US President Joe Biden is facing backlash from environmentalists after he approved a giant drilling operation, known as the Willow Project, in the Arctic.
Mr Biden's approval of the project marks a reversal on pledges he made during his presidential campaign.
“No more drilling on federal lands, period,” he said in 2020.
But what is the Willow Project, why is it so controversial and how will it affect US goals to reach net zero by 2050?
How much oil?
Barring any successful legal challenges, ConocoPhillips’s Willow Project will be constructed on the 9.3-million-hectare, federally owned National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska's pristine western Arctic.
At its peak, the $8 billion project would pump 180,000 barrels of oil each day. Burning all of that crude would result in at least 239 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over 30 years — only a small percentage of the five billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide the US produces annually.
Still, it is the same amount of carbon dioxide as is released by about 65 coal-fired power plants each year, or the equivalent emissions of 51 million petrol-powered cars over the same 30-year span, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency's emissions calculator.
Such a large project would undercut Mr Biden's goals of the US achieving a 50 per cent to 52 per cent reduction from 2005 levels of economywide net greenhouse gas pollution by 2030. It is also seen as a step back from his pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
What does the White House say?
One of the reasons the Biden administration approved the Willow Project involves legality: ConocoPhillips holds the leases and has a legal right to drill in the area. Cancelling the leases would bring a court case that, if lost, would set a precedent, cost the government millions of dollars in fees and do nothing to stop oil drilling.
Instead, the government made a deal with ConocoPhillips that shrank the total surface area to be developed at Willow by 60 per cent, including removing a sensitive wildlife area known as Teshekpuk Lake.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the oil company “has a legal right to those leases”.
“The department’s options are limited when there are legal contracts in place,” she said.
Are there any benefits?
Approval for the project comes as the Biden administration looks to reduce US reliance on foreign energy supplies.
Willow would come online right as shale oil and gas production in the states flanking the Rocky Mountains plateaus.
Last year's spike in petrol prices, caused largely by supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine, brought the issue into sharp focus and Mr Biden faced enormous political pressure to increase domestic oil supplies, which had been slashed during the pandemic.
Proponents say robust US domestic oil production is key for national security, and ConocoPhillips says the Willow Project could create over 2,500 construction jobs and about 300 long-term jobs.
What do Alaskans say?
In Alaska, indigenous leaders, local and state politicians, and labour unions have campaigned for the Willow Project, which they say will bring key revenue and jobs to the remote state.
One of the state's two senators, Lisa Murkowski, welcomed the Biden administration's approval on Twitter.
“We did it, Alaska!” she wrote.
But several Alaskan environmental groups are suing federal agencies in an attempt to block the project.
In their lawsuit, they say the Willow Project would significantly and negatively affect the region’s wildlife — including polar bears and caribou — as well as the area's air, water, lands and people.
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- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
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The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
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Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
