← 22 May Sunday 23 May 2021 · to 23:59 UTC 24 May →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
11,614 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 Rwanda, protests in Minsk (Belarus) and people injured in Italy. Belarus' coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was much harsher than usual.

Help and hope: reports of peace efforts ran at about one and a half times the usual rate →
Part of lifeHealth 47 in 100 of the stories about harm · much less than usual Country that rose mostRwanda 95 in 100 of its 161 stories, usually 38
RegionEast Asia 34 in 100 of its stories, usually 22
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

Rwanda

153 of its 161 stories (95%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Kivu accounted for 83 of Rwanda's 153 stories about harm, carried by 400 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (20 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 139 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Rwanda over 30 days → its stories → Kivu stories →
Protests & strikes

Belarus

176 of its 225 stories (78%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Minsk accounted for 165 of Belarus' 176 stories about harm, carried by 381 outlets. 110 of Minsk's 165 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (45 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Belarus over 30 days → its stories → Minsk stories →
Health

Italy

243 of its 549 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (63 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Italy over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Protests & strikes

Myanmar

24 of its 27 stories (89%) were about people being harmed, usually 72%. 6 of Aung Hlaing's 8 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (12 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Congo

49 of its 55 stories (89%) were about people being harmed, usually 54%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 42 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Health

China

388 of its 1,036 stories (37%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people affected ran at about 6 times the usual rate (90 stories). Storms were named in 81 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with hypothermia, landslides and flooding.

its stories →
Health

Taiwan

51 of its 103 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (25 stories). Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Bermuda

20 of its 30 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Tropical storm was named in 15 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with storms.

its stories →
Health

Malaysia

99 of its 250 stories (40%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (15 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: volcanic eruption in Congo (42 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); tropical storm in Bermuda (15 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); storms in China (81 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); plane crash in Nigeria (51 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); cyclone in India (176 of its stories, about three times its usual).

29 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 25; 26 the day before
29 in 10024 in 10024 Apr1 May8 May15 May23 May24 Apr: 28 in 10025 Apr: 28 in 10026 Apr: 24 in 10027 Apr: 24 in 10028 Apr: 24 in 10029 Apr: 24 in 10030 Apr: 24 in 1001 May: 25 in 1002 May: 25 in 1003 May: 25 in 1004 May: 24 in 1005 May: 24 in 1006 May: 24 in 1007 May: 24 in 1008 May: 26 in 1009 May: 27 in 10010 May: 25 in 10011 May: 25 in 10012 May: 25 in 10013 May: 24 in 10014 May: 24 in 10015 May: 26 in 10016 May: 28 in 10017 May: 25 in 10018 May: 24 in 10019 May: 24 in 10020 May: 24 in 10021 May: 24 in 10022 May: 26 in 10023 May: 29 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 23 May. 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 11,614 stories about harm among 40,748 counted on 23 May.

Read the day's briefing

The share of stories about people being harmed was the highest since 21 February 2021. 29 in every 100 of the day's 40,748 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 25. In Rwanda's news, mentions of volcanic eruption ran more than ten times their usual. Reports of peace efforts, a sign of help, ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. Rwanda's news was 95% about people being harmed, against a usual 38%. This week the news turned most often to Israel, on 5 of 7 days; help rose on 4 of them.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Rwanda95 in 100 of its 161 stories · usually 38 · mostly disasters & accidents Congo89 in 100 of its 55 stories · usually 54 · mostly disasters & accidents Belarus78 in 100 of its 225 stories · usually 30 · mostly conflict & violence Nepal71 in 100 of its 55 stories · usually 54 · mostly health Afghanistan69 in 100 of its 99 stories · usually 64 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Jerusalem Israel168 stories about protests or strikes, of its 362 Minsk Belarus110 stories about protests or strikes, of its 165 Washington US76 stories about protests or strikes, of its 323 London UK29 stories about protests or strikes, of its 186 Delhi India24 stories about protests or strikes, of its 321

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: too little coverage to readUzbekistan: too little coverage to readUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.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'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: feelings about like the world'sTimor-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: too little coverage to readSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: 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: 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: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: 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'sPhilippines: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: too little coverage to readPanama: too little coverage to readPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: 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: 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: too little coverage to readMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: too little coverage to readMalta: feelings about like the world'sMali: too little coverage to readMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: too little coverage to readLebanon: 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'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: feelings about like the world'sGuinea: too little coverage to readGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGermany: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: too little coverage to readGabon: feelings about like the world'sFrance: feelings about like the world'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: feelings about like the world'sNew 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: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: too little coverage to readFaroe 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: too little coverage to readDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: too little coverage to readCape Verde: feelings about like the world'sCanada: feelings about like the world'sCameroon: 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: too little coverage to readBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: 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 readArmenia: 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'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readVatican 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 readGuernsey: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: feelings about like the world'sAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: feelings about like the world'sMonaco: 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: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTürkiye: coverage a little angrier than the world'sTunisia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSweden: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSudan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSpain: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSouth Korea: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSouth Africa: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sRwanda: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sRussia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPakistan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNetherlands: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNepal: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMozambique: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMadagascar: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLibya: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJordan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sItaly: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIsrael: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIndia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sHaiti: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sGuyana: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuatemala: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCongo: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sColombia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMyanmar: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBrazil: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBelgium: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBelarus: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArgentina: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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 one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sJersey: 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

● Israel about twice as angry as the world's · 608 stories about harm ● Yemen few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 19 stories about harm ● Kashmir few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 46 stories about harm ● Haiti few stories about one and a half times as warm as the world's · 32 stories about harm ● Nigeria about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's · 272 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about one and a half times as angry as the world's · 68 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health47% 5,399 stories · much less than usual (usually 53%) Rights & justice17% 2,001 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents14% 1,575 stories · more than usual (usually 9%) Conflict & violence12% 1,371 stories · more than usual (usually 10%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 603 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 206 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 205 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 135 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 killed3,842 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting arrests909 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected894 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured884 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Israel Stories reporting abductions91 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced86 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Israel and Nigeria Stories reporting evacuations71 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Rwanda and India Stories reporting refugees67 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill9 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
● Griefabout as 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 · 18 Oct – 24 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.