46.9 billion: The United States signed foreign arms deals worth $46.9 billion during the first half of the fiscal year. That already comfortably exceeds the $41.9 billion in weapons deals agreed to during all of fiscal 2017.
26 billion: Mexican president-elect, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, spelled out his infrastructure priorities on Monday, including the construction of 300 new rural roads, a tourist train between the resort city of Cancun and the southeastern state of Chiapas, and a new airport for Mexico City. The government plans to fund the estimated $26 billion cost of the projects by cutting government salaries and benefits, streamlining purchases, and stamping out corruption.
6,000: The European Commission this week offered to pay 6,000 euros to member states for each migrant they take in after making the arduous journey across the Mediterranean – part of a broader EU proposal to house refugees in dedicated centers while their asylum claims are processed. As of May, the number of migrants arriving in Europe by sea was running at about half the level seen during the first five months of 2017.
8.5: Ethiopia’s economy is forecast to grow 8.5 percent this year. That's one of the fastest rates for any country in the world, and it's providing recently-appointed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the political cover to pursue difficult reforms.
4.2: The Turkish lira fell by as much as 4.2 percent against the dollar on Tuesday after the central bank held interest rates steady, defying market expectations of an interest rate hike and raising concerns about the bank's independence. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who assumed office with broadly expanded powers earlier this month, and recently appointed his son-in-law finance minister, railed against high rates despite the country facing its worst inflation in 14 years.
