ENGLAND'S women's team captain Heather Knight has said India will be "very strong" and "hard to beat" in their upcoming engagements at home as she gave her thumbs-up to the multi-format points-based series.
Under the multi-format system for India's tour, which features three ODIs and three T20Is after a one-off Test, teams will be awarded four points for a win in the Test with two points for a draw and one for no result. A win in the white-ball matches will be worth two points.
"We always want to put on a show, because we haven't had fans in there for so long. India are a very strong side and naturally, there will be a contest there and they're going to be hard to beat, so I guess that will hopefully be fun to watch," Knight was quoted as saying in Cribuzz.com.
The one-off Test against India, scheduled to be held from June 16-19, starts an important summer for Knight's team that has an Ashes series followed by a World Cup title defence in New Zealand.
"It is no secret that this Test is a huge part of our preparation going into the Ashes Test match away from home," she said.
With women rarely playing Test cricket, it is akin to stepping into the unknown for both the teams, especially India who last featured in the traditional format in 2014.
"This is the first game of the multi-format point system that we are going to be playing for this India series. We're going to be doing as much as we can to win," Knight said.
They just announced it on Instagram: Jisoo and Zayn Malik.
Heard that teaser? All whispery vocals and late-night vibes. It teases a secret romance.
This marks the first time Jisoo has done a proper track with a Western artist. It's a big step.
Remember July? Zayn was at that BLACKPINK gig with his child. It all makes sense now.
The song, Eyes Closed, is out now, right in the middle of her world tour schedule.
Nobody saw this coming, seriously. Jisoo from BLACKPINK and Zayn Malik? A duet? They just put the announcement on Instagram, and social media feeds immediately exploded. The song is called Eyes Closed. BLINKs are having a meltdown. Zayn's fans are confused but thrilled, and the comment sections are pure, beautiful chaos.
Jisoo and Zayn Malik pose in the promotional poster for Eyes Closed Instagram/sooyaaa__ and zayn
So, what is the song actually like?
Right, the teaser. It is short. Jisoo's voice is all clear, and then Zayn's comes in with that gritty, just-woke-up sound he is known for. Somehow, it works. The main line is, "we should fall in love with our eyes closed." You get the picture. It is not a happy, dance-in-the-sunshine kind of track. It is the kind of song you play at 2 a.m. when you are overthinking. How did these two even end up in a studio together? Who had that idea?
Okay, think back to July. New York. There were photos. Zayn was just there, at the BLACKPINK concert. He had his daughter Khai with him. He even put up a post afterwards, something like, "thank you, we loved it." We all just scrolled past it. We thought, 'oh, that's nice, he's a fan.' Just a dad taking his child to a show. But now? Yes, that was not just a fun night out. That was the starting point. We should have connected the dots.
Jisoo and Zayn Malik drop Eyes Closed duet teaser hints at an intimate alt-R&B sound between Jisoo and ZaynInstagram/sooyaaa__ and zayn
Why this collab is a seriously big deal
Let us be clear: for Jisoo, this is her first real crossover moment. She is building her own path outside the group, and this is a massive power move. For Zayn, honestly, it is genius. He just unlocked the entire, ridiculously dedicated BLINK fandom overnight. This is strategy. It is two different musical worlds smashing together, and it is going to be huge.
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Starmer arrives at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on October 8, 2025 in Mumbai.
UK will not seek a visa deal with India, prime minister Keir Starmer said, as he looks to build on the trade agreement signed between the two countries earlier this year.
Starmer began a two-day trip to India on Wednesday with a trade mission of businesses. The trade deal was agreed in May, signed in July, and is set to come into effect next year.
He said visas had previously blocked progress on a trade deal, but that this issue had been resolved and would not be raised when he meets Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for talks on Thursday.
"That isn't part of the plans," Starmer told reporters en route to India when asked about visas, adding the visit was "to take advantage of the free trade agreement that we've already struck".
