RIYADH (BN24)— Saudi Arabia has officially opened the door for Nigerians to own property in the holy city of Makkah, marking a significant step in its strategy to attract global investment and advance urban development in the region. This development accompanies the launch of the King Salman Gate project, a landmark urban transformation initiative announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as Prime Minister and Chairman of RUA Al Haram Al Makki Company, unveiled the project as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to modernize Makkah’s infrastructure while preserving its religious and cultural heritage.
The King Salman Gate project will span approximately 12 million square meters of gross floor area adjacent to Al-Masjid Al-Haram, Islam’s holiest mosque. The development is designed to position Makkah as a global benchmark for modern urban planning and hospitality.
According to the Crown Prince’s statement, the project aims to improve pilgrims’ experiences by enhancing accessibility to Al-Masjid Al-Haram and upgrading service quality throughout the area. The mixed-use complex will feature residential, hospitality, commercial, and cultural facilities, offering space for approximately 900,000 indoor and outdoor worshippers.
Strategically located with seamless access to public transportation, King Salman Gate will blend Makkah’s rich architectural heritage with world-class modern living. The project includes restoration and development of around 19,000 square meters of heritage sites, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to preserving Makkah’s cultural legacy.
The initiative is expected to contribute significantly to Saudi Vision 2030 by generating over 300,000 jobs by 2036 and transforming the local economy through sustainable urban development.
RUA Al Haram Al Makki Company, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) affiliate responsible for the project’s execution, focuses on innovative, sustainable resource management. The company is dedicated to providing exceptional real estate experiences while supporting PIF’s goal of establishing Makkah as a global hub for investment and pilgrimage.
This move to allow Nigerians and other international investors to own property in Makkah aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to diversify its economy, boost foreign investment, and enhance the city’s capacity to accommodate growing numbers of pilgrims.
NAIROBI, Kenya (BN24) — The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been awarded the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart, Kenya’s highest honor, as President William Ruto recognized his contributions to democracy and nation-building on Mashujaa Day.
The honor was conferred by Ruto on Monday, a day after Odinga was buried at his family home in Bondo, Siaya County. A gazette notice dated October 20, 2025, confirmed the conferment of the First Class CGH honor to Odinga, recognizing him for exemplified courage, endurance, dedication, an unwavering commitment to the ideals of democracy and good governance, sacrifice, Pan-Africanism and faithful service to all of humanity.
In his address to Kenyans at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui, Ruto recognized Odinga for his contribution to nation-building and enduring legacy. “The Government and people of Kenya inscribe Hon Raila Odinga’s name among the foremost of our heroes, under the public seal of the Republic,” Ruto said.
The head of state further described the former prime minister as a towering patriot and hero for the ages. “But if we, the people he so deeply loved and served, choose to live by the lessons he taught us; to love Kenya more than we love ourselves; to put unity above division; to aspire for greater, and to serve with courage and conviction, then we can become a great nation of 50 million heroes,” the president said.
Meanwhile, former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday returned to Kang’o ka Jaramogi at Odinga’s family home in Bondo to honor the memory of the late former prime minister, who was buried there Sunday.
In the quiet visit, Kenyatta was accompanied by Odinga’s elder brother and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga. He stood solemnly at the graveside, lingering in silence as if sharing a private moment with the departed statesman.
The former president appeared deeply contemplative, his gaze fixed on the grave. He at one point raised his right hand toward Odinga’s grave for a few seconds.
After a brief prayer alongside Senator Oginga, Kenyatta chose not to speak to the media, quietly departing the site without comment.
According to an evening statement from his office, the former head of state condoled with the Odinga family and “paid tribute to the life and legacy of his longtime friend and compatriot.” “Kenyatta also visited the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum to honour the memory of the Odinga family’s enduring contribution to Kenya’s history and democracy,” it added.
Odinga, who died Wednesday after collapsing in India, was buried Sunday afternoon next to his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and his mother, Mary Ajuma. The private ceremony, during which he was accorded state honors and a seventeen-gun salute, was attended only by members of his family, top government dignitaries and guests from the burial ceremony earlier in the day.
