Your World Tonight - Thousands of websites down, crucial game for Jays, peanut allergies avoided, and more

Episode Date: October 20, 2025

A massive outage at Amazon Web Services knocks thousands of websites and apps offline. The company provides computing power, data storage and other services to governments, companies and individuals.And: That outage even affected the ticket service for the final, winner-take-all game for the Blue Jays in their quest to make the World Series. It isn’t dampening the mood of fans as they cheer on the team for what could be Toronto's first trip to baseball's biggest stage in 32 years.Also: Feeding peanuts to your little pea works. A U.S. study shows that giving infants peanuts in the early months of life may help avoid allergy.Plus: Pistachio recall, strategy to keep pilots in military uniform not working as planned, financial crimes agency to tackle online scams, and more.

The spirit of innovation is deeply ingrained in Canada, and Google is helping Canadians innovate in ways both big and small, from mapping accessible spaces so the disabled community can explore with confidence, to unlocking billions in domestic tourism revenue. Thousands of Canadian companies are innovating with Google AI. Innovation is Canada's story. Let's tell it together. Find out more at g.co slash Canadian Innovation. This is a CBC podcast.

This really is a reminder that the technology that we use every day is incredibly complex. There are millions of tiny pieces of technology. When they fail, sometimes they fail significantly. From Facebook to finance, from gaming to governments, hundreds of websites knocked offline after a problem at a single provider. A major disruption to digital life. that exposes how the web can collapse like a house of cards. Welcome to Your World Tonight.

I'm Susan Bonner. It is Monday, October 20th, just before 6 p.m. Eastern, also on the podcast. Previous guidance was delayed, delay, delay, delay the introduction. And the thing is that we actually found that by doing that, we caused a massive spike and the number of allergies that were occurring. Years later, early introduction may be paying off when it comes to peanut allergies. New research suggests a change in guidance changed the lives of thousands of children. And...

You ask me if I'm ready. I'm born ready. I'm born ready. The Dorano Blue Jays say they are born ready for a game that's due or die. The glitch happened at Amazon and a unit of the digital giant that helps companies and governments around the world operate online. Services still are not back to normal, and the incident shows how much the Internet's complex infrastructure relies on a few critical pillars. Senior technology reporter Norie Young explains why. So I logged into our payroll system, and I just couldn't access anything. Emily Smith is the owner of Magnus Home Improvements in Scarborough, Ontario.

The company she runs with her husband renovates homes. This morning, she couldn't log in because of a problem at Amazon. As a small family-run business, you know, you've got so many balls in the air all the time. And so when something like this happens, it's difficult to juggle. Smith is one of millions of Internet users across Canada and around the world who found themselves unable to run their operations, check social media, or even order food. Because many of the companies offering those services rely on Amazon to run and support their online business. Today, Amazon Web Services, or AWS, experienced a massive outage.

The scale is very, very unique. And I suppose it points to the foundational role of AWS in the entire internet infrastructure and ecosystem. Luke Kehoe is an analyst with Ucla, parent company of Down Detector, which monitors online service outages. By about 16, 15 UTC today, we had over 9.8 million reports on Down Detector. Ucla confirmed that it received over 350,000 user reports of outages in Canada alone. Canadian businesses, including Well Simple, were affected. They acknowledged their clients might run into intermittent technical issues. Pyrillator said it was minimally impacted.

Websites and apps for other major companies, including Facebook, Snapchat, and UK banks, were affected. Amazon products too, such as Amazon Prime, Ring, and Alexa. In a statement, AWS said the issue was connected to domain name system resolution. The NS is often likened to the phone book for the internet. This really is a reminder that the technology that we use every day is incredibly complex. Karmie Levy is a technology analyst and journalist. There are millions of tiny pieces of technology under the surface. And when they fail, sometimes they fail significantly.

