2025-10-20 11:56

AWS outage affects major websites and apps globally Issue originated in US site known for outages Service improved, then problems recurred before recovery Gaming and financial platforms among those impacted by AWS issue SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Amazon.com cloud service returned to normal operations on Monday afternoon, the company said, after an internet outage that caused global turmoil among thousands of sites, including some of the web's most popular apps like Snapchat and Reddit. Still, Amazon (AMZN.O) , opens new tab said some AWS services had a backlog of messages that would take a few hours to process. Sign up here. AWS hosts applications and computer processes for companies around the world, and the disruption knocked workers from London to Tokyo offline and halted others from conducting normal everyday tasks like paying hairdressers or changing their airline tickets. Users on Monday afternoon had complained of lingering difficulties using services such as digital wallet Venmo and video calling site Zoom. It was the largest internet disruption since last year's CrowdStrike malfunction hobbled technology systems in hospitals, banks and airports, highlighting the vulnerability of the world's interconnected technologies. It was at least the third time in five years that AWS's northern Virginia cluster, known as US-EAST-1, contributed to a major internet meltdown. Amazon did not address a request for more clarity about why that particular data center keeps being impacted. The problems stemmed from what is known as the Domain Name System, or DNS, which prevented applications from finding the correct address for AWS's DynamoDB API, a cloud database relied upon to store user information and other critical data. ROOT CAUSE IS NETWORK HEALTH MONITOR Earlier, AWS said the root cause of the outage was an underlying subsystem that monitors the health of its network load balancers used to distribute traffic across several servers. The issue, AWS said, originated from within the "EC2 internal network", Amazon's "Elastic Compute Cloud" service, which provides on-demand cloud capacity within AWS. Shortly after 3 p.m. PT (2200 GMT), Amazon said, "all AWS services returned to normal operations. Some services such as AWS Config, Redshift, and Connect continue to have a backlog of messages that they will finish processing over the next few hours." Ken Birman, a computer science professor at Cornell University, said software developers need to build better fault tolerance. He said AWS provides tools developers can use to protect themselves in the event of a problem at one of any of its sprawling network of data centers, and developers can also create backups with other cloud providers. "When people cut costs and cut corners to try to get an application up, and then forget that they skipped that last step and didn't really protect against an outage, those companies are the ones who really ought to be scrutinized later," Birman told Reuters. ISSUE ORIGINATED FROM AWS SITE KNOWN FOR PREVIOUS OUTAGES AWS provides computing power, data storage and other digital services to companies, governments and individuals and is the world's largest cloud provider, followed by Microsoft's (MSFT.O) , opens new tab Azure and Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) , opens new tab Google Cloud. Disruptions to its servers can cause outages across websites and platforms - ranging from food delivery apps to gaming platforms and airline systems - that rely on its cloud infrastructure. AWS said on its status page that Monday's outage originated at its US-EAST-1 location, its oldest and largest for web services. The site suffered outages in 2021 and 2020. According to documentation on the AWS website, the US-EAST-1 site is often the default region for many AWS services. "FRAGILE INFRASTRUCTURES" The problem highlights how interconnected everyday digital services have become and their reliance on a small number of global cloud providers, with one glitch wreaking havoc on business and day-to-day life, experts and academics said. "This outage once again highlights the dependency we have on relatively fragile infrastructures," said Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at European cybersecurity firm ESET. In Britain, Lloyd Bank (LLOY.L) , opens new tab, Bank of Scotland and telecom service providers Vodafone (VOD.L) , opens new tab and BT (BT.L) , opens new tab were all hit, according to Downdetector's UK website, as was UK tax, payments and customs authority HMRC's website. "The main reason for this issue is that all these big companies have relied on just one service," said Nishanth Sastry, director of research at the University of Surrey's Department of Computer Science. Ookla, which owns Downdetector, said over 4 million users reported issues due to the incident. "For major businesses, hours of cloud downtime translate to millions in lost productivity and revenue," said Ryan Griffin, U.S. cyber practice leader at insurance broker McGill and Partners. Wall Street was largely unfazed, sending Amazon shares 1.6% higher to $216.48. FROM SNAPCHAT TO VENMO: OUTAGE TAKES DOWN APPS Ookla said at least a thousand companies were affected by the outage. Apps like Reddit (RDDT.N) , opens new tab, Roblox (RBLX.N) , opens new tab, Snapchat (SNAP.N) , opens new tab and Duolingo (DUOL.O) , opens new tab had all been affected. Artificial intelligence startup Perplexity, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (COIN.O) , opens new tab and trading app Robinhood (HOOD.O) , opens new tab all experienced platform disruptions and attributed them to AWS. Amazon's own services, including its shopping website, Prime Video and Alexa, were also hit. Fortnite, owned by Epic Games, Clash Royale and Clash of Clans were among the gaming platforms affected. Uber (UBER.N) , opens new tab rival Lyft (LYFT.O) , opens new tab was also knocked down in the United States. In a post on X, Signal President Meredith Whittaker confirmed the messaging app was hit by the outage, though billionaire Elon Musk, who owns X, said his platform continued to work. https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/amazons-cloud-unit-reports-outage-several-websites-down-2025-10-20/

