India will work with its BRICS partners to create greater opportunities for women-led enterprises in international trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said at a conference in New Delhi. Access to finance remains a major challenge for entrepreneurs entering international markets. Finding buyers and navigating trade rules can also make expansion more difficult. India wants to bring its own experience in supporting women entrepreneurs to the wider BRICS business network. Nearly 300 million bank accounts have been opened for women, while around 560 million loans have been pro
India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme has been recognised by the United Kingdom under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. The decision allows UK importers of eligible Indian goods to claim relief for the effective carbon price already paid under India’s scheme, subject to UK evidence and verification requirements. The UK’s CBAM will take effect on January 1, 2027. It will apply to imports of iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser and hydrogen. Businesses importing more than £50,000 worth of covered goods over the relevant period will be require to register under the
The European Union is preparing a broad ban on waste exports to countries outside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Aluminium scrap would be included. EU industry chief Stéphane Séjourné decided to pursue wider restrictions after an earlier proposal was found to cover only around half of the bloc’s scrap exports. The earlier measures were expected to be presented on September 23. They would have placed more limited restrictions on aluminium scrap exports. That proposal has now been withdrawn. The European Commission is instead working on a delegated act
The UAE is set to open a new Security and Rescue Training Centre in 2028. Sahra Group is developing the facility with AMST Group. The centre will train more than 4,500 personnel each year, who will use it to prepare for demanding missions and high-pressure situations. Advanced simulation will be at the heart of the training. According to Sahra Group, the technology is up to ten times more efficient than conventional live exercises. It can also generate 99% fewer emissions. The facility will include helicopter and water rescue simulators. Maritime vessel simulators will also be instal
Spain has urged the European Union to create a dedicated climate adaptation fund and introduce binding targets to help countries prepare for worsening extreme weather. EU countries have suffered €822 billion in climate-related losses since 1980, according to Madrid’s estimates. Around a quarter of those losses came between 2021 and 2024. Spain’s Environment Minister, Sara Aagesen, said reactive policies were no longer enough. In a letter to EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, she argued that Europe needed stronger measures to protect its security, prosperity and competitivenes
The Tourism Sustainability Certifications Alliance (TSCA) has introduced new global standards for sustainable tourism certification. The framework is intended to create a common baseline for the industry. The standards cover both tourism businesses and destinations. Certification bodies can continue using their own programmes while following the new minimum requirements. For tourism businesses, the framework covers sustainability management. It also looks at working conditions and the impact of tourism on local communities. Environmental protection is another part of the standard. Bi
Gastech 2026 will take place in Bangkok from September 14 to 17. Thailand’s Ministry of Energy is hosting the event as Asia’s demand for energy continues to grow. More than 50,000 energy professionals are expected to attend. The event will also feature more than 1,000 exhibitors and 1,000 speakers from 150 countries. Asia is already driving much of the growth in global energy consumption. Gastech’s own event materials project a 45% rise in Asian energy demand between 2023 and 2050. Southeast Asia is expected to see particularly strong growth. Natural gas and LNG will be major s
The UAE is raising its clean energy target to around 35% by 2030-31. The target will cover both nuclear and renewable power. Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei announced the update while speaking to the Emirates News Agency. He spoke on the sidelines of Middle East Energy 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, where the exhibition is running from September 1 to 3. Al Mazrouei said the country had adjusted its numbers and may see the figure go even higher. Reaching the target will require new projects, stronger competition and greater private-sector participati
Indonesia is expanding its wildlife health and conservation capabilities through a partnership involving Vantara and PT Fauna Land Group. Indonesia's Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced the initiative during a press conference in Jakarta. The programme aims to strengthen national wildlife facilities, expertise, resources and field capabilities for long-term conservation. Vantara, founded by Anant Ambani, will provide veterinary expertise, technical support, infrastructure assistance and capacity-building programmes. The partnership will include training for elephant ca
Researchers across Türkiye have identified 13 previously unknown plant species, highlighting the country's diverse ecosystems. The discoveries span regions from the Aegean coast to eastern Anatolia and were published in the first e-bulletin of the Nature Conservation and National Parks General Directorate. New species were identified in Elazığ, Bitlis, Hatay, Muğla, İzmir and Artvin. The discoveries include new onions, rock mustard, hyacinth, bellflower, mountain thyme and elderberry. Researchers also identified new oriental bindweed and cornflower species, alongside a crane's-b