Picture: Victim Bhuvaneshwari (Credits: TOI)

BENGALURU: In a shocking incident that had its roots in prolonged marital discord, a 40-year-old software professional allegedly shot his estranged wife dead on a busy road in West Bengaluru during the evening rush hour on Tuesday, before walking into a police station with the pistol and surrendering.The victim was identified as Bhuvaneshwari, 39, an assistant manager at Union Bank of India’s Basaveshwaranagar branch. The accused, Balamurugan, 40, worked at a private IT firm.

Both are natives of Salem district in Tamil Nadu. Police said the shooting occurred around 6.30 pm on 1st Main Road in the Rajajinagar Industrial Area. Preliminary investigations revealed that Balamurugan fired four rounds at close range. Two bullets struck Bhuvaneshwari on the head, while the remaining two hit her hand, causing fatal injuries.

Bhuvaneshwari had been living with the couple’s two children-a 12-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter-in a rented house in Rajajinagar. Balamurugan was residing separately and working in Whitefield. The couple, married in 2011, had been living apart for about one-and-a-half years following frequent quarrels. Police said the accused suspected his wife of having an extra-marital affair, though this claim has not been substantiated. According to investigators, Bhuvaneshwari had sought legal separation, which Balamurugan was unwilling to accept. Six months ago, she was transferred from the Whitefield branch of the bank and moved to a new rented house with her children without informing her husband. Four months ago, after tracing her new address, Balamurugan allegedly quit his IT job and shifted to Cholurpalya in Kempapura Agrahara to stay closer to her. Police said matters escalated further about a week ago when Balamurugan reportedly received a divorce notice from Bhuvaneshwari. Enraged, he allegedly decided to kill her.

In a thrilling Elite Group C clash of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Mumbai faced Sikkim on December 24, 2025. Sikkim, electing to bat first after winning the toss, posted 236/7 in 50 overs, powered by Ashish Thapa‘s gritty 79 off 87 balls. Mumbai responded with fire, chasing down the target emphatically behind their star batter’s brilliance.​

Rohit Sharma’s blistering ton steals the show in VHT 2025-26

Rohit Sharma produced a vintage masterclass, smashing an unbeaten 109 off just 67 balls, laced with 10 fours and 8 sixes at a staggering strike rate of 162.69. This marked his second List A hundred for Mumbai in 17 years, achieved in a brisk 62 balls during the knock, underscoring his enduring ODI prowess on domestic turf.

Fans erupted in frenzy as boundaries flowed relentlessly, 80 of his runs came from the edge of the bat, turning the Jaipur stands into a cauldron of cheers, with chants echoing long after his milestone. Angkrish Raghuvanshi laid a solid base with 38 off 58 before falling lbw to Ankur Malik at 141/1 in 19.4 overs, but Rohit farmed the strike masterfully alongside Musheer Khan‘s quick 8* off 7.​

Also READ: Virat Kohli equals Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary feat in his Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 return for Delhi

Here’s how fans created:

🚨 HUNDRED BY ROHIT SHARMA. 🚨

– A 62 ball century by the Hitman in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 8 fours and 8 sixes.

THE NO.1 RANKED ODI BATTER AT THE AGE OF 38 IS SIMPLY DOMINATING…!!! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/o6Jm1skEGI

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 24, 2025

What are these shots Rohit??? 😭

38 years old buddha toying with peak age bowlers 😭🙏pic.twitter.com/HAEgq9taBm

— Kusha Sharma  (@Kushacritic) December 24, 2025

🚨 ROHIT SHARMA – 155(94) 🚨

THE NUMBER 1 ODI BATTER SHOW IN VIJAY HAZARE TROPHY 🥶

He is coming for the 2027 World Cup, the magic of Ro is unmatched in 50 over format. pic.twitter.com/tgIZx6PSuv

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 24, 2025

The moment when Rohit Sharma completed 100 in Just 61 balls against Sikkim in Vijay Hazare Trophy 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JP2d6NfxDe

— Tejash (@Tejashyyyyy) December 24, 2025

TAKE A BOW, ROHIT SHARMA. 🫡

– 155 (94) with 18 fours and 9 sixes in a 237 run chase in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. 🤯

THE HITMAN IS UNSTOPPABLE AT 38..!!! 🇮🇳#RohitSharma𓃵 #VijayHazareTrophy #hitman pic.twitter.com/FSigPMRMhj

— Niraj Kumar (@Nirajku11362609) December 24, 2025

“Gambhir will end star culture saar” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/OluWAsnUsL

— 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 (@ImYorker93) December 24, 2025

CRAZE OF HITMAN ROHIT SHARMA IN JAIPUR.🥶#VijayHazareTrophy pic.twitter.com/56V2ji6FSM

— Rana Ahmad (@Ahm67518) December 24, 2025

THE HITMAN SHARMA SHOW IN VIJAY HAZARE TROPHY.

