HOBSON'S CHOICE
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Japanese banks' combined share of international lending in June 1995:
45%
Japanese banks' combined share of international lending today:
16%
Estimated bad debts - or non-performing loans - of Japan's major banks:
$290bn
Number of banks closed in Indonesia on 13 March, in addition to the 7 nationalised on the same day:
38
Likelihood that US products exported to Mexico are parts being shipped to American-owned companies in Mexico for assembly and re-export to the US:
4 in 10
Chances that one of the world's slot machines will be in Australia:
1 in 5
Percentage of Australians who gambled in 1997/1998:
82
Amount of money lost through gambling in Australia in 1997/1998:
pounds 4.5bn
Number of minutes of television the average four-month-old Australian baby watches a day:
44
Number of plastic and reconstructive procedures undergone by American citizens in 1998:
2.2 million
Amount American men spent on penile enlargements in 1996:
pounds 12m
Amount American men spent on liposuction, face-lifts, nose jobs and eyelid surgery in 1997:
$130m
Number of people in the UK employed solely to deal with telephone calls, as phone staff either in companies or in call centres:
1.3 million
Number of phone calls made in a month from Auckland to Spain and Tonga by Borislav Misic before he was convicted as New Zealand's first "phreaker" or telephone network hacker:
21,192
Average age of users of Sony PlayStation computer games consoles:
28
Fluid ounces of blood drained by leeches or cupping from King Charles II in the last months of his life:
24
Number of pubs in the UK:
58,507
Number of pubs in the UK owned by independent operators with multiple outlets:
23,481
Percentage of all beer produced in the UK made by the three largest brewers:
85
SOURCES: `THE BANKER', `THE NATION', `METRO', `TNT', `UTNE READER', `MOTHER JONES', `LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS', `NEW ZEALAND NEWS', `MARKETING WEEK', `CATERER & HOTELKEEPER'
COMPILED BY
WILL HOBSON
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments