Nuclear Race: China is on track to overtake the U.S. as the world’s top nuclear power generator within five years, driven by AI-driven electricity demand and faster, cheaper reactor builds. Cybercrime & Crypto: Two men were arrested in Batumi over an alleged $389M cryptocurrency money-laundering scheme tied to AudiA6, with a multi-country law-enforcement takedown. Counter-Drone Security: Former U.S. Joint Chiefs chair Charles Q. Brown said Americans shouldn’t be surprised by a domestic drone attack as counter-drone tech struggles to keep up. Digital Identity in Education: Cameroon is rolling out student digital IDs for secondary schools via MTN, linking records, payments, and administration. Georgia’s Startup Ecosystem: Tbilisi hosted the country’s first official Laravel Meetup, signaling deeper community ties to the global open-source ecosystem. Local Tech Events: Global Tech Weekend Tbilisi 2026 returns June 19–21, aiming to draw 10,000+ attendees and 200+ speakers. Privacy & Biometrics: Türkiye’s data board ruled biometric attendance tracking is generally unlawful, citing proportionality and lack of a clear legal basis. Regional Connectivity: Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia signed the Istanbul Declaration, focusing on transport corridors, energy security, and practical cooperation. Tech Policy: The U.S. White House and Senate Republicans are reviving efforts to block some state AI laws via a children’s online safety and deepfake package. Armenia Nuclear Plan: Armenia says its next plant will be modular, while model and manufacturing country decisions are still under study. Health & Weather: Hot, humid conditions with storms are expected across parts of the Caucasus region this week.