2025-10-20 11:55

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Mexico's economic growth is set to recover slowly in 2026 from this year's virtual stagnation amid higher inflation risks, a Reuters poll showed. Latin America's second-biggest economy behind Brazil is picking up following a pause in the first half of 2025 caused by weaker public spending and elevated uncertainty over U.S. tariffs. Sign up here. Key drivers are hopes for a successful renegotiation of the U.S.-Canada-Mexico (USMCA) trade deal and an expected short-term boost from the soccer World Cup to be hosted in the three countries in 2026. Still, already implemented U.S. levies and the threat of more tariffs globally will continue limiting Mexico's economy while trade negotiations drag on, particularly in most affected sectors like the automotive industry. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is forecast to expand 1.3% next year after 0.5% in 2025, according to the median estimate of 33 economists polled October 13-17. That would be an improvement from consensus forecasts of 0.0% and 1.2% in a July survey, respectively, as the central bank continues to pursue gradual policy easing. Besides some extra monetary stimulus from rate cuts and greater private sector confidence on trade agreements, infrastructure projects are already gaining pace, said Marcos Arias, senior economist at GBM. "In addition, Mexico will be one of the host nations for the World Cup, an event that, in itself, always serves as a catalyst for economic activity," he added. But inflation is set to continue running close to the upper limit of the central bank's target of 3% plus or minus a margin of 1 percentage point. Median estimates for annual increases in Mexico's consumer prices were little changed, at 3.8% in 2025 and 3.7% in 2026 compared to 3.9% and 3.7% respectively in July's poll. Risks on this front are biased to the upside given a narrowing "output gap" or industrial spare capacity, said Jose Sanchez, Mexico chief economist at HSBC. "This, combined with tariffs on Chinese imports, could begin to inject upside pressures in some prices," he added. Mexico's Congress is holding off approving proposed tariff hikes on products from China and other Asian countries while the government holds talks with them and considers changes to the initiative. Of 11 participants who answered an extra question on risk to their inflation forecasts, a majority of nine said it was more likely to be higher than they currently expect over the coming year rather than lower. Asked a similar question on Mexico's economic growth, six participants said the risk to GDP growth was weaker than they expect while five said stronger, suggesting persistent worries about the outlook for trade. "It is unlikely U.S. tariffs (on some Mexican sectors) will be reversed, and the sectoral decline is expected to persist in the coming months, affecting employment," said Jesus Lopez, deputy head of research at Banco Base. (Other stories from the Reuters global economic poll) https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-economy-set-recover-slowly-next-year-amid-higher-inflation-risks-2025-10-20/