"Businesses are taking advantage of that. But the issue is not about visas."
Starmer is taking a more restrictive position on immigration at a time when public concern over the issue is high and his Labour Party trails the Reform UK party in opinion polls.
He ruled out including visas to attract professionals from India in sectors such as technology, following the increase in H-1B visa fees by US president Donald Trump. However, he said more broadly that he wanted Britain to have "top talent".
Asked if he would stop issuing visas to people from countries that refuse to take back foreign criminals or those the UK wants to deport, Starmer said this was a "non-issue" with India because of the existing returns agreement. But he added it was something he would examine more widely.
"We are looking at whether there should be a link between visas and returns agreements," he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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RJ musician dies at 35 after motorcycle crash in Himachal Pradesh sparking grief among British fans
Punjabi singer Rajvir Jawanda has died. He was 35.
A motorcycle crash on September 27 caused his fatal injuries.
He spent eleven days on life support before passing away.
His songs were massively popular with British Asian audiences.
His wife had urged him not to go on the ride that killed him.
Gone. Just like that. Fortis Hospital in Mohali made the announcement on October 8. Rajvir Jawanda was 35 years old. A brutal bike crash took his life. For his fans across the UK, the loss cuts deep. That voice was the soundtrack for so many here.
RJ musician dies at 35 after motorcycle crash in Himachal Pradesh sparking grief among British fans Instagram/rajvirjawandaofficial
Why the UK reaction has been so strong
Scroll through Twitter or Instagram right now. You will see it. The outpouring from the UK is immediate and raw. Comments from Coventry. Tributes from Slough. Shares from Southall. His music travelled well. It had the right mix of traditional Punjabi soul and modern energy. It fitted perfectly into the UK scene. You heard his songs at birthday parties in Birmingham and at wedding receptions in London because he was not some distant star. For many young British-Punjabis, he was their voice. That’s why this feels like losing a friend.
— (@)
The accident that ended his life
The details of the crash are brutal. The crash happened on September 27 near Baddi. Jawanda was on his bike when stray cattle wandered into his path. He swerved to avoid them but lost control and smashed into another vehicle. The impact was severe. He suffered critical head injuries and major damage to his spine and was rushed to a local hospital and then moved to Fortis Mohali. For the next eleven days, machines kept him alive. Doctors reported minimal brain activity. There was no chance of recovery.
Motorcycle accident claims Punjabi singer Rajvir Jawanda at 35 as British Asian fans pay tributeInstagram/rajvirjawandaofficial
A final, heartbreaking plea
The most painful part of this story is a private conversation. People close to the family have spoken up. They say his wife had a bad feeling. She pleaded with him to not take that motorcycle trip. He told her he would be careful. He promised to return soon and that was their last talk.
Now, she is a widow. His two young children have lost their father. It’s a devastating personal tragedy hidden inside the public headlines. His music, from his debut Munda Like Me to his film roles, remains. But for those who knew him, the silence he left behind is all they have now.
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Bangladesh's players along with England's Heather Knight and Charlie Dean walk back to the pavilion at the end of their World Cup match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
ENGLAND went to the top of the Women’s World Cup points table after defeating Bangladesh by four wickets in a tense chase in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Former captain Heather Knight guided England to victory with an unbeaten 79, helping the four-time champions reach the target with 23 balls remaining.
Knight, who lost the captaincy after the Ashes last winter, benefited from three reviews that went in her favour. She survived lbw decisions twice and was given a reprieve after a catch at cover was ruled not clean by the third umpire.
Yet to score, Knight overturned an lbw verdict on review. On eight, another lbw call went in her favour. Then on 12, she was ruled not out after replays showed the fielder had not taken a clean catch.
"It's probably the most reviews I've ever had go my way," Knight said. "That one at cover, I thought it was a fair catch. I walked off, but the TV umpire saw it differently."
Knight’s 27th half-century included eight fours and a six, with the sweep and reverse sweep proving key shots on a slow pitch.