Kenyatta was among those present Sunday and laid a wreath by Odinga’s grave. He has eulogized him as a “brother, friend and patriot” whose passing has left a deep void in the nation, saying Kenya has lost a leader whose voice of conviction and courage helped shape the country’s political history.
Last week, Kenyatta reflected on his long and complex relationship with the longtime opposition leader, describing the Orange Democratic Movement party leader as a “defining part” of his own political journey.
The two were political rivals in several elections before joining forces in the historic 2018 “Handshake” after Odinga unsuccessfully challenged Kenyatta in the 2017 polls, quelling the political storm that followed the disputed election.
“Raila and I were navigators on opposing currents, charting different courses for the nation we both loved. At some point, we became political opponents and often, the weight of that competition felt immense,” the former president said. “Baba, as we fondly referred to him, was a man who made you sharpen your own ideas, compelling you to defend your positions with rigor and passion.”
Kenyatta said their eventual partnership through the Handshake defined Odinga as a leader guided not by personal ambition but by a genuine desire to unite the country. “I saw first-hand his unwavering passion for this country, his deep-seated belief in justice, and his incredible capacity to think beyond personal ambition for the sake of national peace,” he said.
The former president said he would remember Odinga for his strength of conviction, intellect and commitment to the ideals of democracy and justice. “I have lost a friend and a brother. I will miss our conversations – sometimes challenging, always insightful – and the fire of belief that never left his eyes,” he added.
Odinga died October 15, 2025, while receiving treatment at Devamatha Hospital in Kerala, India. The remains of the former prime minister were flown to Kenya on Thursday, October 16, and he was accorded a state funeral.
The conferment of Kenya’s highest honor on Odinga represents official recognition of his decades-long struggle for democratic reforms and social justice. Though he never succeeded in five campaigns for president, Odinga entered into political agreements with three of Kenya’s five presidents when tensions rose after elections.
The awarding of the CGH honor came during Mashujaa Day celebrations, Kenya’s annual holiday honoring national heroes. The timing underscored the government’s effort to memorialize Odinga’s contributions to the nation’s democratic development.
Odinga’s funeral week was marked by both celebration of his legacy and tragedy, with at least five people killed and hundreds injured in stampedes during public viewings as massive crowds overwhelmed security measures.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump said Monday that he would give Hamas a chance to honor the Gaza truce deal with Israel but warned the group would be “eradicated” if it fails to do so.
“We made a deal with Hamas that they’re going to be very good, they’re going to behave, they’re going to be nice,” Trump told reporters at the White House as he hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “And if they’re not, we’re going to go and we’re going to eradicate them, if we have to. They’ll be eradicated, and they know that.”
Trump’s comments came as two of his top envoys met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after weekend violence threatened to wreck the fragile ceasefire the U.S. president brokered nearly two weeks ago.
Trump insisted that American forces would not be involved against Hamas, saying dozens of countries that have agreed to join an international stabilization force for Gaza would “love to go in.”
“In addition, you have Israel would go in in two minutes, if I asked them to go in,” Trump said. “But right now, we haven’t said that. We’re going to give it a little chance, and hopefully there will be a little less violence. But right now, you know, they’re violent people.”
Trump said Hamas was now far weaker, especially given that regional backer Iran was now unlikely to step in on its behalf following U.S. and Israeli strikes earlier this year.
The president’s warning came amid growing concerns about the stability of the ceasefire agreement, which has faced challenges including disputes over hostage releases and the return of remains. Weekend violence in Gaza raised questions about whether both sides would continue to honor the terms of the truce.
The United States deployed approximately two hundred troops to Israel to help establish a civil-military coordination center for facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza and monitoring the ceasefire. U.S. officials have emphasized that no American troops will be deployed inside Gaza.
Trump has portrayed the Gaza ceasefire as a major diplomatic achievement and the first step toward broader reconciliation in the Middle East. His special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner have been involved in negotiations and implementation efforts.
