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Ahmedabad, Dec 28 (PTI) The increasing use of divisive rhetoric based on religion, caste and ethnicity poses a major challenge to the constitutional ideal of fraternity as well as the sense of unity in the country, Supreme Court judge Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra has said. He was speaking on the theme of `Fraternity: Spirit of the Constitution' at a national council meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad, a lawyers' organisation, at Vadtal in Gujarat's Kheda district. The use of identity politics for votes by politicians can deepen social divisions, he warned. Divisive ideologies, growing economic inequality and social injustice are major threats to the spirit of brotherhood, and upholding fraternity is a "shared responsibility" of common citizens, institutions as well as leaders, Justice Mishra said. Among the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice, fraternity shines as the unifying thread that binds the fabric of our democratic society, and without fraternity, the other ideals remain fragile, "like a tripod missing a crucial leg," he said. "A major challenge to fraternity is the increasing use of divisive rhetoric based on religion, caste and ethnicity. When individuals or groups promote narratives that pit one community against another, it weakens the sense of unity envisioned by the Constitution," Justice Mishra said. Identity politics, while sometimes empowering marginalised groups, can become harmful when it focuses solely on narrow group interests at the expense of common good, often resulting in "exclusion, discrimination, and conflict," he said. "Divisive rhetoric creates mistrust among communities, leading to the spread of stereotypes and misunderstandings. These tensions can escalate into social unrest. Moreover, when political leaders use social identities for electoral gains, it deepens these divisions, making it harder to build a collective sense of belonging," the judge added. Digital technology and social media have often been misused to spread hate speech, misinformation and divisive content, Justice Mishra observed. "These challenges to safeguarding fraternity highlight the importance of collective efforts in addressing these issues. Overcoming divisive rhetoric, bridging economic disparities, and harnessing technology responsibly require active participation from every segment of society," he noted. "When we live by the principle of fraternity, we ensure that the values of justice, equality and freedom endure for generations to come. However, the responsibility to uphold fraternity does not rest on any single individual or group. It is a shared responsibility that involves every citizen, institution, and leader in society," he said. Justice Mishra also called for a "multi-faceted approach" to promote fraternity effectively, involving collaborative efforts of lawmakers, civil society and technology. "Laws should be crafted not just to protect rights but to ensure social cohesion and address systemic inequalities. By prioritising these values, the legal framework of the nation can provide the foundation for a society built on fraternity," he said. The judiciary must play a proactive role in safeguarding the principles of fraternity, the judge further said. "We can prioritise mediation and reconciliation where appropriate, write judgments that are not only legally sound but also explained in accessible language, and ensure that court procedures themselves reflect fraternal values," he said. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Abu Dhabi : An earthquake of 2.2 magnitude struck in Falaj Al Mualla area in Umm Al Quwain , United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday. In a post on X, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) in UAE said that the quake struck at 5:51 pm UAE time, at a depth of 4km. The earthquake was not felt in the region with no effect. A 2.2 Magnitude Earthquake is recorded in Falaj Al Mualla at 17:51, 28/12/2024 "UAE time” According to the NCM “National Seismic Network” Such small earthquakes are relatively rare in the UAE. Experts at the NCM continue to monitor seismic activity in the region as part of their ongoing efforts to analyze and predict seismic events.
Article content You may be plugging your electric vehicle (EV) into a DC fast-charger, but exactly how fast is “fast”? According to a new report from Consumer Reports, charging time can vary considerably between EVs , despite the estimates provided by automakers. The study found that EVs from Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis – and specifically the Kia EV6 – were among the quickest to charge, while the siblings-under-the-skin Subaru Solterra and Toyota BZ4X were the slowest. “Unfortunately, there’s no standard measurement for reporting how quickly an EV can charge or add miles of range,” said Alex Knizek, associate director of auto test development at Consumer Reports (CR). “That makes it difficult for consumers to compare vehicles when shopping for a new EV.” CR looked at both Level 2 and DC fast-charging. Level 2 indicates a 240-volt charger; virtually all home chargers are Level 2, as are many public chargers where they’re often scattered about such as at stores, hotels, libraries, or in parking lots. DC fast-chargers are very expensive to install, and are usually found in public stations with several available, including Tesla Supercharger stations. How quickly a vehicle charges depends on a few factors, including the charger’s kW rating, and the rate at which the vehicle can accept it. DC fast-chargers are generally rated between 50 kW and 350 kW – the higher the number, the faster the charging speed – with Tesla Superchargers able to charge at 250 kW. But vehicles can also vary, and CR gives the example of a 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 with a maximum acceptance rate of 240 kW — so if plugged into a 350-kW charger, it could potentially add 11.6 miles (18.6 km) in one minute. Conversely, a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt is only rated for 50 kW, and that’s all it can accept no matter what the charger’s speed is. CR estimates it would get only 2.9 miles (4.6 km) per minute. Charging on a Level 2 240-volt charger can also vary, depending on how much the vehicle can accept at that level. While not mentioned in the study, we at Driving will note that it’s common for stations to bill you based on the time spent charging , rather than the electricity used — and that means that someone whose EV charges quickly will potentially pay less than someone whose vehicle takes longer to accept the same amount of electricity. CR crunched the data provided by the automakers, assuming optimal charging conditions on a 350-kW charger. Using that, it estimates these new EVs can potentially plug into a DC fast-charger and receive more than 10 miles (16 km) of range in one minute (noting that older versions of these vehicles may not charge at the same speeds): These vehicles, when plugged into the fastest DC charger they can handle, added five miles (eight km) per minute: For vehicles plugged into a 240-volt, 40-amp Level 2 charger, these new EVs can add 30 miles (48 km) of range per hour, and up to 50 miles (80.4 km) on an 80-amp unit, more common in commercial settings than in home charging: These new EVs only added 20 miles (32.1 km) per hour on a 40-amp Level 2 charger. Those with asterisks charged more quickly on an 80-amp charger: How quickly a vehicle charges depends on several factors, including the battery’s temperature and how much of a charge it already has. Some vehicles can precondition their batteries for optimal charging temperature when they’re aware through the navigation system that you’re heading toward a charging station. Charging speeds will also slow down considerably once the battery achieves 80% of charge, which helps to increase their lifespan — in some cases, that last 20% of charge can take as long as the first 80% did. Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X , Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.Google Search in 2025: Prepare for a RevolutionAlison McConnell: Forget entitlement - women's football must sort inequality issue
Nvidia Just Reached a $30 Billion Milestone. Is the Stock a Buy for 2025?By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
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