Data Vis Dispatch, December 9: Wars, coffee, and Christmas

Welcome back to the 222nd edition of Data Vis Dispatch! Every week, we’ll be publishing a collection of the best small and large data visualizations we find, especially from news organizations — to celebrate data journalism, data visualization, simple charts, elaborate maps, and their creators.

Recurring topics this week include war and conflict, coffee trends in Asia, and Christmas themes.

Visualizing war and conflict has become a regular activity in newsrooms worldwide. This week, we look at the situation in Ukraine, Syria, and Gaza, as well as military and surveillance spending.

The Economist: <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2025/12/02/as-america-pushes-peace-russias-battlefield-advances-remain-slow"><strong>As America pushes peace, Russia’s battlefield advances remain slow</strong></a>, December 2 — The Economist: **As America pushes peace, Russia’s battlefield advances remain slow**, December 2

SPIEGEL: <a href="https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/ukraine-krieg-was-putins-drohnentaktik-so-effektiv-macht-a-7ba31612-f538-4568-afcc-a01e38e55319"><strong>Was Putins Drohnentaktik so effektiv macht</strong></a> [Chart description: <em>Growing waves of attacks</em>], December 5 — SPIEGEL: **Was Putins Drohnentaktik so effektiv macht** [Chart description: *Growing waves of attacks*], December 5

Texty.org.ua: <a href="https://texty.org.ua/articles/116434/temni-dni-tryvali-vidklyuchennya-elektrky-oxoplyuvaly-vsyu-ukrayinu/"><strong>Темні дні. Тривалі знеструмлення охоплювали всю Україну</strong></a> [Chart description: <em>Time without electricity during the day</em>], December 4 — Texty.org.ua: **Темні дні. Тривалі знеструмлення охоплювали всю Україну** [Chart description: *Time without electricity during the day*], December 4

The Guardian: Which areas is Russia demanding as its price for peace in Ukraine?, December 3

The Wall Street Journal: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/ukraine-russia-energy-attacks-1cec032d?utm_social_post_id=612703841&mod=e2twg&utm_social_handle_id=19564105"><strong>Ukraine Goes After Moscow’s Shadow Fleet in International Waters</strong></a>, December 2 — The Wall Street Journal: **Ukraine Goes After Moscow’s Shadow Fleet in International Waters**, December 2

Bloomberg: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-baltics-border/"><strong>Borderlands</strong></a>, December 8 — Bloomberg: **Borderlands**, December 8

The Washington Post: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2025/syria-assad-deaths-torture-photos/"><strong>Syria’s killing machine</strong></a>, December 4 — The Washington Post: **Syria’s killing machine**, December 4

The Guardian: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/dec/06/bloodshed-was-supposed-to-stop-no-sign-of-normal-life-as-gazas-killing-and-misery-grind-on"><strong>‘Bloodshed was supposed to stop’: no sign of normal life as Gaza’s killing and misery grind on</strong></a>, December 6 — The Guardian: **‘Bloodshed was supposed to stop’: no sign of normal life as Gaza’s killing and misery grind on**, December 6

Reuters: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/graphics/BUSINESS-DEFENSE/lbvgmjwxrvq/"><strong>Business is booming for defense contractors</strong></a>, December 9 — Reuters: **Business is booming for defense contractors**, December 9

Mabu News: <a href="https://mabunews.stibee.com/p/313"><strong>🎩 CCTV가 내 개인정보를 마음대로 빼간다면 어떡하지?</strong></a> [Chart description: <em>Palantir - Annual Federal Government Contract Value</em>], December 5 — Mabu News: **🎩 CCTV가 내 개인정보를 마음대로 빼간다면 어떡하지?** [Chart description: *Palantir - Annual Federal Government Contract Value*], December 5

Political charts come in an array of surprisingly cheerful colors, showing Argentina's new Congress, impeachment requests against Brazilian judges, and approval ratings in Germany.

