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Hard Numbers: Haitian gang war, China’s economic slump, Draghi’s mayoral appeal, beer-sunflower oil swap

Hard Numbers: Haitian gang war, China’s economic slump, Draghi’s mayoral appeal, beer-sunflower oil swap
Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, leader of the G9 coalition of gangs in Haiti, during a news conference in Port-au-Prince.
REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol

1.5 million: Some 1.5 million people are now trapped by a recent uptick in gang violence inside Cité Soleil, the largest slum in Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince. There's an ongoing battle between the local G-Pèp gang and the G-9, a federation of nine gangs led by the notorious "Mr. Barbecue," often referred to as the most powerful man in gang-run Haiti.

0.4: China's GDP grew by only 0.4% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2022, the slowest pace in two years. The disruptions caused by the government's zero-COVID policy make it almost impossible for the economy to meet its 5.5% annual growth target.

110: Mayors from 110 Italian cities have published an open letter calling for “Super Mario” Draghi to stay on as PM. Draghi threw in the towel last week after squabbling with the populist 5-Star Movement, the largest party in his coalition government, but the president turned down his resignation.

400: Itching for a cold one in Munich? Got some sunflower oil? You're in luck — a German pub is offering to exchange a 7 euro stein of beer for a 4.5 euro bottle of sunflower oil, which is in short supply due to the war between sunflower superpowers Russia and Ukraine. The bar says it’s swapped 400 liters so far.

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A banner reading "Buy Canadian", in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on goods from Canada, is held aloft by a pair of hockey sticks in front of a house in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada March 5, 2025.
REUTERS/Ed White

Washington and Ottawa are down to the wire with last-minute talks to reach an agreement by 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, when President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 50% tariffs on over $20 billion of Canadian goods.

A staff member holds a dummy as staff and customers take shelter at a storage room, during an air raid exercise at a PX Mart supermarket as part of the civil defence drills in Taipei, Taiwan. July 10, 2025.
REUTERS/Annabelle Chih

As the line between the battlefield and everyday life blurs, countries are increasingly preparing civilians for the next war.