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Shivraj Patil Passes Away: Former Home Minister Dies at 90

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Shivraj Patil Passes Away
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Senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil died on Friday, December 12, 2025, at his residence in Latur, Maharashtra. He was 90 years old and passed away after a brief illness at his home, ‘Devghar’. His death marks the end of a remarkable five-decade journey in Indian politics.

Patil is survived by his son, Shailesh Patil, daughter-in-law, Archana Patil (a BJP leader), and two granddaughters. Meanwhile, political leaders from across party lines expressed their grief and paid tribute to his dedicated service.

Political Journey Spanning Five Decades

Born on October 12, 1935, in Chakur region of Latur, Patil started his political career with the Latur Municipal Corporation in 1967. Subsequently, he won his first election as MLA from Latur in 1972. He served a second term in 1978, establishing himself as a trusted leader.

However, his most remarkable achievement came in Parliament. Patil won the Latur Lok Sabha seat seven consecutive times between 1980 and 1999. This record demonstrates the deep trust voters placed in him. Nevertheless, he lost to BJP’s Rupatai Patil Nilangekar in 2004.

Key Positions Held

Position Period Notable Work
Lok Sabha Speaker (10th) 1991-1996 Introduced technology for broadcasting proceedings, built Parliament Library
Union Home Minister 2004-2008 Resigned after 26/11 Mumbai attacks
Minister of State (Defence) 1980-1982 First ministerial role
Commerce Ministry 1982-1983 Trade policy initiatives
Punjab Governor 2010-2015 Also served as Chandigarh Administrator

Cabinet Responsibilities

During the Rajiv Gandhi government, Patil handled multiple portfolios. These included Personnel, Defence Production, Civil Aviation, and Tourism. Additionally, he served as Minister of State for Defence and Commerce in earlier governments. Furthermore, he chaired important committees including the manifesto committee and Public Undertakings Committee.

The 26/11 Chapter

Patil served as Union Home Minister under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2008. However, he resigned on November 30, 2008, following the Mumbai terror attacks. He took moral responsibility for security lapses during the tragic incident. This decision reflected his strong ethical values and sense of accountability.

Legacy of Knowledge and Dignity

Patil graduated from Osmania University and studied law at Mumbai University. Moreover, he became known for his vast reading and meticulous study habits. His command over Marathi, English, and Hindi impressed colleagues across the political spectrum.

Party leaders remember him for his dignified conduct. He never indulged in personal attacks, either in public speeches or private conversations. Instead, he maintained high ethical standards throughout his career. His exceptional grasp of constitutional matters made him a respected parliamentarian.

Tributes Pour In

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness over Patil’s passing. He said, “He was an experienced leader, having served as MLA, MP, Union Minister, Speaker during his long years in public life.” Modi added that Patil remained passionate about contributing to society’s welfare.

Similarly, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar called him a symbol of simplicity and moral values. He said Patil created a new ideal of public service. Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi described his death as an irreparable loss for the Congress party.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi posted, “His dedication to public service and contributions to the nation will always be remembered.”

Shivraj Patil leaves behind a legacy of principled politics, constitutional expertise, and unwavering dedication to public service that influenced generations of Indian politicians.

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Under 19 Asia Cup 2025: Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Century Powers India’s Opening Win

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Under 19 Asia Cup 2025
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The Under-19 Asia cup 2025 began with fireworks on Friday, December 12, at Dubai’s ICC Academy Ground. Teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi stole the show with a breathtaking century off just 56 balls against UAE. The 14-year-old left-handed batsman smashed five fours and 12 sixes, displaying incredible power-hitting skills. Meanwhile, India dominated from the start after UAE captain Yayin Rai won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Suryavanshi reached his fifty in merely 30 balls with four boundaries and four sixes. Subsequently, he accelerated even further, completing his century at a strike rate exceeding 174. His performance broke multiple records and set new standards for youth cricket.

Record-Breaking Performance

The young star set several impressive records during his innings. First, he hit 12 sixes in a single innings, breaking the previous under-19 Asia Cup record of 10 sixes held by Afghanistan’s Darwish Rasooli since 2017. Furthermore, Suryavanshi became the youngest Indian to score centuries in all three formats: List A, First Class, and T20.

