← 19 May Tuesday 20 May 2025 · to 23:59 UTC 21 May →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
18,258 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 day's news pointed at illness in Geneva, rights and justice in Colombo and violence in Tripoli. Sri Lanka's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Taken together, the world's news read much softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 31 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostTanzania 58 in 100 of its 62 stories, usually 23
RegionLatin America & Caribbean 27 in 100 of its stories, usually 25
Tone of the words Much softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Health

Switzerland

91 of its 278 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Geneva accounted for 59 of Switzerland's 91 stories about harm, carried by 86 outlets. Covid was named in 43 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

Switzerland over 30 days → its stories → Geneva stories →
Rights & justice

Sri Lanka

65 of its 155 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Colombo accounted for 35 of Sri Lanka's 65 stories about harm, carried by 30 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (20 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Sri Lanka over 30 days → its stories → Colombo stories →
Disasters & accidents

Mexico

118 of its 375 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (74 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

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

France

Reports of evacuations ran at about 8 times the usual rate (7 stories). Road crashes were named in 12 of its stories about harm, about 10 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Mali

3 of Mopti's 4 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (8 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

India

Reports of refugees ran at about 4 times the usual rate (13 stories). Covid was named in 100 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with flu. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Pakistan

Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (47 stories). Heatwave was named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Tanzania

36 of its 62 stories (58%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. 16 of Dar es Salaam's 18 stories were about protests or strikes.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Sierra Leone

17 of its 30 stories (57%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (15 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: flu in Brazil (20 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); natural hazards in Venezuela (16 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); covid in India (100 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); road crashes in France (12 of its stories, about 10 times its usual); heatwave in Pakistan (17 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

19 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 19; 19 the day before
21 in 10017 in 10021 Apr28 Apr5 May12 May20 May21 Apr: 19 in 10022 Apr: 18 in 10023 Apr: 19 in 10024 Apr: 19 in 10025 Apr: 18 in 10026 Apr: 20 in 10027 Apr: 21 in 10028 Apr: 19 in 10029 Apr: 18 in 10030 Apr: 18 in 1001 May: 18 in 1002 May: 18 in 1003 May: 19 in 1004 May: 19 in 1005 May: 19 in 1006 May: 18 in 1007 May: 20 in 1008 May: 19 in 1009 May: 18 in 10010 May: 19 in 10011 May: 19 in 10012 May: 18 in 10013 May: 18 in 10014 May: 18 in 10015 May: 17 in 10016 May: 18 in 10017 May: 20 in 10018 May: 19 in 10019 May: 19 in 10020 May: 19 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 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 18,258 stories about harm among 98,525 counted on 20 May.

Read the day's briefing

Switzerland's news mentioned Covid about 7 times as often as usual. 19 in every 100 of the day's 98,525 news stories were about people being harmed, as usual. In Switzerland, 33% of the news was about people being harmed, where 17% is usual. A year earlier, on 20 May 2024, 18 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 →

Sudan62 in 100 of its 77 stories · usually 67 · mostly conflict & violence Israel58 in 100 of its 1,285 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence Tanzania58 in 100 of its 62 stories · usually 23 · mostly rights & justice Palestine52 in 100 of its 234 stories · usually 59 · mostly conflict & violence Syria49 in 100 of its 162 stories · usually 54 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US152 stories about protests or strikes, of its 840 Newark US59 stories about protests or strikes, of its 171 London UK42 stories about protests or strikes, of its 272 Jerusalem Israel25 stories about protests or strikes, of its 146 Hollywood US25 stories about protests or strikes, of its 177

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'sYemen: 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: 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: feelings about like the world'sCayman 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: too little coverage to readTunisia: too little coverage to readTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: too little coverage to readSpain: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSlovenia: too little coverage to readSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: 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. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRwanda: 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: 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'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: feelings about like the world'sMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: too little coverage to readMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: 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'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: too little coverage to readKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: 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'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 readGeorgia: 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: feelings about like the world'sNew Caledonia: feelings about like the world'sFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFiji: feelings about like the world'sEthiopia: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: too little coverage to readEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readCzech 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'sCentral African Republic: too little coverage to readCape Verde: feelings about like the world'sCanada: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBrazil: 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'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: 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'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'sAlbania: 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: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: feelings about like the world'sSt. Helena: feelings about like the world'sPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBritish 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: 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: feelings about like the world'sNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: feelings about like the world'sMaldives: 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 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 readUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTürkiye: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sTajikistan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sTaiwan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSudan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Korea: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSierra Leone: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSt Vincent: 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'sPakistan: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNicaragua: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNepal: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMozambique: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMexico: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMali: 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 about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sLebanon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKuwait: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKazakhstan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sJapan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sJamaica: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIsrael: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIreland: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIraq: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIran: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIndia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sHaiti: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGreece: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sFrance: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sFinland: coverage a little angrier than the world'sEgypt: coverage a little warmer than the world'sEcuador: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDenmark: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sChina: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCameroon: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCambodia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBenin: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage a little warmer than 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'sPalestine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBermuda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMacao: coverage a little more fearful 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 · 748 stories about harm ● Pakistan about twice as fearful as the world's · 380 stories about harm ● Sudan few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 48 stories about harm ● Palestine about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 121 stories about harm ● Kashmir few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 37 stories about harm ● Switzerland about one and a half times as warm as the world's · 91 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health31% 5,496 stories · more than usual (usually 26%) Rights & justice24% 4,334 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents18% 3,293 stories · more than usual (usually 16%) Conflict & violence13% 2,380 stories · much less than usual (usually 20%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 802 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 738 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood3% 538 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 374 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 killed4,102 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,086 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,762 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured865 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Israel Stories reporting abductions359 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees205 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced175 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations125 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill26 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 softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angera little less than usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little less than usual
● Feara little less than 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.