92: Just days after US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine showed a 90 percent effectiveness rate, Russia now claims that its own "Sputnik V" miracle drug is 92 percent effective at preventing COVID-19. Good news — if it's true — for Vladimir Putin, who wants Russia to win the global vaccine race.
23 billion: The Trump administration has notified the US Congress of its intent to sell 50 F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates for $23 billion. The long-awaited deal was authorized by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who will be in the UAE this week as part of a Middle East tour that also includes Israel and Saudi Arabia.
49: Prince Khalifa bin Salman of Bahrain, the world's longest-serving prime minister, died on Wednesday at age 84 after 49 years in power. Khalifa took over as PM when Bahrain gained independence from the UK in 1971, and in 2011 survived mass protests that demanded his ouster in the wake of the Arab Spring.
1.8 trillion: European Union negotiators have
agreed on a 1.8 trillion euro ($2.12 trillion) budget for the next seven years. The deal must be ratified by the European Parliament, the Council and all EU member states. However, it could hit a snag because Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has threatened to veto if Brussels moves forward on
linking future EU funding to respect for the rule of law.
