Who controls the Murdoch family trust, good pie charts and the baby boom
Hello and welcome to another edition of The Crunch!
In this week's newsletter we have charts on the melting of glaciers around the world, how the baby boom reshaped populations in many different countries, who controls the Murdoch family trust, how Germany's economic strength became a weakness and what it looks like to run the game Pong on hundreds of browser tabs.
The rise of far-right, anti-immigration parties could speed up population decline in Europe, according to an analysis of population projection data by my colleague Alex Clark in the UK.
Anti-immigration politics is on the rise across the EU, as shown by the gains made by far-right parties in elections on 2024 and 2025.
In this visual feature, Alex uses immigration data and population projections to show how the population of each European country would change with and without immigration. In most countries, limiting immigration would speed up population decline and result in countries becoming older on average as the number of working-age people falls relative to elderly people.
NB: Other contenders for this edition's Guardian Data Highlight™ included this hand-drawn chart of Clive Palmer's political donations and this visual feature about record-breaking heat in 2024.
1. Who has a piece of the pie? A good chart about the Murdoch family trust
Good pie charts are few and far between, so we knew that our discerning Crunch readers would be pleasantly surprised to see this wonderful chart from the New York Times magazine:
The graphical feature makes good use of the pie chart format to show what proportion of the family trust each Murdoch family member controls, and how that might change when Lachlan Murdoch succeeds Rupert.
2. More good pie charts? What is going on
It's not news that due to global heating glaciers are melting faster and more extensively than in the past. New research from the GlaMBIE (Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise) team of scientists has brought together glacier measurements from around the world and refined and analysed it to make all of the data comparable.
Some of the findings are summarised in this graphic, which combines pie charts to show glacier mass loss for each glacier location, with annual changes shown as coloured bars underneath:
You can read the paper, and see some more figures, here.
3. Boom, baby, boom
Our World In Data has a typically excellent explainer about the postwar baby boom of the mid 1900s, which has a whole bunch of charts.
This one shows that the baby boom happened in many high-income countries – and not just nations directly involved in the second world war. Sweden and Switzerland did not actively participate in the war, but they also experienced significant increases in birthrates.
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4. Is the Wirtschaftswunder kaputt?
This extremely stylish visual essay from Reuters looks over the economic and political history of Germany and covers how, according to Reuters: 'Germany has gone in recent years from being Europe's economic powerhouse to becoming the euro zone's growth laggard'.
We loved how this feature integrated the design device of spraypaint and graffiti across all the elements – from the animated illustrations to the subtle texturing on the line charts.
Visualizing all books of the world in ISBN-Space
How tariffs work
Chartography: collage your charts
German election results (in English): Reuters, the Guardian
Peter Dutton wants to cut public service jobs in Canberra. Here's what happened last time
More than 80% of new California properties are in high fire-risk areas
Finally a good reason to never close that browser tab you opened five years ago. Nolen Royalty, a software engineer known for a couple of other viral hits like One Million Checkboxes, has created a Pong game that runs in your browser tabs.
Nolen's blog post about the project is a really interesting read. It goes through many of the problems he encountered and how he worked through them – I wish more people would write like this about their projects.
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Powys County Times
32 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Fact check: More people leave than arrive on current youth mobility schemes
On the BBC's Today programme on May 19, from around two hours and 21 minutes, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the UK's youth mobility arrangements with other countries reduce net migration. Asked 'how do you know there will be fewer people coming here than leaving?' Mr Reynolds said: 'Well, I've got 13 schemes in action already and that's the evidence of them.' He later added: 'I tell you the evidence of the current schemes just so you know is that they're a net negative on immigration.' Evaluation Around 24,400 youth mobility visas were issued to people wanting to come to the UK in 2024. Although figures are patchy for how many Britons go abroad, data from just three countries – Australia, New Zealand and Canada – suggests that 68,495 British citizens travelled to those countries in 2024 (the Australian data is for the 12 months to the end of June 2024). That would suggest that Mr Reynolds is right. However it does not take into account that Britons going abroad on these temporary visas will sooner or later come back, as will those who come to the UK. It is also not clear that this pattern will repeat in any similar deal with the EU. The UK population is much larger than those of Australia, New Zealand and Canada, so there are more Britons who can go to those countries than can come here. With the EU that is reversed. The facts How many people come to the UK on a youth mobility visa? Government data shows there were 24,437 people who were handed a youth mobility visa last year. Most of these were from one of the 13 countries with which the UK has a reciprocal arrangement. A small handful of visas – 131 in total – were for people from countries other than the 13. The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford has suggested that these are the result of errors in data recording, or due to people having dual nationalities. The top three countries that sent people to the UK on youth mobility visas between January and December 2024 were Australia (9,754 visas), New Zealand (4,304 visas) and Canada (3,060 visas). How many Britons go abroad on youth mobility type schemes? Figures are patchy on how many British people have gone abroad on a youth mobility scheme. The Department for Business and Trade was unable to share data. Australia publishes a twice-yearly report into what it calls its working holiday visa programme. That is the Australian equivalent to the UK's youth mobility scheme. The latest such report covered the 12 months to the end of June 2024. That report showed that Australia issued 48,973 working holiday visas to UK citizens. Data from New Zealand is available on the website of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Using its migration data explorer produces a spreadsheet which shows that there were 9,486 working