Wednesday newspaper round-up: UK energy summit, Grant Thornton, Nvidia

(Sharecast News) - China is to snub a major UK summit on energy security next week, the Guardian has learned, amid a growing row over the country's involvement in UK infrastructure projects. The US will send a senior White House official to the 60-country summit, to be co-hosted with the International Energy Agency. Leading oil and gas companies are also invited, along with big technology businesses, and petrostates including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. - Guardian Wealthier households could be made to shoulder higher costs for running and upgrading the UK's network of energy cables and pipes to help low-income bill payers under new plans to be considered this summer. The proposals could mean that high-income households will pay more via the standing charge on their energy bills, while those who are not in work or are on low pay are charged a discounted rate. - Guardian

Grant Thornton is encouraging staff to use trains instead of planes when travelling abroad as part of its effort to contribute to the net zero push. The accountancy giant has launched a new travel booking system that will "encourage environmentally conscious travel choices", forming part of its attempt to slash emissions by up to 90c by 2045. - Telegraph

Peers are preparing an attempt to block Angela Rayner's so-called "pub banter crackdown" over fears it will hinder free speech. Ahead of a parliamentary hearing this month, members in the House of Lords are battling to shield pubs and universities from a new rule forcing them to protect staff from third-party harassment. - Telegraph

Nvidia said it expects to take a $5.5 billion hit as President Trump clamps down on the sale of powerful artificial intelligence chips to China. The US chip designer at the centre of the AI boom said the US government was introducing new restrictions on its chip exports over fears they could be used to help China build a supercomputer. - The Times