← 26 Dec Sunday 27 December 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 28 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
12,153 stories about harm· Trends· Every past day

We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.

How to read these numbers →

The avalanche in Iran, illness in Paris and violence in Bangui drew the news. the Central African Republic's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was much harsher than usual.

Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and India → Reports of evacuations ran at about 4 times the usual rate, most often about the US and the UK →
Part of lifeHealth 57 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostItaly 50 in 100 of its 247 stories, usually 26
RegionCentral Asia 48 in 100 of its stories, usually 35
Tone of the words Much harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Disasters & accidents

Iran

85 of its 112 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 51%. Tehran accounted for 64 of Iran's 85 stories about harm, carried by 188 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at more than ten times the usual rate (29 stories). Avalanche was named in 23 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with snowstorms. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Iran over 30 days → its stories → Tehran stories →
Health

France

122 of its 294 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Paris accounted for 82 of France's 122 stories about harm, carried by 134 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (59 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

France over 30 days → its stories → Paris stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Cameroon

19 of its 26 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people injured ran at about 10 times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Cameroon over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Health

UK

1,234 of its 3,192 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 4 times the usual rate (9 stories). Flooding was named in 102 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with heavy rain, power cuts and extreme cold. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Italy

123 of its 247 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (48 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 28 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Kashmir

89 of its 162 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

Oman

38 of its 83 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (21 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

South Africa

110 of its 228 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (12 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Israel

168 of its 340 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Jerusalem accounted for 103 of Israel's 168 stories about harm, carried by 85 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at about 7 times the usual rate (15 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: covid in Ethiopia (17 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); earthquake in Chile (11 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); volcanic eruption in Italy (28 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); earthquake in Türkiye (17 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); flooding in Ireland (17 of its stories, about three times its usual).

31 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 26; 30 the day before
31 in 10024 in 10028 Nov5 Dec12 Dec19 Dec27 Dec28 Nov: 26 in 10029 Nov: 26 in 10030 Nov: 25 in 1001 Dec: 25 in 1002 Dec: 25 in 1003 Dec: 25 in 1004 Dec: 25 in 1005 Dec: 27 in 1006 Dec: 26 in 1007 Dec: 25 in 1008 Dec: 25 in 1009 Dec: 25 in 10010 Dec: 24 in 10011 Dec: 25 in 10012 Dec: 27 in 10013 Dec: 27 in 10014 Dec: 26 in 10015 Dec: 25 in 10016 Dec: 25 in 10017 Dec: 25 in 10018 Dec: 25 in 10019 Dec: 28 in 10020 Dec: 28 in 10021 Dec: 27 in 10022 Dec: 27 in 10023 Dec: 27 in 10024 Dec: 27 in 10025 Dec: 28 in 10026 Dec: 30 in 10027 Dec: 31 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 27 Dec. The big dot is this day; the shaded band is a normal day (the 30 days before it). Click a day to open it. Based on 12,153 stories about harm among 39,304 counted on 27 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

The share of stories about people being harmed was the highest since 23 August 2020. 31 in every 100 of the day's 39,304 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 26. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and India. the news turned to Iran for the second day running. This week the news turned most often to Ethiopia, on 3 of 7 days; help rose on 1 of them.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Iran76 in 100 of its 112 stories · usually 51 · mostly disasters & accidents Central African Republic75 in 100 of its 69 stories · usually 62 · mostly conflict & violence Niger70 in 100 of its 53 stories · usually 45 · mostly conflict & violence Lebanon70 in 100 of its 86 stories · usually 42 · mostly displacement Afghanistan69 in 100 of its 95 stories · usually 62 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Delhi India73 stories about protests or strikes, of its 190 Washington US60 stories about protests or strikes, of its 387 Jerusalem Israel33 stories about protests or strikes, of its 103 London UK19 stories about protests or strikes, of its 285 Beijing China14 stories about protests or strikes, of its 82

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: feelings about like the world'sZambia: feelings about like the world'sVietnam: feelings about like the world'sVenezuela: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: too little coverage to readUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: feelings about like the world'sU.S. Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readGuam: feelings about like the world'sPuerto Rico: feelings about like the world'sUnited States: feelings about like the world'sSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUkraine: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSouth Sudan: too little coverage to readSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: too little coverage to readSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSierra Leone: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSaudi Arabia: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: too little coverage to readSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: too little coverage to readPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNew Zealand: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNamibia: too little coverage to readMozambique: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: too little coverage to readMalta: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLibya: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: too little coverage to readLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIsrael: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIndia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: too little coverage to readHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: feelings about like the world'sGermany: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: too little coverage to readGabon: too little coverage to readSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: feelings about like the world'sFiji: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: too little coverage to readEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: feelings about like the world'sCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCuba: feelings about like the world'sCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sCongo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: feelings about like the world'sBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBosnia and Herzegovina: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: too little coverage to readBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readCrimea: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBritish Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: feelings about like the world'sCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: feelings about like the world'sMaldives: feelings about like the world'sLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: feelings about like the world'sMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUganda: coverage a little angrier than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTunisia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSweden: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSudan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSpain: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSlovenia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSingapore: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPhilippines: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPakistan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sOman: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNetherlands: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNepal: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMexico: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMali: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLiberia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLebanon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLatvia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKuwait: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKenya: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJordan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJapan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJamaica: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIreland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sFrance: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sEthiopia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBelgium: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBelarus: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAlbania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sBermuda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world's
AngerGriefFearWarmth Like the world'sToo little news

Each country in the colour of the feeling its news carried most, against the world's news that day. Stronger colour: further above the world. Click a country.

Strongest feelings

● Afghanistan about twice as angry as the world's · 66 stories about harm ● Kashmir about twice as fearful as the world's · 89 stories about harm ● Central African Republic about twice as angry as the world's · 52 stories about harm ● Pakistan about twice as angry as the world's · 263 stories about harm ● Iran about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 85 stories about harm ● Sweden few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 15 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health57% 6,836 stories · less than usual (usually 61%) Rights & justice13% 1,525 stories · less than usual (usually 15%) Disasters & accidents11% 1,288 stories · more than usual (usually 9%) Conflict & violence10% 1,216 stories · more than usual (usually 7%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 563 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 252 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 241 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 132 stories · about as usual

Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.

Harm reported 30 days →

Stories reporting people killed4,079 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people injured1,238 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people affected957 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting arrests837 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions123 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting evacuations118 at about 4 times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting refugees95 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Syria and Lebanon Stories reporting people displaced70 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill19 at about the usual rate

Stories that report it, not people: we count what reporters wrote, not what happened.

How it felt 30 days →

harshwarm

The words in the day's stories were much harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little more than usual
● Fearabout as usual

From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?

The weekly briefing · 19 Oct – 25 Oct

The week in human impact

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How to read these numbers →

These are counts of stories, not counts of suffering. Most of what happens to people is never reported at all.