holiday visas granted by New Zealand to UK citizens in between January and December 2024. Canadian data does not appear to be publicly available, but the figures were provided to the PA news agency by the Canadian Department for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. The data shows that in 2024 there were 9,972 work permits issued to UK and UK overseas territories citizens under the country's working holiday scheme, and a further 64 people had their permits extended. How do incoming youth mobility visas compare to outgoing? Net migration is a figure which subtracts the number of people coming into the country from the number of people leaving. The data cited above suggests that while 9,754 Australians came to the UK on youth mobility visas, 48,973 Britons went in the opposite direction. It must be noted that the time periods measured here are different, the Australian data is for the 12 months ending June 2024, while the UK data is for the 12 months ending December 2024. Meanwhile the data suggests that 4,304 New Zealanders came to the UK while 9,486 Britons went in the other direction. Data further shows that 3,060 Canadians came to the UK in 2024, while 9,972 Britons went in the other direction. This suggests that for each of these three countries the youth mobility schemes are – as Mr Reynolds suggested – reducing net migration. In fact Australia alone appears to receive twice as many Britons (48,973) as all people who the UK receives from all 13 countries added together (24,437). However, it should be noted that because youth mobility schemes are time-limited, Britons going abroad and people who have come to the UK on such visas will eventually be forced to return. This means the UK's inbound migration figures should take into account not just Australians and Canadians – for example – coming to the UK, but also Britons returning from Australia and Canada after their youth mobility visas expire. If it is assumed that everyone returns then over a longer time frame the youth mobility programmes will have a neutral impact on net immigration because every Briton who leaves the UK will come back and every non-Briton who comes to the UK will leave. This does not take into account the people – both Britons abroad and non-Britons in the UK – who apply for a different visa to stay in their adopted country. Do these conclusions also apply to the EU scheme? The impact on net migration of the potential EU scheme will depend on the details of the agreement between London and Brussels. Madeleine Sumption, director at the Migration Observatory, told the PA news agency that the size of the cap on the programme would be vital for the impact on net migration. She said the fact the UK sends more people to Australia, Canada and New Zealand than it receives from them 'probably results from the fact that the UK has a much larger population than they do, so we just have more young people potentially interested in moving'. With the EU scheme, Ms Sumption said, the population sizes are flipped – that is to say the EU's population is much bigger than the UK, leaving more young people who might be willing to come here. Therefore the smaller the cap on the number of visas is, the more likely both the EU and UK will fill their quotas. If both fill their quotas – and the quotas going both ways are the same – then the impact on net migration will be zero. However if the cap is large then it is more likely that there will not be as many Britons going to Europe as are coming in the opposite direction, which will bring up net migration. But, as with the existing schemes, both Britons in Europe and Europeans in the UK will eventually have to leave unless they find another visa, which over the long run should mean that the programme has a neutral impact on net migration. Links BBC – Today, 19/05/2025 Migration Observatory – What is the Youth Mobility Scheme and how does it work? (archived) – Entry clearance visas granted outside the UK (archived page and spreadsheet, using tab Data_Vis_D02) Australian Department of Home Affairs – Visitor visa statistics (archived) Australian Department of Home Affairs – Working Holiday Maker visa program report (archived) New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – Migration data explorer (archived page and downloaded spreadsheet. To download the correct spreadsheet, instructions can be found at (archived): In dataset select 'W1 work decisions', in time period select 'calendar year' and in variables select 'application substream', 'application criteria' and 'decision type')
Glasgow Times
39 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
European Central Bank cuts interest rate as Trump tariffs threaten economy
The bank's rate-setting council cut interest rates by a quarter of a point on Thursday at the bank's skyscraper headquarters in Frankfurt. Analysts expected a cut, given the gloomier outlook for growth since Mr Trump announced a slew of new tariffs on April 2 and subsequently threatened to impose a crushing 50% tariff, or import tax, on European goods. The bigger question remains how far the bank will go at subsequent meetings. Bank president Christine Lagarde's remarks at a post-decision news conference will be scrutinised for hints about the bank's outlook. ECB head Christine Lagarde (PA) Much depends on whether trade tensions can be resolved through negotiations, the bank indicated. 'A further escalation of trade tensions over the coming months would result in growth and inflation being below the baseline projections,' the bank said in its accompanying monetary policy statement. 'By contrast, if trade tensions were resolved with a benign outcome, growth and, to a lesser extent, inflation would be higher.' While the trade war and the uncertainty that goes with it is holding back growth, the ECB said the economy should get additional stimulus from higher government spending on defence and infrastructure. European governments are stepping up plans for defence purchases to counter Russia and its invasion of Ukraine. The spending boosts arrive amid concern that the US is no longer a fully committed ally in support of Ukraine. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth did not attend a recent meeting of allied nations created to organise Ukraine's military aid. It was the first time the US was not present since the group was set up three years ago. Mr Hegseth's predecessor, Lloyd Austin, created the group after Russia launched all-out war on Ukraine in 2022. Given the different possible outcomes the bank said that it was 'not committing to a particular rate path' for future policy meetings. Thursday's decision took the bank's benchmark rate to 2%, down from a peak of 4% in 2023-24. The bank raised rates to suppress an outbreak of inflation in 2021 to 2023 that was triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and by the rebound from the pandemic. But as inflation fell, the bank shifted gears towards supporting growth by lowering rates. With inflation now down to 1.9%, below the bank's target of 2%, analysts say the bank has room to take rates even lower to support growth.
