← 3 May Monday 4 May 2026 · to 23:59 UTC 5 May →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
11,530 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 news turned to illness in Johannesburg, people injured in Germany and volcanic eruption in the Philippines. Lebanon's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Worldwide, the words used were softer than usual.

Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate, most often about South Africa and the US → Reports of people falling ill ran at about 6 times the usual rate, most often about South Africa and the US → Help and hope: reports of aid and relief ran at about one and a half times the usual rate →
Part of lifeHealth 28 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostCape Verde 95 in 100 of its 57 stories, usually 25
RegionCentral Asia 12 in 100 of its stories, usually 9
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 →
Health

South Africa

351 of its 718 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Johannesburg accounted for 210 of South Africa's 351 stories about harm, carried by 374 outlets. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (45 stories). Haemorrhagic fever was named in 70 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

South Africa over 30 days → its stories → Johannesburg stories →
Rights & justice

Germany

161 of its 554 stories (29%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (63 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Germany over 30 days → its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Philippines

127 of its 493 stories (26%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 6 times the usual rate (9 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 23 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual, with earthquake.

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

Cape Verde

54 of its 57 stories (95%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Praia accounted for 38 of Cape Verde's 54 stories about harm, carried by 134 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (8 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

Argentina

45 of its 80 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Ushuaia accounted for 23 of Argentina's 45 stories about harm, carried by 25 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (12 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Netherlands

53 of its 169 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Pakistan

Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories). Heatwave was named in 12 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

UK

Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (8 stories). Storms were named in 13 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with flu. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Colombia

24 of its 42 stories (57%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (15 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: flooding in Kenya (16 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); volcanic eruption in Japan (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); earthquake in Mexico (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); heatwave in Pakistan (12 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); flu in Canada (13 of its stories, about 6 times its usual).

17 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 17; 17 the day before
19 in 10016 in 1005 Apr12 Apr19 Apr26 Apr4 May5 Apr: 18 in 1006 Apr: 18 in 1007 Apr: 18 in 1008 Apr: 17 in 1009 Apr: 17 in 10010 Apr: 17 in 10011 Apr: 16 in 10012 Apr: 17 in 10013 Apr: 17 in 10014 Apr: 16 in 10015 Apr: 16 in 10016 Apr: 17 in 10017 Apr: 17 in 10018 Apr: 17 in 10019 Apr: 18 in 10020 Apr: 18 in 10021 Apr: 18 in 10022 Apr: 17 in 10023 Apr: 17 in 10024 Apr: 17 in 10025 Apr: 17 in 10026 Apr: 19 in 10027 Apr: 18 in 10028 Apr: 17 in 10029 Apr: 17 in 10030 Apr: 17 in 1001 May: 17 in 1002 May: 17 in 1003 May: 17 in 1004 May: 17 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 4 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 11,530 stories about harm among 68,421 counted on 4 May.

Read the day's briefing

Mentions of haemorrhagic fever ran more than ten times their usual in South Africa's news. of the day's 68,421 news stories, 17 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. Reports of aid and relief, a sign of help, ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. Evacuations were reported at about three times the usual rate, most often about South Africa and the US. For the second day running, the news turned to South Africa.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Cape Verde95 in 100 of its 57 stories · usually 25 · mostly health Palestine59 in 100 of its 87 stories · usually 58 · mostly conflict & violence Argentina56 in 100 of its 80 stories · usually 16 · mostly health Lebanon53 in 100 of its 94 stories · usually 59 · mostly conflict & violence Cuba51 in 100 of its 113 stories · usually 41 · mostly shelter & services

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US81 stories about protests or strikes, of its 368 Tehran Iran44 stories about protests or strikes, of its 228 London UK32 stories about protests or strikes, of its 150 Johannesburg South Africa27 stories about protests or strikes, of its 210 Sydney Australia21 stories about protests or strikes, of its 88

Stories, not people.

