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Cursor Expands To Mobile As AI Coding Agents Gain Ground

Cursor is expanding its AI coding platform to mobile devices with the launch of Cursor Mobile, allowing users to prompt coding agents directly from their smartphones.

Announced on Monday, the app builds on the Cursor 2.0 redesign introduced in October, which shifted the platform’s focus toward autonomous coding agents rather than a traditional code editor. Users can launch new agents or continue conversations started on desktop.

A Mobile Interface For A Changing Workflow

The launch reflects a broader shift in AI-assisted software development. As coding agents become increasingly capable of handling implementation tasks, developers are spending less time navigating large codebases and more time reviewing, guiding and supervising AI-generated work.

That evolution also makes mobile devices a more practical interface. They are well suited to reviewing progress, sending prompts and managing ongoing workflows, even when the underlying development is taking place remotely.

Cursor is not alone in moving in that direction. Anthropic and OpenAI have also introduced mobile experiences for their coding products, signalling that competition is extending beyond model performance and editor integration to the overall developer workflow.

The Shift From Editing To Orchestration

For years, professional development tools were built around the assumption that developers would spend most of their time writing and editing code on desktop computers. AI coding agents are beginning to change that dynamic by taking on more of the implementation work, allowing developers to focus increasingly on directing, reviewing and refining outputs.

Anthropic’s Claude Code lead, Boris Cherny, recently described how dramatically his own workflow has changed.

“Most of my coding now is on my phone,” Cherny said. “I would have said ‘you’re crazy’ if you told me that six months ago, but yeah, here we are.”

Why The Mobile Bet Matters

Cursor’s latest release expands access to its AI coding agents beyond the desktop, reflecting broader changes in how developers interact with AI-powered tools. As coding increasingly involves prompting, reviewing and coordinating AI-generated work, mobile devices are becoming another way to stay connected to software projects throughout the development process.

Google Expands Gemini’s Personalized Image Generation To More U.S. Users

Google is expanding access to one of Gemini’s AI features, making personalized image generation powered by Nano Banana available free of charge to all eligible users in the United States. Previously, the capability was limited to Gemini Plus, Pro and Ultra subscribers.

Personalization Reaches A Wider Audience

The feature launched in April as part of Gemini’s Personal Intelligence offering, which is designed to generate images based on a user’s interests and preferences. Instead of relying solely on detailed prompts, Gemini can draw on information from a user’s Google ecosystem to tailor image requests.

For example, users can ask Gemini to “create an illustration of me and my favorite things,” with the system using information from connected services such as Gmail, Google Photos, YouTube and Search to personalise the result.

Google Photos Expands Image Generation

The feature can also access images stored in Google Photos, allowing users to generate personalised content without uploading reference photos manually.

Google first introduced Personal Intelligence to U.S. users in March before expanding the feature to India and Japan. The rollout of Nano Banana-powered image generation extends those capabilities to a broader group of users.

Users Remain In Control

According to Google, Personal Intelligence is an opt-in feature, allowing users to decide which Google apps Gemini can access. Once enabled, it becomes the default setting for relevant prompts, although it can be turned off at any time through the Tools menu.

Gemini Expansion Continues

The latest update comes as Google continues to expand Gemini’s capabilities. Last month, the company announced several upcoming additions, including a Daily Brief feature, a redesigned interface, access to the Gemini Omni video model, and a personal AI agent called Gemini Spark.

Earlier this year, Google also said Gemini had surpassed 750 million monthly active users, highlighting the platform’s growing adoption.

Alpha Bank Approves €148 Million Dividend After Strong 2025 Payout

Alpha Bank has confirmed a cash dividend for shareholders following approval at the lender’s annual general meeting held on June 26, 2026.

The board approved a total distribution of €148,005,238.21 from internal dividend reserves and other non-taxed profits. Based on the bank’s share count, shareholders will receive a gross dividend of €0.0655980839 per share, excluding the 59,018,043 treasury shares held by the bank.