The problems underline both the extent to which we rely on the internet to function on a daily basis and the dangers of concentration. It's dominated by three companies, three companies, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. So, you know, if we're putting all of our eggs into so few baskets, well, when one of those baskets has a problem, it's going to affect a lot of people. Amazon is not saying when its AWS services will be fully restored for all customers, only noting as of Monday afternoon, it's seeing recovery across all AWS services. Nora Young, CBC News, Toronto. The Amazon outage might also affect

anyone lucky enough to have a ticket to tonight's Toronto Blue Jays game. Ticketmaster says it was having technical difficulties. As if Canadian baseball fans need any more anxiety, the Jays are heading into a winner-take-all game seven matchup against the Seattle Mariners with a trip to the World Series on the line. Jamie Strassion has more. I troubled 10,000 kilometers just to see them play. In the Toronto Blue Jays team store inside Toronto's Rock,

Rogers Center. Business is brisk. Local fans and those like Juan Pistana who traveled from afar already for Game 7. I'm really excited, but oh my God, nervous as well. The Jay's one game away from their first trip to the World Series since 1993, a lifetime ago for many. 93, I was in grade 8. Joe Carter hit the home run and my mom was jumping up as high as he was. The team that few believed in when the season began has made believers out of Canadian baseball fans, millions watching every game of this roller coaster playoff run. So it's a case of staying up, powering through and then grabbing. The team also enjoying support from abroad. Dan Woodrow runs a school in the UK where a love of the Blue Jays has become part of the curriculum.

I did some lessons with the children about baseball and the Jays. I showed them Jose Baptiste's bat flip and photos from where I went. And then we went out onto our playground to have our own match. The Jays even took notice of Woodrow's Blue Jay boosterism. They sent in Jay's jerseys for a whole class. So it was kind of like school uniform. NBC Sports presents the seventh and deciding game of the 1985 American League Championship Series. It's been 40 years since the Toronto Blue Jays last played in a game seven.

The Jays lost at home to the Kansas City Royals with a ticket to the World Series on the line. Four decades later, another chance, another game seven at home. A huge moment for players and their families. Adam Barger's son Addison, one of the game six heroes for the Jays. The bargers originally are from the Seattle area, but are now Jay fans, of course. Being a Blue Jay is something special. I mean, you're not only having the city of Toronto behind you, but really the whole country. Of course, at times, that can seem like a lot of pressure too, but there's just nothing like that.

On the mound for the Jays tonight, Shane Bieber, the perfect pitcher, says Jay's broadcaster Dan Shulman. Shane Bieber is not going to be intimidated by the moment. He is a veteran. He has been in big spots, not quite as big as this, but he's been in very big spots. No spot bigger than tonight. A chance to make history with fans across Canada and around the world watching. Jamie Strash and CBC News, Toronto. Coming right up, they are a... source of protein and anxiety. New research on peanut allergies is providing new hope and why public health officials are struggling with a salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios. Later, we'll have this

story. I'm Chris Brown. In France, the shock of Sunday's jewel heist at the Louvre gave way today to anger at how it could have happened, as well as a sense of loss that pieces of the country's history are now gone, likely permanently. Once they're been cut into smaller jewels, well, we'll never see these pieces again intact. That's coming up on your world tonight. It can be a nerve-wracking experience for new parents, introducing peanuts to infants as young as four months old. It's been the medical guidance for about a decade, and today new research suggests it is having an impact on overall levels. of peanut allergies.

Health reporter Lauren Pelley explains the findings and why some parents are still hesitant to follow the advice. We did that every single time. At this indoor Toronto playground, introducing peanuts to infants is a source of stress for many parents. I think earlier is definitely better. I have my hands full. I don't want to add an allergic reaction.