His 56-ball century ranks as the third-fastest youth ODI hundred in Asia Cup under-19 history. Moreover, he already holds the fastest ton record of 52 balls against England earlier this year. This consistency proves his exceptional talent across different conditions.

Partnership Powers India Forward

Although captain Ayush Mhatre disappointed with just 4 runs off 11 balls, Suryavanshi found a reliable partner in Aaron George. Together, they built an outstanding 212-run partnership that completely demoralized the UAE bowling attack. George contributed a solid 69 off 73 balls before departing.

This partnership stabilized India’s innings after the early wicket. Additionally, it allowed Suryavanshi to play his natural aggressive game without pressure. The partnership demonstrated excellent understanding between the two young batsmen.

Tournament Structure

Group A Group B
India Bangladesh (Defending Champions)
Pakistan Afghanistan
UAE Sri Lanka
Malaysia Nepal

The tournament features eight teams divided into two groups. Subsequently, the top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals on December 19. Finally, the championship match takes place on December 21 at ICC Academy Ground.

Key Matches to Watch

India’s Remaining Group Matches:

  • India vs Pakistan – December 14 (ICC Academy Ground)
  • India vs Malaysia – December 16 (Sevens Stadium)

The India-Pakistan clash on December 14 will attract maximum attention. This rivalry always generates enormous interest among cricket fans. Similarly, all matches start at 10:30 AM IST.

India’s Strong Squad

India enters the tournament as favorites after recently sweeping Australia under-19 3-0. Captain Ayush Mhatre leads a talented squad featuring several IPL players. Besides Suryavanshi, the team includes vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra and wicketkeeper Abhigyan Kundu.

The batting lineup looks particularly strong with Vedant Trivedi, who scored 173 runs against Australia. Moreover, the bowling attack features Kishan Kumar Singh, Henil Patel, and Kanishk Chouhan. This balanced squad can handle pressure situations effectively.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Journey

Born on March 27, 2011, in Bihar’s Samastipur district, Suryavanshi started cricket training at age four. His father Sanjiv, an aspiring cricketer himself, recognized his son’s talent early. Consequently, he enrolled Vaibhav at GenNex Cricket Academy in Patna at age eight.

The youngster made history by debuting in IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals at just 14 years and 23 days, becoming the youngest IPL player ever. Furthermore, he scored 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans, making him the youngest IPL centurion. His rapid rise continues to amaze cricket experts worldwide.

Recent Form

Before this match, Suryavanshi scored 239 runs in four matches during the Asia Cup Rising Stars Tournament 2025. Notably, he blasted 144 off just 42 balls against UAE in that competition. Additionally, he scored a century for Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy recently.

This consistent performance across different tournaments demonstrates his maturity beyond his years. Therefore, expectations remain high for the remainder of the tournament.

UAE’s Challenge

UAE approached the tournament hoping to reset their campaign after four consecutive losses. Their 180-run defeat to Afghanistan in the qualifiers exposed several weaknesses. However, they struggled against Suryavanshi’s onslaught and couldn’t contain India’s batting power.

The UAE bowlers created a couple of chances to dismiss Suryavanshi early but failed to capitalize. Consequently, they paid a heavy price as the young batsman dominated throughout his innings.

Broadcast Details

Fans can watch all matches live on Sony Sports Network television channels. Similarly, live streaming is available on the SonyLIV mobile application and website. Additionally, BCCI’s official website and application provide live scores and updates.

Tournament Significance

This tournament serves as crucial preparation for the 2026 Under-19 World Cup. Therefore, all teams use it to test their combinations and strategies. India aims to identify the best playing eleven and build team chemistry before the global event.

The Under-19 Asia cup provides young cricketers an excellent platform to showcase their skills on the international stage. With Vaibhav Suryavanshi leading from the front, India looks well-positioned to challenge for the title and continue their preparations for bigger tournaments ahead.

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OpenAI Launch ChatGPT 5.2: New AI Model Sets Professional Standards

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OpenAI Launch ChatGPT 5.2
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On Thursday, December 11, 2025, OpenAI launch ChatGPT 5.2 as its most advanced artificial intelligence model yet. The company describes it as “the most capable model series yet for professional knowledge work.” This release comes after Google’s Gemini 3 topped performance leaderboards, pushing OpenAI to accelerate its timeline. Nevertheless, company executives insist they planned this release months in advance.