The ceasefire agreement’s first phase called for the release of all living hostages held by Hamas, exchange of Palestinian prisoners and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. All twenty living hostages were released earlier this month, though complications have arisen regarding the return of remains of deceased hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will not compromise on demands that Hamas fulfill ceasefire requirements, particularly regarding the return of hostages’ bodies. Three former senior managers at hospitals where hostage remains were handled are being investigated following confusion over body identifications.
Trump’s threat to “eradicate” Hamas if the group violates the ceasefire echoes similar warnings he has made regarding other adversaries. The president has previously authorized CIA covert operations inside Venezuela and threatened massive tariffs against China over trade disputes.
The international stabilization force for Gaza that Trump referenced would include participation from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and other nations. Western and Arab countries met in Paris to discuss peacekeeping arrangements and reconstruction assistance for Gaza once fighting stops.
Hamas has been militarily decimated by Israel’s assault on Gaza but remains organizationally intact and could potentially rebuild if there is an extended period of calm. The group has indicated it handed over all hostage remains it had access to, though Israeli officials dispute this claim.
More than sixty-seven thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led militants stormed through Israeli towns and a music festival on October 7, 2023, killing twelve hundred people and capturing two hundred fifty-one hostages.
The ceasefire represents the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the war began, though substantial challenges remain regarding Gaza’s postwar governance, the territory’s reconstruction and Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm completely.
Trump’s approach to the Middle East has included aggressive rhetoric combined with diplomatic initiatives. He has emphasized his administration’s support for Israel while also pressuring both sides to reach agreements.
A U.S. appeals court ruled Monday that President Donald Trump acted within his legal authority when he federalized Oregon’s National Guard and ordered troops to be deployed to Portland, overturning a lower court’s decision that had temporarily blocked the move.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling represents the latest escalation in a power struggle between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states, particularly Oregon, over what state officials have described as “authoritarian overreach.” The court’s majority opinion found that the president likely “lawfully exercised his statutory authority” in authorizing federal deployment amid protests and unrest in the city.
The decision allows 200 National Guard troops to be dispatched to protect federal buildings, which authorities say have been repeatedly targeted by demonstrators — some reportedly wearing animal costumes — in protest against immigration enforcement policies.
The court’s 2-1 ruling lifts a prior stay issued by U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, who had ruled that Portland’s unrest did not rise to the level of a national emergency requiring federal military intervention. Immergut had previously criticized Trump’s characterization of Portland as “war-ravaged,” writing that his claims were “simply untethered to the facts.”
In her ruling, Immergut noted that while isolated acts of vandalism and assaults had occurred, the administration failed to show that such violence was “part of an organized attempt to overthrow the government.” She concluded that “regular law enforcement forces” were sufficient to maintain order and that the protests posed no imminent “danger of rebellion.”
However, the appellate majority disagreed, emphasizing that the president possesses broad powers under the Insurrection Act and related federal statutes to ensure federal operations and personnel are protected. The court held that Trump’s actions did not violate constitutional boundaries and that the urgency of protecting federal property justified the decision to federalize Oregon’s National Guard.
Circuit Judge Susan Graber issued a strong dissent, warning that the ruling undermines state sovereignty and First Amendment rights. “Given Portland protesters’ well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits, inflatable frog costumes, or nothing at all when expressing their disagreement with the methods employed by ICE, observers may be tempted to view the majority’s ruling, which accepts the government’s characterization of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd,” Graber wrote. “But today’s decision is not merely absurd. It erodes core constitutional principles, including sovereign States’ control over their militias and the people’s right to assemble.”
The ruling marks a significant victory for the Trump administration, which has clashed with local officials in several major U.S. cities over the handling of protests and immigration enforcement. Portland now joins a list of cities — including Los Angeles, Washington, Memphis, and Chicago — where Trump has authorized National Guard or federal deployments to quell unrest and protect federal facilities.
Construction crews have begun demolishing part of the East Wing of the White House to make way for President Donald Trump’s long-anticipated $250 million ballroom — one of the largest construction projects on the presidential estate in more than a century.
