India is emerging as a rare bright spot in retail at a time when shopping malls across Western economies are facing sustained closures, according to real estate consultancy firm Anarock.Since 2020, the US has recorded a net shutdown of nearly 1,200 mall stores, with rising vacancy levels pushing almost 40 per cent of empty malls toward rezoning or alternative use. India, however, is seeing renewed momentum in its retail segment, backed by strong consumption trends and growing interest from institutional investors, real estate consultancy firm Anarock said, as quoted by ANI.This confidence is translating into capital inflows. Indian shopping malls are projected to attract more than $3.5 billion in investments over the next three years, according to Anuj Kejriwal, CEO, Retail Leasing and Industrial and Logistics, Anarock Group. “88+ foreign brands have entered the Indian retail market and are seeking to expand aggressively. Several more global brands are in the pipeline, seeking space in the severely restricted Grade-A assets currently available,” Kejriwal said.At the core of India’s retail appeal is a combination of a young consumer base and limited organised retail competition. Hoeeber, Anarock pointed out that India’s organised retail supply remains significantly constrained, with per-capita retail stock among the lowest globally compared with markets such as the US and China.“This gap, combined with India’s per-capita income nearly doubling in the last decade, has created a demand-supply mismatch virtually unheard of in global retail,” Kejriwal added.Operational performance reflects this imbalance. Premium malls are operating at near-maximum capacity, with occupancy levels ranging between 95 and 100 per cent, while rental growth continues to outpace pre-pandemic benchmarks.“Grade-A malls are running near-full occupancy, reporting 95-100 per cent occupancy with long waitlists for key zones. Rental growth has consistently surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and developers now find leasing cycles outpacing construction cycles — a rarity anywhere in the world,” also said the CEO.Additionally, Indian malls have evolved into multi-purpose destinations rather than pure shopping centres. With daily visitor counts surpassing 20,000 on weekdays and surpassing 40,000 on weekends, entertainment, dining, and social interaction serve as the main drivers of foot traffic. Thirty to thirty-five percent of all foot traffic comes from entertainment and food and drink.Anarock also emphasized how resilient Indian retail has been in the face of the global e-commerce boom. Online retail penetration in India stands at around 8 per cent, well below the 20 per cent-plus levels seen in the US and China, allowing physical retail to coexist and even benefit from digital channels.Looking ahead, according to the consultancy, India is expected to grow into a $6 trillion consumption economy by 2030, solidifying its standing as a major growth market for international retailers and investors looking for long-term prospects.

India and New Zealand should aim to double their bilateral trade in the next five years, accordint to think tank GTRI. The organization recommends reducing import duties and strengthening partnerships in agriculture, while also calling for more direct flights and easier visa rules. These recommendations came on Sunday as both nations prepare to finalize a comprehensive free-trade agreement.Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at $1.3 billion for FY25. GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said, “Both countries could set a target to double two-way trade within five years through early tariff relief on select products, business delegations and sectoral cooperation in agriculture, forestry, fintech and education.”The renewed talks this year after stalling in 2015, will focus on reducing tariffs on goods and improving service access. The deal is expected to eliminate or significantly cut duties on industrial products, textiles, engineering goods, and some agricultural items. However, sensitive farm products will remain protected.New Zealand’s average import tariff is low, being 2.3 per cent as compared to India’s 17.8 per cent.India’s exports to New Zealand is quite diverse, with aviation turbine fuel leading at $110.8 million, followed by textiles and pharmaceuticals. Other important export goods are machinery, petroleum products, autos, and food products such as basmati rice and shrimps.Meanwhile, The main exports of New Zealand to India are raw materials and agricultural products. Wood, metal scraps, and agricultural products form their major exports.The dairy sector remains a sensitive issue, with India firm on protecting its millions of small dairy farmers. As of now, dairy trade is minimal, with New Zealand’s exports to India totaling just $1.07 million in FY25.Trading of services forms an important part of this equation. India’s services exports during FY24 were worth $214.1 million, mainly in the IT, software, and healthcare segments. The services exports of New Zealand to India were $456.5 million, with the major contributors being the educational, tourist, and specialized aviation training segments.Both nations will greatly benefit from the above partnership. For India, it will be the gateway to the pacific high-income market. On the other hand, New Zealand will benefit from gaining access to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies amid uncertain global trading circumstances.