But a new study offers good news that those efforts are making a difference. It actually seems like, it is moving in the right direction to prevent peanut allergy. Research scientist Dr. Rushi Gupta is a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern Medicine and Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago. The U.S. studies showed peanut allergies in children aged zero to three dropped by more than 40 percent since 2017. The researchers credit groundbreaking guidance given over the last decade, which marked a shift toward giving

babies peanuts as early as four months old. Previous guidance was, in some ways the opposite, delay, delay, delay the introduction. And the thing is that we actually found that by doing that, we caused a massive spike in the number of allergies that were occurring. McMaster University allergist and researcher Dr. Derek Chu says the advice now is to expose babies to common allergens early and often. Even when a young infant isn't ready to try solids, he gave the example of peanut butter. It can be easily thinned out and added to breast milk, formula, yogurt, or a puree, and given to infants on a spoon. Even a small amount consistently and ramping up over time can be helpful.

The peanut reaction within seconds of giving it to him, his lips swelled and he got a rash around his mouth. Shantelle Valmont first offered her son peanuts when he was five and a half months old, a bit later than the current guidance. And it was only after talking to the allergist some six weeks later that she told me that you should introduce them as early as possible. The Toronto mom says the topic didn't come up in her prenatal classes or during early trips to her son's pediatrician.

Valmont says messaging around allergens also gets muddled with other recommendations to wait until babies are a bit older to introduce solids. There's tons of information out there online, but it's almost overwhelming. While peanut allergies are often the most talked about, researchers say it's important to focus on other allergens as well. milk, eggs, soy, wheat, sesame, and other types of nuts. But even when parents follow all the latest guidance, Dr. Chew stresses some kids still end up with serious allergies for life. He says ongoing research could help better predict who's most at risk.

Lauren Pelley, CBC News, Toronto. There are health concerns about another popular food. Recalls of more brands of pistachios linked to a salmonella outbreak, with more than 100 confirmed cases of the illness in Canada. As Tanya Fletcher reports, public health officials are finding the outbreak trickier than most to contain. This one?

Many Kunapas. In the heart of downtown Vancouver, the manager of Pistachio's sweetery cafe serves up what he calls pure gold. Stachio is very important for us and very tasty for the people. But his marquee ingredient has come under intense scrutiny. Across Canada,

there have been more than 100 salmonella cases from pistachios, spanning BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. The situation is so much more complex than the usual outbreak investigation. That's because pistachios are an ingredient found in many other foods, says April Hexamer with Canada's public health agency. The nuts are small and they're used in so many different products. They're sold over a longer period of time because the nuts are shelf-stable. it's taking a lot longer to identify all those products.

The recall list is long and growing. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been investigating for months. Now, they've discovered the contaminated pistachio products are linked to Iran. It really took them time to actually trace the origins of it. It took them several weeks. Keith Warner is a food safety professor at the University of Guelph. And even now, every other day there seems to be having a product recall. So really in some ways, it illustrates, in North America, our traceability system isn't the best.

He says salmonella is not uncommon in pistachios. The bacteria can contaminate the soil in pistachio orchards. And then once the nuts are dried, it can stubbornly stick around for months. And then when you put them into a vehicle like chocolate, they do buy chocolate, which has a craze. The chocolate actually protects a salmonella from our stomach acid. So it's a double whammy. It's almost like the perfect vehicle. Officials say the illnesses in this outbreak have been traced to contaminated pistachios and pastries and Dubai chocolate.

Some recalled products have been sold online, so people in all provinces are being urged to pay attention. If you don't know the country of origin of the nuts, it's not worth it until the outbreak's over. And the thing is, the cases are still coming in, recalls are still coming in. New illnesses are still being reported to public health, but officials say the case count is starting to slow. Still, they say it could be some time yet before this outbreak is over. Tanya Fletcher, CBC News, Vancouver. It is getting harder and harder to protect yourself from financial scams. Now the federal government has new plans to protect vulnerable Canadians and get their money back.

