Russian central bank expects 2026 GDP growth of 0.0–1.0%, down from a prior 0.5–1.5% forecast.

Saudi Arabia is pursuing civilian nuclear power to diversify an oil-dependent economy and free more crude for export. Oil accounted for about 40% of GDP in 2022 and Riyadh has run fiscal deficits in nine of the past ten years; the U.S.–Iran war exposed risks of heavy oil reliance. If permitted to enrich uranium—whether from domestic sources or imports—Saudi Arabia could use nuclear fuel to meet rising power demand and conserve fossil-fuel reserves for export. The program is framed as part of Vision 2030 and the green-modernization push (Riyadh pledged in 2021 to source half of electricity from renewables by 2030), and leaders may view enrichment-capable civilian nuclear as a first step toward regional deterrence and higher geopolitical status. Prolonged negotiations with Washington have also been used to deepen ties; Riyadh has repeatedly threatened to partner with Russia or others if U.S. terms prove unacceptable.

At a State Council Information Office briefing on the morning of the 24th, the Ministry of Public Security said new AI-enabled crimes include identity forgery to breach government and corporate information systems for theft, impersonation of trusted or authoritative figures to defraud, and use of AI tools to generate online rumors that disrupt public order. Police are cracking down on these offenses and on criminal gangs providing technical support. In 1H authorities investigated more than 170 cases of AI-generated online rumors and took legal action against over 190 people.