LA NACION: <a href="https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/asi-queda-la-nueva-camara-de-diputados-que-tratara-las-reformas-de-javier-milei-nid03122025/"><strong>El nuevo Congreso: Así queda la Cámara de Diputados que tratará las reformas de Milei</strong></a> [<em>The new Congress: This is how the Chamber of Deputies will look as it debates Milei's reforms</em>], December 3 — LA NACION: **El nuevo Congreso: Así queda la Cámara de Diputados que tratará las reformas de Milei** [*The new Congress: This is how the Chamber of Deputies will look as it debates Milei's reforms*], December 3

NEXO: <a href="https://www.nexojornal.com.br/grafico/2025/12/05/stf-supremo-pedido-impeachment-ministros-alexandre-de-moraes"><strong>Moraes é o principal alvo de pedidos de impeachment no STF</strong></a> [Chart description: <em>Requests to initiate impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court justices</em>], December 5 — NEXO: **Moraes é o principal alvo de pedidos de impeachment no STF** [Chart description: *Requests to initiate impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court justices*], December 5

DIE ZEIT: <a href="https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-12/waehlerschaft-afd-potenzial-umfragen-statistik?utm_medium=redpost&utm_source=bluesky&utm_campaign=zeitde"><strong>Die AfD ist vorerst am Limit</strong></a> [<em>The AfD has reached its limit for now</em>], December 9 — DIE ZEIT: **Die AfD ist vorerst am Limit** [*The AfD has reached its limit for now*], December 9

Recent U.S. policies have had a strong impact on research, immigration-related arrests, as well as development assistance abroad.

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/12/02/upshot/trump-science-funding-cuts.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5k8.4CWq.Td1-cqUTIqZ6&smid=url-share"><strong>The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine</strong></a>, December 2 — The New York Times: **The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine**, December 2

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/12/04/us/ice-arrests-criminal-records-data.html"><strong>Most Immigrants Arrested in City Crackdowns Have No Criminal Record</strong></a>, December — The New York Times: **Most Immigrants Arrested in City Crackdowns Have No Criminal Record**, December

The Wall Street Journal: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/health/for-first-time-in-decades-child-deaths-will-rise-this-year-92c67b51?utm_social_handle_id=19564105&mod=e2twg&utm_social_post_id=613941765"><strong>For First Time in Decades, Child Deaths Will Rise This Year</strong></a>, December 4 — The Wall Street Journal: **For First Time in Decades, Child Deaths Will Rise This Year**, December 4

A quick look at salaries and costs: explore how much you earn compared to others in your field and beyond, and what streaming service you may be able to afford.

FlowingData: <a href="https://flowingdata.com/2025/12/02/who-makes-a-higher-salary-and-the-jobs-they-work/"><strong>Who earns a higher salary than you and the jobs they work</strong></a>, December 2 — FlowingData: **Who earns a higher salary than you and the jobs they work**, December 2

FlowingData: <a href="https://flowingdata.com/2025/12/08/rising-cost-of-streaming/"><strong>Rising cost of streaming</strong></a>, December 8 — FlowingData: **Rising cost of streaming**, December 8

It has been another hot year for our planet, and the climate toll of plastic and data centres continues to grow. Thankfully, so does solar and wind power.

The Financial Times: <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/9e0eb30a-3c4b-42f6-88cb-922d04af0fa1"><strong>Three-year temperature average set to exceed 1.5C for first time</strong></a>, December 9 — The Financial Times: **Three-year temperature average set to exceed 1.5C for first time**, December 9

The Financial Times: <a href="https://ig.ft.com/ai-power/"><strong>The power crunch threatening America’s AI ambitions</strong></a>, December 8 — The Financial Times: **The power crunch threatening America’s AI ambitions**, December 8

Canary Media: <a href="https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/top-countries-share-renewables-ember"><strong>Hungary is leading the world in solar adoption</strong></a>, December 5 — Canary Media: **Hungary is leading the world in solar adoption**, December 5

Ember: <a href="https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/25-years-of-british-offshore-wind/"><strong>25 years of British offshore wind</strong></a>, December 8 — Ember: **25 years of British offshore wind**, December 8

Investigation has revealed more information about the Hong Kong fire. On a lighter note, South Korea has too many coffee shops, and Singapore explores its own coffee trends.

