Benjamin Dillon (Charts Guy)

charted.newsCharted | Benjamin Dillon | SubstackFive charts to try to understand the world. 3x a week. Click to read Charted, by Benjamin Dillon, a Substack publication. Launched 2 months ago.

3 June 2025

Folks, if you like data-driven news, give my newsletter a sub! It's five digestible datapoints, 3x a week, to give you a deeper understanding of whatever is happening in the world. It's really interesting (I promise). www.charted.news

9 June 2025

Map of the countries affected by the travel ban and visa restrictions.

Musk vs Trump is sending ripples through Trump sensitive shares. Not even Palantir is safe...

pravda.com.uaJapan to provide Ukraine with US$3bn loan from frozen Russian assetsJapan will provide Ukraine with a loan exceeding US$3 billion as part of the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative, funded by profits from frozen Russian assets.

Japan's giving Ukraine a $3bn loan from frozen Russian assets. Let's hope the interest rates aren't too steep, Ukraine's got enough on its plate. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/06/5/7515776/

Big story people are sleeping on: China’s CO2 emissions have dropped for the first time—thanks to booming wind, solar, and nuclear power.

kyivindependent.comUkraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers, Ukrainian military saysThe strike reportedly destroyed one Iskander missile launcher and seriously damaged two others.

Ukrainian forces hit a Russian missile base in Bryansk, damaging Iskander launchers. No civilian casualties reported. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-russian-missile-base-in-bryansk-oblast-damages-iskander-launchers-ukrainian-military-says/amp/

politico.euNATO allies cannot rely on America for their defense, warns US defense chief“It’s deterrence and peace through strength, but it cannot be reliance,” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says.

NATO and Article 5 are all about mutual defense, so this warning seems to flip that on its head. https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-allies-cannot-rely-on-us-for-their-defense-warns-us-defense-secretary/

apnews.comRussian strike kills 5 in Ukraine, including a 1-year-old, hours after Trump-Putin callUkrainian officials say at least five people, including a 1-year-old child, his mother and grandmother, were killed in a Russian drone strike on a northern Ukrainian overnight.

Ukraine hits military targets, so why does Russia target civilians? https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-strikes-trump-putin-950b9b293dfb53b0da938275e5f3f3a3

newsweek.comCrimea bridge hit by explosionUkraine's SBU revealed its special underwater operation and posted a video of the blast.

3 June 2025

Ukrainian one-two punch on the Crimea bridge. Couldn't have happened to a better bunch. https://www.newsweek.com/crimea-bridge-hit-explosion-2080254

bbc.co.ukBill Gates: Microsoft founder to give most of $200bn fortune to Africa The Microsoft founder urges young innovators to use Artificial Intelligence to improve health services.

3 June 2025

Trickle-down economics finally worked, straight to Africa. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4qg5gzgzxo

Amidst Trump's battles with the judiciary, this data will surely become more significant: most Americans have limited patience for economic disruption.

Putin's worst nightmare: demography. Russia's 2025 birth rate has plunged to a 200-year low while deaths outpace births 1.6:1. Reasons: Economic hardship, inadequate healthcare, and youth emigration.

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Source: https://twitter.com/ipsnews/status/1929207604791669193

Important data (despite today's results in Poland): European trust in the EU is at a 20-year high. This is driven by strong support for the euro and a desire for a more assertive Europe in the face of major challenges/threats.

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Source: https://twitter.com/alex_kokcharov/status/1929488058027585916

townhall.comPutin to Skip Peace Talks As Trump Pushes for Immediate End to War

Trump's "immediate end" plan is like RFK Jr. stopping measles—just wishful thinking. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2025/05/30/kremlin-says-putin-will-not-attend-proposed-ceasefire-talks-n2657896

Republican approval of same-sex marriage is dropping after peaking in 2020/21. Does anyone have an explanation for this beyond the broad polarisation, culture wars narrative etc.?

"Palantir has significantly outperformed other Trump trades since 2023"

Didn't know this. Cuba, groundbreakingly, has more women than men in parliament. Can anyone give background?

Mexico’s democracy score looks to be rebounding with Claudia Sheinbaum

reuters.comLink to www.reuters.com

Killed in a Hamas tunnel under Khan Younis' largest hospital. That's a detail that should be clearly highlighted. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/netanyahu-says-hamas-gaza-chief-mohammed-sinwar-has-been-eliminated-2025-05-28/

amp.cnn.comState Department orders embassies to pause student visa appointments as it moves to expand social media vetting | CNN PoliticsThe US State Department has instructed US embassies and consulates around the world to pause new student visa appointments as it develops guidance to expand “social media screening and vetting” to all applicants for student visas, according to a diplomatic cable seen by CNN.