Rohit Sharma scored 155 runs in 94 balls and led the team to victory. #VijayHazareTrophy pic.twitter.com/iH0PvlPmMm

— AtifOnCricket 🏏 (@cricatif) December 24, 2025

Sikkim players to Rohit Sharma after his monstrous hitting – pic.twitter.com/PioAmCoUHO

— Satired Out ! (@Satired_Out) December 24, 2025

Well played Rohit sharma 🐐 pic.twitter.com/YwNbgFVkDZ

— iamrks _45 (@iamraklq) December 24, 2025

Mumbai team to easily cruise to victory against Sikkim

Mumbai reached 160/1 in only 22 overs at 7.27 runs per over, needing just 77 more for a commanding win against a beleaguered Sikkim attack. Shardul Thakur‘s tidy 2/19 led Mumbai’s bowling effort earlier, dismissing Thapa and Kranthi Kumar (34), while Tushar Deshpande (1/32) and Shams Mulani (1/51) chipped in to keep Sikkim in check despite 21 extras.

Sikkim’s innings featured a 106-run stand for the third wicket between Thapa and Kranthi Kumar, but late cameos from Robin Limboo (31*) and others couldn’t push the total beyond par on a true Jaipur surface. Rohit’s dominance not only sealed Mumbai’s dominance but reignited debates on his domestic sharpness ahead of potential national call-ups.

Also WATCH: Fans chant ‘Mumbai cha Raja’ as Rohit Sharma’s domestic return electrifies Vijay Hazare Trophy

Mumbai: Brace for the cancellation of approximately 350 suburban trains on Western Railway (WR) daily for five days—from Dec 26 to 29 and on Jan 10, announced WR chief spokesperson Vineet Abhishek on Wednesday. This means a total cancellation of up to 1,750 trains during these five days. This could impact the frequency of trains besides speed restrictions imposed during the block period, and this may inconvenience commuters taking local trains on these days.Abhishek further said that on these five days, a major rail block will be undertaken for the commissioning of Electronic Interlocking (EI) panels at Borivali on Up and Down fast lines. “The blocks are being carried out in connection with the 6th line on the Kandivli and Borivli section,” he said, adding that by January 18, the 6th line will be available on this section.

“It’s a 30-day block from the night of Dec 20 till Jan 18 on the Kandivli and Borivli section. In addition, a speed restriction will be imposed on the Down fast line on this section during the block period on Dec 26 and 27,” an official said. Abhishek said that on the first day of the block on Dec 20/21, only six to seven train services were cancelled, and subsequently, on average, 70-80 train services have been cancelled daily. “But the five big days—four in Dec and one in Jan—will witness major train cancellations as we will implement the last phase of our scheduled work,” he added.Another senior official said that the work is being expedited to ensure minimum inconvenience next week, and for December 31, efforts are being made to ensure no unusual cancellations for the convenience of New Year celebrations. The block will result in the cancellation of several suburban services, and some Borivali/Andheri trains will terminate at Goregaon. The BEST also plans to deploy extra buses outside railway stations on the Western line to cater to the rush of commuters.

Hardik Singh and Divya Deshmukh (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: No sportsperson has been recommended for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for 2025, marking the first time in a decade that the nation’s highest sporting honour has not been conferred. The selection panel that met in the Capital on Wednesday picked 24 names for the Arjuna award but decided not to grant the Khel Ratna to anyone, TOI has reliably learnt.The recommendations will be sent to sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya for his final assent.Names of compound archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam and women’s World Cup-winning cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana were debated by committee members but were ultimately not considered for the Khel Ratna for varied reasons. This is only the third occasion since the award was instituted in 1991-92 that no athlete has been chosen for the Khel Ratna, the other instances being in 2008 and 2014. Known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna until Aug, 2021, the award carries a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, a medallion and a citation.In a first, yogasana athlete Aarti Pal was recommended for the Arjuna award, five years after the sport was formally recognised by the ministry. Among others recommended award were chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh, the first Indian woman to win the FIDE women’s World Cup earlier this year; decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, who won silver at the Asian Games in 2023; and the women’s badminton pairing of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand.Meanwhile, it was learnt that Jyothi was again overlooked as compound archery was not part of the Olympics until the Paris Games last year. Compound archery has been added to Los Angeles 2028. The 29-year-old world champion and Asia No 1 archer has been logging the highest points among Khel Ratna applicants for the past three years.Similarly, the names of Harmanpreet Kaur, women’s cricket captain and her deputy, Smriti Mandhana were discussed at length but were left out of the recommendeations as there is no specific points system to assess cricketers’ performance. “In such a case, the committee relies on the recommendations made by the Indian cricket board (BCCI). There were no nominations of either men’s or women’s cricketers by the president or secretary general of the BCCI,” a source said. Pacer Mohammed Shami was the last cricketer to receive the honour in 2023.Arjuna award recommendations: Tejaswin Shankar (Athletics), Priyanka (Athletics), Narender (Boxing), Vidit Gujrathi (Chess), Divya Deshmukh (Chess), Dhanush Srikanth (Deaf Shooting), Pranati Nayak (Gymnastics), Rajkumar Pal (Hockey), Surjeet (Kabaddi), Nirmala Bhati (Kho Kho), Rudransh Khandelwal (Para-Shooting), Ekta Bhyan (Para-athletics), Padmanabh Singh (Polo), Arvind Singh (Rowing), Akhil Sheoran (Shooting), Mehuli Ghosh (Shooting), Sutirtha Mukherjee (Table Tennis), Sonam Malik (Wrestling), Aarti (Yoga), Treesa Jolly (Badminton), Gayatri Gopichand (Badminton), Lalremsiami (Hockey), Mohammed Afsal (Athletics), Pooja (Kabaddi).