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/12/05/world/asia/hong-kong-fire-photos-videos.html"><strong>How the Fire in Hong Kong Became So Deadly</strong></a>, December 5 — The New York Times: **How the Fire in Hong Kong Became So Deadly**, December 5

Bloomberg: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-hong-kong-fire/"><strong>Hong Kong Fire Draws Fury Over Ignored Warnings</strong></a>, December 3 — Bloomberg: **Hong Kong Fire Draws Fury Over Ignored Warnings**, December 3

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/12/03/world/asia/south-korea-coffee-shops.html"><strong>South Korea Has a Coffee Shop Problem</strong></a>, December 3 — The New York Times: **South Korea Has a Coffee Shop Problem**, December 3

The Straits Times: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/dec/07/what-choice-do-we-have-no-end-in-sight-for-ukraines-war-weary-frontline-troops"><strong>We asked more than 40 people to track their coffee consumption for a week. Here is what we found</strong></a>, December 7 — The Straits Times: **We asked more than 40 people to track their coffee consumption for a week. Here is what we found**, December 7

And last but not least, the Christmas spirit is upon us, and it has inspired many visualizations, from the likelihood of snow to Christmas lights, gifts, and feelings.

Maps Mania: Who's Dreaming of a White Christmas?, December 4 (<a href="https://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2025/12/whos-dreaming-of-white-christmas.html"><strong>Maps Mania</strong></a>, <a href="https://noaa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=b84e9ad7fa6d4c2da15001efc048c809"><strong>map</strong></a>) — Maps Mania: Who's Dreaming of a White Christmas?, December 4 (**Maps Mania**, **map**)

Maps Mania: How to Guarantee a White Christmas, December 8 (<a href="https://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2025/12/how-to-guarantee-white-christmas.html">Maps Mania</a>, <a href="https://whitexmas.app/">project</a>) — Maps Mania: How to Guarantee a White Christmas, December 8 (Maps Mania, project)

Diario SUR: <a href="https://www.diariosur.es/economia/negocio-encender-navidad-100-millones-carreras-iluminar-20251207000705-ntrc.html"><strong>El negocio de ‘encender’ la Navidad: 100 millones y carreras por iluminar más</strong></a> [Chart description: <em>Total spending on Christmas lights</em>], December 7 — Diario SUR: **El negocio de ‘encender’ la Navidad: 100 millones y carreras por iluminar más** [Chart description: *Total spending on Christmas lights*], December 7

Not-Ship: <a href="https://www.not-ship.com/the-hypocrites-guide-to-christmas-shopping/"><strong>The hypocrite's guide to Christmas shopping</strong></a>, December 2 — Not-Ship: **The hypocrite's guide to Christmas shopping**, December 2

YouGov: <a href="https://yougov.co.uk/topics/entertainment/survey-results/daily/2025/12/05/ad74b/3?utm_source=daily_question&utm_medium=bluesky&utm_campaign=daily%2F2025%2F12%2F05_question_3"><strong>How Christmassy, if at all, do you currently feel?</strong></a>, December 5 — YouGov: **How Christmassy, if at all, do you currently feel?**, December 5

What else we found interesting

Marco Hernández: Rhythm, December 7 (Bluesky, project)

The Guardian: Rockets, gold and the Foreign Legion: can Europe defend its frontier in the Amazon?, December 4

Diario SUR: Terremoto de Fuengirola: el segundo más grande en Málaga de los últimos 100 años [Fuengirola earthquake: the second largest in Malaga in the last 100 years], December 6

Applications are open for…

A cartographic design intern at Esri Creative Lab
A graphics reporter (deleted data project) at The Guardian

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Data Vis Dispatch, December 9: Wars, coffee, and Christmas

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