Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

UK minister stresses need to tackle climate crisis at G20

New UK programmes announced in India also include an investment of £10 million in the Avaana Fund, a women-led climate-tech fund

UK minister stresses need to tackle climate crisis at G20

UK minister Andrew Mitchell attended the G20 development ministerial meeting in Varanasi on Monday (12), when the climate and tech partnerships were announced.

The new UK support includes funding for a tech start-up focusing on sustainable agriculture, including through growing vegetables in an environmentallyfriendly way.


Mitchell told the gathering about how the UK’s partnerships and investments are helping tackle the biggest shared challenges of today – including climate change, poverty and food insecurity. The meeting is laying the groundwork to accelerate progress towards the sustainable development goals ahead of the G20 leader’s summit in New Delhi this September.

At the G20, the UK stressed the need to redouble global efforts to tackle the climate crisis and shocks facing the most vulnerable countries.

New UK programmes announced in India also include an investment of £10 million in the Avaana Fund, a women-led climate-tech fund that supports businesses to develop solutions to climate change and create jobs for women in sectors such as clean energy, energy storage and agriculture.

An investment of £12m from the UK government-supported Neev II fund will go to Nutrifresh, an agri-tech start-up enterprise focused on making agriculture more sustainable by growing vegetables in an environmentally friendly way.

Mitchell joined India and G20 partners in calling for reinvigorated efforts to meet the UN’s sustainable development goals.

Last Sunday (11), the minister visited the Chakr Innovation research lab in Gurugram, near Delhi, which is developing cutting-edge tech to tackle climate challenges. The UK-supported lab is now developing innovative batteries for e-vehicles that do not need charging infrastructure and are fully recyclable, providing a cleaner and safer alternative to older lithium tech.

The lab has previously developed devices that capture pollution-causing emissions and convert them to pigment for black inks and paints.

Targeted investments such as these help tackle climate change and support sustainable development, a statement said.

More For You

Nirmala Sitharaman

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure would be simplified from four slabs to two, with reductions across several sectors. (Photo: Getty Images)

India cuts consumption taxes, simplifies structure into two slabs

INDIA announced a major cut in consumption taxes on Wednesday, days after the United States imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods.

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure would be simplified from four slabs to two, with reductions across several sectors. In some cases, levies have been reduced by more than half.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jio Platforms

Jio Platforms includes India’s largest telecom operator, Reliance Jio Infocomm, with more than 500 million users. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

Jio IPO planned for mid-2026, AI unit announced with Meta and Google

RELIANCE Industries plans to take its telecom and digital arm, Jio Platforms, public by mid-2026, chairman Mukesh Ambani said on Friday. The announcement sets a new timeline for the long-awaited IPO of a business analysts value at over $100 billion.

At its annual general meeting (AGM), Reliance also announced the launch of an artificial intelligence unit in partnership with Google and Meta.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asda tech overhaul

Asda sales fell 0.2 per cent in the three months to June 30, 2025 (AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

Asda boss hails tech overhaul as key to revival despite sales slump

THE chairman of Asda has admitted the supermarket chain still faces challenges after sales slipped again over the summer, but said the completion of a major IT overhaul was crucial for its recovery.

Allan Leighton told the Times that the long-delayed technology project, called Project Future, had finally been finished after years of setbacks and costs exceeding £1 billion. The work involved separating more than 2,500 systems inherited from former owner Walmart, following Asda’s 2021 takeover by TDR Capital.

Keep ReadingShow less
JLR-Getty

A logo is pictured outside a Jaguar Land Rover new car show room in Tonbridge, south east England. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

UK car exports to US rebound after trade deal

UK VEHICLE exports to the United States rose in July after a new trade deal between London and Washington reduced tariffs, industry data showed on Thursday.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), exports increased 6.8 per cent in July to nearly 10,000 units, following three consecutive months of decline.

Keep ReadingShow less
Relatives of jailed Briton appeal to UK minister in AgustaWestland row

Christian Michel

Relatives of jailed Briton appeal to UK minister in AgustaWestland row

THE family of Christian Michel, the British businessman accused of acting as a middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal, has appealed to the UK government to push for his release from Delhi’s Tihar Jail.

Michel’s relatives met Foreign Office minister Catherine West in London on Tuesday (26). The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the minister listened to their concerns and updated them on ongoing steps being taken.

Keep ReadingShow less