Brian Deese

Twenty countries, including India, the US and China, will today launch an initiative to double their clean energy research and development budget over the next five years as part of global efforts to tackle climate change.

A senior Obama administration official will visit India and China next week to "consult" on climate change ahead of the crucial UN climate talks in Paris later this year, the White House has said.

The US budget deficit in 2014 will come down to $583 billion, a drop of $100 billion over the previous year. This is the sharpest drop during the period of Obama administration, the White House said on Friday.

Twenty countries, including India, the US and China, will today launch an initiative to double their clean energy research and development budget over the next five years as part of global efforts to tackle climate change.

A senior Obama administration official will visit India and China next week to "consult" on climate change ahead of the crucial UN climate talks in Paris later this year, the White House has said.

The US budget deficit in 2014 will come down to $583 billion, a drop of $100 billion over the previous year. This is the sharpest drop during the period of Obama administration, the White House said on Friday.