Photos published by The Washington Post on Monday show heavy machinery tearing through sections of the East Wing façade, with piles of debris and shattered windows scattered across the grounds. The demolition reportedly began early Monday morning, marking the official start of a project Trump has described as “a long-overdue addition” to the historic residence.
According to the Post, eyewitnesses confirmed that portions of the East Wing exterior have already been removed. Additional images published by the New York Post show similar demolition scenes, signaling significant progress toward the ballroom’s development. The White House has not yet issued a public comment on the construction.
The ballroom, designed to span approximately 90,000 square feet and accommodate nearly 1,000 guests, is expected to be completed before the end of Trump’s second term in January 2029. The president has said he commissioned the project because the existing East Room is “too small” and because he dislikes hosting formal events in temporary tents on the South Lawn.
“In the White House, for 150 years, they’ve wanted to have a ballroom,” Trump said in July when plans for the expansion were unveiled. “There’s never been a president that was good at ballrooms. I’m good at building things — and we’re going to build quickly and on time. It’ll be beautiful, top of the line.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously announced that the project would be privately funded by Trump and unnamed donors. She said the new structure would be equipped with bulletproof glass and would have enough space to host up to 999 guests for formal galas, dinners, and even potential inaugurations.
During a donor dinner at the White House earlier this month, Trump reportedly unveiled early construction work by opening the East Room curtains and pointing out the site of the new ballroom. Guests in attendance included executives and representatives from major U.S. corporations such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Palantir, and Lockheed Martin.
Trump has emphasized that the new structure will not interfere with the current White House building. “It’ll be near it but not touching it — and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of,” he told reporters in July. “It’s my favorite place. I love it.”
The massive expansion represents the most ambitious architectural addition to the White House since the West Wing was rebuilt under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s.
ABUJA, Nigeria (BN24) — Police fired tear gas and arrested dozens of demonstrators in Nigeria’s capital on Monday as protesters gathered to demand the release of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, whose prolonged detention has intensified political tensions in the country’s southeast.
The demonstrations, organized under the hashtag #ReleaseNnamdiKanuNow, drew civil rights activists, pro-democracy groups and supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which advocates for independence for Nigeria’s southeastern region. Protesters were initially dispersed near the Maitama district after police fired multiple tear gas canisters, forcing many to flee in panic through nearby streets around the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
Despite the initial crackdown, protesters regrouped in the Utako area of Abuja, where they resumed chanting solidarity songs and waving banners demanding the government obey a 2022 Court of Appeal ruling that discharged and acquitted Kanu. Security forces responded again, using tear gas to break up the crowd for a second time.
Witnesses and journalists reported hearing gunfire during isolated clashes between security forces and demonstrators. Authorities also briefly detained a journalist from Agence France-Presse (AFP), who was later released.
Police deployed heavily across the Federal Capital Territory, with soldiers, officers, and operatives of the Department of State Services stationed at key locations including Eagle Square, the Federal Secretariat, and the Three Arms Zone. At Berger roundabout, witnesses saw a large number of soldiers and a gun truck positioned to deter further gatherings.
Security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and electric barriers to disperse protesters along major roads in central Abuja, disrupting traffic and stranding commuters. The confrontations underscore the ongoing sensitivity around Kanu’s detention, which remains a flashpoint in Nigeria’s southeast. Many members of the Igbo ethnic group say they face systemic marginalization by the federal government.
Kanu, the leader of IPOB, has been held in Nigerian custody since his arrest in 2021 despite court rulings ordering his release. His detention continues to stir secessionist sentiment in the southeast and has led to repeated street protests across the country.
CHESTER, England — A Nigerian man who posed as a female nurse and worked at the same NHS hospital in the United Kingdom, where Lucy Letby was employed has avoided jail after admitting fraud.
Lucius Njoku, thirty-three, used the name of agency nurse Joyce George to work as a healthcare assistant at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Between February and April he washed and dressed patients and carried out observations on the accident and emergency ward.
It was at the same NHS site where killer nurse Lucy Letby had worked on the neonatal unit that Njoku found fraudulent employment. Three former senior managers at the hospital are being investigated for gross negligence manslaughter following Letby’s imprisonment.
