Frédéric Brochet is one of the wine makers now working on alcohol-free bottles
In the vineyards of Bordeaux, the unspeakable has become the drinkable. Wine without alcohol has arrived.
The heresy of yesterday is now – thanks to science and economic crisis – the opportunity of today.
Wine estates which would have torched their grapes rather than submit to such ignominy, are now openly contemplating the booze-free bottle.
And developers are moving ahead fast, creating wines that are deliberately designed to get the best from the de-alcoholisation process.
“When we started a few years ago, what we were making was frankly rubbish,” says Bordeaux oenologist Frédéric Brochet, who has helped create the Moderato range of no-alcohol wines.
“But we have made great progress. And today we are getting nearer and nearer to our goal. I think it is going to be a revolution in the wine world.”
Bordeaux has just seen the launch of its first ever cave – wine shop – dedicated solely to no-alcohol wines, reflecting a shift in perceptions which has taken many in the industry by surprise.
“We only opened four weeks ago, and already we are getting wine-growers from the area coming in and asking about the non-alcohol market,” says Alexandre Kettaneh, who owns Les Belles Grappes with his wife Anne.
“They don’t know anything about how to do it, but they can see it is coming and want to be part of it.”
Several things have happened to make the moment opportune.
First of all, the French wine world is in deep difficulty. Domestic consumption continues to fall and the Chinese market is not what it was. US President-elect Donald Trump is threatening new levies. Prized ancient vineyards across France are being grubbed up.
Second, consumption habits are shifting, especially among the young. Supermarkets now give more space to beer than they do to wine. Most 20-somethings have never had the habit of wine – and they are also far more health-conscious than their elders.
The non-alcohol lifestyle is spreading. Currently 10% of the French beer market is alcohol-free. In Spain it is 25%.
And third – the technology has improved by leaps and bounds.
Methods for making alcohol-free wine bottles have greatly improved in recent years
In the past – and still today for cheaper brands – the method has simply been to boil away the alcohol and then add compensatory flavours. The result – especially for reds – is at best mediocre. Such drinks cannot even call themselves wine, but “beverages based on de-alcoholised wine”.
Now though, there are new methods of low-temperature vacuum distillation, and of “capturing” aromas for putting back into the de-alcoholised wine. The result is wines that can legally call themselves wines, and are beginning to hold their own among discerning consumers.
“With reds, you need to be prepared for an experience which will not be the same as a traditional wine with alcohol. We cannot pretend we can replicate, yet, the full mouth-feel,” says Fabien Marchand-Cassagne of Moderato.
“But what you will get is a genuine wine moment. Bouquet, tannins, fruits, balance – it is all there to be enjoyed.”
At the Clos De Bouard estate near Saint-Emilion, fully a third of sales are now of the chateau’s two – soon to be three – non-alcoholic brands. Owner Coralie de Bouard first glimpsed the possibilities when she was asked in 2019 to develop a non-alcoholic wine for the Qatari owners of PSG football club.
Coralie de Bouard says her family refused to speak to her after she developed a no-alcohol wine
“My family wouldn’t talk to me for a year, such was my ‘treason’. And even today I get hate mail from wine-growers saying I am ruining the market,” she says.
“But now my father congratulates me and says I am the locomotive in the wine train. And if we are surviving today in these difficult times, it is because we have shifted towards the no-alcohol market.”
“For the purists it’s been very difficult to accept,” says Bernard Rabouy, a wine-grower for the Bordeaux Families cooperative.
“But we have to evolve. The fact is that the customers aren’t where they used to be. So we have to go and get them or they will go somewhere else.”
Promoters of alcohol-free wine make much of the notion that it allows non-drinkers – who used to feel excluded – to join in the wine-banter. And it is true that the rituals of opening, sniffing, describing and comparing are now open to all.
“What we want to do is try to bring back the France of our youth – when everyone sat around the dinner table and drank wine, and it was a real moment of sharing,” says Anne Kattaneh.
“And these days the only way we are going to be able to do that is if non-alcoholic wines are part of the culture.”
“The idea that the wine world was always as it is now, is rubbish,” says oenologist Brochet.
“Things evolve. Once upon a time the barrel was an innovation. The cork was an innovation; grape varietals were an innovation. And now this is a new one – which could help save the industry and the wonderful landscape and culture that goes with it.
“As [poet] Paul Valery said – what is tradition, but an innovation that succeeded?”
New Delhi: Ola Electric on Wednesday said it has expanded its network to 4,000 stores nationwide, a four-fold increase from its existing network. The company has opened over 3,200 new stores co-located with service facilities.
The expansion spans beyond metros and Tier I and II cities into smaller towns and tehsils, Ola Electric said in a statement.
“With our newly opened stores co-located with service centres, we have completely redefined EV purchase and ownership experience, setting new benchmarks with our #SavingsWalaScooter campaign,” Ola Electric Chairman & Managing Director Bhavish Aggarwal said.
The pain is still fresh as Cut Sylvia recalls the last time she looked into her two-year-old daughter’s eyes.
It was a normal morning in the Indonesian coastal city of Banda Aceh in north Sumatra when Sylvia and her husband began to see people fleeing in front of their home, warning of oncoming sea water.
Holding her infant daughter, Siti, in her arms, it was a matter of minutes before Sylvia was overwhelmed by the waves inundating their home.
“I cannot describe that moment when I saw her eyes, and she saw my eyes, and we were staring at each other,” Sylvia told Al Jazeera.
“She was not even crying or saying anything. She was just staring at me. I knew that we would be separated,” she said.
Siti was swept away, taken by the tsunami.
Sylvia and Budi’s still-missing daughter, Siti [Courtesy of Budi Permana]
After 15 minutes of feeling as though she was “in a washing machine”, Sylvia clambered on to the rooftop of a house where the enormity of what had just happened began to sink in.
“I felt so sad, very sad. I cannot express with words what I felt when I knew my daughter was lost.”
Sylvia’s husband, Budi Permana, was also washed away, finding safety at the top of a coconut tree – the height the sea waters had risen to. He later collapsed from exhaustion while searching for his family and was found by members of the Red Cross, who initially thought he was dead.
Sylvia and Budi were reunited a week later in the city of Medan, 600km (370 miles) from their destroyed home in Banda Aceh.
No trace of Siti has ever been found.
Lacking closure over the fate of their young daughter, the couple’s grief remains fresh as they, and the world, mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami – the deadliest and most destructive in recorded human history.
Achenese men walk amid the debris of their devastated houses on the outskirts of Banda Aceh following the 2004 tsunami [File: Steve Crisp/Reuters]
‘They tend to just destroy everything’
Just before 8am local time on December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.2 to 9.3 earthquake struck off the west coast of the Indonesian province of Aceh in northern Sumatra. An estimated 227,898 people were killed or declared missing across 14 countries in the tsunamis that followed.