A Full-Year Payout Built On Stronger Capital Returns

The latest payment follows an interim dividend of €111,388,046.88 distributed in December 2025. Combined, the total profit distribution for the 2025 financial year stands at €259,393,285.09, underscoring Alpha Bank’s intent to return capital to investors in a structured, predictable way.

The dividend will be subject to a 5% withholding tax under Greek tax law, leaving a net cash payment of €0.0623181797 per share.

Key Dates For Investors

The bank has set July 1, 2026, as the ex-dividend date. From that session onward, shares will trade on the Euronext Athens without the right to the payout. The record date for identifying eligible shareholders is July 2, 2026, while payment is scheduled to begin on July 8, 2026.

Distributions will be processed through the bank’s designated paying agents and the participants in the Dematerialised Securities System.

Special Cases And Unclaimed Dividends

Alpha Bank also noted that legal heirs of deceased shareholders, as well as holders of securities linked to institutions under liquidation, should contact the bank directly to complete the necessary procedures.

The right to collect the dividend will expire five years after the end of the year in which the entitlement was established. Any unclaimed amounts will then revert to the Greek State.

Alpha Bank’s announcement reflects the disciplined capital-return approach increasingly favored by European lenders as they balance profitability, regulatory requirements and shareholder expectations.

For more information, visit Alpha Bank.

PwC Sees M&A Surging To $4 Trillion In 2026 As AI Drives Mega Deals

Global mergers and acquisitions are on track for a strong rebound, with annual deal value projected to reach $4 trillion in 2026, according to a new report from PwC. If realised, that would mark the market’s strongest performance since 2021.

Mega Deals Are Reclaiming The Market

PwC attributes the rebound largely to a surge in transactions valued at more than $5 billion. So far this year, those mega deals have accounted for nearly half of global deal value, up from 39% in 2025 and 26% in 2024.

The firm expects the value of these transactions to grow by 40% annually through 2026 if current momentum continues.

“2026 is the year of super-sized mergers and acquisitions,” said Brian Levy, leader of PwC US’ global deals sector. He added that artificial intelligence is accelerating mega deals, reshaping capital flows and changing the competitive landscape across industries.

AI Emerges As A Key Acquisition Driver

According to PwC, companies are increasingly pursuing acquisitions to strengthen their artificial intelligence capabilities.

Recent transactions illustrate that trend. SpaceX has completed a $60 billion acquisition of the AI startup Cursor, while Salesforce has agreed to acquire the AI-powered customer service platform Fin for $3.6 billion. Qualcomm is also reportedly in discussions to acquire Modular in a deal that could value the AI chip company at around $4 billion.

Mid-Market Buyers Face A More Difficult Climate

While the largest transactions continue to gain momentum, PwC said many mid-market investors remain constrained by geopolitical uncertainty, valuation gaps, slower economic growth, higher inflation, elevated interest rates and a backlog of private capital exits.

Those factors continue to weigh on smaller and mid-sized transactions, even as larger companies pursue strategic acquisitions.

Private Markets May Become More Liquid

PwC also said artificial intelligence has the potential to improve liquidity in private markets by making asset evaluation and deal negotiations more efficient.

If global M&A activity reaches $4 trillion in 2026, it would represent an increase of at least 13% from 2025 and the second-highest annual deal value since 2021.

Keve Urges SMEs To Join EU Survey On Workplace Safety And Workers’ Rights

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) is encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in a European Commission survey on occupational safety and health, as well as the protection of workers’ rights across subcontracting chains.

A Consultative Step Toward New EU Employment Rules

The survey is being conducted through the Enterprise Europe Network as part of the European Commission’s preparations for the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act. The initiative aims to help align future employment standards with the evolving needs of the labour market.

Why The Commission Wants Business Input

According to Keve, the Commission is collecting information on how businesses manage occupational health and safety, protect workers’ rights within subcontracting chains, and assess the costs and benefits of implementing those measures.

