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WORLD

UN nuclear watchdog Government committed to
chief vows ‘firmness’ climate change in India
with Iran
The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog said
Monday he would continue to be "firm and fair"
with Iran, a day after clinching a deal over access
to surveillance equipment at Iran’s nuclear
facilities.International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi was
speaking to reporters at the start of a meeting of
the agency’s board of governors at a delicate
moment for international diplomacy on the
Iranian nuclear issue.On Sunday he returned from
a visit to Tehran where he hammered out a deal to
enable the IAEA to service its surveillance
equipment there and to ensure footage recorded
on it is preserved. The footage will be handed over Climate change is the biggest global challenge and India is committed to
to the IAEA if and when there is an agreement combat it, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Monday.
between Iran and world powers on the revival of Speaking at the launch of Climate Action and Finance Mobilisation Dialogue
the 2015 deal, also known as the JCPOA. Talks to (CAFMD) under India-US Climate Clean Energy Agenda 2030, Yadav said
revive the deal are currently stalled, with Iran India is proactively working towards tackling climate change and reducing
warning it may be months before they restart. carbon emissions. John F Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate,
Little progress has been made on another issue arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for the launch. Yadav said the partnership
relating to long-standing questions the IAEA has between India and the US will help strengthen climate action. Climate
had about the previous presence of nuclear Action and Finance Mobilisation Dialogue of the Agenda 2030 Partnership
material at undeclared sites in Iran. The agency launched on Monday will provide both countries an opportunity to renew
has said in numerous reports that Iran’s collaborations on climate change while addressing the financing aspects,
explanations about the material have not been Yadav said. The minister said India is already an attractive destination for
satisfactory. Asked whether now was the time to global clean energy investments. "I hope this dialogue will work to mobilise
be tougher with Iran on the issue, Grossi replied and deliver climate finance primarily as grants and concessional finance, as
that "from day one I have had an approach with envisaged under the Paris Agreement to strengthen climate action. "I believe
Iran which is firm and fair". He said he hoped a this Dialogue will not only strengthen India-US bilateral cooperation on
"clear conversation" with the government of new climate and environment but will also help to demonstrate how the world
ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi would can align swift climate action with inclusive and resilient economic
take place on a return visit to Iran "very soon" and development, taking into account national circumstances and sustainable
would bring progress. development priorities," he said.
Water woes in Odisha after Puri, Bhubaneswar get record rainfall
Odisha capital Bhubaneswar received 195mm rainfall in 24 hours, breaking a 63-year-old record, as rain
clobbered large parts of the state and prompted authorities to issue a flood alert, officials said on Monday. Two people
were learnt to have died in an incident of wall collapse in Kendrapara district but there was no official confirmation.
The pilgrim town of Puri also broke the 87-year-old record with 341mm of rain in a single day. The coastal town had
received 210.8mm rain on September 2, 1934, officials said. Vehicles were seen floating on water near Iskcon temple
in Nayapalli area of the state capital where gushing water swamped homes and markets. An ambulance which had got stuck on way to a
hospital was seen being pushed to a dry patch of road by locals. Some houses in Dumuduma locality built on farmland have developed
cracks, locals said. Identical scenes were witnessed in Puri, Cuttack and Paradip. Officials said municipal authorities have deployed over
100 pumps in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to drain out the water. Heavy rain, triggered by a deep depression, has been battering Odisha over
the last few days.