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Cyprus Positioned As Potential Hub In India–Europe Trade Corridor

Strategic Gateway And Geopolitical Leverage

Cyprus could play a strategic role in the development of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), according to Michalis Kontos. Kontos said Cyprus’s geographic position in the Eastern Mediterranean and its membership in the European Union provide advantages that could support the corridor’s broader trade and connectivity objectives.

India’s Economic Ascension And Regional Partnerships

According to Kontos, India’s growing economic influence is a major factor behind renewed momentum surrounding the IMEC initiative. He pointed to India’s population scale, long-term economic growth outlook and increasing role in global trade as drivers supporting large infrastructure and connectivity projects linking Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Kontos also noted that broader geopolitical shifts and the decentralization of economic influence are creating additional opportunities for new regional trade corridors.

Strengthening Diplomatic Linkages

The academic also highlighted Cyprus’s diplomatic relationships with countries including Israel and Greece as an important factor in supporting regional cooperation connected to the corridor. Recent efforts to strengthen relations between Cyprus and India through investment cooperation and political engagement were also identified as part of the broader strategic framework surrounding IMEC.

Addressing Geopolitical And Strategic Challenges

Despite the project’s long-term potential, regional instability continues to create challenges for implementation. According to Kontos, geopolitical tensions linked to Iran and disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz could slow progress surrounding the corridor and broader regional trade initiatives. He said restoring momentum following periods of instability would require sustained diplomatic coordination between participating countries.

Expanding The Scope Of Cooperation

Beyond transport and trade infrastructure, Kontos said additional cooperation opportunities could emerge in sectors including energy and defense technology. Shared participation in international organizations and overlapping geopolitical interests were also described as factors supporting closer long-term relations between Cyprus and India.

A Future Regional Hub

The IMEC project aims to connect India and Europe through integrated transport, energy and digital infrastructure networks across the Middle East. According to analysts, continued diplomatic engagement and infrastructure investment could strengthen Cyprus’s position as a regional hub linking Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Passkeys Are The Gold Standard For Account Security. So Why Don’t More Major Apps Offer Them?

Passkeys are increasingly being promoted as one of the most effective ways to protect online accounts. By reducing reliance on passwords, they help prevent phishing attacks, simplify sign-ins and strengthen account security. Despite those advantages, however, many major digital platforms have yet to adopt the technology.

A Security Upgrade Still Missing At Scale

That gap is the focus of whynopasskeys.com, a new site created by security researcher Scott Helme to highlight companies that have not yet enabled passkeys for their users. The site tracks major consumer brands that continue to rely on older login methods even as passkeys become the industry standard.

Among the services still without passkey support are Instagram, Netflix and Spotify, according to the site’s data.

Why Passkeys Matter

Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys are generated on a user’s device and linked both to that device and to a specific website or application. Authentication can be completed through biometrics such as Face ID or Touch ID, a hardware security key or a password manager.

Because users do not need to create or remember passwords, opportunities for credential theft, phishing attacks and password reuse are significantly reduced. In most cases, gaining access to an account would require direct access to the user’s device.

Public Accountability As A Pressure Tactic

In a blog post explaining the project, Helme said the goal is to create pressure by making the absence of passkey support visible. “A list is a surprisingly effective motivator. Nobody wants to be on the list,” he wrote.

That approach has already worked elsewhere in cybersecurity: when businesses are publicly compared against peers on basic protections, they often move faster to close the gap. In this case, the list is intended to push platforms to give users a stronger and simpler login option.

The Companies Moving Faster

Many large technology companies have already adopted passkeys, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, reflecting the technology’s growing role in account security.

Implementation, however, remains uneven. Instagram users can currently access passkeys only when their account is linked to a Facebook account that already has passkey support enabled, highlighting differences in adoption even within the same company.

The Bigger Business Question

Meta has not publicly explained why passkeys are available on some of its platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, but not fully across Instagram.

Debate within the industry is no longer centred on whether passkeys work, but on how quickly companies are willing to deploy them. As phishing, credential theft and account fraud remain persistent cybersecurity challenges, passkeys are increasingly being viewed not as an optional feature but as an emerging security standard.

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