Around the world, several companies such as banks, airlines, telecommunications companies, radio and television broadcasters and supermarkets went offline this Friday (19) after experiencing a failure in their Windows services offered by Microsoft.

Our sources point to no problems in Africa. MZNews contacted Mozambique Airlines and the company said it was operating normally.

Microsoft reported on Friday that users may not be able to access its 365 cloud-based application services. It was a difficult day for the tech giant, with a cloud outage causing US airlines to be grounded earlier in the day in what is believed to be an unrelated issue.

According to international media reports, these companies have seen their work device screens turn completely blue, with a "death" error.

Cybersecurity company Crowdstrike reported problems. In Australia, Melbourne Airport said the problem had affected check-in processes. Australian broadcasters Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Sky News confirmed that they were experiencing transmission difficulties. In the UK, train companies informed the public of the possibility of disruption due to computer problems.

United Airlines, the world's fifth-largest airline by passenger numbers, said that a third-party software glitch is affecting computer systems around the world, including at United. As measures, it has suspended planes at airports and let flights continue on course (in the air).

There have also been reports of computer problems in companies in Japan, Amsterdam, India, the United States of America and New Zealand, among others.