News related to
cloud

Australia’s Reserve Bank, through Assistant Governor Brad Jones, has warned that the era of stability and integration following the Cold War has given way to a more contested strategic environment that carries elevated risk for governments, financial institutions, and markets. At a FINSIA event in Sydney on 12 September, Jones declared that “the era of the peace dividend is over,” citing geopolitical, technological and operational disruptions reshaping the global financial order.

Jones described the international security and economic system as undergoing “seismic adjustment — on a scale and speed unseen in eight decades.” He flagged multiple forces contributing to instability: rising strategic rivalry, weakening tenets of the rules-based order, frictions in globalisation, and increasing emphasis on self-insurance by nations and firms against a broader set of possible harms.

Technological advances form one front of the risk profile. Jones spoke of an expanding surface for cyber-attacks driven by digitalisation, concerns over concentration risk in cloud services, and quantum computing’s looming threat to encryption systems. Artificial intelligence, while promising productivity gains, poses risks of misinformation, fraud, and systemic instability due to herding behaviour.

Critical infrastructure exposures were cited as especially vulnerable: telecommunications networks, the electrical grid, payment systems, and market infrastructure. Jones referenced a recent example in Europe, where cascading power outages in the Iberian Peninsula disrupted both households and economic activity, pointing out that such disruptions would be far more dangerous if key financial infrastructure were affected.

To respond, the RBA is pressing for what it calls an “anti-fragile” financial system—one not simply capable of withstanding shocks but able to adapt and improve because of them. Innovation, competition, and efficiency are being positioned not as opposing goals to resilience but as complementary. Initiatives under way include work with industry to bolster payments resilience, frameworks to ensure that future payments systems embed reliability and recoverability, migration to quantum-safe encryption standards, and reforms aimed at enabling new entrants in financial market infrastructure to reduce concentration risk.

These concerns build on earlier warnings in the RBA’s Financial Stability Review, which noted that heightened geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty, and technological vulnerabilities could interact with existing financial system risks. The review flagged operational risks from interconnectedness and dependency on third parties for infrastructure and services.

The shift has implications for monetary policy, regulatory oversight, and business strategy. Regulators are likely to place greater emphasis on risk scenarios involving geopolitics, cyber-threats and supply-chain disruptions; financial institutions will need to review and stress-test against non-traditional threats while ensuring agility; and policy frameworks may need to evolve to address threats outside standard macroeconomic shocks.

Infosys Ltd cleared a share buyback plan worth ₹18,000 crore, its biggest to date, offering ₹1,800 per share under a tender‐route offer. The price represents a 19% premium over closing levels on the BSE and NSE.

The company intends to repurchase roughly 10 crore shares, amounting to about 2.41% of its equity. Approval came through a board resolution disclosed in regulatory filings.

Infosys’s share price had been under pressure, falling more than 1% on the day prior. The buyback announcement triggered mixed reactions: U. S.‐listed ADS shares edged up marginally, while shares in Mumbai closed lower, reflecting investor caution.

Company financials show free cash flow at ₹7,533 crore for the quarter ending 30 June, down about 17.7% year-on-year, though still exceeding net profit by a small margin. The firm held cash and investments totalling ₹45,204 crore at that date.

Analysts view the buyback as a signal of confidence in long-term cash flows, but also warn that slowing revenue growth in some verticals could weigh on future performance. The move follows pressure from investors for IT companies to not just return capital but also step up investments in cloud, AI, and product development.

PubMatic has taken legal action against Google, not merely to secure compensation but to affirm that bold vision for digital advertising’s open, idea-driven future depends on innovation and trust, not coercion. The company’s co-founder and chief executive, Rajeev Goel, emphasised that the industry’s direction should be determined by the strength of ideas and the trust earned—not by dominance or pressure, as articulated in its lawsuit filed on 8 September. This step comes in response to a US District Court decision earlier this year that found Google guilty of maintaining monopolistic control over ad exchanges and ad servers. PubMatic claims that Google’s “First Look” and “Last Look” mechanisms, along with unified pricing rules, have systematically disadvantaged competitors and undermined fair competition in the digital ad space.

The lawsuit seeks substantial damages—potentially amounting to billions of dollars—and aims to restore fairness and transparency across the advertising ecosystem. PubMatic assures that this legal pursuit will not disrupt its daily operations or affect its clients’ experience; instead, it is designed to establish a more equitable long-term operating environment. This strategic move aligns with PubMatic’s broader mission to champion an open internet, where publishers and advertisers can thrive on merit and innovation rather than power imbalances.

