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Cyprus Government Surplus Grows To €119.4 Million In Q4 2025

Robust Fiscal Growth

The Republic of Cyprus has recorded a notable fiscal surplus of €119.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2025, up from €94.9 million in the comparable period of 2024. This development, as reported by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat), reflects a sustained strengthening in public finances.

Revenue Growth Drivers

Total revenue reached €4.69 billion in Q4 2025, rising by €482.4 million or 11.5% compared with the previous year. Growth was driven by higher tax intake across multiple categories. Revenue from income and wealth taxes increased by 18.0% to €1.29 billion, while social contributions rose by 6.2% to €1.36 billion. Taxes on production and imports grew by 5.9% to €1.24 billion. Net VAT revenues also recorded a modest increase, pointing to broad-based revenue expansion.

Escalating Expenditure Patterns

Government expenditure rose to €4.57 billion, marking an increase of 11.1% compared with Q4 2024. Higher spending was recorded across several categories, including social transfers, compensation of employees, and intermediate consumption. Increases in other current expenditures and subsidies also contributed to the overall rise, indicating sustained fiscal activity during the period.

Momentum In The Capital Account

The capital account expanded by 20.9% to €653.5 million. Growth in this category was supported by increased capital formation and higher capital transfers. Although property income payable declined, overall capital activity remained strong, supporting investment-related spending.

Overall, the data indicate continued fiscal expansion, with both revenue and expenditure rising in parallel during the fourth quarter of 2025.

XChat Launch Marks A Strategic Pivot In X’s Messaging Landscape

On Friday, X introduced XChat, the company’s standalone messaging application, to the public. Initially available on iOS, the app offers an array of features including text messaging, file sharing, audio and video calls, and group chats.

Early Testing And Strategic Vision

The launch follows a period of public beta testing, during which selected users provided feedback on functionality and performance. Insights from this phase helped shape the product beyond basic messaging, with a focus on integrating file sharing, multimedia communication, and compatibility with broader services being developed within X’s ecosystem.

Repositioning The ‘Everything App’

The rollout reflects a shift in strategy. Earlier plans centred on building a single “everything app” that combined messaging, payments, and commerce. The current approach separates these functions into distinct applications. XChat focuses on communication, while other services, including payments, are being developed independently to improve performance and usability.

Security And Privacy Under Scrutiny

At launch, XChat includes features such as end-to-end encryption, PIN protection, message editing and deletion, disappearing messages, and screenshot blocking. X states that the app does not include ads or tracking. However, comparisons with platforms such as Signal have led to ongoing scrutiny regarding encryption standards. Broader adoption is expected to bring further independent evaluation of these claims.

Transitioning Communities And Future Outlook

XChat is expected to replace X’s Communities feature, which is being phased out following low usage and increased spam activity. This transition may support early adoption among existing users who relied on group-based interactions. Benji Taylor indicated that additional updates and features are planned, suggesting continued development beyond the initial release.

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