2025-10-20 11:39

Oct 20 (Reuters) - Evernorth, a new crypto venture backed by digital asset firm Ripple, said on Monday it will list on the Nasdaq through a merger with blank-check firm Armada Acquisition Corp II (AACI.O) , opens new tab and is expected to raise more than $1 billion in proceeds. The digital asset treasury will focus on accumulating XRP, a token linked to Ripple and the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, according to data from CoinGecko. Sign up here. The move comes months after Wall Street's top regulator ended a high-profile crypto lawsuit, which accused Ripple of selling unregistered securities to institutional investors. Under a crypto-friendly Trump administration, Ripple is looking to scale institutional adoption and presence of the XRP token in capital markets. The deal, expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, will create the largest XRP publicly traded XRP treasury company, Evernorth said. As scores of companies continue to wrap crypto assets into equity, concerns are mounting over the spillover impact of a correction in the equities markets. Earlier this month, crypto assets suffered from their largest selloff ever after U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with China. "I lost track around how many (asset holding plays) are there around Ethereum," Evernorth CEO Asheesh Birla, a former Ripple executive, told Reuters in an interview. Birla added that he will be stepping down from Ripple's board as he joins Evernorth's. Japanese firm SBI, which was previously affiliated with SoftBank, is providing $200 million of the raise in exchange for equity. "We will look at acquisition opportunities," Birla said, adding that Evernorth will be hiring and building out an investment team as well. The deal also saw participation from Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen and digital asset firms Pantera Capital and Kraken, which have a track record of funding such strategies. https://www.reuters.com/business/ripple-backed-evernorth-set-raise-over-1-billion-us-listing-hoard-xrp-token-2025-10-20/

2025-10-20 11:34

London spot market hit by tight liquidity Lease rates ease, but remain elevated UK competes with India for Chinese silver Spot silver hit a record of $54.5/oz on Friday LONDON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Large flows of silver from the U.S. and China to London's spot market in the past week are easing a liquidity squeeze in the world's largest over-the-counter precious metals trading hub, traders and analysts said. A shortage of available metal in the London market helped drive silver prices to a premium over U.S. Comex futures a week ago, making deliveries by airplane - usually reserved for much more expensive gold - profitable for sellers. Sign up here. "The major pressure is done for now," said Tai Wong, an independent metals trader. He estimated that around 15 million-20 million troy ounces (311-467 metric tons) of U.S.-based metal had arrived in London over the past week. SILVER PRICES, LONDON BORROWING RATES BOTH HIT RECORD Another source familiar with the matter said at least 1,000 tons of silver had gone into London vaults from the U.S. and China. As tightness in the London market coincided with surging gold prices and strong buying in India, benchmark silver prices hit a record $54.47 per troy ounce on Friday. They were just below $52 on Monday. Meanwhile, short-term silver borrowing rates in London eased by Friday from record highs seen on October 10. London vaults held 24,581 tons of both allocated and unallocated silver, valued at $36.5 billion, as of end-September, the London Bullion Market Association said. According to Morgan Stanley Commodities Strategist Amy Gower, most London inventories are "spoken for" by silver-backed exchange-traded funds. Consultancy Metals Focus estimates that 83% of silver held in London vaults had been allocated to ETFs as of end-September. About 697 tons of silver has left Comex warehouses in the U.S. since stocks there hit a record high of 16,543 tons (531.9 million troy ounces) on October 3. Comex inventories surged earlier this year due to uncertainty over U.S. import tariffs. Further appetite for U.S. stocks outflows depends on the results of a U.S. probe into potential import tariffs on critical minerals, which the market expects this month. UK COMPETES WITH INDIA FOR SUPPLY A China-focused precious metals trader said that about 100-150 tons were on their way out of China, the world's second-largest silver producer after Mexico, as of the last week. Not all the Chinese metal was heading to London, he said, as Britain had to compete with India, the world's biggest consumer, which is also experiencing a shortage of available supply due to its festive season. "Premiums in India have climbed to unprecedented levels, prompting increased air freight," Metals Focus said. Silver inventories in warehouses monitored by the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell 249 tons last week to 920 tons, the lowest since May. That was the largest weekly outflow in 11 years. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/tons-silver-us-china-ease-london-spot-market-squeeze-2025-10-20/