At 103 for six, Bangladesh looked in control, but Knight found support from Charlie Dean as they added 79 runs for the seventh wicket to complete the chase.
Earlier, England’s spinners restricted Bangladesh to 178. Sophie Ecclestone took three wickets, while Linsey Smith, Dean and Alice Capsey took two each.
England fielded a spin-heavy attack to suit the subcontinental conditions, using close-in fielders like slip, silly mid-off and short cover.
Bangladesh struggled to score freely, with Sobhana Mostary top-scoring with 60. Rabeya Khan added 43 off 27 balls with six fours and a six to lift the total.
"We fought till the last ball and that’s what matters," Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said. "We were probably 30 short, but I’m proud of the fight the girls showed."
(With inputs from agencies)
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Starmer holds up a disposable camera as he speaks with business leaders at the Taj Mahal Palace on October 8, 2025 in Mumbai.
Starmer begins first India visit as prime minister with 125-member business delegation
UK-India trade deal signed in July set to increase bilateral trade by £25.5bn by 2040
Starmer urges speedy implementation but rules out expanded visa access for Indian professionals
Meetings planned with Narendra Modi and major business leaders in Mumbai
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer said he wanted the new trade deal with India to be implemented as soon as "humanly possible" as he began a two-day visit on Wednesday, accompanied by more than a hundred leaders from the business, culture and university sectors.
The deal aims to cut tariffs on goods such as textiles, whisky, and cars, and open greater market access for businesses. Talks concluded in May after three years of negotiations. Both sides have said they plan to ratify the deal and bring it into effect within the next year.
I'm flying the flag for British business in Mumbai, because growth in India for British businesses means more jobs for people at home. pic.twitter.com/H4TnuTEjQe — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 8, 2025
The agreement between the world’s fifth- and sixth-largest economies aims to increase bilateral trade by 25.5 billion pounds by 2040. Current trade between the two countries is worth around $54.8 billion, with investments supporting more than 600,000 jobs across both nations.
‘Implement it quickly’
Speaking to delegates on arrival in Mumbai, Starmer said, “It provides huge opportunities,” adding that he had asked his team to implement the deal as “quickly as humanly possible.”
“I think the opportunities are already opening up... Our job is to make it easier for you to seize the opportunities,” he told the trade mission, which includes executives from BP, Rolls-Royce and BT.
The visit, which includes a 125-member delegation led by business and academic leaders such as British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle, is focused on maximising the benefits of what is Britain’s biggest post-Brexit trade deal.
Meetings with Modi and business outreach
Starmer will hold bilateral talks with Modi on Thursday and address a fintech conference in Mumbai alongside him. India’s foreign ministry said the visit “will provide a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and the United Kingdom to build a forward-looking partnership.”
Under the new deal, India will reduce tariffs on imports of British goods such as whisky, cosmetics and medical devices, while the UK will lower duties on clothing, footwear and food products, including frozen prawns from India.
However, Starmer ruled out expanding visa access for Indian professionals despite calls from industry. “That isn’t part of the plan,” he said en route to Mumbai. “We’re here now to take advantage of the free trade agreement that we’ve already struck. We’ve got to implement it.”
Trade priorities and economic outlook
Growth remains a key priority for Starmer as he seeks to strengthen Labour’s position ahead of a November fiscal budget expected to show a challenging economic picture.
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said Starmer should avoid increasing business taxes in the upcoming budget and instead focus on building trade links with countries such as India and the Gulf.
“We’ve got partners all over the world, and that should be our role,” she told reporters, adding that Britain could pursue free trade deals while also managing the effects of a global trade war and seeking to lower US tariffs. “I think that the government is big enough to do both.”
Rights concerns raised
Rights groups have urged Starmer to raise the case of Scottish Sikh blogger Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been detained in India since 2017 over an alleged plot to kill right-wing Hindu leaders.
Johal has not been convicted, and one of the nine charges against him was dismissed in March.