But it's facing questions about the cost. Marina von Stackleberg reports. Millions of dollars are being lost. and there's very little recourse. Bill Van Gorder is with the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, or CARP, a senior's advocacy group that has pushed for more protections against financial scams and abuse for over a decade. Carp is always worried that promises vaporize as other concerns take the fore,

but we did see that the government was taking it seriously. They're going after seniors, they're going after, vulnerable people. We know that crime is more transnational now. Finance Minister Francois Philippe Champagne says the federal government will require banks do more to detect and prevent fraud and give Canadians more control over their own bank accounts. So they'll be able to explicitly approve e-transfers and other payments and set their own transaction limits. Plus, Ottawa will create a brand new agency to investigate and recoup money loss. That was something the Liberals first promised four years ago.

What's taking so long? Well, I'm taking that over now, so it's going to happen. But the finance department can't say exactly what the agency will look like, who will be in charge, or how much it will cost. It's the fourth new agency the Carney government is creating, aimed at streamlining the federal bureaucracy. You need something different. Fighting financial crime in the 21st century is something very,

complex. This is the latest announcement as Champagne prepares to present his budget in just over two weeks time. The liberal minority government will need the support of at least a few opposition MPs to pass it. The conservatives have their own demands. That includes keeping the deficit below $42 billion. Philip Lawrence is a conservative MP. The liberals can call it all they want. They can call it the government spending, government investment, the fluffy kitten fund. The result is the same. It comes out of the pockets of hardworking Canadians. Once again, will the Prime Minister keep his promise and keep the deficit under $42 billion? The C.D. Howe Institute has estimated what the federal deficit could look like. Bill Robson is president of the nonpartisan think tank.

The liberal election platform had an awful lot in it about which we haven't heard anything since the election. So maybe they're going to draw the line before some of that stuff comes out. But if they don't, the deficit could easily be close to $100 billion. The prime minister has said this budget, will be one of investment and austerity. And while there have been no shortage of announcements leading up to it, just exactly how the federal government is spending taxpayer dollars likely won't be clear until it presents that budget on November 4th. Marina von Stackleberg, CBC News, Ottawa.

The system is aimed at, you know, the system is aimed at, keeping Canadian Air Force pilots in uniform instead of flying commercial. But it's having unintended consequences. A Defense Department report obtained by CBC News says the program was poorly thought out and pilots aren't happy. Murray Brewster has the exclusive details. Keeping military pilots in a cockpit like this has been an enduring, intractable problem for the Air Force. There has been a shortage of pilots and a low number of technicians.

Lieutenant General Jamie Spicer Blanchette, the commander of the Air Force. We have been able to reattract some pilots who had retired back to the RCAF. Some of that was due to an increase in pilot pay specifically, which took place before the most recent increase in pay to all military members this past summer. While the new pilot pay system might be good for recruiting, That's not what it was originally intended for, according to internal documents obtained by CBC News. It was intended to keep qualified pilots from bailing to the commercial sector by paying them an experience and skills bonus. Introduced in 2021, it has had unintended consequences, paying experienced captains and other mid-level officers in the cockpit more than higher ranks.

If you recall back in 2018, my office did some work on the CF-18s, and at that time we highlighted a potential point. pilot shortage. Auditor General Karen Hogan, who is still seeing the same shortages, only now it's more urgent because Canada is transitioning to the F-35. National Defense has a plan in place, but their current plan predicts that they will not have enough qualified pilots when all the planes are expected to arrive in Canada. The Air Force says retention rates for pilots are holding steady, but the pay perk has resulted in 85 grievances from pilots. The internal report and a former senior Air Force officer says the system is not sustainable. even with increased defense funding.

To simply say that we're going to pay our military pilots the same as a commercial airline pilot is not really realistic. Retired Major General Charles Duff Sullivan says experienced commercial pilots have the potential to make over $350,000 a year more than the country's top military commander. Having a junior officer getting paid more than a senior officer

on the exact same unit doing the exact same thing, I mean, it doesn't make any sense. And that just underscores or shines a bright light on the lack of thought that went into trying to address these problems. In a statement, the Air Force stands by the new pay system. Sullivan says pilots, especially fighter pilots, are more concerned about quality of life and the effect of remote postings on family rather than money. The internal report says the Air Force ignored the experience of other allies and just did its own thing without much research into alternatives.