The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage in the US edged slightly lower this week but continued to hover within a narrow range that has prevailed for nearly two months, offering only modest relief to homebuyers.The benchmark long-term mortgage rate slipped to 6.18% from 6.21% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said on Wednesday. A year ago, the average rate stood at 6.85%, according to data cited by the AP.Borrowing costs moved the other way for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, which are commonly used by homeowners refinancing their loans. The average rate rose to 5.50% from 5.47% a week earlier, compared with 6% a year ago, Freddie Mac said.Mortgage rates are influenced by a range of factors, including the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decisions and investor expectations around inflation and economic growth. They typically track the 10-year US Treasury yield, which lenders use as a benchmark when pricing home loans.The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.15% by midday Wednesday, slightly higher than last week’s 4.12%.Freddie Mac data show that the 30-year mortgage rate has remained largely stable since October 30, when it dipped to 6.17%, its lowest level in more than a year. Rates began easing in July amid expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, which started in September and continued this month.While the Fed does not directly set mortgage rates, cuts to short-term rates can signal easing inflation or slower growth, prompting investors to buy US government bonds. That can push down long-term Treasury yields and, in turn, mortgage rates. However, rate cuts do not always lead to lower mortgage borrowing costs.Housing market conditions have improved slightly compared with a year ago. Home listings have risen sharply, and many sellers have lowered asking prices as properties take longer to sell, according to Realtor.com data. Buyers who can pay cash or manage current mortgage rates are in a stronger position than last year.Even so, affordability remains a major hurdle, particularly for first-time buyers without home equity. Economic uncertainty and concerns about the job market are also keeping many prospective buyers on the sidelines.Sales of previously owned US homes rose in November from the previous month, but slowed compared with a year earlier for the first time since May, despite mortgage rates hovering near their lowest levels of the year. Over the first 11 months of the year, home sales were down 0.5% from the same period last year.

Five US lawmakers expressed concern amid the crisis in Bangladesh and wrote to Mohammed Yunus to reconsider the decision to fully suspend the activity of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. “It is vital that the interim government work with parties across the political spectrum to create the conditions for free and fair elections that allow the voice of the Bangladeshi people to be expressed peacefully through the ballot box, as well as reforms that restore confidence in the integrity and nonpartisanship of state institutions. We are concerned that this cannot happen if the government suspends activities of political parties or again restarts the flawed International Crimes Tribunal,” the letter by Gregory W Meeks, Bill Huizenga, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Julie Johnson and Thomas R Suozzi said. Stating the findings of the Department of State that the 2018 and 2024 elections in Bangladesh were not free and fair, the lawmakers said that if one party gets banned, the next election will also not be free. “The Department of State and many other international observers noted that the 2018 and 2024 General Elections were not free or fair. And in a February fact-finding report, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights estimated that security services killed 1400 people during protests in July and August 2024. Genuine accountability for these acts and others should model the values of Bangladesh’s democracy, rather than continue a cycle of retaliation. Freedom of association, as well as the principle of individual rather than collective criminal responsibility, are fundamental human rights. We are concerned that the decision to fully suspend the activity of any one political party, rather than focus on persons determined to have committed crimes or gross violations of human rights through the due process of law, is inconsistent with those principles,” the letter read.