Indonesia was the hardest hit, followed by Sri Lanka and Thailand, while the furthest fatality from the epicentre was reported in the South African city of Port Elizabeth. With 131,000 people killed, it remains by a considerable margin the deadliest natural disaster in the history of Indonesia – the world’s second most disaster-prone country after the Philippines.
While great advances have been made in tsunami research, sea defences, and the development of early warning systems in the two decades since the Indian Ocean disaster, experts warn that complacency is setting in as memories fade of the scale of the destruction in 2004.
“The thing that’s misunderstood is that a tsunami is not an ultrarare hazard. It’s actually a relatively common hazard,” said David McGovern, a senior lecturer and tsunami expert at the London South Bank University, pointing to a deadly tsunami that battered Japan just seven years later in 2011, the result of the fourth most powerful earthquake ever recorded.
“There are around two tsunamis on average a year that cause death or damage,” he told Al Jazeera.
Concerns about complacency were high on the agenda as some of the world’s leading tsunami engineering experts gathered on December 6 in London at a symposium to mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, as well as to take stock of the current state of tsunami research.
In a twist of fate, a day earlier, while the attendees were eating dinner at a restaurant in central London, news of a powerful magnitude 7 earthquake off the United States West Coast filtered through to the group. The earthquake triggered a tsunami alert, impacting some 500 miles (800km) of the California and Oregon coastline.
Though the alert was later rescinded, McGovern said the timing “felt strange, to say the least”.
The alert only “reiterated the importance of the symposium and the message it was trying to deliver”, he said.
McGovern, a key researcher at MAKEWAVES – a multi-institutional and multinational project founded by tsunami researchers – said a “heck of a lot” has been learned over two decades of research since the Indian Ocean tsunami, including simply how the waves deliver damage.
“That’s something we didn’t know. And the reason we didn’t know was because tsunamis, in real life, are so destructive that when you do field surveys, the only information they really give you is the maximum values of the destruction,” he said.
“They’re so destructive, they tend to just destroy everything.”
The group’s latest project, announced in September, is the development of a prototype design for what would be a pioneering machine in tsunami wave generation technology – the Tsunami Twin Wave.
When the prototype schematic is completed in 2026, the United Kingdom government-funded design will model for the first time the impact of multiple incoming and outgoing tsunami waves, not only showing how tsunamis cause damage as they come in, but also how they cause damage as they return to sea.
This seemingly simple innovation will fill a “huge knowledge gap” in the field, McGovern said.
Due in part to the misperception of tsunamis being a rare phenomenon, researchers at MAKEWAVES are “always fighting the lack of funding” for tsunami research, McGovern said.
This relative apathy comes despite the heightened risk posed by tsunamis in the coming decades, as sea level rises caused by climate change look set to only exacerbate the issue.
“My hope on the 20th anniversary is that we don’t forget this risk, we don’t assume it was a once in a millennium event, and we continue to prioritise one of the most deadly natural hazards humanity faces,” he said.
A man takes a photo of a car lifted into the side of a building following a massive earthquake and tsunami at Talise beach in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, in 2018 [File: Tatan Syuflana/AP]
‘I didn’t know it would happen so quickly’
It is a question of when, not if, a devastating tsunami of the same scale as 2004 hits again, experts say.
Predicting exactly when such an event will happen is impossible, but few have come closer than Phil Cummins.
He has been described as the person who “essentially predicted” the 2004 tsunami.
More than a year before the Indian Ocean tsunami struck – at an October 2003 meeting of the International Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific – Cummins, a seismologist, called for alert systems to be expanded to the Indian Ocean due to what he perceived to be the growing risk of a devastating wave.
Referencing Dutch colonial-era records in Indonesia, he told the meeting in Wellington, New Zealand, that great 19th-century earthquakes caused by fault lines west of Sumatra had generated destructive ocean-spanning waves, and a recurrence of such an event was just a matter of time.
Just months before the tsunami, in August 2004, Cummins reiterated his concerns in a PowerPoint presentation to experts in Japan and Hawaii. He again warned that a giant earthquake could occur in central Sumatra at any time, posing a grave danger to several countries from tsunamis.
Not even Cummins realised just how prophetic his warning would be.
“I was shocked,” said Cummins, an adjunct professor at the Australian National University.
“I guess there were feelings of vindication, but also feelings of guilt, because I hadn’t been standing on the ramparts and screaming up and down. In retrospect, I should have done that, but I didn’t know it would happen so quickly,” he told Al Jazeera.
An Indonesian soldier stands guard as his colleagues search for bodies on December 31, 2004, amid the devastation in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province in northwest Indonesia, following the December 26 tsunami [File: Bullit Marquez/AP Photo]
While the tragedy that unfolded on December 26, 2004 proved Cummins’s prediction eerily accurate, he was wrong about one aspect – the earthquake’s epicentre was in north Sumatra, not central.
In 2003, Cummins and his colleagues at Geoscience Australia had used a computer simulation to map a magnitude 8.8 to 9.2 underwater earthquake that hit off the coast of central Sumatra in 1833, causing a major tsunami. That simulation showed the earthquake’s epicentre was near the cities of Bengkulu and Padang – about 500km (310 miles) south of the 2004 tsunami’s epicentre.
Cummins believed that this area was the “number one place” for a major earthquake and tsunami to recur.
“That’s where everyone thought the next tsunami would be, Padang,” Cummins said.
“The really odd thing is that it still hasn’t occurred. Everyone thought it was going to happen for sure, but here we are in 2024. It’s mysterious,” he said, adding that such an event occurring off the coast of Padang is “still a major concern”.
“Twenty years have gone by, I worry that people have gotten more complacent, perhaps myself included, and I don’t know why it hasn’t happened,” he said.
“From what we know, I’d say it’s still the number one place.”
Submerged buildings near the pier at Ton Sai Bay in Thailand’s Phi Phi island, on December 28, 2004, after a tsunami hit the area two days earlier [File: Luis Enrique Ascui LA/ABP/Reuters]
‘People have become more complacent’
Despite major advances in earthquake alert systems and tsunami awareness and preparedness in coastal communities in countries such as Indonesia, Cummins warned that there is only so much that can be done to protect those living near the likely epicentre of future disasters.
“We still haven’t solved the problem of what to do about communities right next to the earthquake that might be hit by a tsunami. That can happen in as little as 10 or maybe 30 minutes, it’s very little time to get a warning out and for people to react,” he said, pointing to the example of Padang.