PubMatic’s broader response builds on its narrative that competition—not coercion—should shape industry evolution. Goel’s message is deliberate: bold vision for digital advertising’s open, idea-driven future must be realised through trust and ingenuity. The company underscores its investment in private cloud infrastructure across 12 data centres, processing billions of ad impressions daily, as a foundation for transparent, high-performance systems. It also highlights its growing suite of solutions—including OpenWrap, Identity Hub, and header-bidding technologies—aimed at supporting omnichannel monetisation across mobile, OTT, and connected TV environments, and enabling publishers to manage identity and addressability in a privacy-safe manner.

Goel contextualised the firm’s challenge and growth: despite doubling its market share—from 2 per cent to 4 per cent over five years—PubMatic has achieved this only in a market tilted by Google’s dominance. This underscores the urgency behind its legal strategy and its long-term vision: an ad tech ecosystem driven by ideas and innovation.

This development echoes broader industry shifts. The Department of Justice’s antitrust ruling earlier in 2025 laid legal groundwork, but did not provide avenues for redress to harmed parties. PubMatic’s lawsuit now fills this gap, seeking tangible accountability and a fairer competitive landscape. As digital advertising increasingly depends on AI-powered tools, independent supply-side platforms like PubMatic are positioning themselves to lead innovation—provided they can operate on a level playing field.

Undersea cables in the Red Sea were severed on September 6, 2025, causing significant internet disruptions across parts of Asia and the Middle East. The affected cables include the South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 and the India–Middle East–Western Europe, both vital for regional connectivity.

Microsoft reported increased latency for users in the Middle East, while NetBlocks, a digital rights group, confirmed that the outages impacted countries such as India and Pakistan. The disruptions have also affected cloud services, with Microsoft Azure experiencing service degradation due to rerouted traffic.

The cause of the cable cuts remains unclear. While there is concern that the Houthi rebels in Yemen may have targeted the cables as part of their campaign related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the group has denied responsibility for such attacks. In early 2024, the Houthis had threatened to target undersea cables, but no direct evidence has been presented linking them to the current incident.

du has unveiled its Envision 2025 agenda, signalling a decisive push towards an AI-first future. The event is scheduled for 9 September 2025 at Atlantis, The Royal, and is designed to mobilise public and private sector leaders around AI-enabled smart communities and sovereign digital innovation.

The Envision 2025 blueprint brings together a distinguished roster of sponsors and partners. Oracle is confirmed as Host Sponsor, contributing expertise in cloud and sovereign AI capabilities. Cisco, as Platinum Partner, reinforces commitments to digital advancement. Gold Partners include HPE, Huawei, Akamai Technologies and CyberKnight, while Silver Partners—Dell Technologies, Fortinet, Accenture, Hexaware and Palo Alto Networks—support AI and cybersecurity resilience. Equinix and Joy Smart Technologies join as Bronze Partners, emphasising a collaborative approach to transformation. du charts AI-first future with Envision 2025 echoes this collaborative vision, emphasising alignment between leadership and technological innovation.

The threefold Envision platform will host both an exhibition and a conference, spotlighting cutting-edge domains: AI Data Centres, Sovereign Cloud, Generative and Agentic AI, GPU-as-a-Service, Industry 4.0, Advanced Robotics, and Cloud Computing. It seeks to provoke strategic alliances and stimulate discourse aligned with the UAE’s National AI Strategy and National Digital Government Strategy 2025.

Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Executive Officer of du, underscored the alignment with national vision, referencing the leadership of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who asserted that “future is not something we wait for, but something we make.” Al Hassawi emphasised that converging leadership with advanced technology will underpin the creation of a scalable, secure, and AI-first UAE.

Jasim Al Awadi, Chief ICT Officer at du, described Envision 2025 as more than a technology event—but as a national platform uniting future shapers to align vision, innovation and execution. He stressed that the collaborators are vital to delivering secure, scalable, sovereign digital solutions that enhance smart communities, economic growth and quality of life.

Miguel Vega, Senior Vice President for Database Platform & Cloud Infrastructure at Oracle for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, said Oracle’s participation will centre on advancing sovereign AI and cloud functions, aiming to help public and private sectors unlock greater levels of innovation, security and efficiency.

Anthropic has secured a monumental US $13 billion Series F funding round, propelling its post-money valuation to approximately US $183 billion and firmly establishing itself as one of the highest valued private startups globally. The round was spearheaded by Iconiq Capital, Fidelity Management & Research, and Lightspeed Venture Partners, with the Qatar Investment Authority joining as a “significant” investor alongside an impressive roster of global financial institutions and sovereign wealth funds.

