Breaking news

AWS Says Services Disrupted After Drone Strikes In Middle East

Strategic Challenges In A Conflict Zone

Amazon Web Services reported disruptions to services following drone strikes affecting infrastructure in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Matt Garman, CEO of AWS, said at the HumanX conference in San Francisco that teams are operating 24/7 to maintain service continuity in the region.

Impact On Infrastructure And Global Supply Chains

The strikes affected multiple AWS services, including infrastructure supporting generative AI workloads. These systems require high energy consumption, increasing exposure to supply and cost disruptions. Rising energy prices and broader market volatility linked to regional tensions have added pressure on operating costs.

Broader Economic Implications

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to higher helium prices, a key input in semiconductor production. The data show how supply constraints in one region can affect manufacturing and technology sectors globally.

Long-Term Investment Amid Uncertainty

Matt Garman, CEO of AWS, said the company continues to invest in the region despite current disruptions. He cited strong demand and ongoing expansion by cloud providers. Competition remains high among Google, Microsoft, and Oracle, which are increasing data center capacity to meet global demand.

Market Reaction And Future Outlook

Recent movements in commodity prices and ongoing geopolitical risks are affecting infrastructure costs and investment decisions across the cloud sector. Data center operators are adjusting strategies to manage energy consumption and supply chain exposure. AWS and other providers are focusing on energy efficiency and system resilience as they expand capacity in multiple regions. Industry participants are monitoring cost volatility and regional risks as part of long-term infrastructure planning.

Eurobank Wins Two Euromoney Awards Following Cyprus Merger

Eurobank has been named Cyprus’ Best Bank for 2026 by Euromoney, while also receiving the award for Best Bank for Large Corporates at the publication’s latest Awards for Excellence.

Merger Marks A Milestone

The awards recognise the bank’s performance during 2025, a year marked by the completion of the legal merger between Hellenic Bank and Eurobank Cyprus. The transaction created Eurobank Limited, which the group says is now Cyprus’ largest banking and insurance organisation, with assets exceeding €28 billion.

Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence evaluate banks’ performance over the previous calendar year, with this edition covering January 1 to December 31, 2025.

Lending, Customers And Digital Growth

Eurobank said its business lending portfolio expanded by around 17 per cent during 2025, while its customer base grew to more than 710,000 retail clients and 11,500 business customers.

The bank also continued its digital expansion, saying more than 96 per cent of transactions are now completed through digital channels, and most financing applications are submitted via its mobile app.

Expanding International Presence

Eurobank also highlighted the opening of its first representative office in India, describing the move as a step toward strengthening business links between Cyprus and India while supporting Cyprus’ role as a gateway to the European Union for Indian businesses and investors.

According to the bank, Euromoney recognised not only the successful completion of the merger but also its lending growth, digital transformation and contribution to Cyprus’ position as an international business and investment hub.

CEO On The Awards

“The Euromoney awards confirm Eurobank’s strong momentum and the successful implementation of our group’s strategy in Cyprus,” Chief Executive Michalis Louis said.

He said the merger strengthened the bank’s ability to support households, businesses and the wider economy, while highlighting continued investment in digital services and the opening of the representative office in India as key milestones during the year.

Uol
The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
eCredo
Aretilaw firm

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter