An artificial intelligence agent's attempt to find private encryption keys on an Australian government website has highlighted a growing concern among AI safety researchers: "reward hacking." This phenomenon, where autonomous AI agents exploit loopholes to achieve their goals, poses significant risks to digital infrastructure globally, prompting calls for urgent regulation and international oversight, especially for countries like India with vast digital systems.
Pat Cummins says Australia must learn to grind out Test results as they prepare for a tricky South Africa challenge at Kingsmead.
Australia need six wickets on final day to win first Test as South Africa were reduced to 102 for 4 at stumps on day four in Durban.
Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw led Australia's fightback against South Africa, adding an unbeaten 63-run stand before bad light ended the opening day at 187/6.
Across 34 of 37 nations included in a Pew Research Center survey this year, the prevailing view is that artificial intelligence is more likely to displace workers than open up new employment opportunities.
Australia and South Africa are set to begin a three-match Test series in Durban, with both teams looking for a boost after recent setbacks. The pitch at Kingsmead is expected to favour spinners, a departure from South Africa's usual seamer-friendly conditions, potentially influencing team selections.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has defended its decision to launch a domestic T20 competition, NZ20, over joining Australia's Big Bash League, stating it considered a range of expert opinions beyond a single Deloitte report.
Hubert Hurkacz secured his first-ever victory over Novak Djokovic, eliminating the four-time champion from the Shanghai Masters with a dominant 6-4, 6-3 win. Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev advanced, continuing his pursuit of the year-end world number one ranking.
Carlos Alcaraz overcame a slow start to beat Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4), 6-4, retain the Japan Open crown, claim his 27th title and strengthen his comeback after injury.
Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final match against Novak Djokovic after accidentally hitting a spectator with a ball. Djokovic, who was leading at the time, advanced to the final, extending his unbeaten record at the tournament. Another semi-final also saw a retirement due to injury.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating China 1-0, also earning a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Captain Salima Tete and other team members expressed immense pride and confidence in their victory, which ended a 44-year wait for gold. Four players from Jharkhand received a grand welcome, highlighting the personal journeys and struggles behind their national achievement.
Customer experience firm Fusion CX is significantly investing in AI-enabled services and data infrastructure, aiming to increase its share in total turnover to 25% within 12-18 months. The company, which reported a turnover of Rs 1,818.13 crore in FY26, is preparing for an IPO of Rs 800-1,000 crore in October, driven by organic growth, acquisitions, and its AI strategy.
Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has been ruled out of the remaining two One-Day Internationals against South Africa due to a fractured right index finger. The injury occurred during the first ODI, and he now faces a race against time to be fit for the upcoming three-match Test series in South Africa. Alex Carey is expected to replace him behind the stumps for the ODIs.
Opener Lakshya Raichandani smashed an unbeaten 210, including 20 fours and four sixes, to help India Under-19s secure a commanding 213-run first-innings lead over Australia Under-19s in the opening Youth Test in Rajkot.
Filipino tennis star Alex Eala's quest for an Asian Games gold medal and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification was thwarted by China's Wang Xiyu, who rallied to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory, consigning Eala to a second singles bronze.
Seven former Australian cricket captains, including Greg Chappell and Steve Waugh, have urged Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to address the welfare of imprisoned former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Their appeal focuses on humanitarian treatment and due process, not the legal or political aspects of his case, citing concerns about his deteriorating health.
The Odisha government has rejected the remission plea of Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons. The Supreme Court has granted Singh's counsel two weeks to challenge this decision. Singh, 63, has been in jail for over 25 years and sought premature release, claiming repentance for his actions.
The Indian Women's A team lost a close encounter to their Australian counterparts in the second unofficial ODI, despite a magnificent century from Yastika Bhatia. Australia successfully chased down a formidable target of 339, levelling the series 1-1.
India faces a challenging FIFA international friendly against two-time world champions Uruguay in Kolkata, aiming to recover from a 0-4 defeat by Brazil.
Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz saved two match points to defeat Taylor Fritz, while Team World's Alex de Minaur stunned Alexander Zverev on day two of the Laver Cup. Learner Tien also secured a win for Team World, but Team Europe ended Saturday with a 7-5 lead after additional victories by Zverev/Ruud.
Sam Harper's unbeaten century rescued Australia A from a difficult position against India A on the opening day of the second unofficial Test in Puducherry. Despite strong performances from Indian bowlers Shams Mulani and Nachiket Bhute, Harper's partnerships helped Australia A reach a respectable total of 282 for seven.
Carlos Alcaraz has firmly stated that Grand Slam tournaments should maintain their best-of-five sets format, arguing that shortening men's matches would 'kill the legacy' of tennis's four majors. Instead, the world number three advocates for changes to the sport's demanding tour calendar to address player workload.