New regulations to vet social media are the reason behind the halt on student visa interviews at US embassies. https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/05/27/politics/state-department-embassies-pause-student-visa-appointments

kyivpost.comTrump ‘Seriously Considering’ Lifting All Biden-Era Restrictions on Ukraine’s War Effort, Sources SayUS and German officials will discuss the next phase of Ukrainian support and Russian sanctions during meetings in Washington this week, including lifting range restrictions on interdiction in Russia.

The Kremlin is upset that those they're attacking are fighting back. How dare they. https://www.kyivpost.com/post/53404

timesofisrael.comLink to www.timesofisrael.com

Annexing the West Bank is on my 2025 bingo card. It just feels like a 2025 thing. Don't ask me why. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-warns-europe-that-palestine-recognition-may-be-met-with-west-bank-annexation/amp/

newsweek.comRussian bots roast "clown" Donald Trump after Putin comments"Apparently, dementia comes as a hereditary gift for all U.S. presidents," a pro-Kremlin bot wrote.

We've been roasting Trump for decades, so Russian bots are just joining the party now. https://www.newsweek.com/russian-kremlin-bots-roast-trump-putin-attack-2077301

Evangelicalism is rising in Latin America

Evangelicalism is rising in Latin America

Evangelicalism is rising in Latin America

Impact of German Unification on West Germany GDP

turkiyetoday.comSaudi Arabia to lift 73-year alcohol ban ahead of World Cup - Türkiye TodayFor the first time since 1972, Saudi Arabia plans to ease its alcohol ban by introducing limited, licensed sales in select tourist zones

25 May 2025

Foreigners might get wristbands like at music festivals. Locals probably won't be sipping beers. https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/saudi-arabia-to-lift-73-year-alcohol-ban-ahead-of-world-cup-3201905

euronews.comRussia is offering Ukrainian POWs to 'occupy Europe together’Ukraine has submitted a list of POWs to Russia for a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap. Many Ukrainian soldiers have now spent over three years in Russian captivity, where they are often being tortured, abused and offered to "join Russian forces to then occupy Europe."

Russia's offer shows why it's crucial they don't control 30 million Ukrainians for propaganda purposes. https://www.euronews.com/2025/05/23/russia-is-offering-ukrainian-pows-to-switch-sides-and-occupy-europe-together

kyivindependent.com'Shoot them on the spot' — Ukraine's military intel records over 150 cases of Russia executing POWsThe agency noted that this figure includes those cases recorded by HUR, suggesting the actual total may be higher.

We have no reason to doubt this. War is hell and Russia doesn't have a reputation for following rules. https://kyivindependent.com/shoot-them-on-the-spot-ukraines-intel-records-150-cases-of-russia-executing-pows/

Interesting (from the FT) - US military presence in Europe. Is this more or less than you expected?

malaymail.comTurkiye’s Erdogan declares population crisis, blames LGBT ‘fascism and oppression’ for falling birthrateISTANBUL, May 24 — In a bid to tackle Turkey’s falling birthrate, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on yesterday announced the “decade of the family”, and again lashed out at...

Step one: Find a scapegoat to channel public frustration. https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/05/24/turkiyes-erdogan-declares-population-crisis-blames-lgbt-fascism-and-oppression-for-falling-birthrate/177967

cnbc.comTrump calls for 50% tariff on EU, says he's 'not looking for a deal' with blocPresident Donald Trump believes European Union proposals have not matched those from other trading partners, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

23 May 2025

Trump's tariff plan: 50% on June 1, 75% by June 5, 27% on June 6, 10% after his nap, 0% on June 9, and 137% on June 10. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/23/trump-recommends-50percent-tariff-on-european-union-starting-june-1.html

reuters.comLink to www.reuters.com

Tesla should've focused on making the Model T of EVs instead of the Cybertruck. Maybe then they'd still outsell BYD in Europe. https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/chinas-byd-outsells-tesla-europe-first-time-report-says-2025-05-22/

theguardian.comFinland ‘preparing for the worst’ as Russia expands military presence near borderHead of strategy of Finnish defence forces says they are monitoring Moscow’s manoeuvring ‘very closely’

Finland's prepping, but Russia's just flexing. Covert Cabal shows it's more show than threat. Check out the video for insights. Not so Stronk. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/finland-expects-russia-to-build-up-troops-at-border-after-ukraine-war-ends

newsweek.comGreenland signs lucrative minerals deal with Europe in blow to TrumpThe Arctic territory has issued a 30-year mining permit to a Danish-French consortium.

Looks like a hit to Trump's ego. Bet a tweet is coming soon. https://www.newsweek.com/greenland-trump-permit-extraction-2075673

jpost.com'Sorry I don't have a plane to give you,' South Africa's Ramaphosa tells Trump mid-trade talksRhamposa is in the US to persuade Trump to make deals with his country rather than scold and punish it.

Watching Trump realize the world isn't like his supporters is amusing, though it won't change anything. https://jpost.com/international/article-854859