← 18 Dec Tuesday 19 December 2023 · to 23:59 UTC 20 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
19,853 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 train derailment in Bangladesh, protests in Kampala (Uganda) and people falling ill in Ecuador. Uganda's coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's. Taken together, the world's news read softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 31 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostIceland 93 in 100 of its 455 stories, usually 37
RegionEast Asia 21 in 100 of its stories, usually 15
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 →
Disasters & accidents

Bangladesh

97 of its 220 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Dhaka accounted for 62 of Bangladesh's 97 stories about harm, carried by 57 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (65 stories). Train derailment was named in 14 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Bangladesh over 30 days → its stories → Dhaka stories →
Protests & strikes

Uganda

41 of its 108 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. 6 of Kampala's 11 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (15 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

Uganda over 30 days → its stories → Kampala stories →
Health

Ecuador

38 of its 59 stories (64%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of people falling ill ran at about 7 times the usual rate (15 stories). Poisoning was named in 24 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

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

Iceland

421 of its 455 stories (93%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Grindavik accounted for 347 of Iceland's 421 stories about harm, carried by 896 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about 8 times the usual rate (98 stories). Outbreaks were named in 36 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

China

671 of its 2,138 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (356 stories). Earthquake was named in 459 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with extreme cold, power cuts and volcanic eruption. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Guinea

39 of its 51 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Conakry accounted for 35 of Guinea's 39 stories about harm, carried by 96 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (34 stories).

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Syria

3 of Sweida's 6 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Philippines

Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (12 stories). Tropical storm was named in 11 of its stories about harm, about 10 times usual, with cyclone and heavy rain. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Romania

28 of its 153 stories (18%) were about people being harmed, usually 11%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (16 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: earthquake in China (459 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); tuberculosis in Rwanda (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); drought in Zimbabwe (18 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); outbreaks in Iceland (36 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); illness in Russia (13 of its stories, about three times its usual).

19 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 19; 19 the day before
20 in 10018 in 10020 Nov27 Nov4 Dec11 Dec19 Dec20 Nov: 18 in 10021 Nov: 18 in 10022 Nov: 19 in 10023 Nov: 19 in 10024 Nov: 18 in 10025 Nov: 19 in 10026 Nov: 20 in 10027 Nov: 19 in 10028 Nov: 19 in 10029 Nov: 19 in 10030 Nov: 19 in 1001 Dec: 19 in 1002 Dec: 20 in 1003 Dec: 19 in 1004 Dec: 18 in 1005 Dec: 18 in 1006 Dec: 18 in 1007 Dec: 19 in 1008 Dec: 18 in 1009 Dec: 19 in 10010 Dec: 20 in 10011 Dec: 18 in 10012 Dec: 18 in 10013 Dec: 18 in 10014 Dec: 18 in 10015 Dec: 18 in 10016 Dec: 19 in 10017 Dec: 19 in 10018 Dec: 19 in 10019 Dec: 19 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 19 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 19,853 stories about harm among 106,012 counted on 19 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

Mentions of the earthquake ran more than ten times their usual in China's news. of the day's 106,012 news stories, 19 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. Bangladesh stood out: 44% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 31%. A year earlier, on 19 December 2022, 20 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 19 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Iceland93 in 100 of its 455 stories · usually 37 · mostly disasters & accidents Guinea76 in 100 of its 51 stories · usually 37 · mostly disasters & accidents Sudan71 in 100 of its 90 stories · usually 64 · mostly displacement Israel70 in 100 of its 1,768 stories · usually 74 · mostly conflict & violence Ecuador64 in 100 of its 59 stories · usually 28 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US104 stories about protests or strikes, of its 600 Jerusalem Israel48 stories about protests or strikes, of its 179 Tel Aviv Israel43 stories about protests or strikes, of its 156 Delhi India40 stories about protests or strikes, of its 162 Hollywood US37 stories about protests or strikes, of its 195

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: 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: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readGuam: 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'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: 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'sSlovenia: 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 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'sRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readPakistan: feelings about like the world'sOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNiger: 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'sMozambique: 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'sMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMali: 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'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'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sItaly: 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'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGermany: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: too little coverage to readGambia: 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: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl 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'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: feelings about like the world'sDenmark: feelings about like the world'sCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: too little coverage to readCongo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: 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: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sCameroon: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: too little coverage to readBrazil: 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'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: 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'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: feelings about like the world'sChagos 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: too little coverage to readCook 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: 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 about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sVietnam: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPuerto Rico: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUganda: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTaiwan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sSweden: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSudan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSpain: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSouth Africa: 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 angry as the world'sQatar: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPortugal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPhilippines: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sParaguay: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPanama: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNamibia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMauritius: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMalta: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLuxembourg: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLithuania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sLibya: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKazakhstan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJordan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIsrael: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIraq: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sHonduras: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuinea: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGreece: coverage a little warmer than 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 about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sDjibouti: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sCyprus: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCuba: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sHong Kong: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBotswana: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBelize: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBelgium: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAustria: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAfghanistan: 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'sChina: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken 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 fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as 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 three times as angry as the world's · 1,245 stories about harm ● Palestine about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 219 stories about harm ● Djibouti about twice as angry as the world's · 184 stories about harm ● Kashmir few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 23 stories about harm ● Switzerland about one and a half times as warm as the world's · 74 stories about harm ● China about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 671 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health31% 6,053 stories · more than usual (usually 28%) Rights & justice22% 4,371 stories · less than usual (usually 25%) Disasters & accidents19% 3,700 stories · more than usual (usually 14%) Conflict & violence13% 2,473 stories · less than usual (usually 17%) Food & livelihood4% 799 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 787 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 782 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 499 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 killed4,604 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,575 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,016 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,268 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions689 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Israel and Nigeria Stories reporting people displaced375 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees346 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations310 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Iceland and the US Stories reporting people falling ill43 at about twice the usual rate · most about Ecuador and the US

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
● 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 · 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.