Energy Storage & Grid Limits: Sigenergy says Cyprus’ solar boom is being curtailed by grid absorption limits, pushing investment in large-scale batteries via NIROXX Engineering, with AI home storage (SigenStor) and scalable C&I systems (SigenStack) now available. Power Reliability & Labour: Four EAC unions paused strike measures until September 2026 as rotating load shedding hit households during peak heat, while repairs at Dhekelia and Vasiliko are expected to restore reserve capacity. Defence Industry with EU Funding: METLEN’s defence arm M Technologies and Cyprus-based HOUTRIS signed an EU SAFE-funded partnership to set up a Cyprus joint company to manufacture military land vehicles. Digital Payments: Cyprus leads the euro area in card usage and instant payments adoption, with non-cash transactions up 8% in H2 2025 to 174m and value up 9% to €148bn. Food Waste Tech: Friends of the Earth Cyprus launched Food Connect, an app linking businesses with surplus food to charities and the public, as Cyprus records the highest food waste per capita in the EU. Environment Revenue: Eurostat reports Cyprus environmental tax receipts reached €718.72m in 2024, up about 6.9% year-on-year. Energy Projects Watch: Aphrodite gas partners secured signatures for an MoU to sell recoverable gas to Egypt’s EGAS, with a host government agreement expected next.