“Even though there is some awareness there, I don’t think there is any sense of urgency. I think people have become more complacent. It’s a very crowded coastal strip, a low-lying coastal strip. There’s a river that the population would have to get across. I think it’ll be very difficult to evacuate,” he said.
Visitors to the coastline in Padang take pictures with the Indian Ocean in the background a day after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck far out at sea, off West Sumatra province, Indonesia, in 2016 [File: Darren Whiteside/Reuters]
Rina Suryani Oktari, a professor at Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh, has witnessed a similar complacency set in among coastal communities in northern Sumatra as time has passed.
A coordinator for the Disaster Education and Management Research Cluster at the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center, Oktari said cheap land prices have drawn many people back to high-risk coastal areas.
“We are now better prepared, but there’s still a possibility that there will be a big number of victims if there’s another tsunami,” she told Al Jazeera. “Many people have come back to live in the coastal area. The population is now even higher than before the [2004] tsunami.”
Cummins, for his part, cautioned that a new mega-tsunami could hit at any time, without warning.
“A lot of people are going to die no matter what,” he said, adding, the “losses will be much greater” if communities are not well drilled.
One couple who have not grown complacent are Budi and Sylvia, who still recount their loss of Siti as a cautionary tale for other Indonesians.
Budi will never give up hope of finding his daughter, despite the two decades that have passed since she slipped from Sylvia’s arms.
Sylvia, left, holds their daughter Siti, while Budi holds his nephew, before the tsunami [Courtesy of Budi Permana]
He said that for many years, while working for the Red Cross, and now Islamic Relief, he would visit orphanages, asking if they had any girls who had been found during the 2004 tsunami.
Budi draws inspiration from the case of one Indonesian girl who was reunited with her family in 2014, 10 years after she was swept away during the tsunami as a four-year-old.
“I hope that also happens with my daughter,” he said.
A Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. combination could give the two struggling Japanese brands the scale to take on China’s BYD Co., sales figures released Wednesday show.
Honda and Nissan plan to team up to jointly challenge the world’s top electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla, and BYD.
Honda, which earlier this week sketched out plans for a deal that amounts to an acquisition of Nissan, sold 3.43 million cars globally in the first 11 months of 2024. Nissan sold just over 3 million, according to a separate statement.
China’s biggest automaker BYD sold 3.76 million vehicles over the same period, a clear illustration of how weak Nissan and Honda are alone, but how together, they may stand a fighting chance.
Honda and Nissan are both having trouble contending with ascendant domestic automakers in China, which surpassed Japan as the world’s largest car exporter last year and is set to pull further ahead in 2025.
The duo have had to pare back staffing and production in China, while Mitsubishi Motors Corp., which may also participate in the Honda-Nissan combination, has all but pulled out of the world’s biggest car market.
Honda’s sales in China fell 28% in November versus the same month of 2023 while output slumped 38% year-on-year. Nissan’s China sales dropped 15.1% in November while local production sank 26%.
Globally, Honda’s sales last month slipped 6.7% to 324,504 units while output tumbled 20.4%. Nissan’s worldwide sales declined 1.3% year-on-year in November to 278,763 vehicles while production took a bigger hit at 14.3%.
Together, Honda and Nissan would also pose more of a threat to Toyota Motor Corp., which is the world’s biggest automaker followed by Germany’s Volkswagen AG. Its global sales plateaued in November as lackluster demand coalesced with a pause in production at two of its plants.
Toyota’s sales — including that of subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. — totaled 984,348 units last month, the Japanese automaker said Wednesday, down 0.2% versus November 2023. Production declined 9.4% year-on-year to 966,921 units.
Toyota’s business is also feeling the strain of locally made electric vehicles in China as well as intense competition over hybrid gasoline-electric cars in the US. Like Honda and Nissan, its hold on markets across Southeast Asia is being steadily eroded by Chinese competitors too.
More broadly, weaker global demand this year for new cars was compounded by output cuts at Toyota caused by regulatory probes and recalls in Japan and abroad. Production between January and November fell 7.3% in Japan and 15.2% in China for Toyota, again underscoring the rising competition in Asia’s biggest economy.
Christmas Wishes 2024: Spread joy this Christmas with 100+ heartfelt wishes, quotes, and images to share with your family, friends, relatives and colleagues. Perfect for cards and social media posts!
Merry Christmas 2024 Wishes, Images, Greetings, Cards, Quotes Messages, Photos, SMSs WhatsApp and Facebook Status to share with your loved ones on Xmas. (Images: Shutterstock)
Merry Christmas Wishes, Quotes, WhatsApp Status and Images: Christmas is a season of love, joy, giving and grand celebrations. Homes are decked up in sparkling lights and hearts are filled with thankfulness as the occasion draws near. Reaching out to your loved ones, sending warm wishes and sharing the enchantment of the season are appropriate during this time of year.
A thoughtful wish can help capture the spirit of Christmas and share seasonal cheer, whether you’re celebrating with loved ones, friends or coworkers.
Struggling to find the right words this season? Here’s a collection of Christmas wishes, quotes, WhatsApp and Facebook status, images, and messages to share with loved ones near and far.
Merry Christmas Quote: Love your neighbour as yourself. — Matthew 22:39
Merry Christmas Wishes 2024
I hope you and your family have a happy and joyous Christmas season. Merry Christmas!
Love is a gift. Peace is a gift. Happiness is a gift. I hope you get all of these for Christmas. Happy Christmas!
I hope you and your family have a season filled with joy and happiness. Merry Christmas!
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas that is full of love, joy and wealth!
I hope your family has an amazing holiday season filled with treats, surprises and endless laughing.
Happy Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
I pray you have a peaceful, joyful and happy holiday season.
Merry Christmas Wishes In Hindi: From our home to yours, have a blessed and joyful Christmas! (Image: Shutterstock)
Merry Christmas! Warmest wishes for a joyful Christmas.
I hope you have a happy Christmas this year! Merry Christmas
Cheers to the holidays! I hope you get all you wanted for Christmas. Happy Christmas!
Merry Christmas Images
Merry Christmas Images: Sending love and festive cheer your way this Christmas! (Image: Shutterstock)
Merry Christmas Photos: The best gifts this Christmas are the ones we give from the heart. (Image: Shutterstock)
Merry Christmas 2024 Wishes: Christmas Wishes, Images, Quotes, Messages and WhatsApp Greetings to Share on Xmas. (Image: Shutterstock)
Christmas 2024 Messages: Best Christmas Wishes, messages, quotes, greetings, SMS, WhatsApp and Facebook status to share with your family and friends on Xmas. (Image: Shutterstock)
Christmas 2024 Quotes, Greetings, WhatsApp Status, Images And Quotes You Can Share With Your Dear Ones on Xmas. (Image: Shutterstock)
Merry Christmas 2024 Greetings
This Christmas, may you be filled with gratitude for Jesus’ amazing gift and the joy he brings into our lives. Happy Christmas!
