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By James Pearson, Reuters The outage happened because CrowdStrike's Falcon contained a fault that forced computers running Microsoft's Windows operating system to crash and show the "Blue Screen of Death". Photo: SEM VAN DER WAL / AFP A software bug in CrowdStrike's quality-control system caused the software update that crashed computers globally last week, the US firm said on Wednesday (local time), as losses mount following the outage which disrupted services from aviation to banking. The extent of the damage from the botched update is still being assessed. On Saturday, Microsoft said about 8.5 million Windows devices had been affected, and the US House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee has sent a letter to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz asking him to testify. The financ...

Photo: 123RF China is considering a request to fund an extension of the Honiara International airport runway, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says. Manele, who has just returned from China, revealed this on Thursday, saying the project was requested by the Solomon Islands government and Beijing is considering it. Manele said it would enable larger long-haul aircrafts to land at the Honiara International Airport and enhance Solomon Islands' trade with China. In-Depth Solomons reported that the airport's upgrade and modern terminal buildings have been largely funded by the Japanese government over the last 20 years. Manele said they had secured a number of trade deals with China during their state visit, the outlet reported. He said China was Solomon Islands largest trading ...

By Anthony Zurcher, BBC News US President Joe Biden concludes his address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House on July 24, 2024 in Washington, DC. Photo: POOL / Getty Images via AFP Analysis - This was Joe Biden's first chance to define how he will be judged by history. In a rare televised address from the Oval Office on Wednesday night (local time), he spoke of his accomplishments. He spoke of his humble roots. He sang the praises of the American people. He said the future of American democracy lies in their hands. What he didn't do, despite saying he would always level with Americans, was provide a direct explanation for the biggest question of the day. He didn't say why he has become the first incumbent president to abandon a re-election bid, just a few months bef...

A number of young athletes have taken to TikTok to share their experiences behind the scenes at the Paris 2024 Olympics Photo: RNZ / Quin Tauetau A baguette making workshop, free arcade games and and reviews of the infamous cardboard beds - young athletes are letting us into life at the Olympic Village. The infamous cardboard beds Canoeist Sofia Reinoso showed what the twin size, 'anti-intimacy' beds are made of, lifting up her mattress to reveal a thin structure of cardboard blocks, before jumping on the bed repeatedly to zero bounce-back. The beds are said to support the body for a restful sleep and act as a deterrent for anything other than sleeping. The official Olympics TikTok boasted their comfort, saying the beds are made with adjustable firmness and size - but not everyone's fou...

US President Joe Biden has told Americans it is time to pass the torch to a new generation - but he has also pledged to push for reform of the Supreme Court. Speaking from the Oval Office in his first speech since announcing he would not stand for re-eelection, he said the time is now for fresh voices. He warned there is no place in America for political violence after the shooting of former president Donald Trump. And he pledged to keep working in the few months left of his presidency to advocate for changes to the Supreme Court, one of the key arms of American government. Biden gave no details but sources in Washington have said he is keen to set term limits for justices and set up ethics rules. The Court is currently conservative leaning with six of the nine Justices appointed by Republ...