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Hard Numbers: Erdogan ups the ante, China’s imports plummet, US sends fresh arms to Kyiv, EU faces hospital bed shortage

May 09, 2023
Alex Kliment
Turkish President Erdogan holds an election rally in Istanbul.
Turkish President Erdogan holds an election rally in Istanbul.
Reuters

45: Just days before what is likely to be a very tight election, Turkish President Recep Erdogan has boosted the salaries of government workers by 45%. On Sunday, Erdogan will face off against opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Who? Read our profile here.

7.9: China’s imports fell 7.9% year on year in April – a signal that the world’s second-largest economy still isn’t firing on all cylinders even after President Xi Jinping lifted the quixotic zero-COVID policy late last year.

1.2 billion: The US on Tuesday announced an additional $1.2 billion military aid package to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses and artillery capabilities ahead of Kyiv’s long-awaited spring counteroffensive. Since the war began, the US has now sent about $37.6 billion in military aid.

25: As many as 25% of hospital beds across the EU are currently unused as a result of shortages in healthcare professionals caused by pandemic-related burnout and retirement. The bloc’s aging population will only exacerbate the problem: more patients, fewer people to treat them.

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