← 27 May Friday 28 May 2021 · to 23:59 UTC 29 May →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
20,639 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 →

People killed in Germany, oil spill in Sri Lanka and rights and justice in Tigray drew the news. Germany's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. In the world's news as a whole, the wording was softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 49 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostGermany 40 in 100 of its 593 stories, usually 25
RegionEast Asia 26 in 100 of its stories, usually 23
Tone of the words Softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Conflict & violence

Germany

240 of its 593 stories (40%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (98 stories). Poisoning was named in 21 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Germany over 30 days → its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Sri Lanka

95 of its 179 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Colombo accounted for 73 of Sri Lanka's 95 stories about harm, carried by 54 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (14 stories). Oil spill was named in 25 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with heavy rain.

Sri Lanka over 30 days → its stories → Colombo stories →
Health

China

680 of its 2,163 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people falling ill ran at about 5 times the usual rate (11 stories). Ebola was named in 17 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with poisoning.

China over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Disasters & accidents

Congo

32 of its 41 stories (78%) were about people being harmed, usually 64%. Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories). Covid was named in 10 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 →
Disasters & accidents

Rwanda

75 of its 104 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 54%. Reports of people displaced ran at about 4 times the usual rate (7 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Syria

Damascus accounted for 47 of Syria's 88 stories about harm, carried by 105 outlets. Landslides were named in 11 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Uganda

44 of its 86 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Reports of refugees ran at about 5 times the usual rate (9 stories).

its stories →
Health

Taiwan

79 of its 155 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Taipei accounted for 49 of Taiwan's 79 stories about harm, carried by 42 outlets.

its stories →
Health

Malaysia

171 of its 470 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Outbreaks were named in 36 of its stories about harm, about three times usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: outbreaks in Malaysia (36 of its stories, about three times its usual); covid in Congo (10 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); cyclone in Bangladesh (14 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); flooding in New Zealand (19 of its stories, about 10 times its usual); covid in Afghanistan (12 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

24 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 25; 24 the day before
29 in 10024 in 10029 Apr6 May13 May20 May28 May29 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 10024 May: 24 in 10025 May: 24 in 10026 May: 24 in 10027 May: 24 in 10028 May: 24 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 28 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 20,639 stories about harm among 85,789 counted on 28 May.

Read the day's briefing

Of the day's 85,789 news stories, 24 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. On 28 May 2020, a year earlier, the share was 32 in every 100, against 24 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Rwanda72 in 100 of its 104 stories · usually 54 · mostly disasters & accidents Ethiopia64 in 100 of its 89 stories · usually 46 · mostly rights & justice Belarus56 in 100 of its 283 stories · usually 53 · mostly rights & justice Iraq54 in 100 of its 102 stories · usually 52 · mostly conflict & violence Sri Lanka53 in 100 of its 179 stories · usually 36 · mostly disasters & accidents

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US210 stories about protests or strikes, of its 755 Jerusalem Israel71 stories about protests or strikes, of its 191 Beijing China67 stories about protests or strikes, of its 155 Minsk Belarus60 stories about protests or strikes, of its 137 Tulsa US49 stories about protests or strikes, of its 87

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: feelings about like the world'sVenezuela: 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'sGuam: 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: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUkraine: feelings about like the world'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTonga: too little coverage to readTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: too little coverage to readTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSouth Africa: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: 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'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: 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 readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNew Zealand: 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'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLebanon: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: 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'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIndia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: too little coverage to readSt 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: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: 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'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 readCentral African Republic: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: feelings about like the world'sCanada: feelings about like the world'sCameroon: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: 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: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readAntigua & Barbuda: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlbania: 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: feelings about like the world'sBermuda: 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: feelings about like the world'sMonaco: too little coverage to readLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: feelings about like the world'sSt. 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: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readZambia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVietnam: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sTürkiye: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSudan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSlovenia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSierra Leone: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sRwanda: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sRomania: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPeru: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNiger: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNamibia: 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'sMontenegro: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMongolia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMalta: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMali: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMalaysia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLibya: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLiberia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLaos: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJamaica: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sItaly: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIsrael: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sHungary: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGuyana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGermany: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sFrance: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sEgypt: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCuba: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sDR Congo: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCongo: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sColombia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sChina: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHong Kong: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sChile: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sChad: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCambodia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMyanmar: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBurundi: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBrazil: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBosnia: 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 fearful as the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAustria: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAustralia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sArgentina: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAlgeria: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice 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 twice as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sMaldives: 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 · 314 stories about harm ● Kashmir few stories about twice as fearful as the world's · 49 stories about harm ● Germany about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 240 stories about harm ● Palestine about twice as angry as the world's · 63 stories about harm ● Iraq about twice as angry as the world's · 55 stories about harm ● Nigeria about one and a half times as angry as the world's · 363 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health49% 9,998 stories · less than usual (usually 52%) Rights & justice20% 4,099 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents10% 2,112 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence10% 2,082 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 800 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood3% 558 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 509 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 297 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 killed5,665 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,662 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,614 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured929 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Israel Stories reporting refugees176 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced144 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations131 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions126 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill37 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and China

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 softer 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 · 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.