Njoku worked shifts under a woman’s name with her identification badge pinned to his chest. Colleagues failed to spot the deception despite the fact he was wearing an NHS badge complete with a clear photograph, Chester Magistrates Court was told.
Njoku’s deception was only uncovered when a patient confronted him and he blurted out “My name is Joyce but I am a man.”
The court heard how George, a Nigerian national living in Ellesmere Port, obtained a job at the hospital after a successful interview. She would then allow Njoku to use her name and do her shifts at the hospital. It remains unclear where Njoku obtained an NHS uniform to complete his cover.
Police raided George’s home, finding Njoku there, and discovered mobile phones belonging to the pair. Text messages were recovered from the devices showing the two Nigerian nationals discussing shifts at the Chester hospital.
Both Njoku and George refused to comment during police interviews.
Njoku, who lives with his NHS worker wife at a different property in Ellesmere Port, admitted a charge of fraud by false representation. He was sentenced to sixteen weeks in prison suspended for twelve months and instructed to pay two hundred thirty-nine pounds in costs and surcharge. A judge also ordered him to complete eighty hours of unpaid work.
Njoku is a dependent on his wife’s work visa. It remains unclear if he will be deported.
George fled the UK after she was charged with fraud. It is thought that she returned to Nigeria. An arrest warrant has been issued for the former agency nurse.
Lisa McGuire, prosecuting, said: “She permitted Njoku to do her shifts under her name. Fortunately, no harm was done and there were no complaints about Njoku’s work. But it is the access which is the serious concern.”
Njoku came to the UK as a student and had no prior convictions. His solicitor Steven Alis said it was “surprising” that Njoku’s presence had “not been picked up by management.”
Alis said Njoku was a qualified nurse but that “safeguarding checks had not come through” during the period he was working at the hospital. “He accepted the seriousness of the matter,” Alis added. “Since then, he has obtained the appropriate authorization but has chosen not to work in the care industry. Instead, he now has employment at Vauxhall through an agency.”
Njoku’s wife originally came to the UK as a dependent on his visa but he is now a dependent on her visa for work purposes.
Sentencing Thursday, District Judge Jack McGarva told Njoku: “You deceived your way into a job which requires safeguarding checks. That undermines the system. Although you were qualified and you did the work without complaint, that is not the point.”
The case raised serious questions about security protocols and identity verification procedures at NHS hospitals. The incident occurred at a facility already under scrutiny following the Lucy Letby case, in which the nurse murdered seven babies and attempted to murder six others on the neonatal unit.
Hospital officials have not commented publicly on how Njoku was able to work multiple shifts without anyone questioning the discrepancy between his appearance and the photograph on the identification badge he wore.
The fraud highlights vulnerabilities in NHS staffing procedures, particularly regarding agency nurses who may work at multiple facilities. Healthcare security experts have called for enhanced verification systems to prevent similar incidents.
The Countess of Chester Hospital has faced significant criticism over its handling of the Lucy Letby case, with concerns raised about management’s failure to act on warnings from doctors about the unusual deaths on the neonatal unit.
The simultaneous occurrence of two major security and safety failures at the same hospital has intensified calls for comprehensive reviews of NHS safeguarding procedures and management oversight.
SANTIAGO, Chile (BN24) — Morocco made history on Sunday night by defeating Argentina 2-0 in the final to win its first-ever Under-20 World Cup title, capping off a remarkable tournament run in Chile that captured global attention.
Yassir Zabrini, the FC Famalicão striker who has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the competition, scored twice in the first half to secure Morocco’s place in the history books. Zabrini struck in the 12th and 29th minutes, giving Morocco a commanding 2-0 lead that held until the final whistle. The result marked the first World Cup triumph for Morocco at any age-group level.
With this victory, Morocco became the first African nation to lift the U20 World Cup since Ghana accomplished the feat in 2009. The North African side’s path to the trophy was anything but easy. Morocco topped a challenging group that included Spain, Brazil, and Mexico, then knocked out South Korea, the United States, and France in the elimination rounds before facing Argentina in the final.
