reported a $166 million loss in the first quarter of 2025 due to economic challenges and policy changes. The SeaTac-based airline now merged with Hawaiian airlines earned $3.1 billion in revenue, up 42% from Q1 2024´s $2.23 billion. Executives expected a loss this quarter but the $1.35 per share drop slightly exceeded internal forecasts driven partly by international. In April President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on most imports including a 145% tax on Chinese goods.  China retaliated with its own 125% tariff on American imports creating uncertainty across markets including the travel industry. Although airlines don’t…

A deadly Kashmir attack has reignited tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, drawing harsh diplomatic retaliation from New Delhi. On Tuesday, unidentified gunmen shot and killed 26 tourists in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, including 25 Indians and one Nepali. The attackers targeted civilians in a rare high-profile assault at the peak of the region’s tourist season. India responded swiftly by downgrading diplomatic ties, shutting a crucial border crossing, and suspending its participation in the Indus Water Treaty for the first time since 1960. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that those behind the killings would face severe punishment, promising justice in…

The European Union fined Apple and Meta nearly $800 million for breaking new rules outlined in the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Regulators launched the penalties following a yearlong investigation into whether both tech giants complied with the newly enforced legislation. Apple received a 500 million euro fine for blocking developers from sharing alternate offers and payment links with users. Meanwhile, Meta must pay 200 million euros for its pay or consent model on instagram and Facebook across the EU. The model requires users to accept targeted advertising or pay for an ad-free experience, which the Commission deemed coercive. Officials stressed…

President Donald Trump eased up on his rhetoric on both China and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, signalling a shift in strategy. Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump expressed optimism about trade talks and hoped for a deal with China. While he acknowledged imposing high tariffs, he stated that those rates could significantly drop but would not be completely removed. The White House imposed tariffs up to 145% on Chinese goods to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States.  Trump emphasized that he wanted Powell to be more active in interest rate cuts but added that he…