The new model arrives in three versions. Each version serves different professional needs. Furthermore, all three models now have an updated knowledge cutoff date of August 31, 2025. This represents a significant improvement over previous versions.

Three Powerful Versions

GPT-5.2 Instant works as a fast, capable assistant for everyday tasks. It excels at answering questions, writing technical documents, and providing translations. Moreover, early testers praised its clearer explanations that highlight key information upfront. It also offers better career guidance and learning support.

GPT-5.2 Thinking handles deeper, more complex work. It performs exceptionally well at coding, financial modeling, and creating spreadsheets. Additionally, it can summarize long documents and solve multi-step math problems. The model produces more polished, professional outputs than earlier versions.

GPT-5.2 Pro represents the smartest option for difficult questions. It shows fewer major errors and stronger performance across complex domains. However, it takes longer to respond because it thinks more deeply about problems.

Performance Improvements

Category Achievement Comparison
Professional Tasks Beats 70.9% of industry experts First model at expert level
Software Coding 55.6% on SWE-Bench Pro Up from 50.8%
Scientific Questions 92.4% on GPQA Diamond Up from 88.1%
Advanced Math 40.3% on FrontierMath Up from 31.0%
Vision Tasks 88.7% on chart reasoning Up from 80.3%
Error Reduction 30% fewer mistakes Compared to GPT-5.1

Real-World Applications

The model delivers practical benefits for professionals. For instance, it creates sophisticated spreadsheets with proper formatting and citations. Similarly, it builds compelling presentations with better design choices. Meanwhile, coding capabilities improved dramatically, with engineers reporting clearer, more reliable code generation.

Companies like Notion, Box, Shopify, Harvey, and Zoom tested the model internally. They found it exceptional at long-horizon reasoning and tool-calling. Likewise, Databricks, Hex, and Triple Whale praised its data science capabilities. Furthermore, coding platforms like JetBrains and Augment Code reported state-of-the-art performance.

Speed and Cost Advantages

Despite being 40% more expensive per token than GPT-5.1, the model actually costs less for many tasks. This happens because GPT-5.2 solves problems more efficiently. Consequently, it needs fewer attempts to deliver correct answers. The model produces outputs 11 times faster and at less than 1% of the cost of hiring human experts.

API Pricing Structure

Model Input Cost Cached Input Output Cost
GPT-5.2 $1.75/1M tokens $0.175/1M tokens $14/1M tokens
GPT-5.2 Pro $21/1M tokens Not applicable $168/1M tokens
GPT-5.1 $1.25/1M tokens $0.125/1M tokens $10/1M tokens

The “Code Red” Story

Reports surfaced that OpenAI declared an internal “code red” on December 1, 2025. This directive came after Google’s Gemini 3 gained momentum. However, OpenAI’s CEO Fidji Simo explained that this simply helped focus resources. She emphasized that the company had worked on GPT-5.2 for many months.

CEO Sam Altman told CNBC that Google’s Gemini 3 had less impact than expected. Instead, the company remained confident in its development timeline. Additionally, Altman expects OpenAI to exit the “code red” status by January 2026.

Safety and Responsible AI

OpenAI improved safety features significantly. The model now handles sensitive conversations better. Specifically, it responds more appropriately to mental health concerns, self-harm discussions, and emotional distress. These improvements resulted in fewer undesirable responses compared to earlier versions.

The company also introduced age prediction technology. This system automatically applies content protections for users under 18. Moreover, OpenAI plans to launch “Adult Mode” in the first quarter of 2026 after implementing better age verification.

Availability and Rollout

OpenAI began rolling out GPT-5.2 on Thursday to paid subscribers. This includes Plus, Pro, Go, Business, and Enterprise plans. Similarly, developers can access the model through OpenAI’s API immediately. However, the company is deploying gradually to maintain system reliability.

ChatGPT subscription prices remain unchanged despite the improved capabilities. Nevertheless, API pricing increased to reflect the model’s superior performance. OpenAI has no plans to deprecate older models like GPT-5.1, GPT-5, or GPT-4.1.

