Defence Industry Push: Israel’s embassy in Nicosia says Cyprus is an increasingly important defence partner and sees “clear potential” for deeper cooperation between defence industries, including joint projects and technology—coming as Cyprus buys Israeli systems like the Barak MX and as EU Safe defence funding opens more room for collaboration. UN Peacekeeping Reform: António Guterres told the UN Security Council peacekeeping doctrine must change, arguing you can’t keep a peace that doesn’t exist and calling for more political backing to let missions preserve negotiated peace rather than endlessly contain conflicts. Digital Identity & EUDI Deadlines: EU Digital Identity Wallet deadlines are colliding with uneven readiness; Germany’s national EUDI wallet “d-you” is set for a 2027 launch, while Cyprus is bidding on a €9.8m upgrade to its public service app to integrate with EUDI. Schengen Tech Delays: At least nine Schengen countries can pause full EES rollout until tech for facial and fingerprint scans is ready, after queues and flight disruptions sparked renewed pressure on the EU. Energy Storage Focus: Cyprus Institute president Stavros Malas says diesel and natural gas can’t meet long-term energy needs, urging sustainable energy storage alongside renewables, highlighted during a visit to the PROTEAS research facility. Groundwater Oversight Gap: Investigative reporting says Cyprus can’t accurately track how much groundwater is pumped due to monitoring limits and missing borehole records, with nitrate pollution and seawater intrusion still harming aquifers. Cybersecurity & Digital Services: Cyta is running workshops on future digital networks and cybersecurity, while Cyprus also faces ongoing digital compliance and identity policy updates.