AFR

South Africa and Australia are playing a series-deciding Test in Cape Town, with the world No. 1 Test ranking on the line. Kagiso Rabada has returned from injury to strengthen the home side's attack, while Marco Jansen has become the 18th South African bowler to reach 100 Test wickets. Fans and commentators are following closely as both teams fight for the series win.

A new open source text-to-speech model called Hurston-1 has been released, built specifically to speak Southern American English and African American English. The model is hosted publicly, and early reactions online are focused on how rarely mainstream TTS systems handle these dialects well, with some praising the representation and others raising questions about voice cloning ethics.

An expert panel convened by Amani Africa examined how the African Union can restore its leadership in peace and security by prioritising peace diplomacy, with a focus on the African Peace and Security Architecture. Discussions centred on strengthening the AU's mediation role and making APSA more effective in responding to conflicts across the continent, as the organisation marks its expansion and renewed institutional ambitions.

Kenyan President William Ruto has travelled to Moscow to take part in the Russia-Africa Forum, joining other African leaders for talks with Russian officials. The visit covers trade, security and diplomatic cooperation between Russia and African states. Observers are watching the trip closely given Kenya's traditionally Western-aligned foreign policy and the broader geopolitical contest over influence in Africa.

A crypto-focused question-and-answer session aimed at a South African audience is drawing significant engagement, ranking among the most-discussed items in the category globally. The format invites viewers to ask questions about cryptocurrency, reflecting continued strong public interest in digital assets across South Africa, one of the more active crypto markets on the continent.

Alex Carey and Josh Inglis led an Australian fightback in the Test against South Africa, rebuilding the innings after a difficult stretch and guiding the side to 330 for 4 by stumps. The counterattacking partnership has put Australia in a strong position, with reporters highlighting the keepers' composure under pressure as the decisive factor in the day's play.

Regeneron, the New York-listed biotech firm, has secured a $270 million order from the US government for its Ebola treatment as an outbreak in Africa approaches 10,000 infections. The deal signals growing international concern that the epidemic could spread beyond the region, prompting governments to stock up on therapies. Commentators are watching how the outbreak develops and whether the purchase accelerates wider preparedness efforts.

NPR's Planet Money reports on an experiment in which 100 ordinary citizens took on the tax reform work that politicians have avoided, wary of the political costs of touching the tax code. The story examines how the citizen panel approached trade-offs and what their proposals might mean for real reform.

A collection of African horror and dark fiction is being promoted ahead of its 1st November release, with a 30% pre-order discount running until 2nd November. The stories reportedly feature monsters unleashed by a greedy corporation, aliens, ghosts, serial killers and the walking dead. The Halloween-timed promotion is drawing attention to African voices in the horror genre.

Alex Carey and Josh Inglis led a counterattacking batting partnership that put Australia in a commanding position in their Test match against South Africa. The pair's aggressive play turned the match Australia's way during the tour of South Africa. Cricket fans are following the fight for control in what promises to be a closely contested series.

Russia is promoting arms deals across Africa centred on advanced drones and air defence systems, framing the offers as support for African countries' military sovereignty. The approach forms part of Moscow's broader diplomacy on the continent, where arms sales, security partnerships and political influence are increasingly intertwined amid competition with Western powers for strategic footholds.

Vladimir Putin hosted African leaders at a showcase summit in Russia, positioning Moscow as a better partner than what he called the 'colonial' West. He pitched deeper ties on trade, security and food supplies as Russia seeks to expand its influence across Africa amid the war in Ukraine and growing competition with Western powers for support on the continent.

Archaeologists have reported the discovery of stenciled rock art in South Africa, adding to the country's rich record of ancient rock painting traditions. The find highlights the use of stencil techniques in prehistoric art, a method more often associated with other regions. Details about the site's age and precise location have not yet been released, but the discovery is drawing attention from archaeology enthusiasts and researchers.

A joint law enforcement task force known as the Scam Center Strike Force has broadened its operations against international fraud syndicates, announcing charges against scammers operating from Africa with links to China. The crackdown targets global criminal networks behind large-scale scam operations. Details beyond the charges announced remain limited in the initial reporting.

Global climate change is back in focus with attention on glacier retreat and thawing permafrost, two of the clearest physical markers of a warming planet. Retreating ice in mountain ranges and polar regions, and melting frozen ground releasing stored carbon, are being discussed as evidence that warming effects are accelerating worldwide.

Reinsurance giant Munich Re is backing a $1 billion trade finance program aimed at African markets, according to Business Insurance. The initiative is intended to expand access to trade finance across the continent, where gaps in funding for imports and exports have long constrained businesses. Industry observers see major reinsurer involvement as a signal of growing confidence in African trade risk.

Australia reached 90 for 2 at lunch on the opening day of their Test match against South Africa, after spinner Simon Harmer took two quick wickets to dent the home side's start. The double strike left the match evenly poised heading into the afternoon session.

Around 2,000 churches across Texas are taking part in 'Black Out Sunday', an effort aimed at energizing African American voters ahead of the midterm elections. Congregations are encouraging turnout, with organizers framing the initiative as a faith-based push to boost civic participation among Black communities in the state.

African countries are calling for adaptation finance to be placed formally on the agenda of the COP31 climate summit, setting up a potential confrontation with developed nations reluctant to expand funding commitments. The dispute highlights long-running tensions over who pays for helping vulnerable countries cope with climate impacts such as droughts and floods.

Day two of the Third Test between South Africa and Australia is under way, with highlights coverage available through broadcasters including Sky Sports. Cricket fans are following the session-by-session action as the series reaches a pivotal stage, with both teams looking to gain the upper hand in the match.