Competition Heats Up

The AI race intensified throughout 2024 and into 2025. Google’s Gemini 3 Pro challenged OpenAI’s dominance by topping several benchmarks. Meanwhile, Anthropic released Claude Opus 4.5, which also scored higher on certain coding tests. Therefore, OpenAI faces fierce competition from multiple directions.

Some early comparisons between GPT-5.2 and Gemini 3 remain inconclusive. Both models excel in different areas. However, experts agree that competition benefits users by driving rapid innovation. Ultimately, the choice between models depends on specific use cases and preferences.

OpenAI’s launch chatgpt 5.2 marks another significant milestone in AI development. The model brings tangible improvements in reasoning, coding, vision, and professional task execution. Furthermore, it demonstrates that AI systems can now match or exceed human experts in many knowledge work tasks. As competition continues, users can expect even more powerful AI tools in the coming months.

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Mexico Tariffs India: New Trade Barriers Impact $1 Billion in Exports

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Mexico Tariffs India New Trade Barriers Impact $1 Billion in Exports
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Starting January 1, 2026, Mexico tariffs India and other Asian nations will reshape trade flows across the Pacific. Mexico’s Senate approved steep import duties reaching up to 50% on more than 1,400 products from countries without free trade agreements. Meanwhile, Indian exporters face a challenging reality as their goods become more expensive in Mexico’s market.

The new tariff structure affects major sectors. Automobiles will see duties jump from 20% to 50%. Similarly, auto parts will face tariffs between 25% and 50%. Furthermore, textiles and apparel will carry duties of 30% to 35%. Steel products will also face increased rates of 35% to 40%.

Impact on Indian Exports

India exported goods worth $8.9 billion to Mexico in 2024. However, the automobile sector will suffer the most damage. Major exporters include Volkswagen, Hyundai, Nissan, and Maruti Suzuki. Together, these companies ship around $1 billion worth of vehicles annually to Mexico.

Mexico ranks as India’s third-largest car export destination after South Africa and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, auto components worth $600-700 million will face higher duties. Other affected sectors include machinery, electrical equipment, aluminum, plastics, and pharmaceuticals.

Key Sectors at Risk

Product Category Export Value New Tariff Rate
Passenger Vehicles $800M – $1B 50% (up from 20%)
Auto Components $600M – $700M 25% – 50%
Iron & Steel ~$900M 35% – 40%
Textiles & Apparel $500M – $600M 30% – 35%
Machinery $560M Varies
Pharmaceuticals $211M 15% – 30%

Why Mexico Raised Tariffs?

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum defended the move as protecting domestic industries. Moreover, Mexico imported $130 billion worth of goods from China in 2024, creating a massive trade imbalance. The government expects to generate $3.76 billion in additional revenue.

Nevertheless, analysts believe the timing connects to the United States pressure. The USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) review is scheduled for 2026. Consequently, Mexico wants to demonstrate its commitment to reducing Chinese imports into North America.

India’s Response

Before the tariffs passed, Indian automobile manufacturers urged their government to intervene. They wrote letters to Mexico’s Senate requesting status quo maintenance. Unfortunately, these efforts failed to change the outcome.

Now, India is exploring diplomatic solutions. Options include negotiating a free trade agreement or a partial scope arrangement covering automobiles and steel. However, these negotiations will take time while exporters face immediate cost increases.

Winners and Losers

Mexican steel, textile, and auto-parts manufacturers will benefit from reduced competition. On the other hand, Indian exporters will struggle with higher costs. Additionally, Mexican consumers may face increased prices for imported goods.

Countries affected by the tariffs include India, China, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia. In contrast, nations with existing trade agreements like the United States, Canada, and the European Union, remain exempt.

What Comes Next?

Experts predict India’s exports to Mexico could fall by 25% to 40%. The automobile sector faces the steepest decline. Therefore, Indian companies are reassessing their export strategies.

Some manufacturers may redirect shipments to other markets. Others might consider local production in Mexico to avoid tariffs. However, such investments require significant capital and time.

The Mexico tariffs India situation demonstrates how quickly global trade conditions can shift, forcing exporters to adapt their strategies or risk losing market share in key destinations.

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