AFR

The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission and the African Union Peace and Security Council held their Ninth Annual Consultative Meeting in New York on 21 October 2026, issuing a joint communiqué. The annual gathering is the standing forum where the two bodies coordinate approaches to peacebuilding, conflict prevention and sustaining peace across Africa, and the communiqué sets out their agreed positions from this year's session.

Julius Malema, leader of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters, appears on episode 31 of The Motherhood Network podcast to discuss immigration, corruption and the country's future. The interview has drawn large engagement, with audiences reacting to his views on migration policy, governance failures and the political direction of South Africa ahead of ongoing national debates.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres held a meeting with his Special Representative for the Central African Republic. The UN announced the talks, which concern the world body's work in the country, where its political mission has been supporting peace efforts. No details of the discussion were released in the announcement.

South African social media is buzzing over a roundup of celebrity and political stories, headlined by claims that ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula fainted. Other items include reports that Sean 'Diddy' Combs was hospitalised, influencer Cyan Boujee, DJ Shimza, content figure Cruz Afrika, and Rwanda's push to host a Formula 1 race. The mix of politics, celebrity drama and motorsport ambition is driving wide engagement.

Three African wild dogs have reportedly traveled more than 2,500 miles, an extraordinary journey for a species already known for roaming vast distances. The story is drawing attention for what it suggests about how far these endangered predators can move across southern Africa, and the challenges of tracking and protecting animals that cover such huge ranges.

Australia is struggling to avoid defeat in the second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha, needing a monumental batting effort to salvage a draw. South Africa are strong favourites to win and level the series. Live coverage by Dean Bilton and Simon Smale is following every twist as the match heads toward a likely conclusion.

DW News examines how the current El Niño weather pattern could affect Africa, looking at shifts in rainfall and temperature that may bring drought to some regions and flooding to others. The report highlights concerns for agriculture, food security and millions of people whose livelihoods depend on seasonal weather, as forecasters warn this El Niño could be significant.

A cricket match between South Africa and Australia is scheduled for 22 October 2026, and searches for free ways to watch it are circulating widely. The fixture has drawn attention from cricket followers looking for live coverage. No confirmed details about the venue, competition, or official broadcasters are available.

A cricket fixture between South Africa and Australia dated 22 October 2026 is being promoted online. The matchup between the two cricketing rivals draws steady attention whenever scheduled, but the exact competition, venue and format of this game are not confirmed in the available information.

A cricket match between Australia and South Africa is scheduled for 22 October 2026, with fans searching for ways to watch the game live and free online. Beyond the fixture date and the two teams involved, no confirmed details about the venue, competition or broadcast arrangements are available, so anticipation is centred on how to stream the match.

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.

New reporting says Africa's bats may be able to withstand climate change, but only if suitable roosting habitats remain available as conditions shift. Researchers warn that rising temperatures could otherwise leave bat populations stranded, with consequences for ecosystems that depend on them for pollination and insect control. Conservation of habitat is highlighted as the deciding factor.

Hashtags trending across South African Mastodon instances include #southafrica, #accessibility, #crypto, #ai, and #Wordle, alongside #internationalstutteringawarenessday and #isad2026, marking International Stuttering Awareness Day. The trending list, drawn from posts by non-automated accounts, reflects a blend of local conversation, tech discussion, and daily word game activity, with accessibility and stuttering awareness themes prominent among South African users.

East African banks are competing more aggressively for customers, and that competition is pushing them to expand beyond their home markets. Reporting highlights how lenders in the region are widening their footprints across neighbouring countries as they chase growth. The story points to a broader regional banking race shaping investment and expansion strategies in East Africa's financial sector.

Student protesters have filled the streets of Belgrade ahead of Serbia's snap elections, part of a protest movement putting pressure on the government as the vote approaches. The demonstrations draw on months of student-led activism that has grown into one of the largest challenges to authorities in Serbia in recent years.

The Pakistani drama serial Hurmat has aired its fifth episode on HUM TV, released with English subtitles. The series stars Dananeer Mobeen and Shahveer Jafry, two of Pakistan's popular young actors, and new episodes are being released weekly. The episode is drawing large audiences, with strong engagement around the show's latest installment.

South Africa enforced the follow-on in their Test match against Australia, leaving Australia 170 runs behind at stumps on Day 4. With Australia forced to bat again and the deficit still substantial, the match is heading toward a tense final day, with South Africa in a strong position to press for victory.

The second Test between South Africa and Australia reached day four, with highlight coverage of the day's play drawing attention from cricket fans worldwide. Sky Sports is carrying highlights of the match as the series continues between the two top cricketing nations.