Why Participation Matters For SmEs

Keve said participation is important because the findings will help shape future European employment policy and influence standards related to job quality. For SMEs, the exercise offers an opportunity to ensure that new rules reflect operational realities rather than relying solely on top-down assumptions.

Businesses interested in contributing can complete the questionnaire online by July 27, 2026. The chamber noted that no EU Login account is required to take part.

Keve is encouraging eligible businesses to share their experience so that upcoming regulations can better reflect the specific needs of Europe’s SME sector.

AI Investment Doesn’t Always Mean Fewer Jobs, New Study Finds

Each new round of layoffs seems to deepen the same conclusion: artificial intelligence is not just changing how companies work, but how workers imagine their future. Through May 2026, employers had announced nearly 90,000 job cuts tied to AI, according to reporting from Yahoo Finance. Some projections suggest AI could eliminate as much as 15% of U.S. jobs over the next five years, intensifying concerns among workers, especially younger graduates entering a job market that already feels uncertain.

Yet a new report from Ramp and Revelio Labs adds a more nuanced layer to the debate. Drawing on enterprise AI spending data and workforce records from nearly 22,000 companies, the study suggests that firms investing aggressively in AI are not necessarily reducing staff. In many cases, they are hiring faster.

High AI Spending, Higher Headcount

The report classifies “high-intensity adopters” as companies spending an average of $30 per employee each month on AI during the first three months of adoption. Among those businesses, headcount increased by 10.2%. Hiring expanded across engineering, sales, administration, customer service, finance, marketing and scientific roles.

The strongest growth was recorded in the information sector, which includes software, internet, media and other technology-related businesses.

AI Investment And Business Expansion

According to the report, AI can lower production costs and improve efficiency across software and technology companies by accelerating coding, debugging, internal tooling, technical documentation and product development.

The study suggests these productivity gains may allow some companies to expand operations while continuing to hire, rather than relying solely on workforce reductions.

Entry-Level Employment Shows Mixed Trends

The findings also differ from some broader labour market research.

Goldman Sachs has estimated that AI eliminated around 16,000 net jobs per month over the past year, with Gen Z workers and entry-level employees experiencing much of the impact. By contrast, Ramp and Revelio Labs found that entry-level headcount increased by 12% among high-intensity AI adopters.

The authors note, however, that the study focuses primarily on fast-growing, knowledge-based companies, many of which are backed by venture capital and were already positioned for expansion. As a result, the report does not conclude that AI itself caused the increase in hiring.

“This paper does not show that AI universally creates jobs, but it does counter claims that AI will lead to broad job losses,” the authors wrote.

Adoption Patterns Differ Across Companies

According to the report, companies with greater access to capital, technical expertise and organisational resources may be better positioned to turn AI investment into business growth.

The authors caution that organisations lacking those advantages could struggle to achieve similar results. “Firms without those channels may fall behind,” they said.

Paphos Hotels Report 20% Drop In Summer Occupancy

Hotel occupancy in Paphos has weakened significantly this summer, with rates running around 20% below the same period last year, according to Cyprus Hotels Association (Pasyxe) President Thanos Michaelides.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Michaelides said hotels and other tourist accommodation in Paphos would normally expect occupancy above 90% during the peak summer months of June, July and August. Average occupancy is currently around 70%, leaving a significant shortfall during what is traditionally one of the district’s busiest and most profitable periods.

Last-Minute Demand Has Helped, But Not Enough

Bookings have improved in recent weeks, driven mainly by last-minute reservations. Michaelides said the increase has helped ease some of the pressure on the sector but has not been enough to restore occupancy to typical seasonal levels.

Hoteliers Turn To Domestic Travel And Promotions

Hotels in Paphos are responding by placing greater emphasis on the domestic market, introducing targeted promotional offers and maintaining a strong focus on service quality to attract both local and international visitors.

Michaelides said he expects those efforts to help sustain demand through the remainder of the summer as the sector continues working to recover from earlier losses.