Smriti Mandhana (Photo: PTI)

Indian star batter Smriti Mandhana created history during the first Women’s T20I match against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. The left-handed opener achieved a major milestone and entered an elite list in women’s T20 international cricket.Mandhana became the first Indian woman cricketer to score more than 4,000 runs in T20Is. This is a huge achievement for Indian cricket.

Overall, she is only the second woman in the world to reach this landmark. New Zealand legend Suzie Bates is the only other player to do so and currently has 4,716 runs in the format.What makes Mandhana’s record even more special is the speed at which she achieved it. She reached the 4,000-run mark in just 3,227 balls, which is faster than Suzie Bates, who took 3,675 balls to get there. This shows how consistent and attacking Mandhana has been over the years in T20 cricket.In the match against Sri Lanka, Mandhana scored 25 runs off 25 balls. She was dismissed in the ninth over while chasing a target of 122 runs. Even though her innings was short, it was enough for her to reach the historic milestone. This was also her first international appearance since India’s famous win in the ODI World Cup final last month, where they defeated South Africa to lift their maiden title.Earlier in the match, the Indian bowlers delivered a disciplined performance and restricted Sri Lanka to 121 runs for six wickets. The Sri Lankan batters struggled to take advantage of loose deliveries and failed to build strong partnerships.Opener Vishmi Gunaratne was the top scorer for Sri Lanka with 39 runs off 43 balls. Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama also contributed with scores of 20 and 21 respectively. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu started aggressively but was dismissed by young pacer Kranti Gaud, giving India an early breakthrough.India’s bowlers kept things tight in the middle overs despite the presence of dew, which made gripping the ball difficult. Deepti Sharma bowled economically, while debutant Vaishnavi Sharma impressed everyone with a calm and controlled spell and gave away very few runs.

Christmas is not just a festival but an emotion! It is a spirit, a mood, a joy that fills up the season. On Christmas families meet, friends gang up, relatives and even colleagues come together to celebrate. Warm messages are exchanged between people who wish each other happiness, good luck and better health. We have curated 50 plus messages here so that you don’t have to scout the internet or rummage through old WhatsApp messages to find the perfect one. Merry Christmas!

“Merry Christmas, you chaotic, wonderful human; may your days be full of good food, inside jokes, and people who really get you. Here’s to a new year where your coffee is strong and your deadlines are kind.”“Wishing you a Christmas that feels like a deep breath after a long year, with warm lights, familiar voices, and zero guilt naps. May the season remind you how loved and irreplaceable you are.”“Merry Christmas to someone who makes the ordinary feel festive just by being around. May your home be noisy with laughter, your plate be full, and your heart feel even fuller.”“This Christmas, may your Wi‑Fi be stable, your family group chat calm, and your heart unexpectedly light. Sending you warmth, peace, and just the right amount of drama to keep things fun.”“Wishing you a Christmas where the recipes work, the gifts actually land, and the memories feel soft around the edges. Thank you for being one of the constants in a very unpredictable year.”“Merry Christmas to you and your beautifully imperfect crew; may your celebrations be real, unfiltered, and full of moments you actually want to remember. Here’s to more shared stories and fewer forced smiles.”“May this Christmas feel less like a performance and more like a safe place to just be yourself in comfy clothes. Hoping your day is stitched together with small, quiet joys and loud, happy laughs.”“Merry Christmas to a colleague who somehow makes work feel less like work and more like a team sport. May your break be email-free, nap-heavy, and full of the people and things you love most.”“Wishing you a Christmas that feels like a good playlist: a mix of nostalgia, unexpected favorites, and a few moments that give you goosebumps. May kindness find you in little ways all season.”“Merry Christmas to you, the keeper of shared memories and half-finished conversations. May this season give you time to slow down, reconnect, and remember what actually matters to you.”Merry Christmas to the one who lights up every room without trying; may your day spill over with easy laughs, hot cocoa, and zero rush. You make the season feel alive.Wishing you a Christmas that wraps around you like your favorite old sweater, cozy and familiar. Hope it brings unexpected treats and people who get your quirks.Happy Christmas, you absolute star; let the holidays fill your cup with rest, good stories, and bites of everything sweet. Grateful for your kind of magic.Merry Christmas to someone who turns chaos into charm; may your tree lean just right, your feasts satisfy, and your heart hum with joy. Here’s to you.Merry Christmas across the board, let it deliver cozy corners, full plates, and light hearts. Simple wins all around.Happy Christmas wishes laced with nostalgia, new sparks, and real connection. You shine bright.Merry Christmas to your circle, may it unfold with unhurried bliss and echoes of cheer. All the love.

Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas to the friend who knows all my bad habits and loves me anyway; may your holidays overflow with lazy mornings, epic playlists, and zero regrets. Here’s to us laughing through whatever comes next year.Dear dost! Wishing you a Christmas that hits like your favorite comfort food after a rough week-warm, satisfying, and just what you need! Surround yourself with the people who make your world brighter, you absolute gem.HO! HO! HO! Happy holidays to my ride-or-die; may your tree be crooked but charming, your gifts thoughtful, and your nights full of stories we haven’t told yet. Can’t wait to make more memories with you.Merry Christmas, you legend, may the season wrap you in cozy blankets, strong coffee, and the kind of joy that sneaks up on you. Thanks for being the friend who always shows up, no questions asked.To my favorite chaos partner: hope your Christmas is stuffed with inside jokes, spontaneous dances, and plates piled high with treats. You’re the spark that makes everything better.Wishing you a holiday that feels like sinking into your couch with zero agenda, just good company and better vibes. Merry Christmas to the one who turns ordinary days into adventures.Merry Christmas, darling dost! May your days be free of small talk, full of deep chats, and sprinkled with those little wins that make you smile. Grateful for you every single day.Hope your Christmas unfolds like a perfect lazy afternoon: warm lights, familiar tunes, and friends who feel like family. You’re irreplaceable, and I hope you know it.

Hey my dearest family!!! Wishing you people a merry Christmas. YOU raised me on love, laughter, and way too many inside jokes; may our table groan under the weight of food and stories this year. Here’s to roots that run deep and branches that keep growing!Wishing my lovely family a holiday where the house smells like home, the arguments are short-lived, and the hugs linger. You all make the world make sense, even when it’s messy.Happy Christmas to Mom, Dad, and the siblings who know me best, may we skip the drama, savor the feasts, and stack up memories like ornaments. Love you more than words, always.To my family crew! Hope this Christmas brings quiet moments amid the noise, full bellies, and hearts even fuller. You’re my safe harbor, no matter the storm.Merry Christmas, fam, may the lights twinkle as bright as our shared history, the food taste even better than last year, and the love multiply. Grateful for every single one of you.Wishing our family a season of worn-in sweaters, board games that go late, and the kind of warmth that sticks with you. You’ve built a home that’s bigger than walls.Happy holidays to the ones who’ve seen me at my worst and loved me through it; may Christmas refill our tanks with joy and togetherness. Forever yours.Merry Christmas to my family, the original squad, hope it’s all twinkly chaos, home-cooked magic, and zero rush. You make belonging feel effortless.Wishing our crew a Christmas of soft lights, shared secrets, and belly laughs that echo. Love runs deep here, always.Merry Christmas fam, may it taste like grandma’s recipes, sound like kid giggles, and feel like endless hugs. Pure gold.Merry Christmas buddy, hope it’s packed with late night chats, silly dances, and zero regrets. You’re my favorite plot twist.To the family who knows my coffee order: Merry Christmas full of adventures big and small. Can’t imagine it without you.

Merry Christmas to a colleague who turns meetings into something bearable; may your break be blissfully quiet, your inbox empty, and your couch calling. Cheers to crushing it together next year.Wishing you a holiday free from spreadsheets and full of whatever recharges you, family feasts, solo naps, or holiday movies on repeat. Great working with you!Happiest Christmas colleague, snag that nap filled break, feast without guilt, and recharge like a boss. Teamwork makes it sweeter.Wishing you holidays minus the emails, plus all the peace and play you deserve. Great vibes working with you.Happy Christmas to the teammate who gets it done with grace; hope your days off sparkle with rest, good eats, and zero alarms. See you refreshed and ready.Merry Christmas, work dost! Bhagwan kare the season gifts you time to unplug, indulge in favorites, and forget deadlines exist. You’re a pro, and it shows.To a colleague who’s more like a co-conspirator: enjoy a Christmas stacked with peace, play, and people who appreciate you. Holiday high-fives!Wishing you holidays that feel like a well-deserved exhale-warm drinks, easy company, and no emails for a while! Thanks for making the grind better.Merry Christmas to the office bright spot; may your festivities be low-key fabulous, with naps uninterrupted and joy unscripted. Back at it soon!Happy holidays, colleague, hope it’s brimming with family time, festive bites, and the battery recharge we all need. You’re gold.