2025-10-20 11:32

Protests in Gabes a major challenge for President Kais Saied Residents blame spike in cancer, other illnesses on plant emissions Audit seen by Reuters describes environmental 'non-conformities' GABES, Tunisia, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Beneath a smog-choked sky, the once-glistening waters of Gabes in southern Tunisia run dark with rust-coloured streaks. Trees are dying, fish vanishing and a suffocating stench infuses the air. Known a generation ago as an ecological jewel of green oases, today the town is a toxic wasteland rife with cancer, respiratory illness and bone disease. Sign up here. The culprit – residents, environmentalists and officials say – is a phosphates processing plant run by the state-owned Tunisian Chemical Group, or CGT, whose smokestacks loom over rubbish-strewn beaches. This month, anger at the plant exploded into one of President Kais Saied's biggest challenges since he took power in 2019. Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters who stormed the complex, and thousands returned to the streets last Wednesday. Unlike other recent protests, those in Gabes are not demanding civic freedoms but rather an end to conditions they find unbearable. "The plant has poisoned everything – the trees, the sea, the people," Safouan Kbibieh, a local environmental activist, told Reuters during a recent visit. "Even Gabes’ pomegranates now taste like smoke.” Saied has described conditions in Gabes as an "environmental assassination," but blamed a previous government and called on ministries to fix chemical leaks. CGT did not respond to questions sent by Reuters. Tunisia's health ministry could not immediately comment. 'LET US BREATHE' Built a half-century ago, the Gabes complex is Tunisia's biggest phosphates processing plant and accounts for over half of its output. The industry provides vital revenues for a government beset by soaring debt and weak growth. But residents describe a heavy cost. In the towns of Ghannouch and Chott Essalem on the plant's outskirts, it is hard to find families whose lives are not shaped by sickness and loss. Rimel El-Haji, 45, described how her nine-year-old daughter started gasping and walking slower about a month ago, along with dozens of other students apparently affected by toxic emissions. Today the girl relies on her mother to help with even simple movements – the result of neurological damage, Haji said, caused by suffocation. "She can’t walk more than two steps," Haji said. "She’s fading, like a flower under the burning sun." About two kilometers away, Amina Mansour, 53, lives in a modest brick house caked with dust and chemical residue. Inside, her shelves are packed with medicines to treat osteoporosis and the throat cancer she discovered six years ago. "The doctors told me I need to leave this town to survive," she says. "But where would we go? This is our home." She counted six relatives in her family diagnosed with cancer: "This pollution is slowly killing us," she said. Next door, her neighbour Maha Mahmoud clutches an inhaler she calls her "daily bread." "We no longer ask for food or jobs. We want one thing: dismantle the chemical units. Let us breathe," she said. Residents also blame the plant for a collapse of fishing stocks. One fisherman, Sassi Alaya, told Reuters his daily catch used to earn him up to 700 Tunisian dinars ($240) – but he is now lucky to make 20. After more than a quarter-century at sea, he's turned to farming to feed his five children. "The sea was everything — our income and dignity," he said. "Now, it’s a nightmare." 'LIKE A WAR ZONE' A July 2025 expert audit of the plant commissioned by CGT found "serious non-conformities relative to national standards and international requirements," according to a copy seen by Reuters. The complex had dumped 14,000-15,000 tons of phosphogypsum -- a byproduct of processing phosphates -- into the sea and along the coast a day, along with high emissions of ammonia, nitrogen oxides and sulfates, the audit said. The discharges had "greatly damaged marine seagrass beds and led to desertification of large marine areas". Phosphogypsum contains radium, which decays to form radon gas, the website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says, noting that radium and radon are radioactive and can cause cancer. In the United States, the EPA requires that phosphogypsum be managed in engineered piles or stacks to limit public exposure from radon emissions. A lack of studies makes it hard to definitively link the pollution in Gabes to the diseases suffered by residents. But Kraiem Taoufik, a local doctor, confirmed he'd seen illnesses spike as conditions worsened. "The city feels like a war zone," he said. "Where we once saw a few cancer cases quarterly, now they appear daily. Residents live atop a chemical time bomb." Caught between the unrest and flagging state finances, authorities have vowed to rehabilitate the plant. But the plans have done little to soothe activists and residents who say they are at breaking point. "For every ton of phosphate processed, a soul is lost," Kbibieh, the environmental activist, said. "But we won’t abandon our land. We’ll keep fighting until Gabes can breathe again." https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/once-an-idyll-tunisian-protest-hotspot-gabes-now-an-environmental-nightmare-2025-10-20/

