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Microsoft Outlook Outage Locks Out 37,000+ User

After a history of outages, including a significant disruption in November 2024 that left Outlook and Teams down for more than 24 hours, raising user

After a history of outages, including a significant disruption in November 2024 that left Outlook and Teams down for more than 24 hours, raising user frustration and concerns about Microsofts service reliability, a considerable outage occurred early Sunday that locked tens of thousands of Microsoft Outlook users out of their accounts, peaking at 230 A.M. and affecting over 37,000 users, according to DownDetector. The disruption extended to Microsoft 365 services, including Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Azure, and some Xbox services. Despite widespread complaints, Microsofts service status page initially showed no issues. Still, the company later identified a faulty code update as the cause, rolled it back, and now monitors telemetry to prevent future incidents. Read More..

B2B Tech News | 2 months ago      

Meta AI to Expand Beyond Social Media, Standalone App in Works

To go beyond its integration with Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, Meta is creating a standalone app for its AI assistant, Meta AI. The m

To go beyond its integration with Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, Meta is creating a standalone app for its AI assistant, Meta AI. The move, which is anticipated to begin between April and June 2025, is in line with CEO Mark Zuckerbergs goal of making Meta a leader in AI, competing with Googles Gemini and OpenAIs ChatGPT. Furthermore, Meta is considering releasing a more featurerich version of Meta AI for paying users. In 2025, the business intends to spend up to $65 billion on AI initiatives, such as expanding its AI team and building a new data centre. Read More..

B2B Tech News | 2 months ago      

Nigeria’s Economy Grows 3.84% in Q4 2024, Fastest in Three Years

Nigerias GDP expanded by 3.84% year over year in Q4 2024, its most significant growth in three years, mainly due to a 5.37% increase in the services s

Nigerias GDP expanded by 3.84% year over year in Q4 2024, its most significant growth in three years, mainly due to a 5.37% increase in the services sector. Although it was still less than President Bola Tinubus 6% goal, this helped the GDP increase by 3.40% annually, up from 2.74% in 2023. Nigeria intends to rebase its GDP to account for the expansion of new industries, including tourism, ecommerce, and information technology. The industrial sector expanded by 2.00% and agriculture by 1.76%, while oil production stayed steady at 1.54 million barrels per day. Nigerias GDP is expected to grow by 3.2% in 2025, according to IMF projections. Read More..

B2B Tech News | 2 months ago      

Botswana Secures Landmark Diamond Sales Deal with De Beers

After seven years of discussions, Botswana and De Beers have finally reached a historic diamond sales agreement. With a possible extension to a 50/50

After seven years of discussions, Botswana and De Beers have finally reached a historic diamond sales agreement. With a possible extension to a 50/50 split, the agreement raises Botswanas percentage of Debswanas diamond sales from 30% in the first five years to 40% in the following five. De Beers obtained a 25year extension of the mining licence until 2054 in exchange. Botswanas economy depends heavily on diamonds, accounting for 80% of exports and 25% of GDP, but a decline has hampered growth in demand and prices. President Duma Bokos new administration views this agreement as a step towards economic stability. Debswanas sales fell more than 50% in 2024 despite significant discoveries, such as a 2,492carat diamond in 2023, highlighting the necessity of economic diversification. Read More..

B2B Tech News | 2 months ago      

Australia Launches $16M Trade Accelerator Fund to Boost India Ties

Australia has established a $16 million AustraliaIndia Economic and Investment Accelerator Fund to improve economic relations with India, emphasising

Australia has established a $16 million AustraliaIndia Economic and Investment Accelerator Fund to improve economic relations with India, emphasising sustainable energy, tourism, agribusiness, and education. The plan lists fifty engagement opportunities to enhance IndoPacific economic cooperation. An extra $4 million has been set up for the Maitri Grants program to strengthen business and cultural relationships. Australias commercial diversification depends on India, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed. By the end of the year, the program will have reduced $2 billion in tariffs and saved businesses millions of dollars under the current free trade deal. Additionally, Australia is moving on with trade negotiations for a new agreement to increase investment opportunities and strengthen strategic and economic links in the IndoPacific. Read More..

B2B Tech News | 2 months ago      

BlackRock Reevaluates Australia Strategy Amid Weak Growth, High Valuations

Due to stretched valuations and sluggish growth, BlackRock, the largest asset manager in the world, is reevaluating its focus on Australia in favour o

Due to stretched valuations and sluggish growth, BlackRock, the largest asset manager in the world, is reevaluating its focus on Australia in favour of economies like the United States and Japan. Katie Petering, head of investment strategy for Australia and New Zealand at BlackRock, identified global volatility and unpredictability as the main justifications for portfolio diversification. The company maintains an overweight position in U.S. stocks and finds Japan appealing because of its business reforms and inflationdriven pricing power. Australias economic prognosis is deteriorating, and valuations are losing their appeal. Given the tight labour market, BlackRock backs the Reserve Bank of Australias cautious approach to rate decreases. Among the companies the company owns in Australia are Commonwealth Bank, BHP, and CSL. Read More..

B2B Tech News | 2 months ago      

Salesforce Misses Revenue Forecasts for 2026, Shares Drop 5%

Salesforces shares fell 5% in extended trading after the company reported fiscal 2026 sales below Wall Street forecasts because of the delayed adoptio

Salesforces shares fell 5% in extended trading after the company reported fiscal 2026 sales below Wall Street forecasts because of the delayed adoption of its AIpowered Agentforce platform. The companys revenue forecast falls short of analysts $41.35 billion estimate, coming in between $40.5 billion and $40.9 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are expected at $11.09–$11.17, somewhat below estimates. With enterprises cautious due to high interest rates, analysts stress that Agentforces success is critical for Salesforces return to doubledigit growth. The business posted Q4 revenue of $9.99 billion, missing the $10.04 billion target. Salesforce is up against fierce competition from Amazon and Microsoft as AI agents surpass chatbots thus, its AI strategy is essential to its future expansion. Read More..

B2B Tech News | 2 months ago      

Amazon Unveils Alexa+ with AI Overhaul, Launching in March

Alexa+, the companys first significant update to Alexa since 2014, incorporates generative AI to provide a more conversational experience. Launched in

Alexa+, the companys first significant update to Alexa since 2014, incorporates generative AI to provide a more conversational experience. Launched in March, the program costs $19.99/month for nonPrime members and is free for Prime members. In addition to managing smart home devices and analysing papers, Alexa+ can retain user preferences and make bookings. Internally dubbed "Banyan," the redesign seeks to rival Googles Gemini and Apples Siri. Amazon invested $8 billion in the AI startup Anthropic, but early testing revealed sporadic errors and delays. Alexa+ will use Anthropics Claude model and Amazons Bedrock AI platform for better responses. With 500 million Alexaenabled devices in use, Amazon faces a significant commercial potential and a danger with this upgrade. Read More..

B2B Tech News | 2 months ago