Sidney Crosby and Kathy Leutner (Image Via Twitter)

People have thought for a long time that Sidney Crosby is one of the best ice hockey players of his time, and he is a well-known NHL player because he has won multiple Stanley Cups and personal awards as the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fans pay a lot of attention to what he does on the ice, but not much is known about his personal life.Many Penguins fans are interested in Crosby’s relationship with Kathy Leutner. Rumors say that the couple has been together for more than fifteen years and has helped each other through the ups and downs of their careers. Leutner has been to some of Crosby’s games, cheering from the sidelines and showing unwavering support, even though they try to stay out of the spotlight.

Details on Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins relationship status with Kathy Leutner

A mutual friend set up Sidney Crosby and Kathy Leutner on a date in 2008, and their love story began; Crosby was making waves in his third NHL season at the time, and Leutner was working on her modeling career. The couple chose to keep their relationship private from the start, avoiding social media and public attention.Leutner, who is from Chantilly, Virginia, started modeling in 2005 and became well-known after appearing in Sports Illustrated in 2011, and since then, she has worked with well-known brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, and Faviana, showing that she is a successful professional in her own right.They both love sports, which helped their friendship grow over the years. Crosby has won three Stanley Cups, two Hart Memorial Trophies as the league’s best player, and many other awards during his long career. Leutner has always been there for him, going to games and celebrating milestones with him.Sidney Crosby and Kathy Leutner have been together for a long time, and their story is still a great example of how to support, trust, and work together in the high-pressure world of professional sports.Also Read: Net worth of Auston Matthews in 2025: Details on Toronto Maple Leafs captain’s earnings, salary, and contracts

Funeral procession of Osman Hadi in Dhaka (ANI file photo)

Western diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, including the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, Germany and France, have “unusually” mourned the death of Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, issuing condolence messages after he was killed earlier this month.Former foreign secretary and diplomat Kanwal Sibal questioned the diplomatic response in a series of posts on X, saying the official statements of this nature were typically reserved for individuals with clear international or bilateral significance.Also read |‘Misleading propaganda’: India rejects Dhaka media reports on protest outside Bangladesh High Commission; flags atrocities against minorities

“Osman Hadi’s murder. Diplomatically unusual for the US, EU, German and French missions in BD to give so much political prominence to the murder of a student leader whose importance in the bilateral or international context is not readily apparent,” Sibal wrote.The former diplomat further highlighted Hadi’s strong anti-India stance, noting that the student leader and his group had repeatedly voiced hostility towards India. He pointed out that Hadi’s organisation, Inquilab Mancha, openly promoted claims over India’s northeast. He said the posts by the US in particular appeared to show a vested interest in the overtly anti-India group.“He was deeply hostile to India, was claiming India’s northeast, and therefore, in the regional context, a particular message is going out to India. His Inquilab Mancha has said this on his death: ‘In the struggle against Indian hegemony, Allah has accepted the great revolutionary Osman Hadi as a martyr.’ Judging by this post, the US had a vested interest in this overtly anti-Indian group,” Sibal wrote.Sibal also questioned whether mourning a figure linked to a group advocating Sharia law was consistent with Western claims of supporting democracy and minority rights in Bangladesh.“This mourning of a person whose organisation is to introduce Sharia in BD sits ill with democracy and minority rights in BD. His followers have torched the buildings associated with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in repeated acts of disowning BD’s freedom struggle. Do these western embassies approve of all this? Another case of western double standards and hypocrisy?” Sibal asked.X also added a community note to the UN’s post, claiming Hadi was a radical Islamist and accusing his followers of involvement in anti-minority violence. It said his followers were currently lynching and burning civilians alive. The note questioned why the UN was focused on Hadi, a “terrorist”, rather than on attacks against civilians.Hadi was shot in the head by masked gunmen on December 12 while campaigning in central Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. He later died while undergoing treatment in Singapore.Also read | Bangladesh unrest: Protesters break through barricades and enter Parliament building after youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi’s funeral; watchHe was a leader of the student-led protests last year that led to the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, and was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.Following his death, various parts of the country were rocked by attacks and vandalism, including stone-pelting at the assistant Indian high commissioner’s residence in Chattogram. A Hindu man, identified as 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh city.