Anthropic’s valuing nearly tripled since March, climbing from US $61.5 billion, when it completed a US $3.5 billion Series E raise earlier in 2025. This leap reflects the surging investor appetite for generative AI developers, despite growing debates over tech spending sustainability.

Anthropic’s growth trajectory is underpinned by its financial performance. The company’s run-rate revenue soared from roughly US $1 billion at the start of 2025 to over US $5 billion by August. The enterprise customer base now tops 300,000, with so-called “large accounts” expanding nearly seven-fold in just one year.

The rise of Claude Code, Anthropic’s developer-centric AI tool launched fully in May 2025, has been especially impactful. It currently generates over US $500 million in run-rate revenue, and usage has surged more than ten-fold within three months.

Anthropic’s research credentials and product roadmap also underpin its valuation. In August, the company rolled out Opus 4.1, an upgrade tailored to agentic tasks, coding, and reasoning. Its rapid expansion, focus on AI safety, and growing international footprint were cited by investors as further proof of its potential.

The participation of the Qatar Investment Authority marks a notable chapter in Gulf sovereign wealth funds’ deepening role in AI financing. While Anthropic did not disclose the precise QIA investment amount, it was highlighted as a “significant” backer in the funding syndicate. QIA’s April 2025 holdings were estimated at around US $557 billion, underscoring the strategic weight that such sovereign investments carry in global tech markets.

This infusion of capital will enable Anthropic to scale its enterprise operations, intensify its AI safety research, and accelerate international growth of its Claude platform. Amazon, already a stakeholder, may deploy the funding to expand its cloud infrastructure support for Anthropic, particularly through AWS Project Rainier. Analysts note this could meaningfully boost Anthropic’s spending on cloud services, with projections suggesting an uptick to as much as US $5 billion by 2026.

Amid this whirlwind of funding and growth, some experts caution about the long-term sustainability of such capital-intensive AI ventures. Infrastructure demands for large language model development can rival those of tech giants like Google, Microsoft, or Meta.

Dubai Chambers, together with the International Chamber of Commerce and its World Chambers Federation, introduced a new digital platform designed to elevate the performance of chambers of commerce worldwide. Unveiled at the 14th World Chambers Congress in Melbourne, the Chamber Benchmarking Tool offers structured data analysis, best-practice comparisons and a repository of global insights to help chambers advance operational standards.

The launch was witnessed by over 1,200 chamber officials representing more than 100 countries, reaffirming the tool’s role as a global platform for strategic exchange.

The Chamber Benchmarking Tool evaluates performance across seven principal functions of chamber institutions—spanning economic research and business intelligence, advocacy and policy representation, trade and investment facilitation, workforce training and support, networking, advisory services and legal or dispute resolution. These are assessed alongside eight dimensions of operational excellence, including strategic alignment, innovation, governance and financial impact.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, described the initiative as emblematic of the emirate’s ambition to lead in institutional innovation, enabling chambers to elevate their value to business communities through streamlined services and resilient strategies. John W. H. Denton AO, Secretary‑General of the ICC, hailed the tool as a “milestone,” praising Dubai Chambers for their leadership in bringing the platform to fruition.

Built from research examining 19 diverse chambers, the tool rests on a foundation of empirical insight. It offers a data-driven framework of self-assessment, enabling chambers to compare their metrics against anonymised regional and global averages and receive tailored strategic guidance drawn from global case studies.

Developed in confidence under ICC‑WCF’s secure, cloud‑based infrastructure, the platform ensures high standards of data confidentiality. Only aggregated benchmarking results are shared publicly, with each chamber’s data kept private unless explicit consent is granted.

The tool assigns two access roles: the ‘chamber steward’, who leads data submission, assessment completion and case‑study creation; and ‘chamber staff’, who receive view‑only access to performance dashboards, insights and the best‑practice library.

Participation remains voluntary and open to all types of chambers—whether national, regional, thematic or international—particularly those connected to the ICC‑WCF network. Non‑members may apply for membership to gain access.

Chambers that perform well in given categories become eligible to develop case studies, using an integrated creator to document initiative details, global trends addressed, outcomes and lessons learned. Authors may enrich submissions with supporting documents, media, and contact details. Approved case studies are added to the global repository, fostering peer learning and strategic inspiration.

With an emphasis on continuous improvement, the platform allows chambers to refresh their assessments annually—or after major organisational shifts—and to update roles and responsibilities over time, ensuring the tool remains current with evolving strategic priorities.

Beyond benchmarking, the platform is a strategic intelligence system. Chambers gain access to emerging trends, visibility into gaps and growth opportunities, and direction for innovation and future readiness. It fosters cross‑border collaboration, data‑led decision‑making and collective excellence across the global chamber ecosystem.