Cyprus–France Defence Industry: Cyprus is set to deepen defence industrial cooperation with France under the EU SAFE mechanism, with programmes reportedly worth around €800m and linked to a new SOFA framework that could expand facilities such as Mari. Digital Finance: Cyprus is seeing a sharp rise in digital payments as fintech and mobile banking reshape everyday banking, with the Central Bank of Cyprus pushing for a safe, supervised environment. Agriculture & Biosecurity: A decade after the prickly pear cochineal was first detected, Cyprus still faces major unknowns about how far the invasive insect has spread and whether control measures can stop it becoming island-wide. Energy Research & Cybersecurity: Israel, Greece, Cyprus and the US have launched the East Med Energy Center, aiming to boost energy security, cybersecurity and critical-infrastructure protection through joint research and policy work. Public Health: Cyprus unveiled a national blood strategy to improve blood adequacy, quality and donor/recipient safety, including better monitoring and use of modern technology. STEM & Education: Cypriot students won top honours at a European robotics competition in Prague, adding to a busy week for local tech talent. Markets Oversight: CySEC issued a warning about an unauthorised investment platform, reminding investors to check regulatory status before committing funds.