Happy Christmas! May you be abundantly blessed by God all year long.
The season exists because of Jesus. Happy Christmas!
May God bless you with unfathomable joy and wealth during your Yuletide season and every day! Happy Christmas!
I wish you a joyful Christmas season full of laughter and new memories with those you love as you decorate the tree and enjoy your favourite holiday foods. Best wishes for Christmas.
I hope you have peace and joy this holiday season. Merry Christmas!
Celebrate life and share happiness this holiday season by being who you are. I pray that God grants you all health and good vibes. To all of you, a very happy Christmas!
We hope you have a happy and warm Christmas as another amazing year draws to a conclusion. I hope you live a long life and that your wishes come true!
I wish you and your loved ones a priceless and unforgettable Christmas. Enjoy a happy occasion.
I pray that Jesus will be your lifelong friend and support system. I hope you have an amazing holiday season! Merry Christmas
Wishing you a Christmas that’s merry and bright! May it be filled with the wonder and excitement of the season.
Wishing you peace, love, and joy this Christmas and throughout the coming year.
May your home be filled with the magic and joy of Christmas, and may your heart be filled with love.
This holiday season, may you be surrounded by love and warmth. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
As you celebrate this wonderful season, may your heart be filled with gratitude for the blessings in your life. Merry Christmas!
Wishing you all the happiness and joy this Christmas can bring. Have a wonderful holiday!
How do you wish Merry Christmas?
May the Christmas season bring you closer to your loved ones and fill your heart with hope and joy.
Wishing you a festive holiday season filled with laughter, good cheer, and wonderful memories!
This Christmas, may your heart be filled with joy, your home with love, and your life with laughter.
Sending you warm wishes for a joyful Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
May your Christmas be wrapped in warmth and filled with love, laughter, and happiness.
Wishing you a Christmas that’s merry and bright, and a New Year filled with peace and delight.
May the spirit of Christmas fill your home with peace and joy, and may the New Year bring you happiness and prosperity.
Wishing you all the joy and peace this Christmas season can bring. Merry Christmas!
May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love, laughter, and goodwill. Have a joyous holiday season!
Wishing you a season filled with warmth, comfort, and good cheer! Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
May the beauty of the Christmas season fill your heart with peace and joy. Merry Christmas!
Christmas is a time to ponder, love and connect. Sharing your delight with others may make the holiday season even more memorable, whether it’s through a well-chosen photo, a genuine remark or a sincere desire.
Let’s embrace the giving spirit in 2024 and give not only tangible presents but also gifts of love, thanks and kindness. So, spread the Christmas magic and have an abundance of blessings over the holidays with a prosperous and bright year. Merry Christmas!
Christmas Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Christmas?
Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed annually on December 25. It has also become a secular celebration marked by family gatherings, gift-giving, and festive decorations.
Why do we celebrate Christmas?
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who is believed by Christians to be the Son of God. Over time, the holiday has evolved into a broader celebration of family, kindness, and goodwill.
What are some Christmas traditions?
Decorating a Christmas tree with lights, ornaments, and a star or angel on top.
Gift-giving to friends, family, and loved ones.
Attending church services to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Exchanging Christmas cards
Singing Christmas carols
Enjoying festive meals, often with turkey, ham, or other traditional foods.
When is Christmas?
Christmas is celebrated annually on December 25th, although the holiday season can begin earlier in December with traditions like Advent.
Who is Santa Claus?
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, or Father Christmas, is a legendary figure who delivers gifts to children around the world on Christmas Eve. He is typically depicted as a jolly old man with a white beard, wearing a red suit.
Newslifestyle Merry Christmas Wishes 2024: 100+ Xmas Wishes, Images, Quotes, And Messages To Share On December 25!
December 26, 2024, is the 20th year since 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamiThe tsunami generated by the magnitude 9.1 earthquake originated off the Sumatran coast and was the third largest (by magnitude) in the world since 1900. The source was in the Sunda Trench, 30 km below sea level, where part of the Indo-Australian Plate subducts beneath the Burma Microplate, which is a part of the Eurasian Plate.
The 2004 earthquake ruptured 1,300 km of the plate boundary, creating a rift stretching from Sumatra in the south to the Cocoa Islands in the north. The earthquake was felt in Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It caused severe damage in northern Sumatra and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and killed hundreds of people. The tsunami was most effective on remote coasts, affecting 17 countries in the Indian Ocean.
Overall, with a staggering death toll of approximately 227,000 people and more than 1.7 million displaced, the 2004 tsunami is the deadliest in recorded history.
unprecedented magnitude
Less than six years later, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Japan on March 11, 2011, the largest earthquake ever to hit that country. It generated a tsunami that was up to 39 meters high and traveled 8 km inland. The twin disasters killed more than 18,000 people, displaced more than 500,000, and resulted in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster.
Although there have been devastating tsunamis in the past – for example 1960 Chile and 1964 Alaska – two 21st century events have taught us important lessons. In particular, the 2004 tsunami highlighted how vulnerable the world was to natural hazards. It descended like a bolt from the sky, striking in the most unexpected places, and emphasizing the importance of dealing with disaster risk through preparedness and resilience.
Margaretha Wahlstrom, head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), said in a panel discussion: “Ten years after the Indian Ocean tsunami, the world has taken important measures to make the world a safer place against disasters.”
The 2004 tsunami surprised researchers and hazard managers alike with its transoceanic reach. Since there was no recorded history of such a large event, the research community did not expect it to occur on the eastern seaboard of India. The only previous tsunamis were in 1881, caused by a major earthquake (magnitude ~8) off Car Nicobar Island, and the second tsunami was caused by the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. These events produced only small sea waves as recorded by tide gauges at various points on the east coast.
This view from the air shows the coastal devastation on Katchal Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in 2005. The island lost about 90% of its population in the tragedy of December 26, 2004. , Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images
However, in the two decades since 2004, researchers have made tremendous leaps in the scientific understanding of tsunami generation and the technical aspects of earthquake monitoring. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Center (ITEWC), established in 2007 by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, is perhaps the most important step in this direction.
Operating from the Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad, ITEWC operates seismic stations as well as bottom pressure recorders and tidal stations throughout the Indian Ocean Basin – all 24/7. These systems can broadcast tsunami observations offshore and into the deep sea, providing early warning. Earthquake data from stations operated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and 350 global stations are also available on INCOIS.