Argentina, a six-time U20 world champion, was seeking a record-extending seventh title but fell short for the first time in the tournament. The team reached the final despite missing its two most promising young stars — Claudio Echeverri of Bayer Leverkusen and Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid — both absent from the competition.
The loss comes as Argentina’s senior national team, the reigning World Cup champion, has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup in North America after reaching the semifinals in Qatar in 2022. Morocco’s victory is being hailed as a watershed moment for African youth football, demonstrating the continent’s growing strength on the global stage.
HONG KONG (BN24)— Two airport ground staff lost their lives early Monday when a cargo plane skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport and plunged into the sea. The Boeing 747-481 cargo aircraft, operating Emirates flight EK9788, was arriving from Dubai at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time when the accident occurred, shattering the city’s otherwise strong aviation safety record.
According to Hong Kong Airport Authority officials, the aircraft veered sharply off the runway after touchdown, crashing through the airport perimeter fence and colliding with an airport patrol vehicle that was traveling on a road located outside the runway’s secured area. Both occupants of the vehicle, aged 30 and 41 with seven and twelve years of service at the airport, were killed instantly. The four crew members aboard the plane escaped injury and were safely evacuated within minutes.
Airport operations executive director Steven Yiu provided crucial clarifications during a Monday morning news briefing. He stressed that the patrol vehicle was on a designated road outside the runway fence, at what officials deemed a “safe distance.” You categorically denied claims that the patrol car entered the runway itself, stating, “The car definitely did not run out onto the runway.” According to Yiu, the plane’s unexpected deviation toward the sea after landing remains puzzling. “Normally, the plane is not supposed to turn towards the sea,” he said, adding that the aircraft did not emit any distress signals during its final approach or landing.
Initial reports indicated that the plane was a Boeing 747-481 freighter, wet-leased and operated by Turkish airline Act Airlines on behalf of Emirates. A wet lease means the aircraft, crew, and insurance are provided by Act Airlines, which operates the flight under Emirates’ flight number. At the time of the crash, the aircraft was not carrying any cargo.
Emergency crews responded swiftly, arriving at the scene within two minutes of the crash. Firefighters assisted the four crew members in opening the emergency doors and evacuating the plane. Visual evidence from the crash site revealed that the fuselage had fractured into two parts, with the forward section partially submerged in the water. Significant structural damage was visible, including large cracks along the body of the aircraft. At least one evacuation slide was reported to have deployed successfully during the emergency exit.
Divers were dispatched to search the surrounding waters and recovered the bodies of the two patrol car occupants from the sea. Their identities and years of service highlight the loss to the airport community, prompting the Hong Kong Transport Bureau to issue a statement expressing deep sadness and extending condolences to the bereaved families.
In the wake of the crash, the Hong Kong Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) confirmed it is conducting a thorough investigation. Teams are actively searching underwater for the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder—commonly known as the black boxes—which are critical to determining the sequence of events leading to the accident. Authorities have also indicated that criminal investigations have not been ruled out pending further findings.
The accident caused the immediate closure of the affected runway, though the airport’s other two runways remained operational to minimize disruption. The closure led to at least 11 cargo flights being canceled on Monday, according to the Hong Kong Airport Authority’s website, highlighting the wider impact on the airport’s logistics and operations.
This incident marks one of the most serious aviation accidents to occur at Hong Kong International Airport since its opening at Chek Lap Kok in July 1998. Previously, the only other fatal accident at the airport happened in August 1999, when a China Airlines passenger plane crash-landed during a typhoon, resulting in three deaths.
As investigators continue to piece together the cause of the cargo plane’s abrupt departure from the runway, questions remain about possible mechanical failure, pilot error, or other contributing factors. The incident underscores the challenges and risks involved in managing one of Asia’s busiest air cargo hubs.
NEW YORK (BN24) — Amazon’s cloud computing service was recovering from a major outage Monday that disrupted online activity around the world, affecting popular applications including Fortnite, Snapchat and Robinhood.
