Fintech & Payments: Cyprus is accelerating into cashless life, with card payments making up 74.5% of non-cash transactions in H1 2025, as banks and fintech push mobile banking, digital wallets and new payment tools. Banking Reshuffle: ECB data shows Cyprus banks shut 370 branches and cut 4,634 jobs over the decade to 2025, with everyday services shifting toward e-banking and ATMs. Startup Ecosystem: A Cyprus Mail interview argues the island’s deep-tech and applied AI momentum is rising, but founder risk-taking and access to capital still lag. Innovation Event in Nicosia: Amazon executive Panos Panay headlines a June 17 fireside chat on turning innovation into real-world impact during the EU digital and AI-focused Cyprus Presidency programme. Defence Industry (SAFE): Cyprus backs EU moves to let Canada join the €150bn Security Action for Europe procurement scheme, while Cyprus-France cooperation is framed as potentially worth ~€800m. Energy & Gas Links: ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy outline a path to monetize Cyprus offshore gas via Egypt processing routes, echoing earlier Cronos/Aphrodite-to-Egypt frameworks. Local Tech Infrastructure: TEPAK plans a €104m second campus on the old Limassol Hospital site, expanding health sciences and learning facilities. Transport Pressure: Limassol traffic is now flagged as a business risk, with some high-tech firms reportedly reconsidering staying. Environment & Biosecurity: Greece’s pufferfish invasion is worsening catches, a reminder for the region as warming seas reshape ecosystems. Deep-Tech Support: CEA’s Laurence Petit tells Cyprus that team building is the biggest bottleneck when turning lab research into deep-tech companies.