Ocean monitoring systems also pass data in real time. For example, in about 10 minutes, the system can identify a potentially tsunami-causing earthquake and issue a tsunami alert or warning based on expected severity for countries bordering the Indian Ocean. India is the fifth country in the world, after the US, Japan, Chile and Australia, to have such an advanced tsunami warning system.
a new practice
The 2004 incident also stimulated important new developments in research. Tsunami geology work initiated by Brian Atwater of the US Geological Survey inspired researchers in Asian countries, including India, to explore it. Evidence of tsunami in historyAtwater’s work on the Washington coast of the western US had revealed evidence of an earthquake and tsunami in the 1700s, as well as those of his predecessors. An interesting part of this work was the use of changes in land elevation caused by earthquakes, which stressed or killed trees. Atwater used these impact impressions to determine when a piece of land had deformed and thus when it was suffering the effects of a tsunami earthquake.
Observations of depleted mangrove swamps revealed how the 2004 earthquake had caused height changes of up to 3.5 meters in some locations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Scientists also wondered whether there might have been events in the past that led to the destruction of mangroves. As it turned out the 2004 earthquake had reopened the coffins of the past and exposed their skeletons in the form of dead roots clinging to the tidal platforms during low tide. Such roots exposed near Port Blair were used to estimate that the last earthquake occurred about a thousand years ago.
Excavations at Mahabalipuram, the port of the Pallava dynasty, revealed evidence of a similar tsunami. This was the first evidence of a tsunami by an Indian team before 2004. Researchers also examined sedimentary deposits on mainland islands and coastal areas to find evidence of other ancient tsunamis, while learning to distinguish between tsunami and storm deposits.
This effort is a good example of how the 2004 tsunami inspired the science of tsunami geology to become a new practice, leading to many new research papers and doctoral theses. The demand for more information about tsunamis also helped accelerate the use of GPS systems and earthquake equipment. With funding from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, research institutions established several new stations along the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, thereby strengthening seismic observations and geologic studies.
In another important step, tsunami modeling using mathematical tools helped researchers determine the extent of the flood. In particular, this disaster provided a stark reminder that nuclear power plants installed off Indian coasts may be vulnerable to heretofore underestimated risks. While the Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant faced huge waves, it automatically shut down after rising water levels tripped detectors. There was no release of radioactive material and the reactor was restarted six days later.
No. In this handout satellite image taken March 14, 2011, reactor 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is seen burning after an explosion following an earthquake and tsunami. Photo Credit: DigitalGlobe
But the 2011 Tohoku earthquake reminded the world and India how quickly a nuclear disaster This can happen in the absence of failsafe. It was clear that radiation from the Fukushima facility had entered the human food chain. Researchers also found radioactive cesium in the breast milk of some women tested near Fukushima Prefecture three months after the disaster. What would have happened if the waves in 2004 had been strong enough to damage the reactors at Kalpakkam?
This question continues to resonate as the government is working on major developmental projects in Great Car Nicobar, including the construction of an international transshipment terminal. Some experts have also argued that the last major earthquake to affect the region before 2004 was over a millennium ago, so there is no imminent danger. But this question depends on how much we still don’t know. What if an unbroken patch of subduction zone between Myanmar and India gives way? The possibility of a sudden rupture of an as yet unknown part of the crust between Great Nicobar and Car Nicobar and causing a powerful earthquake and tsunami cannot be ruled out.
Experts and policymakers should also pay attention to other problematic locations, such as the Makran coast in the northern Arabian Sea and the Myanmar coast along the northern Indian Ocean. Both of these have the potential to cause large tsunamis. The Makran Coast, cutting across Iran and Pakistan, could direct the tsunami’s energy toward India’s west coast, which also hosts nuclear reactors and the city of Mumbai.
a major milestone
Science tells us that tension between tectonic plates builds until it reaches a critical stress, at which point the stored potential energy is released in the form of an earthquake. Subduction zones such as the Andaman-Sumatra region are becoming important as they provide signals for earthquake generation. The discovery of slow slip – tectonic faults that move several orders of magnitude slower and usually to a slightly greater depth – has also added a new dimension to this picture.
Recently, researchers have been studying seismic slip at plate boundaries to understand the processes that occur before and after large earthquakes. He has elucidated the occurrence of preseismic and post-seismic slip transients using laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. Some of these studies have implications for earthquake prediction: they indicate a formative process that initially involves stable, slow rupture growth within a limited area on a fault just before unstable, high-speed rupture occurs. it occurs.
a paper Published in 2015 (co-authored by one of the authors of this article) had indicated a clear movement of the ground beneath in the South Andaman between 2003 and 2004, before the earthquake – a silent event with a moment magnitude of 6.3. This event could have been a precursor to a megathrust earthquake. Analysis of geodetic data on a comprehensive set of global earthquakes. published in Science Short-term precursory fault slips were also confirmed before larger earthquakes.
As it happened, the 2004 Andaman–Sumatra earthquake became a major milestone in modern seismological research, providing a wealth of data to help science gain new insights into how earthquakes occur and the associated hazards.
Kusala Rajendran is a former professor at the Center for Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. CP Rajendran is Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Sciences, Bengaluru. He is the author of the book ‘The Rumbling Earth – The Story of Indian Earthquakes’.
Twenty big cats – including a Bengal tiger and four cougars – have died of bird flu over the past several weeks at an animal sanctuary in the state of Washington.
“This tragedy has deeply affected our team, and we are all grieving the loss of these incredible animals,” the Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington wrote in a post on Facebook.
The devastating viral infection, carried by wild birds, spreads primarily through respiratory secretions and bird-to-bird contact and can also be contracted by mammals that ingest birds or other products.
The sanctuary is under quarantine and is closed to the public to prevent the spread of the virus, the statement said.
The animals died between late November and mid-December, the sanctuary’s director, Mark Mathews, told the New York Times.
“We’ve never had anything like it; they usually die basically of old age,” he said. “Not something like this, it’s a pretty wicked virus.”
The news comes as bird flu continues to spread among cattle and poultry in the US, while also severely infecting at least one human.
The sanctuary said it had lost five African serval cats, four bobcats, two Canada lynx and a Bengal tiger, among others. Only 17 cats now remain at the Center.
“Cats are particularly vulnerable to this virus, which can cause subtle initial symptoms but progress rapidly, often resulting in death within 24 hours due to pneumonia-like conditions,” the sanctuary said in its Facebook statement on Friday.
Bird flu has long infected poultry flocks in the US. But the virus began to infect cattle in the US for the first time in March.
And since April 2024, there have been a total of 61 human cases of bird flu reported in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC says that the risk to the general public remains low, and there has been no sustained human-to-human transmission.