Amazon Web Services, which provides remote computing services to many governments, universities and companies including The Associated Press, reported it was seeing increased “error rates and latencies” for multiple services. “We are working on multiple parallel paths to accelerate recovery,” the company said in its latest update.
The AWS outage represents the first major internet disruption since last year’s CrowdStrike malfunction that hobbled technology systems in hospitals, banks and airports globally.
AWS provides on-demand computing power, data storage and other digital services to companies, governments and individuals. Disruptions to its servers can cause outages across websites and platforms that rely on its cloud infrastructure. AWS competes with Google’s and Microsoft’s cloud services.
Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment but directed inquiries to its status page.
AI startup Perplexity, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and trading app Robinhood attributed their outages to AWS problems. “Perplexity is down right now. The root cause is an AWS issue. We’re working on resolving it,” Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said in a post on X.
Amazon’s shopping website, Prime Video and Alexa were all facing issues, according to Downdetector, a website that tracks online outages.
Fortnite, owned by Epic Games, Roblox, Clash Royale and Clash of Clans were among the gaming platforms that went down, while PayPal’s Venmo and Chime were among the financial platforms that faced issues, the outage tracking website said.
Uber rival Lyft’s app was also down for thousands of users in the United States. Messaging app Signal’s President Meredith Whittaker confirmed on X that the company’s platform was hit by the AWS outage as well.
Britain’s Lloyd Bank, Bank of Scotland and telecom service providers Vodafone and BT were also facing issues, according to Downdetector’s UK website. The country’s tax, payments and customs authority HMRC’s website was also hit by the outage.
However, billionaire Elon Musk, owner of social media company X, said his platform continued to work. “X works,” he said, without commenting further.
The first signs of trouble emerged around three eleven in the morning Eastern Time, when Amazon Web Services reported on its Health Dashboard that it was “investigating increased error rates and latencies for multiple AWS services in the US-EAST-1 Region.”
Later the company reported “significant error rates” and said engineers were “actively working” on the problem.
Around six in the morning Eastern Time, the company said it was seeing recovery across most of the affected services. “We can confirm global services and features that rely on US-EAST-1 have also recovered,” it said, adding that it was working on a “full resolution.”
AWS customers include some of the world’s biggest businesses and organizations. The widespread impact of the outage highlighted the vulnerability of modern digital infrastructure to disruptions at major cloud computing providers.
“So much of the world now relies on these three or four big (cloud) compute companies who provide the underlying infrastructure that when there’s an issue like this, it can be really impactful across a broad range, a broad spectrum” of online services, said Patrick Burgess, a cybersecurity expert at U.K.-based BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
The US-EAST-1 region referenced in AWS status updates is one of the company’s primary data center locations on the East Coast of the United States. Many companies rely on this region for critical services, making outages there particularly disruptive.
The incident underscored concerns about the concentration of internet infrastructure among a small number of major cloud providers. While cloud computing offers efficiency and scalability benefits, it also creates single points of failure that can affect millions of users simultaneously.
Companies affected by the outage scrambled to communicate with customers and implement contingency plans. Some were able to reroute traffic to backup systems, while others simply waited for AWS to restore services.
The outage affected diverse sectors including gaming, finance, e-commerce, communications and government services. The breadth of impact demonstrated how deeply integrated cloud computing has become in modern digital operations.
Financial technology companies were particularly affected, with users unable to access trading platforms and payment services during the disruption. Gaming platforms saw players disconnected from online matches and unable to access game servers.
AWS has experienced similar outages in the past, though they are relatively rare given the scale of operations. The company typically provides post-incident reports detailing root causes and remediation steps taken to prevent recurrence.
The recovery process for such outages can be complex, requiring careful coordination to restore services without causing additional disruptions. AWS engineers work to identify the root cause while simultaneously implementing fixes across affected systems.
As cloud computing continues to grow, questions about reliability and redundancy become increasingly important. Many experts recommend that critical services maintain backup infrastructure across multiple cloud providers to mitigate risks from single-provider outages.
