AFR

South Africa and Australia are contesting the second Test in Gqeberha, with the series capturing attention across multiple countries. Australia were skittled for 99 after a strong Proteas bowling display on day four, while captain Temba Bavuma played a key innings when South Africa's batting wobbled. Scott Boland has been a standout for Australia, taking four wickets including two in two balls on a rain-hit day.

South Africa are on the verge of beating Australia in the second men's cricket Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha, with captain Temba Bavuma's heroics putting the hosts in control. Australia's problems mounted as Steve Smith's injury added to their woes, while batting deficiencies were exposed again despite Scott Boland taking four wickets in a rain-affected spell. Nathan Lyon's omission is also under scrutiny.

Australia are touring South Africa for a cricket series that has drawn global attention. Australia lead 1-0 in the 2nd Test after an outrageous outfield catch from an Aussie player, while Nathan Lyon has been sidelined in a bold selection call. Earlier in the tour, South Africa won the ODI opener after an Australian middle-order collapse, leaving Australia determined to avoid a clean sweep, with weather a factor.

Australia slumped to 6-65 in the Second Test against South Africa, a batting collapse described as the third of its kind this century, with Labuschagne's struggles continuing despite an injury boost for the tourists. Scott Boland took four wickets as the hosts' batting problems were exposed, while Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen's 106-run stand sparked a South African fightback. Faf du Plessis said it is 'a little bit early' for South Africa to make changes.

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi is making headlines after voicing his support for teammates Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan's successors in the batting order, Agha and Saim Ayub, as the side prepares for an upcoming ODI Tri-Series. Former cricketers have simultaneously urged Pakistan to fix its top order, keeping the team's batting struggles in the spotlight.

South Africa defeated Australia in the second men's cricket Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha, with captain Temba Bavuma's long innings the standout performance. Reports describe Australia being on the back foot and Mitchell Marsh admitting his side were outplayed during the series. Attention now turns to weather interruptions and South Africa's selection permutations, while a Proteas batting standout has vowed to carry the form into the World Cup.

Economist Tyler Cowen has published an essay in The Free Press arguing that the United States needs more African immigrants. He contends African migration would benefit the American economy and help address demographic and labor challenges. The argument lands amid an ongoing and heated US debate over immigration policy, where the case for expanding—rather than restricting—immigration remains contested.

Cricket writer Martin Pegan reports that winds of change are coming for Australia's team, while a selection controversy is brewing in South African cricket ahead of their upcoming meetings. The piece suggests both sides are entering a period of transition, with squad picks generating debate among fans and pundits in both countries.

Actress Anna Safroncik is competing on the new season of Italy's Ballando con le Stelle on Rai 1, training a Quickstep with professional dancer Leonardo Lini. Italian media are profiling her Ukrainian origins, her rumoured romance with Tommaso Cicchinelli and her love of tennis, while outlets also examine the personal lives of the show's other contestants and bookmakers' favourites.

South African entertainment feeds are buzzing over a round-up of stories: ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula reportedly fainting, Sean 'Diddy' Combs being hospitalised, influencer Cyan Boujee making headlines, DJ Shimza in the spotlight, motorsport personality Cruz Afrika, and reports that Rwanda is pushing a Formula 1 bid. The stories are being bundled together in a single widely shared celebrity and current-affairs roundup.

The Financial Stability Board's Regional Consultative Group for Sub-Saharan Africa held a meeting in Maseru, Lesotho. The group brings together financial authorities from across the region to discuss vulnerabilities, policy issues and implementation of financial stability standards relevant to African jurisdictions. No further details about the agenda, participants or outcomes were provided, but such meetings typically feed into the FSB's global monitoring of financial system risks.

Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp., the Nasdaq-listed condotel platform backed by Philippine conglomerate DoubleDragon, is entering the African continent, marking its first expansion there. The company operates an asset-free, prop-tech hospitality model with standardized rooms sold to investors. Expansion into a new continent signals Hotel101's push to build a global footprint beyond Asia, Europe and North America.