Marie Brewster, CBC News, Ottawa. Hamas has handed over another body to Israel as part of the ceasefire agreement to return all hostage remains. Israel and Hamas have both recommitted to that agreement after several days of violence. Both sides accused the other of breaking the deal and Israel suspended aid for a few days. UN spokesperson Stefan Dujariq is urging restraint on all sides so humanitarian aid can get to people in Gaza. We are encouraged that the parties have reaffirmed their commitments to implementing the ceasefire in Gaza and commend the steadfast efforts of the mediators. We do, however, remain concerned by all acts of violence in Gaza and the reported attacks and strikes that took place yesterday.

We urge all parties to honor all of their commitments to ensure the protection of civilians and avoid any actions that could lead to a renewal of hostilities and undermine humanitarian operations. The U.S. envoy to the region and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are in Israel trying to shore up the truce and start talks on the second phase of the plan. It is being called a humiliation and the heist of the century. Now French authorities are racing to recover priceless jewelry stolen from the world's most popular museum. The weekend robbery at the Louvre is leaving plenty of questions and few clues about. about who may have pulled it off. Chris Brown has more on what happened and what's next.

France's justice minister, Gerald Darmannan, says the theft puts France in a deplorable light, that in just seven minutes in broad daylight, thieves could break into the country's most famous building and make off with priceless jewels. Author Elaine Chalino, who's written extensively on the Louvre, says France is feeling a collective pain. a revolution to make it a museum so that this attack really is a dagger into the heart of France

and French history. Four thieves apparently dressed as construction workers, climbed up a ladder and then used powered glass cutters to break in through a window to the Apollo Gallery where the jewelry was on display. All day, tourists like Jerry Rowan from Australia wondered how it could have happened. The fact that it was done in daylight is also astounding. But if you, If you look like you belong, you belong. So I guess they use that rule. Lawyer Christopher Marinello, the CEO of Art Recovery International, has made a career out of recovering stolen works of art.

The only clue that they left was that should have raised a red flag was that the workers were working on the museum on a Sunday in Paris. Nobody works on Sunday in Paris at 9 a.m. The thieves were reportedly unarmed but threatened staff with their power tools before smashing the cases and making off with eight items, including necklaces, earrings, and a brooch. Museum officials would not put a price in what was taken, but say the item's heritage value cannot be measured.

British Museum consultant Vernon Rapley says no security system is ever foolproof. It's a place that is designed to show and give access to these objects and collections, and so there's a certain vulnerability with museums. The thieves escaped on motorcycles. dropping and breaking the Empress Eugenie's crown, which is encrusted with 1,300 diamonds as they fled. Now Dutch art crime investigator Arthur Brandt says museums everywhere in the world are worried. They are afraid that local thieves will think, well, you know, they took it up with the Louvre.

Let's try our local museum. Famously, more than a century ago, an Italian decorator hid in the Louvre overnight and walked out the next morning with the Mona Lisa. under his apron. It was recovered two years later when he tried to sell it. Investigators hope they'll get a similar break this time. Chris Brown, CBC News, London. The artist who is the first to perform tonight is Mr. Kevin Chen from Canada. Orchestra of Philharmonic Narodovay, also Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrei Boreko, and Kevin Chen. He sat on a piano bench instead of stepping into the batters box, but for Kevin Chen, it was like making it to the World Series.

The 20-year-old from Calgary was one of 11 finalists and at the prestigious Frederic Scherick. Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland. Named after the legendary Polish pianist and composer, it takes place every five years, a grueling, month-long contest of the world's greatest young pianists. In tonight's final, Chen was on stage for more than an hour, performing a solo Chopin composition and another with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. Tonight's winner will take home more than $100,000 in prize money.

The competition also helps launch successful careers in classical music. Finishing first would mean back-to-back Canadian champions. Montreal's Bruce Liu won the last edition. Thanks for joining us. This has been your world tonight for Monday, October 20th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again. For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.ca.ca slash podcasts.