← 6 Jan Thursday 7 January 2021 · to 23:59 UTC 8 Jan →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
27,409 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 →

Most of the day's attention went to volcanic eruption in Indonesia, violence in Baghdad and protests in Hong Kong. Iraq's coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's. Over the whole world, the tone was much harsher than usual.

Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate, most often about the US and Indonesia → Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about one and a half times the usual rate →
Part of lifeHealth 49 in 100 of the stories about harm · much less than usual Country that rose mostHong Kong 64 in 100 of its 176 stories, usually 35
RegionSoutheast Asia 40 in 100 of its stories, usually 36
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

Indonesia

108 of its 204 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (18 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 20 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual, with avalanche. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Indonesia over 30 days → its stories →
Conflict & violence

Iraq

66 of its 102 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 55%. Baghdad accounted for 56 of Iraq's 66 stories about harm, carried by 83 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Iraq over 30 days → its stories → Baghdad stories →
Health

Malaysia

170 of its 490 stories (35%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 5 times the usual rate (14 stories). Flooding was named in 29 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

Malaysia over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Conflict & violence

Pakistan

296 of its 696 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Reports of abductions ran at about three times the usual rate (17 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

US

4,328 of Washington's 5,075 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of evacuations ran at about 8 times the usual rate (252 stories). Accidents were named in 104 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Health

UK

Reports of people falling ill ran at about three times the usual rate (6 stories). Extreme cold was named in 25 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Romania

34 of its 86 stories (40%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (17 stories).

its stories →
Health

South Africa

306 of its 689 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Senegal

15 of its 42 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. 7 of Dakar's 13 stories were about protests or strikes.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: snowstorms in Kashmir (18 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); flooding in North Korea (11 of its stories, about three times its usual); illness in Lebanon (11 of its stories, about three times its usual); flu in India (135 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); storms in China (15 of its stories, about 10 times its usual).

28 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 27; 27 the day before
31 in 10024 in 1009 Dec16 Dec23 Dec30 Dec7 Jan9 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 10028 Dec: 29 in 10029 Dec: 29 in 10030 Dec: 29 in 10031 Dec: 29 in 1001 Jan: 28 in 1002 Jan: 29 in 1003 Jan: 30 in 1004 Jan: 27 in 1005 Jan: 27 in 1006 Jan: 27 in 1007 Jan: 28 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 7 Jan. 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 27,409 stories about harm among 97,009 counted on 7 Jan.

Read the day's briefing

Evacuations were reported at about three times the usual rate, most often about the US and Indonesia. Stories about people being harmed made up 28 in every 100 of the day's 97,009 stories, above the usual 27. Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. A year earlier, on 8 January 2020, 21 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 28 today. Indonesia stood out: 53% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 45%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Iraq65 in 100 of its 102 stories · usually 55 · mostly conflict & violence Hong Kong64 in 100 of its 176 stories · usually 35 · mostly rights & justice Palestine59 in 100 of its 68 stories · usually 48 · mostly health Syria58 in 100 of its 97 stories · usually 55 · mostly conflict & violence Ethiopia54 in 100 of its 94 stories · usually 61 · mostly deaths & injuries, cause not given

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US4328 stories about protests or strikes, of its 5075 Georgia US81 stories about protests or strikes, of its 145 San Diego US69 stories about protests or strikes, of its 122 Beijing China68 stories about protests or strikes, of its 182 Los Angeles US66 stories about protests or strikes, of its 236

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: feelings about like the world'sVietnam: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: feelings about like the world'sU.S. Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sPuerto Rico: feelings about like the world'sSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: feelings about like the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: too little coverage to readSlovenia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSierra Leone: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: too little coverage to readSão 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'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: feelings about like the world'sMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: too little coverage to readMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: feelings about like the world'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIsrael: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: feelings about like the world'sGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGermany: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: feelings about like the world'sSt 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: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: 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 readN. 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'sComoros: too little coverage to readChina: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: feelings about like the world'sCanada: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: 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'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBangladesh: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: 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: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sGaza: feelings about like the world'sWest Bank: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Free Zone): feelings about like the world'sEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall 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 readBermuda: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & 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 readLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: too little coverage to readNorfolk 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 readZimbabwe: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuam: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUS: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUganda: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTunisia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sThailand: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry 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'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSomalia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSenegal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sQatar: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNorway: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNiger: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNew Zealand: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMozambique: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMorocco: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMexico: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMalta: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLuxembourg: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLibya: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLebanon: 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'sIraq: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIndonesia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuyana: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGreece: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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'sEcuador: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sDenmark: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCzechia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sDR Congo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCongo: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sColombia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHong Kong: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBurundi: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBrazil: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBhutan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBelarus: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAlbania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMonaco: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMaldives: coverage a little warmer 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

● Iraq about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 66 stories about harm ● Pakistan about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 296 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 56 stories about harm ● France about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 178 stories about harm ● UK about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 2,176 stories about harm ● Hong Kong a little warmer than the world's · 112 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health49% 13,222 stories · much less than usual (usually 62%) Rights & justice20% 5,579 stories · much more than usual (usually 14%) Conflict & violence16% 4,226 stories · much more than usual (usually 7%) Disasters & accidents6% 1,665 stories · less than usual (usually 9%) Displacement4% 1,055 stories · more than usual (usually 1%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given3% 833 stories · about as usual Shelter & services1% 398 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 243 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 killed8,352 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests3,364 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people affected1,585 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,568 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations319 at about three times the usual rate · most about the US and Indonesia Stories reporting abductions133 at about half the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting people displaced102 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting refugees78 at about half the usual rate · most about Nigeria and Ethiopia Stories reporting people falling ill38 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 one and a half times usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little less 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

Read the week →

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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.