El Niño is back, and attention is turning to how the climate pattern will affect Africa. The weather phenomenon typically brings heavier rains to parts of East Africa and drought conditions to southern areas, raising concerns about floods, crop failures and food security. Coverage is examining which regions will be hit hardest and how governments and aid agencies are preparing for extreme weather in the months ahead.

A new study covering 37 bird species across five European countries found that urban birds consistently fly away sooner when approached by women than by men, and researchers cannot yet explain the pattern. The finding, described as a strange quirk of urban bird behavior, is drawing wide attention for its unexpectedness and the puzzle it poses for scientists studying how birds respond to humans.

Julius Malema, leader of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters, features in episode 31 of The Motherhood Network, where he speaks on immigration, corruption and the country's political future. The episode is drawing wide attention, with over 246,000 likes, as viewers debate his remarks on these contentious national issues.

Nigeria has reported a case of Ebola, marking the first time the current outbreak has reached West Africa. Health authorities are working to trace contacts and contain the spread, and international health organisations are monitoring the situation closely. The confirmation has raised concern about the outbreak expanding beyond its previously affected areas.

South Africa and Australia are locked in a closely fought Test series, with South African captain Temba Bavuma scoring a century to drag the hosts back into contention. Reports say South Africa seized control as Bavuma provided the heroics, while an earlier match saw a record-breaking quartet of Australian performances put the visitors in full command.

Anna Safroncik, the Italian-Ukrainian actress, is drawing renewed attention in Italy. Coverage highlights her family story, including her mother Lilia Tchapkis, a former prima ballerina from Kyiv who built a new life in Italy, and Safroncik's television work, including appearances on Rai 1 alongside Leonardo Lini, a former Amici student now working as a teacher on the network.

Navi Pillay, the South African jurist and former UN Human Rights Commissioner, gave a wide-ranging interview covering the International Criminal Court's role regarding Gaza, sexual violence as a weapon of war, her upbringing under apartheid, and her relationship with Nelson Mandela. She drew on decades of experience as a war crimes judge to assess accountability efforts in the current Middle East conflict.

The small white butterfly (Pieris rapae), originally from Eurasia and North Africa, has been introduced around the world. Its caterpillars feed mainly on plants in the mustard family, including garden vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, kale, radish and cauliflower, making the species a familiar and often unwelcome visitor to vegetable gardens. Nature observers are sharing facts about the insect, noting how widely it has spread and the damage its larvae can do to brassica crops.

South Africa's batting problems were exposed again in the second Test against Australia at St George's Park in Gqeberha, with Scott Boland taking four wickets. Temba Bavuma stood tall while his teammates stumbled, and Australia's Matt Renshaw was floored by a spectacular catch. Fans are also tracking the day-by-day rain forecast, which could shape the match's outcome.

Nigeria host Mozambique on October 23 in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier C. The hosts arrive with winning momentum and are seen as favourites, but Mozambique could spring an upset as both sides chase progress toward the global T20 World Cup. Fans and pundits are sharing previews and predictions ahead of the match.

Wordle and the puzzle number 1953 are trending across South African Mastodon instances, alongside hashtags including golf, charity, prayer and church. The trend is drawn from recent posts by non-automated accounts, weighted by boosts, favourites and replies, suggesting a large number of players are sharing their results and comparing guesses for the day's puzzle.

El Niño is driving extreme weather across Africa, with heavy flooding hitting parts of Kenya while South Africa faces a heightened risk of drought. The dual crisis is straining agriculture, infrastructure and disaster response in affected regions, and drawing attention to how vulnerable the continent is to climate-driven weather swings.

South Africa defeated Australia by an innings and 31 runs on day five of the second men's cricket Test, sealing a dominant win. The Guardian ran a live blog covering the final day's play as the tourists collapsed. It is a major result in the series between two of cricket's top Test sides, and fans are discussing the margin of victory.