Where the news was warmest

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: about as warm as its own usual or lessZambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessYemen: about as warm as its own usual or lessVietnam: about as warm as its own usual or lessVenezuela: too little coverage to readVanuatu: about as warm as its own usual or lessUzbekistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessU.S. Virgin Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuam: about as warm as its own usual or lessPuerto Rico: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited States: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth 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 Kingdom: about as warm as its own usual or lessUnited Arab Emirates: about as warm as its own usual or lessUkraine: about as warm as its own usual or lessUganda: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkmenistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurkey: about as warm as its own usual or lessTunisia: about as warm as its own usual or lessTrinidad & Tobago: about as warm as its own usual or lessTonga: about as warm as its own usual or lessTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: about as warm as its own usual or lessThailand: about as warm as its own usual or lessTanzania: about as warm as its own usual or lessTajikistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessTaiwan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSyria: about as warm as its own usual or lessSwitzerland: about as warm as its own usual or lessSweden: about as warm as its own usual or lessEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSudan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSri Lanka: about as warm as its own usual or lessSpain: too little coverage to readSouth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessSouth Africa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomalia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovakia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSlovenia: too little coverage to readSingapore: too little coverage to readSierra Leone: about as warm as its own usual or lessSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: too little coverage to readSaudi Arabia: about as warm as its own usual or lessSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: about as warm as its own usual or lessRussia: about as warm as its own usual or lessRomania: about as warm as its own usual or lessQatar: about as warm as its own usual or lessPortugal: about as warm as its own usual or lessPoland: about as warm as its own usual or lessPhilippines: about as warm as its own usual or lessPeru: about as warm as its own usual or lessParaguay: too little coverage to readPapua New Guinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessPanama: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalau: too little coverage to readPakistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessOman: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorway: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorth Korea: about as warm as its own usual or lessNigeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessNiger: too little coverage to readNicaragua: too little coverage to readNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: about as warm as its own usual or lessMozambique: about as warm as its own usual or lessMorocco: too little coverage to readWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: too little coverage to readMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: about as warm as its own usual or lessMauritius: too little coverage to readMauritania: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalta: about as warm as its own usual or lessMali: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalaysia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMalawi: about as warm as its own usual or lessMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLuxembourg: too little coverage to readLithuania: too little coverage to readLibya: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiberia: about as warm as its own usual or lessLesotho: about as warm as its own usual or lessLebanon: about as warm as its own usual or lessLatvia: too little coverage to readLaos: too little coverage to readKyrgyzstan: about as warm as its own usual or lessKuwait: about as warm as its own usual or lessKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: about as warm as its own usual or lessKazakhstan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJordan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJapan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJamaica: about as warm as its own usual or lessItaly: about as warm as its own usual or lessIsrael: about as warm as its own usual or lessPalestine: about as warm as its own usual or lessIreland: about as warm as its own usual or lessIraq: too little coverage to readIran: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndonesia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIndia: about as warm as its own usual or lessIceland: about as warm as its own usual or lessHungary: about as warm as its own usual or lessHonduras: about as warm as its own usual or lessHaiti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuyana: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuatemala: too little coverage to readGrenada: about as warm as its own usual or lessGreece: about as warm as its own usual or lessGermany: about as warm as its own usual or lessGeorgia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGambia: about as warm as its own usual or lessGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: about as warm as its own usual or lessSt 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessFiji: about as warm as its own usual or lessEthiopia: about as warm as its own usual or lessEstonia: too little coverage to readEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: about as warm as its own usual or lessEgypt: about as warm as its own usual or lessEcuador: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominican Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: about as warm as its own usual or lessGreenland: about as warm as its own usual or lessFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: about as warm as its own usual or lessCzech Republic: about as warm as its own usual or lessN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: about as warm as its own usual or lessCuba: about as warm as its own usual or lessCroatia: about as warm as its own usual or lessCôte d'Ivoire: too little coverage to readCosta Rica: about as warm as its own usual or lessDR Congo: about as warm as its own usual or lessCongo: about as warm as its own usual or lessComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: about as warm as its own usual or lessChina: about as warm as its own usual or lessHong Kong: about as warm as its own usual or lessChile: about as warm as its own usual or lessChad: about as warm as its own usual or lessCentral African Republic: too little coverage to readCape Verde: about as warm as its own usual or lessCanada: about as warm as its own usual or lessCameroon: about as warm as its own usual or lessCambodia: about as warm as its own usual or lessMyanmar: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurundi: about as warm as its own usual or lessBurkina Faso: about as warm as its own usual or lessBulgaria: about as warm as its own usual or lessBrunei: too little coverage to readBrazil: about as warm as its own usual or lessBotswana: about as warm as its own usual or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: too little coverage to readBolivia: about as warm as its own usual or lessBhutan: too little coverage to readBenin: too little coverage to readBelize: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelgium: about as warm as its own usual or lessBelarus: about as warm as its own usual or lessBarbados: about as warm as its own usual or lessBangladesh: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahrain: about as warm as its own usual or lessBahamas: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzerbaijan: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAustralia: about as warm as its own usual or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: about as warm as its own usual or lessArgentina: about as warm as its own usual or lessAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: too little coverage to readAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: about as warm as its own usual or lessAlbania: about as warm as its own usual or lessAfghanistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessJammu & Kashmir: about as warm as its own usual or lessAksai Chin: about as warm as its own usual or lessGaza: about as warm as its own usual or lessWest Bank: about as warm as its own usual or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessSiachen Glacier: about as warm as its own usual or lessCrimea: about as warm as its own usual or lessEast Jerusalem: about as warm as its own usual or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: about as warm as its own usual or lessVatican 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: about as warm as its own usual or lessPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBermuda: about as warm as its own usual or lessBritish Virgin Islands: about as warm as its own usual or lessTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: about as warm as its own usual or lessGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: about as warm as its own usual or lessNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: too little coverage to readMaldives: about as warm as its own usual or lessLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: about as warm as its own usual or lessNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: about as warm as its own usual or lessMayotte: too little coverage to readNew Zealand: warmth about its own usualNamibia: warmth about its own usualGhana: warmth about its own usualRochester, US -- health: 10 stories, carried by 47 outletsCalgary, Canada -- rights & justice: 19 stories, carried by 14 outletsWellington, New Zealand -- health: 26 stories, carried by 15 outletsNew Mexico, US -- rights & justice: 29 stories, carried by 74 outletsPuducherry, India -- deaths & injuries, cause not given: 11 stories, carried by 16 outletsLagos, Nigeria -- rights & justice: 31 stories, carried by 18 outlets
Warmer than its own usual The warmest eventsAbout as warm or lessToo little news

Each country shaded by the warmth in its news — care, help, gratitude — against its own last 30 days. Stronger colour: further above. Dots: the events whose coverage carried the most warmth, even where the event itself began as harm. Warm words, not good outcomes. Click a country or a dot.

Warmest news

No country's news was much warmer than its usual (a quarter or more).

Warmest events

● Rochester US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 10 stories ● Calgary Canada about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · rights & justice · 19 stories ● Wellington New Zealand about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · health · 26 stories ● New Mexico US about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · rights & justice · 29 stories ● Puducherry India about one and a half times as warm as the day's news · deaths & injuries, cause not given · 11 stories

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health28% 3,158 stories · more than usual (usually 23%) Rights & justice23% 2,599 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents19% 2,154 stories · more than usual (usually 17%) Conflict & violence13% 1,463 stories · less than usual (usually 17%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given6% 622 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood5% 610 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 374 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 293 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 killed2,847 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,456 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,099 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people injured923 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations269 at about three times the usual rate · most about South Africa and the US Stories reporting people displaced134 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Sudan Stories reporting abductions106 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill75 at about 6 times the usual rate · most about South Africa and the US Stories reporting refugees29 at about half the usual rate · most about Canada and Nigeria

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 · 19 Oct – 25 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.