Microsoft was hit with outages in its Azure cloud and 365 services on Wednesday, hours before the company’s scheduled earnings release. Users reported problems on social media accessing their sites and services running on Microsoft’s products, and the company’s website was inaccessible. The problems began around 11:40 a.m. ET, according to Downdetector, which relies on user reports. Microsoft didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, but the company acknowledged the issues on its Azure and 365 support accounts on X. “We’re investigating an issue impacting Azure Front Door services,” the Azure support account said. “Customers may experience intermittent request…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
The US and South Korea have reached a broad trade deal, both countries have said following talks between their leaders. South Korea’s presidential aide, Kim Yong-beom, said the two sides will reduce reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 15%, as was agreed earlier this year. South Korea will also invest $350bn in the US, including $200bn in cash investment and $150bn in shipbuilding, Kim said. US President Donald Trump, who is currently on a week-long trip in Asia, said the deal was “pretty much finalised” at a dinner following the discussions, which lasted almost two hours. He did not give further…
At least 132 people were killed during a deadly police raid in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, the state public defender’s office said. The number of dead was more than double that which state officials had cited after the police operation in the favelas (poor neighbourhoods) of Alemão and Penha, in the north of Rio. The public defender’s office, which provides legal assistance to the poor, made the new death toll public after grieving residents had laid out the bodies of at least 70 people in a square early on Wednesday. The police raid was the…
Police in Tanzania’s main city Dar es Salaam have fired tear gas to disperse opposition supporters protesting against the general election taking place in the East African state. The election is expected to be a shoo-in for President Samia Suluhu and her ruling party, as the main opposition leader is in in jail on treason charges, which he denies, and his party has boycotted the vote. Several people have been injured in the confrontation after groups of protesters gathered along major highways to demand electoral reforms, and free political activity. Protesters lit fires on roads, vandalised buses, and caused extensive…
Detectives arrested two key suspects believed to be part of a four-member gang that has been terrorizing motorists and truck drivers along the busy Thika–Nyeri and Thika–Embu highways. The arrests follow a coordinated operation by detectives drawn from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, the Operations Assist Team, and DCI Gatanga after a series of violent robberies targeting goods’ transporters. The operation was launched in response to two similar robbery cases reported at Kutus and Wanguru Police Stations, where drivers were ambushed by men posing as police officers. The gang, often dressed in jungle fatigues and reflector jackets, flagged down…
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the makers of Tylenol, claiming the companies hid alleged dangers that the drug posed to children’s brain development. The lawsuit comes a month after President Donald Trump promoted an unproven link between taking Tylenol – also known as paracetamol – during pregnancy and autism in children. Paxton is suing Johnson & Johnson, which previously sold the drug, the only pain reliever recommended for pregnant women, and Kenvue, which now manufacturers it. In a statement, he said they “betrayed America by profiting off of pain and pushing pills regardless of the risks.” Kenvue says…
US forces have killed 14 people in strikes on four alleged drug boats in the Pacific, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says. He said one survivor was rescued by Mexican search and rescue personnel. It is the latest in a series of attacks on boats the US says have been carrying drugs in both the Pacific and Caribbean. The latest strikes in the eastern Pacific, which Hegseth said happened on Monday at the direction of President Donald Trump, mark an escalation in what it says is a campaign to target drug traffickers. The strikes have drawn condemnation in the region and…
A very powerful hurricane is creeping towards Jamaica and is expected to be the strongest storm to hit the Caribbean island in modern history. Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm, is approaching the island’s southern coast with maximum sustained winds of 295km/h (185mph) – the strongest on Earth so far this year. Those speeds are above those of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, one of the worst storms in US history. For a nation already living on the front lines of a changing climate, the threat is grave. So will the country withstand its impact? How did the hurricane form?…
The 11 victims who died after their plane crashed in Tsimba area, Kwale County were identified as authorities embarked on an investigation into the tragedy. The accident happened Tuesday morning. The pilot was identified as Geoffrey Mutai. He was an experienced pilot who had operated in hard areas like Somalia. Experts said the pilot turned right on take off from Ukunda, which was a mistake. “He should have done a left turn into the sea and that would have cleared the terrain. The plane was on full power and the impact shows it hit the hill and burst into flames,”…
The African e-commerce landscape is evolving rapidly, fueled by a surge of mobile users and increasing internet access. As businesses strive to capture this growing market, innovative solutions are becoming essential. Enter simple apps that can revolutionize your Shopify sales strategy. Imagine doubling your revenue with seamless integrations and user-friendly features tailored for the unique needs of African consumers. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Kaching Appz’s bundling solution can enhance your online store and maximize sales potential like never before. Let’s dive into the future of e-commerce! The Future of African E-Commerce: How Simple Apps Can Double…
President William Ruto lifted the ban on logging to allow for the harvesting of mature trees only in forests countrywide. He noted that there is need to utilise mature timber for commercial purposes rather than letting it rot in the forest. During a public engagement at the Molo Technical and Vocational College in Elburgon, Molo Constituency in Nakuru County, on Monday, President Ruto said: “We shall reopen the timber factories here in Elburgon. I have told my Minister of Trade, Mr Lee Kinyanjui, that importing furniture from China must end. We will use our wood to make furniture.” He added…
The Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) confirmed the killing of a senior al-Shabaab commander in an airstrike on Sunday in Bu’ale, in the Central Juba region. SNAF announced that the precision strike eliminated Al-Shabaab commander Mahmoud Abdi Hamud, also known as Jaafar Gurey. According to the Somali military, Mahmoud was among the founding members of the militia group and a key ally of its leaders, Ahmed Abdi Godane and Ahmed Diriye. “Over the years, he held several senior positions within the group, including Head of External Security, Head of Leadership Security, and Head of Intelligence Tracking – all roles tied…
US President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of seeking a third term for the White House, saying he would “love to do it”. But Trump rejected the possibility of running for vice-president in 2028 – an idea floated by some supporters as a way for him to circumvent the US constitution that bars the president from running for a third term. Speaking to reporters during his trip to Asia, Trump described the idea as “too cute” and said it “wouldn’t be right”. It is unclear what method he would use to run again. Last week, former Trump…
Mali suspended schools and universities nationwide due to a severe fuel scarcity caused by a blockade on fuel imports imposed by Islamist insurgents. Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane announced on state television that all education institutions would remain shut until 9 November, saying the movement of staff and students had been affected by the blockade. He said the authorities were “doing everything possible” to end the crisis so that classes could resume on 10 November. For weeks, Mali has been hit by a fuel shortage, especially in the capital Bamako, after militants from an al-Qaeda affiliate imposed a blockade by…
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a deal on Monday in which Turkey bought 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets for 8 billion pounds ($10.7 billion), his office said, deepening the NATO allies’ defence ties and bolstering Turkish air defences. In July, Turkey and Britain had signed a preliminary purchase deal for 40 Typhoons approved by Eurofighter consortium members including Germany, Italy and Spain, represented by Airbus (AIR.PA),BAE Systems (BAES.L) , and Leonardo (LDOF.MI) Starmer met President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday to sign the agreement, which comes as Turkey seeks to leverage the advanced warplanes to make up ground with…