A Key Test For The Season

The latest figures show that hotel occupancy in Paphos remains well below last year’s levels despite a recent improvement in bookings supported by last-minute demand.

Cyprus Tourism Revenue Drops 35% In April As Arrivals And Spending Weaken

Cyprus’ tourism sector remained under pressure in April 2026, as lower visitor arrivals and weaker spending weighed on revenue, according to figures released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat).

Revenue Slides As Tourist Demand Softens

Tourism receipts fell 35.1% year on year to €197.5 million in April, down from €304.2 million in the same month of 2025. For the January-to-April period, total tourism revenue reached an estimated €443 million, compared with €582.5 million a year earlier, representing a decline of 23.9%.

The figures are based on Cystat’s passenger survey, which measures visitor spending upon departure from Larnaca and Paphos airports.

Fewer Arrivals, Lower Daily Spending

The decline extended beyond overall revenue. Average spending per tourist fell by 10.3% to €651.77 in April 2026, from €726.42 a year earlier. Daily expenditure also decreased, dropping to €80.47 from €94.34.

Visitors stayed slightly longer on average, with the length of stay increasing to 8.1 days from 7.7 days in April 2025. That, however, was not enough to offset lower arrivals and weaker daily spending.

Total tourist arrivals fell to 303,031 in April 2026, compared with 418,730 in the same month last year.

United Kingdom Remains The Largest Market

The United Kingdom remained Cyprus’ largest source market, accounting for 39.2% of total arrivals despite visitor numbers declining to 118,742 from 151,883 in April 2025.

British tourists spent an average of €751.92 per person and €86.43 per day, down from €777.17 and €89.33 respectively. Their average length of stay remained unchanged at 8.7 days.

Poland ranked second, accounting for 8.4% of total arrivals. Visitor numbers fell to 25,371 from 29,009, while average spending declined to €466.78 per person and €81.89 per day, compared with €529.52 and €89.75 a year earlier. The average stay edged down to 5.7 days from 5.9 days.

Germany placed third with an 8% share of arrivals. Tourist numbers declined to 24,178 from 29,613, while average spending eased to €765.30 per person and €85.99 per day, compared with €918.74 and €103.23 in April 2025. The average stay remained unchanged at 8.9 days.

Sharp Declines From Several Key Markets

Israel recorded one of the steepest declines, with arrivals falling to 15,997 from 63,474 in April 2025. Average spending also decreased to €472.15 per person and €102.64 per day, compared with €616.36 and €140.08 a year earlier, while the average stay increased slightly to 4.6 days from 4.4 days.

Arrivals from Greece declined to 14,255 from 16,354. Greek visitors spent an average of €365.16 per person and €41.50 per day, down from €434.38 and €73.62, while their average stay increased to 8.8 days from 5.9 days.

Sweden also recorded lower visitor numbers, with arrivals falling to 10,612 from 13,967. Average spending dropped to €575.36 per person from €825.61, while daily expenditure edged down to €76.71 from €78.63. The average stay shortened to 7.5 days from 10.5 days.

The Netherlands welcomed 7,162 visitors, compared with 8,810 a year earlier, while France recorded 5,855 arrivals, down from 8,113. Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Italy, the United States and Lebanon also registered year-on-year declines in visitor numbers.

Belgium was one of the few markets to record growth, with arrivals increasing to 4,194 from 3,188, although average spending per visitor declined to €602.48 and daily spending to €98.77.

Italian tourists were among the few visitors to increase their spending despite lower arrivals. Average expenditure rose to €643.98 per person from €504.95, while daily spending increased to €111.03 from €91.81. Their average stay also edged up to 5.8 days from 5.5 days.

A Sector Still Searching For Momentum

The latest figures show that lower arrivals and weaker visitor spending continued to weigh on Cyprus’ tourism revenue in April. Although visitors stayed slightly longer on average, the increase was insufficient to offset declines in both arrivals and daily expenditure.

Cyprus Bank Deposits Rebound As Lending Growth Accelerates

Cyprus’ banking sector recorded higher deposits and lending in May 2026, according to the latest monetary financial institutions data released by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC).

