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Electricity Prices In Cyprus Set To Rise As Global Energy Costs Increase

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 23, 2026

Cyprus faces a notable increase in electricity tariffs, with the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (AEC) preparing for an approximately 5% increase in May. The projection comes on the heels of Brent crude oil trading at nearly 102 US dollars per barrel, as announced by AEC Chairman Georgios Petrou during a press conference at the Authority’s headquarters.

Forecasted Increase For May

During his address, Petrou outlined the imminent 5% increase in electricity prices for May, with the possibility of further increases of 5% to 7%. These adjustments are largely due to surging oil prices and the expected arrival of new fuel shipments in early April. This cautious outlook reflects the far-reaching impact of volatile international oil markets on domestic energy costs.

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Potential Surge In August

Looking ahead, the forecast for August appears even more challenging. Petrou indicated that if oil prices rise to 110-115 US dollars per barrel, electricity costs could soar by as much as 20%. Such a steep increase underscores the vulnerability of energy pricing to rapid fluctuations in global oil markets, compounded by ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply concerns.

Managing Uncertainty And Securing Supplies

Despite ongoing volatility driven by geopolitical tensions and daily market fluctuations, the AEC continues to maintain steady fuel imports. Petrou said the Authority is prioritizing fuel stockpiles, even as prices rise. Recent shipments from European suppliers, including Spain and Italy, are part of this approach. Current reserves are estimated to cover around two months of demand. The strategy reflects a focus on supply stability amid uncertain market conditions. Oil price movements will remain a key factor, with potential implications for electricity tariffs in Cyprus.

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Meta’s Muse Is Outpacing ChatGPT In Early Mobile Adoption, New Data Suggests

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 22, 2026

Meta’s new AI app, Muse, may be emerging as one of the company’s strongest consumer launches to date. Fresh estimates from market intelligence firm Apptopia suggest the app has outperformed ChatGPT in early mobile traction, at least in the U.S. and Canada.

According to Apptopia, Muse recorded more downloads in its first 12 days on the market than ChatGPT did during the comparable period after its mobile debut. The comparison, limited to the U.S. and Canada, puts Muse’s iOS downloads at 1.8 million versus 1.3 million for ChatGPT over the same initial window.

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A Strong Early Start Across Platforms

In total, Muse has reached 2.8 million global installs in its first 12 days, according to the firm. The app’s momentum also appears to be holding. After debuting at No. 2 on the U.S. App Store, Muse has since climbed to No. 1, surpassing ChatGPT, according to reporting from Business Insider. Appfigures had previously estimated that Muse crossed 1 million downloads shortly after launch.

That early rise matters because app-store performance in the first days after launch often signals whether a product can sustain consumer attention beyond initial curiosity. In Meta’s case, the data suggests Muse is not simply benefiting from novelty; it is gaining ground quickly enough to challenge the category leader.

Daily Users Show Similar Momentum

Apptopia’s estimates point to another favorable comparison for Meta: daily usage. In the U.S. alone, Muse is said to have 642,000 daily active users, well above the 231,000 ChatGPT had at the same stage of its mobile rollout.

To make the comparison fairer, Apptopia also narrowed the analysis to iOS only, since ChatGPT launched on iPhone before expanding more broadly. Even under that tighter lens, Muse still comes out ahead, with 359,000 daily active users on iOS compared with ChatGPT’s earlier figure.

Why Meta Has An Advantage

Third-party estimates are not the same as internal company data, and Apptopia cannot see Meta’s proprietary numbers. Still, even directional data suggests Muse may be on track to become a meaningful consumer product for Meta.

That possibility is strengthened by Meta’s distribution advantage. The company has already demonstrated how powerful its ecosystem can be with Threads, which surpassed 500 million users after heavy promotion across Instagram and Facebook. Muse is likely to receive a similar boost, especially because it can connect across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Apptopia does not track Meta’s internal promotion strategy, but its data indicates that more than 95% of Muse users are also Facebook users, while 63% are Instagram users. That overlap underscores how effectively Meta can move users across its products when it chooses to prioritize a launch.

The Strategic Test For Meta

For Meta, the early signal from Muse is less about one app’s download count than about whether the company can turn its scale into durable AI adoption. The first test is attention. The harder one is retention.

If Muse can convert early downloads into habitual use, Meta may have found a new front door into its AI ambitions. If not, the app risks becoming another example of how easily mobile hype can spike before settling back down.

Meta, which was asked for comment, has not yet released public figures on Muse’s early adoption.