The Biden administration said Friday it will restrict new oil and gas leasing on 13 million acres (5.3 million hectares) of a federal petroleum reserve in Alaska to help protect wildlife such as caribou and polar bears as the Arctic continues to warm. The decision — part of an ongoing, yearslong fight over whether and how to develop the vast oil resources in the state — finalizes protections first proposed last year as the Biden administration prepared to approve the controversial Willow oil project. The approval of Willow drew fury from environmentalists, who said the large oil project violated Biden's pledge to combat climate change.
McLaren’s Lando Norris seized pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race on Friday after a wet and chaotic qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit.
The elephant in the room is Nell Mescal’s surname. She released her first single in 2020, having started it long before older brother Paul’s Normal People stardom (and before the siblings posted a cover duet online in lockdown). Nepo baby accusations cut deep for the 20-year-old Irish singer-songwriter: “It’s sometimes difficult to take.” She needn’t worry – her debut EP, showcasing laid-bare lyrics and technical skill, undeniably warrants recognition independently.