Deposits Rebound After April Decline

Total deposits increased by €343.8 million in May, reversing a net decline of €123.1 million recorded in April. The annual growth rate accelerated to 5.1%, up from 4.5% a month earlier. By the end of May, total deposits stood at €58 billion.

Cyprus residents accounted for most of the monthly increase, with deposits rising by €239 million. Household deposits grew by €171.3 million, while non-financial corporations increased their deposits by €194 million.

Those gains were partly offset by a combined decline of €126.2 million in deposits held by other domestic sectors.

Lending Growth Accelerates

Total loans increased by €260.3 million in May, compared with a €40.5 million rise in April. The annual growth rate also strengthened, reaching 12.6% from 12.0% the previous month. Outstanding loans totalled €28.1 billion at the end of May.

Lending to Cyprus residents rose by €173.7 million during the month. Household borrowing increased by €52.7 million, while loans to non-financial corporations grew by €63 million. Lending to other domestic sectors expanded by €58 million.

Cyprus Faces Persistent Labour Shortages Across Healthcare, Technology And Tourism

Cyprus is facing a widening labour market mismatch, with 63 occupations in shortage and 11 in surplus in 2024, according to the EURES Labour Shortages and Surpluses Report 2025.

The findings highlight continued recruitment challenges across several of the island’s key industries, particularly healthcare, technology and tourism.

Healthcare And Technology Face The Greatest Shortages

Healthcare occupations recorded some of the most severe shortages, including nurses, midwives, medical imaging technicians, general practitioners, specialist doctors, healthcare assistants and health and care services managers.

Demand also remains high for technology professionals. Employers reported shortages of information and communications technology sales specialists, systems analysts, software and applications developers, as well as web and multimedia developers.

Transport and hospitality occupations were also affected, with waiters and bus drivers among the professions experiencing shortages.

Tourism, Retail And Construction Continue To Feel The Pressure

Moderate shortages were identified across occupations linked to tourism, retail and construction. These include restaurant managers, retail and wholesale managers, accountants, electricians, electronics and mechanical technicians, chefs, shop sales assistants and cashiers.

Construction and industrial trades also remained under pressure. Builders, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians, welders, heavy goods vehicle drivers, cleaners and workers in agriculture, livestock, fisheries and construction-related services were all listed among occupations facing shortages.

Lower-severity shortages were recorded for engineers across several disciplines, hotel receptionists, cooks, carpenters, plumbers, electrical fitters, bakers and kitchen assistants.

Cyprus Reflects A Wider European Trend

Cyprus mirrors a broader labour market imbalance across the European Union, although shortages vary significantly between member states. Bulgaria, Italy and the Netherlands reported shortages across a wide range of occupations, from doctors to welders, with 57% classified as moderate or severe. Latvia, Austria and Finland, by contrast, recorded more labour surpluses, particularly in administrative and creative occupations.

According to the report, 98% of occupations experiencing shortages in at least one member state also recorded surpluses elsewhere in the European Union.

Structural Barriers Continue To Limit Labour Mobility

EURES attributes these imbalances to several structural factors, including limited awareness of job opportunities abroad, difficulties in recognising professional qualifications, language barriers and wage differences between countries.

Healthcare and social care remain among the sectors facing the greatest shortages across Europe, driven by ageing populations and growing demand for healthcare services.

Demand is also increasing for technical occupations linked to the green transition, including electricians, plumbers and roof technicians, as countries continue investing in energy efficiency and infrastructure.

Measures Proposed To Address Labour Gaps

The report recommends strengthening labour mobility across the European Union by simplifying the recognition of professional qualifications and reducing administrative barriers. It also calls for improvements in job quality, greater investment in vocational education and training, and measures to encourage higher labour market participation among women, older workers and migrants.

The findings are based on administrative data submitted by EURES National Coordination Offices for 2024, drawing on information from public employment services and other national sources across the European Union.

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