Most have reported mild symptoms, though one person was taken to the hospital with a severe case of bird flu in Louisiana this month.
Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency over the outbreak among the state’s dairy cows to help the government have the “resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak”.
BENGALURU: Healthcare-focused global capability centres (GCCs) continue to struggle with gender diversity. According to Teamlease data, women constitute only 28% of the workforce, matching industry standards. In R&D roles, women representation drops further to 15%. “The gap is expected to persist due to the broader gender gap in STEM with just 27% women in the STEM workforce in India as of 2023. Women’s representation in the tech workforce is projected to grow from 28% in 2023 to 35% by 2027,” states Krishna Vij, business head of IT staffing at Teamlease Digital.
Organisations like Roche, Siemens Healthineers and Merck attribute this imbalance primarily to attrition at mid-career levels. These firms predominantly recruit experienced, middle-aged professionals due to their specific requirements, with limited entry-level positions available. “We are into research and development of healthcare products. That makes it critical to have more experienced hands. If women did not drop out at that stage, we would have a greater number of them in our organisation,” states Raja Jamalamadaka, the MD of Roche India, where women comprise approximately 30%. A significant challenge is the limited availability of women mechanical engineers. Roche aims to achieve 35% women representation whilst doubling its workforce over the next two years. Siemens Healthineers’ development centre in India currently maintains 30% women representation and anticipates improved gender diversity by 2028. “It is a cultural problem we are trying to tackle here. It is going to be difficult to even 35% is going to be difficult because we need access to good talent as well,” notes Urmi Chatterjee, HR head, APJ and India for Siemens Healthineers Development Centre. Merck’s IT centre has improved its women representation from 20% in 2018 to 36%, according to head Anuprita Bhattacharya. She observes that despite opportunities, women often hesitate to apply after career breaks. “I have seen a lot of people having self-doubt in terms of when they are coming out from a break. That has been the social conditioning…,” she says.
A war of words has erupted after the BJP called the AAP’s women’s welfare schemes misleading. Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of planning politically motivated raids against AAP leaders.
Arvind Kejriwal with party leaders Delhi CM Atishi, Raghav Chadha, Sanjay Singh (Photo: PTI)
Hours after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal of misleading Delhiites with false promises under the ‘Sanjeevani’ and ‘Mahila Samman’ schemes, the former Chief Minister has claimed the saffron party is “badly upset” with the schemes launched by his party.
Kejriwal has also asserted that the BJP plans to arrest Chief Minister Atishi and carry out raids at the residences of AAP leaders.
This comes after some advertisements in newspapers by the Delhi government’s Women and Child Development (WCD) Department and the Health and Family Welfare Department warned Delhi residents and stated no such schemes had been officially notified.
The government department also cautioned citizens about the risks of sharing personal details, such as bank account information, voter ID cards, and phone numbers, which could result in privacy breaches and data leaks.
WHEN BJP CALLED AAP GOVT ‘FAILED ADMINISTRATION’
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Bansuri Swaraj called the Aam Aadmi Party government a “failed administration” and highlighted a Rs 7,000-crore deficit under Kejriwal’s leadership.
Swaraj claimed that Delhi’s health secretary publicly denied the existence of ‘Sanjeevani’ scheme, calling it a “fabrication” by the AAP government.
She further slammed the ‘Mahila Samman’ scheme, labelling it a “hoax”.
“The promised Rs 2,100 for women is a mere gimmick,” she said, adding the cabinet note only approved Rs 1,000, an amount already announced in March before the Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP leader accused the AAP government of deliberately stalling the Modi government’s welfare schemes, including Ayushman Bharat, which remains unimplemented in Delhi, a statement said.
Swaraj highlighted the AAP’s “failure” in Punjab, noting that women there have not received any promised funds despite two years of AAP rule, it added. She also questioned Kejriwal’s priorities, accusing him of focusing on misleading narratives rather than addressing critical issues like air pollution, the condition of the Yamuna River, and Delhi’s overall development.
“The AAP government has consistently misled the people of Delhi and brought the state into financial ruin. The people are ready for change, and BJP will bring the transparency and governance Delhi deserves,” she said.
दिल्ली में #AAP सरकार की स्वार्थी राजनीति ने जनता को उनके बुनियादी अधिकारों से वंचित कर दिया है।प्रधानमंत्री आवास योजना को लागू न कर 10 लाख परिवारों को छत से महरूम रखा गया। 51 लाख लोगों को आयुष्मान भारत योजना के तहत मिलने वाले मुफ्त इलाज का हक छीन लिया। 90,000 ग़रीबों को मुफ्त… pic.twitter.com/wNI8h3GE81
In an X post on Wednesday, Arvind Kejriwal wrote, “These people are badly upset by the Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana.”
“They have planned to arrest Atishi ji in the next few days by making a fake case. Before that, raids will be conducted on senior AAP leaders,” a rough translation of Arvind Kejriwal’s X post in Hindi read.
“I will hold a press conference on this today at 12 o’clock,” he added.
महिला सम्मान योजना और संजीवनी योजना से ये लोग बुरी तरह से बौखला गए हैं।अगले कुछ दिनों में फ़र्ज़ी केस बनाकर आतिशी जी को गिरफ्तार करने का इन्होंने प्लान बनाया है
In a separate X post, the Aam Aadmi Party wrote, “Seeing the tremendous response that the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ and ‘Sanjeevani Yojana’ are getting from the public, the BJP is badly scared.”
“No matter how much the BJP may conspire, the public is standing with Kejriwal ji, CM Atishi Ji. We are the disciples of Baba Saheb Ambedkar ji and Bhagat Singh ji. We will neither be afraid nor bow down,” the party’s post read.
महिला सम्मान योजना और संजीवनी योजना को जनता का जो जबरदस्त Response मिल रहा है, उसे देखकर भाजपाई बुरी तरह से घबरा गए हैं।भाजपा वाले चाहे जितनी साज़िश कर लें, जनता केजरीवाल जी, CM @AtishiAAP जी के साथ खड़ी है।
हम बाबा साहेब अंबेडकर जी और भगत सिंह जी के चेले हैं। हम ना डरेंगे और… https://t.co/MlZcQs2V6D
Also speaking to reporters over the ads cautioning people against the schemes, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said, “As per my understanding, the BJP has a hatred towards middle-class, senior citizens, and that is why they pressurised the officials to put this advertisement. There would be action against those officials.”
“This will be written in the manifesto, it is AAP’s guarantee, ‘kavach cards’ are being distributed, it is for the election, and they are opposing it. In Delhi, senior citizens are deserted, insurance companies deny insurance to people aged above 60 years, Kejriwal ji brought the ‘Sanjeevani Scheme’, as a guarantee,” Singh said.
