Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh predicted India, Australia, England and New Zealand as the four semifinalists for the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Despite Pakistan's T20 success, Harbhajan considers them an average 50-over side. He believes the top four have stronger ODI credentials to progress further. India, led by Rohit Sharma, will aim to secure their third World Cup trophy after wins in 1983 and 2011, eager to end their ICC title drought since being hosts and champions in 2011.

The upcoming 3-match ODI series against Australia will serve as India's final tune-up before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 starts on October 5th. Captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will sit out the first two games, enabling head coach Rahul Dravid to evaluate bench talent. India wants to sustain winning momentum after clinching its 8th Asia Cup title. The series offers a chance to assess play under dew, a key factor for the World Cup at home. Focus is also on injuries, with anticipation around Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel's return. After a triumphant Asia Cup, India eyes fine-tuning its preparations for the World Cup through the Australia ODIs.

The Indian Army has installed a 70-foot high national flag at the Ajote War Memorial near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. The flag was set up by the Army in collaboration with the Flag Foundation of India to honor the fallen heroes of Poonch. The tricolor was dedicated to the people by 93 Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier Rajesh Bisht in the presence of senior officials including the Poonch DC, DDC Chairperson and SSP. The event at the memorial near the LoC saw the participation of many veterans and ex-servicemen. The 70-ft flag commemorates the sacrifices of soldiers in Poonch.

India's aviation regulator DGCA has suspended Air India's Chief of Flight Safety for one month due to lapses found in the airline's accident prevention measures. A DGCA inspection uncovered deficiencies in the carrier's safety work and availability of required technical staff. It also found some internal audits were carried out in a cursory manner. The DGCA has barred the particular auditor involved from conducting further regulatory compliance checks. The suspension comes after shortcomings were detected in Air India's systems for averting accidents, prompting the DGCA crackdown to improve flight safety standards.

According to a new CNN poll, Indian-American biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has surged to second place behind Donald Trump in New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary race. The poll shows Trump leading with 39% support among likely GOP voters, while Ramaswamy garnered 13% and Nikki Haley followed at 12%. Once seen as Trump’s major rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis slipped to 6% from 26% in July. Ramaswamy drew more non-Republicans and younger voters, while Haley led among the highly educated and moderates. The poll indicates Ramaswamy’s rising prominence in the field of potential 2024 candidates.

India alleged Canadian diplomats in the country are interfering in its internal affairs, and informed Canada it wants a reduction in their numbers. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Canadian staff strength in India is much higher than India's presence in Canada. He accused Canada of diplomatic interference in India's affairs, which is factoring into parity being sought in rank and size of missions. Bagchi said discussions are ongoing but Canada's numbers in India will likely decrease. His remarks came as Canada's high commission adjusted staff over social media threats amid escalating tensions sparked by Canada's accusations about India's role in a Sikh separatist's killing.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal met Home Minister Amit Shah seeking urgent resolution of the India-Canada dispute affecting Indians abroad. Badal said the row is impacting Punjabis and Sikhs who made sacrifices for India's independence but now face negative perceptions. He highlighted concerns of Indian students in Canada worried about visa denials jeopardizing studies. Badal urged exercising restraint instead of escalation, noting over 18 lakh Indians, many Punjabis, live in Canada. Earlier, Badal said that he is writing a letter to PM Modi to quickly settle the matter before it spirals. India recently suspended visa services amid the diplomatic crisis sparked by Canada's allegations about India's role in a Sikh separatist's killing.

Amid escalating tensions, India has urged its citizens and students in Canada to exercise caution due to rising anti-India activities and hate crimes. This comes as India-Canada relations deteriorate over the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing row. India has advised registering with the High Commission in Ottawa or Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver via their websites or the MADAD portal. MADAD allows seamless connectivity between consulates and Indian citizens in emergencies. With over 300,000 Indian students in Canada, India wants them to stay vigilant and use MADAD for safety. The advisory highlights India's concerns about security risks for Indians as diplomatic ties with Canada worsen.

The National Medical Commission of India has been granted a 10-year World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) recognition status, enabling Indian medical graduates to pursue training and practice in countries like the US, Canada, Australia requiring it. This makes India's 706 medical colleges WFME-accredited, with new ones automatically accredited too. WFME recognition will boost India's global medical education standards, increase international opportunities for Indian doctors, and promote collaboration. Starting 2024, WFME accreditation will be mandatory for international graduates to be licensed in the US. The recognition enhances prospects for Indian doctors globally while elevating medical education standards at home.

India confirmed on Thursday that Canadian citizens will be unable to obtain Indian visas even if applying from other countries, after it suspended services in Canada. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said no visas will be issued to Canadians from any location following the halt. Earlier, India suspended visa operations in Canada citing security threats faced by officials that disrupted functioning. MEA said the threats to diplomatic staff forced the shutdown of visa processing for Canadians worldwide. The move escalates an ongoing diplomatic spat sparked by Canada's allegations about a Khalistani activist's killing.