“We hope your government or an elected successor will revisit this decision. Ultimately, the Bangladeshi people deserve to be able to choose an elected government in a free and fair election in which all political parties can participate so that their voices are represented,” it said. “Bangladesh is a critical partner for the United States, and we stand ready to work with you and your government to support both our bilateral relationship and Bangladesh’s democratic transition in the months ahead,” the lawmakers added.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old batting sensation from Bihar, delivered a performance for the ages on the opening day of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, smashing an unbeaten 190 off just 84 balls against Arunachal Pradesh at the JSCA Oval Ground in Ranchi on December 23, 2025. Featuring 16 fours and a whopping 15 sixes, his knock propelled Bihar to a staggering total exceeding 500 runs, all at a blistering strike rate of 226.19, leaving bowlers in tatters and cricketing world in awe.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s record-shattering knock takes him past AB de Villiers

In a single outing, the prodigy eclipsed AB de Villiers‘ world record for the fastest 150 in List A cricket, reaching the landmark in a mere 59 balls five balls quicker than the South African legend’s 64-ball effort against West Indies in 2015. Jos Buttler, with his 65-ball 150 against Netherlands in 2022, now ranks third on this elite list, underscoring Suryavanshi’s meteoric rise.​

Suryavanshi’s innings wasn’t just about pace; it redefined milestones across age and format barriers. At 14 years and 272 days old, he became the youngest ever to score a century in men’s List A cricket, toppling Dutch batter Zahoor Elahi‘s 1986 record of 15 years and 209 days, with Afghanistan‘s Riaz Hassan third at 16 years and 9 days. His century erupted in just 36 balls—featuring nine sixes and a barrage of fours—marking the second-fastest hundred by an Indian in List A history, trailing only Punjab’s Anmolpreet Singh‘s explosive 35-ball ton against Arunachal Pradesh in the previous season.

Globally, this feat slots in as joint-fourth fastest, ahead of Yusuf Pathan‘s 40-ball effort for Baroda in 2010 and Urvil Patel‘s 41-ball stunner for Gujarat in 2023. Dismissing dreams of a double ton by 10 runs in the 27th over, Suryavanshi had already scripted history, his aggressive strokeplay—dominating both sides of the wicket—turning the Ranchi pitch into a personal fiefdom. Bihar’s innings, boosted by three centurions including captain Sakibul Gani‘s 128* off 40 balls, shattered List A team totals, highlighting the Plate Group’s fireworks.​

Also READ: Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Schedule, Broadcast and Live Streaming details

Explosive recent form of Suryavanshi

Suryavanshi’s Ranchi rampage came mere days after India’s heartbreaking U19 Asia Cup final loss to Pakistan in Dubai, where he fell for a brisk 26 off 10 balls. Undeterred, he forged a 158-run opening stand with Mangal Mahrour in 14.3 overs and added 103 for the second wicket with Piyush Singh, dismantling Arunachal’s attack from ball one.

His form traces a golden 2025: In the U19 Asia Cup opener against UAE, he bludgeoned 171 off 95 balls (9×4, 14×6), his second Youth ODI ton. Earlier, his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals yielded 252 runs at a 206.55 strike rate, including a 38-ball hundred—the youngest ever in the tournament. Domestic exploits include a 57-ball ton in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Ranji Trophy knocks at age 12, plus a joint-third fastest T20 century by an Indian. Experts hail his maturity, power-hitting, and temperament, positioning him as India’s next big thing amid calls for senior team fast-tracking.

Also READ: Monty Panesar predicts the semifinalists of T20 World Cup 2026

NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday slammed the Centre’s directions to states to impose a ban on granting new mining leases in the Aravalli range, calling it a “bogus attempt at damage control that will not fool anybody”Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that despite the fresh directive, “the Aravallis are not being saved, but are being sold out,” he said in a post on X.On Wednesday, the Union environment ministry directed states to impose a complete ban on new mining leases in the Aravallis and expand protected zones, describing it as a major step toward the “conservation and protection.” The directive aims to safeguard the Aravallis as a continuous geological ridge extending from Gujarat to the NCR and to end unregulated mining across the region.

The Centre’s order came after a public row over its new definition of the Aravallis, which classifies an “Aravalli Hill” as a landform with an elevation of at least 100 metres above its surrounding terrain, and an “Aravalli Range” as a cluster of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other. However, the former Union environment minister dismissed the move as insufficient, arguing that the core issue remains unaddressed. “These are pious proclamations but the dangerous 100m+ redefinition of the Aravallis — rejected by the Forest Survey of India, the Supreme Court-mandated Central Empowered Committee, and the Supreme Court’s amicus curiae — remains unchanged,” said Ramesh.He has repeatedly said that the redefinition being adopted by the Centre has been opposed by the Forest Survey of India, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court, and the apex court’s amicus curiae.The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre rejected the charge that the new definition weakens environmental safeguards, maintaining that more than 90 per cent of the Aravalli region remains protected and that the revised definition does not relax mining controls, reported PTI.In an earlier post, Ramesh had accused the government of misleading the public on the issue. “It is by now abundantly clear that the Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change is being economical with the truth on the Aravallis issue and is misleading the public,” he said.He also questioned why the PM Modi-led government is pushing through what he described as a “fatally flawed” redefinition of the Aravallis despite widespread expert opposition.