VIDEO | AAP leader Sanjay Singh (@SanjayAzadSln) on Delhi health department cautioning people against Sanjeevani Scheme says, “As per my understanding, the BJP has a hatred towards middle-class, senior citizens, and that is why they pressurised the officials to put this… pic.twitter.com/MEAY58Pwzg— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 25, 2024
ARVIND KEJRIWAL, ATISHI ADDRESS PRESS CONFERENCE
During a press conference on Wednesday, Arvind Kejriwal said, ” As per sources, recently there was a meeting between the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department, and they have been asked to arrest Chief Minister Atishi by fabricating any false case against her.”
“In the last ten years, the BJP has done no work in Delhi. They are asking for votes only by criticising and abusing Kejriwal. But the Aam Aadmi Party has a positive campaign based on the work done,” Kejriwal said.
“We have announced the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ and a scheme for free medical treatment of senior citizens. The BJP is rattled by registrations for these schemes as the Delhi cabinet has already approved the Rs 1000 allowance and a notification has been issued,” he added.
#WATCH | AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal says, ” As per sources, recently there was a meeting between CBI, ED & I-T and they have been asked to arrest CM Atishi by fabricating any false case against the CM…”“In the last ten years, the BJP has no work in Delhi. They are… pic.twitter.com/M7eieeBIMS
“The BJP has no narrative, nothing to tell of what they did in the last 10 years. The people of Delhi gave them only one thing and that is to maintain the law and order, but they could not even do that. The BJP doesn’t have any chief minister face, the party also does not have any agenda. We are urging the people to vote for us on the basis of the work that we have done in the last 10 years,” he added.
Also present during the briefing, Chief Minister Atishi said, “The notices issued in newspapers today are wrong. The BJP, by putting pressure on a few officers, got this notice published today. Administrative and police action will be taken against these officers. The information that the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ has been notified by the Delhi Cabinet is in the public domain.”
Later, in an X post, Arvind Kejriwal wrote, “These people do not contest elections, they just do dishonesty. This time in the Delhi elections, their every act will be exposed before the country. These people will be exposed before the whole country.”
ये लोग चुनाव नहीं लड़ते, बस बेईमानी करते हैं। इस बार दिल्ली के चुनाव में इनकी एक एक करतूत देश के सामने आएगी। पूरे देश के सामने ये लोग बेनकाब होंगे।— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 25, 2024
During the address, Atishi also accused the BJP of distributing money to voters in the New Delhi assembly constituency, where Arvind Kejriwal contests elections. Atishi also claimed that BJP leader and former two-time MP from West Delhi, Parvesh Verma, was “caught distributing money” at his official residence.
“The BJP is distributing money to people by checking their voter cards in the New Delhi assembly constituency, from where Arvind Kejriwal contests elections. Today, Parvesh Verma was caught red-handed giving out money at his official residence, which he received as an MP. Women from various slums in the New Delhi assembly constituency were called there and given Rs 1,100 in an envelope,” Chief Minister Atishi said.
She also alleged that crores of rupees are in Parvesh Verma’s house and urged the Election Commission to instruct the ED and Delhi Police to raid Verma’s official residence and arrest him.
“I want to inform the ED and CBI that cash worth crores of rupees is still at Parvesh Verma’s house. I urge the Election Commission to have the ED and Delhi Police raid his official residence and arrest him immediately. The BJP is trying to win a lost election. We will officially lodge a complaint with the police and the Election Commission. The pamphlet used for distributing money also features pictures of PM Modi and JP Nadda,” she said.
NEWSPAPER ADS AGAINST AAP SCHEMES
Advertisements in some newspapers by the Health and Family Welfare Department and the Women and Child Development warned Delhiites against the schemes launched by the Aam Aadmi Party.
“Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, does not have such supposed “Sanjeevani scheme” in existence till date. Further Health Department neither has authorised any health official or anybody to collect such personal information and data from elderly citizens, nor is the department providing any card in this regard,” a public notice by the Health and Family Welfare Department read.
“The general citizens of Delhi are advised not to fall for the false promises of this non-existent scheme as these are misleading and don’t have any authority. The general public is also requested to exercise caution in providing personal details to any unauthorised person to avoid any fraud or data breach in future,” it added.
Notice by the Health and Family Welfare Department
Another notice, by the Women and Child Development, read, “It has been brought to the notice of the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), GNCTD, through media reports and social media posts that a political party is claiming to disburse Rs 2100 per month under Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana to women in Delhi.”
“It is clarified that no such scheme has been notified by Government of Delhi,” it read.
Newspaper ad over AAP’s women welfare schemes
OFFICIALS SPEAK TO News18
Speaking to News18, a government official from the Health Department, on the condition of anonymity, said both departments were getting queries from the public regarding the “non-existent” schemes.
“A party announced a post-poll promise in a way that people start believing the schemes have been launched. It is important to note that there is no such file in our department and we started getting queries from the public. This made us issue the order,” the official said.
As News18 contacted the Women and Child Department, they said the Cabinet approval is for Rs 1,000 per month per woman in Delhi and not Rs 2,100, as promised by the AAP.
“Political parties make many promises but it is not important that they become reality. As government departments, it is our responsibility to make people aware of what is happening on the ground and what is not,” another official said.
BJP LEADERS SLAM ARVIND KEJRIWAL
Soon after the newspaper ads saw the light of the day, BJP leaders slammed the Aam Aadmi Party and claimed the party was now “exposed”.
In an X post, BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya wrote, “AA exposed: The Departments of Women & Child Development and Health & Family Welfare have issued Public Notices clarifying that the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, which promises ₹2,100 to women, and the Sanjeevani Scheme, offering free medical facilities to senior citizens, are not part of Delhi Government programs.”
AAP exposed: The Departments of Women & Child Development and Health & Family Welfare have issued Public Notices clarifying that the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, which promises ₹2,100 to women, and the Sanjeevani Scheme, offering free medical facilities to senior citizens,… pic.twitter.com/3bdpQ8FADD— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 25, 2024
On Tuesday too, Malviya, in an X post wrote, “Arvind Kejriwal is the biggest fraud Delhi has ever witnessed. It has come to light that while AAP announced the Sanjeevani Yojana for senior citizens, no such scheme exists under the Delhi government. Concerned officials in Delhi have confirmed this.”
“This is yet another hollow promise by Arvind Kejriwal, made just before elections, and a cover-up for his refusal to implement the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Senior citizens in Delhi are advised to stay cautious and avoid sharing personal information with those who rely on fake promises and deceit. The BJP remains committed to safeguarding citizens from such misleading tactics,” his post read.