Metro
43 minutes ago
- Metro
Reader suggests fishy solution to the Channel's small boat problem
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments. To better tackle illegal immigration, the UK could introduce a smart incentive system that links EU countries' access to UK fishing waters with their cooperation in reducing migrant crossings. Instead of relying solely on border patrols or controversial Rwanda-style deportation plans, this approach encourages EU partners, such as France and Belgium, to actively help prevent illegal Channel crossings in exchange for increased fishing rights and reduced port fees. A performance-based model, assessed over a four-year period, would reward countries that show real progress with better access and benefits. This policy offers a practical, legal and cooperative alternative that uses diplomacy and economic incentives to improve results – moving beyond reactive enforcement to proactive partnership. Chris, London Fi O'Connor (MetroTalk, Wed) says Brexiteers bear some responsibility for the small boat crisis because we can no longer call upon the so-called Dublin Convention – which allows countries to request fellow EU member states manage asylum requests. Having left the EU, we cannot use it. This is oft-cited but had negligible effect in the return of migrants to the EU. For example, as per House of Commons Library records, in 2018 there were 37,453 asylum applications and 5,510 outgoing transfer requests, of which only 209 were accepted. The regulation worked both ways, resulting in 1,215 migrants entering the UK under the regulation in the same year. Jonathan Bagley, Todmorden The UK is investing £15billion in its nuclear weapons programme (Metro, Tue). How is buying nuclear weapons preparing for war? Neither Gaza, Ukraine, Israel nor Russia have used them. What we need is for our children and men to look at our cities and see something worth living for, worth fighting for. They need to see a future they can believe in instead of seeing filth and neglect everywhere and adults berating each other all the time. All our cities and towns need a good clean up. Give us a country we can love and a government we can believe in. Otherwise, Sir Keir Starmer's war will be trying to stop rioting. Young men who have no respect for authority will not be manageable. Michelle, York A US investment firm has pulled out of a £5billion rescue deal for Thames Water (Metro, May 29). Thank goodness. At least it means that another 'British' company won't fall into foreign hands. Now regulator Ofwat needs to prevent Thames Water from paying any dividends etc to investors until its £20billion debt has been paid. After all, while investors are there hoping to make a profit dividends aren't guaranteed. That is the risk that they take – some you lose, some you win. Rob, York Marc (MetroTalk, Mon) asks how Clark's idea of a £300 cat licence could be administered. Controlling cats has been tried before. In 1233, Pope Gregory IX, who had a 'thing' about witches, issued a papal bull – an official decree – which linked cats to Satan. This is thought to have led to a huge number of cats being killed across Europe. As a result, the rat population boomed unchecked. The story goes that, a century later, around 1388, rats arriving on ships from the Middle East carrying fleas infected with bubonic plague, were able to pass them on unopposed to European rats. The result of all this? The Black Death. So, politicians beware! As an aside, there's a theory this was the basis for the poem The Pied Piper Of Hamelin. Peter, Wolverhampton As much as anything, this misplaced cat licence idea raises the issue of matching cats with their 'owners' (ie, their staff). A personal example – since last September, I have been getting visits from a long-haired tuxedo I call Mr Fluff, who is always welcome, despite the odd incident of nearly knocking books etc onto the floor. I have a friend whose cat visitor is called Milo, although we sometimes refer to them as The Eastney Terror. I have since discovered on YouTube that many folk have a MHNMC (My House, Not My Cat) or in my case, MFNMC (My Flat, Not My Cat). I have no idea where my MFNMC actually comes from, what his actual name is or, for that matter, whether 'he' might even be a 'she'. Clearly this licence proposal is going to be a loser and one can only hope that in due course Clark will have a furry visitor and so quietly bin the idea. Robert Smith, Southsea Clark was probably a mouse in a former life and this is why he has cat issues. Amanda, South Yorkshire May I add to the short odes to bus routes submitted here of late? More Trending The 700 on the coast / Could be the bus I love the most / You wait an hour, just like a dunce / Then three of them come all at once / They've managed to improve a little / And split the route up in the middle / So Stagecoach lives up to its name / And life will never be the same. Nicholas B Taylor, Hove Another doctor joke for you. I asked my doctor what was wrong with me. He said that it could be pneumo-bacterisilimicroscopioniasis, but it was hard to say. Jeff, Nuneaton MORE: Enjoy a sky-high brunch at The Shard for £55: 10 unmissable Time Out deals MORE: The Metro daily cartoon by Guy Venables MORE: Ex-Arsenal prodigy jailed for four years over £600,000 cannabis smuggling plot