2025-10-20 11:14

Oct 20 (Reuters) - Amazon's (AMZN.O) , opens new tab cloud services unit AWS was hit by an outage on Monday that affected major websites and apps globally, the first major internet disruption since last year's CrowdStrike malfunction. Here are some of the biggest tech outages in recent years, in chronological order: Sign up here. BRITISH AIRWAYS IAG-owned (ICAG.L) , opens new tab British Airways was hit by a major computer system failure in May 2017 that stranded 75,000 passengers over a holiday weekend, sparking a public relations disaster and pledges from the carrier that it would do better in future. According to media reports, the blackout was caused by a maintenance contractor who accidentally switched off power. ALPHABET (GOOGL.O) , opens new tab Some of Google's most popular services including YouTube, Gmail and Google Drive were down for an hour during an outage on December 14, 2020. According to outage monitoring website DownDetector, more than 12,000 YouTube users were affected in various parts of the world, including the United States, Britain and India. FASTLY (FSLY.N) , opens new tab In June 2021, thousands of government, news and social media websites across the globe were hit by a widespread hour-long outage linked to U.S.-based cloud company Fastly. The issue affected several high traffic sites including Reddit, Amazon, CNN, PayPal, Spotify, Al Jazeera Media Network and the New York Times with outages ranging from a few minutes to around an hour. AKAMAI (AKAM.O) , opens new tab Websites of dozens of financial institutions and airlines in Australia and the United States were briefly down on June 17, 2021, due to server-related glitches at content delivery network provider Akamai. According to the firm, the problem was caused by a bug in its software. META (META.O) , opens new tab Meta-owned social media platforms Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram went dark for six hours on October 4, 2021, with 10.6 million users reporting problems worldwide. The company said the outage was caused by a faulty configuration change. X Corp Social media platform Twitter suffered a major outage on December 28, 2022, leaving tens of thousands of users globally unable to access the popular social media platform or use its key features for several hours before services appeared to come back online. Downdetector tracked more than 10,000 affected users from the United States, about 2,500 from Japan and about 2,500 from the UK at the peak of the disruption. CROWDSTRIKE (CRWD.O) , opens new tab A software update by global cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike triggered systems problems for Microsoft customers that resulted in hours-long global computer systems outages on July 19, 2024. Services from airlines to healthcare, shipping and finance were impacted globally. After the outage was resolved, companies were left dealing with backlogs of delayed and canceled flights and medical appointments, missed orders and other issues that took days to solve. AWS Amazon's cloud services unit was hit by an outage on October 20, 2025, disrupting operations across multiple industries around the world and taking down several popular apps including Fortnite and Snapchat (SNAP.N) , opens new tab. AWS said in a 0711 GMT update on its website that it was seeing increased "error rates and latencies" for multiple services. In a later update, it said the underlying issue was fully mitigated and most of its operations were working normally. https://www.reuters.com/technology/major-tech-outages-recent-years-2024-07-19/