BJP leader Kapil Mishra also shared one of the newspaper ads, and wrote, “What a big fraud Kejriwal is doing with the sisters of Delhi On one side Kejriwal is getting women to fill forms, on the other side see the notice of Delhi government in today’s newspapers The Delhi government itself is advertising that there is no such scheme and these forms are fake wow this is fake,” (sic).
केजरीवाल कितना बड़ा फ्रॉड कर रहें है दिल्ली की बहनों के साथएक तरफ़ केजरीवाल महिलाओं के फॉर्म भरवा रहें है दूसरी तरफ़ दिल्ली सरकार का आज के अखबारों में नोटिस देखिए
दिल्ली सरकार ख़ुद विज्ञापन दे रहीं हैं कि ऐसी कोई योजना नहीं और ये फॉर्म फ़र्ज़ी हैं
BJP’s national spokesperson Shehzad Ponawalla also took to X and wrote, “Fraud = AAP On one hand Kejriwal is getting women to fill forms and on the other side see the notice of Delhi government in today’s newspapers The Delhi government itself is clarifying that there is no such scheme and these forms are fake and no personal Details should be given to unidentified persons masquerading as karyakartas!”
Fraud = AAPOn one hand Kejriwal is getting women to fill forms and on the other side see the notice of Delhi government in today’s newspapers
The Delhi government itself is clarifying that there is no such scheme and these forms are fake and no personalDetails should be given… pic.twitter.com/e2B4GzKwbS
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) December 25, 2024
Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also wrote on X, “Everything that Mr Arvind Kejriwal ji does is a lie and PR. The Women and Child Development Department, Govt of Delhi & Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt of Delhi issue a notification: – No Sanjeevni Scheme in Delhi! – No Mahila Samman Yojana in Delhi! AAP is trying to steal personal data of voters of Delhi for Electoral purpose. Another scam of AAP in making!” (sic).
Everything that Mr Arvind Kejriwal ji does is a lie and PR.The Women and Child Development Department, Govt of Delhi & Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt of Delhi issue a notification:
Speaking to reporters, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, “Arvind Kejriwal has stooped so low that he is cheating the people of Delhi. Now it is coming to light that money can be withdrawn from the accounts of those who are signing. Why is Atishi silent, she is the Chief Minister?”
#WATCH On AAP’s proposed scheme of Rs 2100 monthly allowance to Delhi women, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari says, “Today, the people of Delhi are shocked by the news that the department of Delhi government is releasing advertisements saying that this is fraud and the people of Delhi should… pic.twitter.com/ojYZePekjT— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2024
CONGRESS JUMPS IN
On the Delhi government’s public notice denying the existence of the AAP’s proposed women’s allowance scheme and free medical treatment for senior citizens scheme, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit today said,” Earlier too we had raised questions on this. The money will be released when you send a proposal to the Finance Department. This is fraud. Calling people to register for the schemes appears to be a way of collecting data.”
#WATCH | On Delhi govt’s public notice denying the existence of AAP’s proposed women’s allowance scheme & free medical treatment for senior citizens scheme, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit says,” Earlier too we had raised questions on this…The money will be released when you… pic.twitter.com/mnssimIuLS— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2024
Also addressing a press conference, Delhi Congress president Devendra Yadav said, “For the last 11 years, there is Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi and for the last 10 years, there is BJP government in the centre. The people of Delhi elected both these governments with great expectations but today after 11 years, they feel that apart from promises, they have got only betrayal.”
“When the Congress government led by Sheila Dikshit was in power for 15 years in Delhi, it created new dimensions like development, pollution, respect for women, pension to the elderly, giving ration cards and cylinders to the poor. In those 15 years, a strong foundation was laid to make Delhi a world-class city,” he added.
AAP’s WOMEN WELFARE SCHEMES
In its budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, the Delhi government announced ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ to provide Rs 1,000 per month to all adult women.
However, Kejriwal recently announced that the amount would be raised to Rs 2,100 if his party returned to power in the upcoming elections.
Kejriwal had also announced ‘Sanjeevani Yojana’ to provide free treatment to people aged 60 and above.
On December 23, Arvind Kejriwal helped women register for the ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ in the Kidwai Nagar area.
The AAP supremo helped the women generate one-time passwords (OTP) required for the registration and then handed over their registration cards.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi accompanied Kejriwal during the exercise.
On Tuesday, AAP ministers, MLAs, and volunteers launched an extensive public outreach campaign to register people for the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ and ‘Sanjeevani Yojana’.
Party leaders, including ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Imran Hussain, set up registration camps in Shahpur Jat and Ballimaran. Raghuvinder Shokeen, Sanjeev Jha, Vishesh Ravi, and Kuldeep Kumar joined the effort by conducting camps in their constituencies.
Newsindia Newspaper Ads, Social Media War In Massive Row Over AAP Welfare Scheme Promise For Delhi
New Delhi: India’s commercial airlines flew 1.42 crore passengers on domestic routes in November this year, which represents a robust 12 per cent increase compared to the same month in the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
IndiGo maintained its position as the market leader with a 63.6 per cent share of air traffic, followed by Air India (24.4 per cent), Akasa Air (4.7 per cent) and SpiceJet (3.1 per cent). The market share of Alliance Air stayed flat at 0.7 per cent during the month.
“Passengers carried by domestic airlines during January-November 2024 were 1,464.02 lakh as against 1,382.34 lakh during the corresponding period of the previous year thereby registering an annual growth of 5.91 per cent and monthly growth of 11.90 per cent,” according to the DGCA report.
Domestic air passenger traffic was at 142.52 lakh in November compared to 127.36 lakh in the same period a year ago. The number of flyers that took to Indian skies in Nov was also higher than the corresponding figure of 1.36 crore for October.
However, the On Time Performance (OTP) of scheduled domestic airlines at Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai declined during November with passengers facing longer delays.
IndiGo’s OTP stood at 74.5 per cent while that of Akasa Air and SpiceJet touched 66.4 per cent and 62.5 per cent, respectively. The OTP of Air India and Alliance Air were at 58.8 per cent and 58.9 per cent, respectively, the data showed.
The figures also showed that 2,24,904 passengers were hit by delays in November. The airlines paid up close to Rs 2.9 crore towards the facilitation of stranded passengers. As many as 624 passenger-related complaints were received by the scheduled domestic airlines during November.
A total of 3,539 passengers were denied boarding in November and an expenditure of Rs 2.84 crore was incurred by airlines for compensating and providing facilities to them. The figures also showed that 27,577 passengers were affected by flight cancellations for which airlines spent Rs 36.79 lakh as compensation and providing facilities.
BBC