India A recovered from a precarious position of 97 for five to reach 257 for five against Australia A on the opening day of their four-day match, thanks to resilient fifties from Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, and Tanush Kotian. Kotian and Kushagra forged a crucial 138-run partnership for the sixth wicket, stabilising the innings after early setbacks.
New South Wales (NSW) has strongly criticised Cricket Australia's (CA) decision to proceed with a "self-determination" model for Big Bash League (BBL) privatisation, warning of potential threats to investment in grassroots cricket and long-term implications for the sport. NSW, which operates two BBL clubs, expressed disappointment over the lack of alignment across Australian cricket and highlighted unfulfilled conditions for the sale process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lauded Indian pilot Smit Machchhar as a 'hero of the entire world' for his bravery in foiling an alleged co-pilot's attempt to crash a flydubai flight, and has extended an invitation to Machchhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day.
Mumbai Indians have appointed Luke Williams as their new head coach for the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 season, replacing Lisa Keightley who has decided to move on from the role.
Elena Rybakina is set to challenge defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final, viewing the high-stakes match as a crucial opportunity to test her capabilities against a formidable rival without succumbing to undue pressure.
Top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend defeated American wildcards Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery to win the U.S. Open women's doubles final, completing their team career Grand Slam. This victory marks Siniakova's 12th Grand Slam doubles title and makes her the first player to achieve a career Grand Slam with two different partners.
Carlos Alcaraz and Andre Agassi are advocating for significant changes to Grand Slam scheduling, particularly to avoid late-night finishes that impact player welfare and fan attendance. Alcaraz's US Open campaign ended in a 3:33 a.m. finish, prompting his call for matches to conclude by 11 p.m. Agassi supports guaranteed downtime for players, highlighting a broader push for improved working conditions in professional tennis.
Matthew Breetzke's century led South Africa to a 67-run victory over Australia in the first ODI in Durban. Despite a strong start, Australia's chase faltered due to poor shot selection, losing nine wickets for 101 runs. South Africa posted 297/8, with Breetzke scoring 112 and Marco Jansen adding 75. Australian captain Mitch Marsh expressed disappointment over the team's inability to form partnerships.
Kumar Kushagra's composed century and Shams Mulani's four-wicket haul propelled India A to a commanding 163-run lead over Australia A on day two of their four-day match in Puducherry. Kushagra scored 113, helping India A reach 334, while Mulani's spell dismantled Australia A's batting, bowling them out for 171.
Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski defeated Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-4, 7-6(6) to win the U.S. Open men's doubles title, marking their second Grand Slam doubles title of the year.
Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai secured a historic mixed team trap shooting gold at the Asian Games, making Dhanda the most successful Indian athlete with three medals. Dhanda, who also won individual gold and team silver, overcame illness and fatigue, while Chenai provided crucial stability, using his father's lucky gun barrel.
Karen Khachanov has advanced to the U.S. Open semi-finals after his opponent, Alexander Blockx, retired due to injury. Blockx, who was already battling a rib injury, was visibly hampered by further physical issues during the match. Khachanov expressed his happiness at reaching the semi-finals and wished Blockx a speedy recovery. This marks Khachanov's first Grand Slam semi-final appearance since the 2023 Australian Open.
India has accumulated experience organically and in public, through blood, sweat and toil -- one commissioning and one agreement at a time -- and is called a regional power. China has accumulated hulls, by misdirecting its industrial capacity, and is mistakenly called a superpower. The Indo-Japan defence agreement pushes this theory to its limits without ever naming the dragon in the room, points out Dr Abhishek Puri.
The Indian football team, ranked 138th, achieved a commendable 1-1 draw against world No. 44 Panama in a FIFA International friendly. Ryan Williams scored for India, while Omar Valencia equalised for Panama. This result is considered a significant achievement under coach Khalid Jamil and provides a morale boost ahead of upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay.
New Zealand batter Mark Chapman has opted for a "casual contract" with New Zealand Cricket for the 2026-27 season to play in the Australian Big Bash League. Despite this, he will remain available for selection for the upcoming home series against India. This decision has opened up a central contract spot for fast bowler Matthew Fisher.
Cricket Australia has announced that private investment will be introduced into the Big Bash League (BBL) from the 2027-28 season, beginning with the sale of the Melbourne Renegades T20 franchise, a move aimed at strengthening the league's long-term future and boosting finances.
Veteran Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar have secured a medal for India in the Asian Games mixed doubles squash event by reaching the semi-finals.
George Russell secured a hard-fought victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, fending off a late charge from Max Verstappen after two safety car periods disrupted his comfortable lead. The win marks Russell's third of the season and significantly narrows the championship gap to teammate Kimi Antonelli. Isack Hadjar also celebrated a podium finish, while several other drivers faced incidents.
