← 15 May Saturday 16 May 2026 · to 23:59 UTC 17 May →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
8,382 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 people killed in Uganda and Rwanda and a disaster in Vaavu Atoll. Rwanda's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.

Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Nigeria and Israel →
Part of lifeRights & justice 25 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostItaly 34 in 100 of its 408 stories, usually 13
RegionSub-Saharan Africa 34 in 100 of its stories, usually 25
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 →
Health

Uganda

47 of its 94 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (34 stories). Illness was named in 36 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

Uganda over 30 days → its stories →
Conflict & violence

Rwanda

16 of its 30 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Rwanda over 30 days → its stories →
Shelter & services

Cuba

79 of its 156 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Havana accounted for 60 of Cuba's 79 stories about harm, carried by 44 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (26 stories).

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

Congo

41 of its 44 stories (93%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (36 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Italy

140 of its 408 stories (34%) were about people being harmed, usually 13%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (54 stories). Accidents were named in 21 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Thailand

58 of its 127 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Bangkok accounted for 45 of Thailand's 58 stories about harm, carried by 83 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (43 stories).

its stories →
Health

DR Congo

21 of its 21 stories (100%) were about people being harmed, usually 47%. Ituri accounted for 17 of the DR Congo's 21 stories about harm, carried by 62 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Russia

90 of its 227 stories (40%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Palestine

Gaza accounted for 46 of Palestine's 79 stories about harm, carried by 57 outlets. Reports of abductions ran at about 4 times the usual rate (12 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: accidents in Italy (21 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hantavirus in Canada (27 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); meningitis in UK (14 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

18 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 17; 17 the day before
19 in 10017 in 10017 Apr24 Apr1 May8 May16 May17 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 1005 May: 17 in 1006 May: 17 in 1007 May: 18 in 1008 May: 17 in 1009 May: 18 in 10010 May: 18 in 10011 May: 18 in 10012 May: 17 in 10013 May: 17 in 10014 May: 17 in 10015 May: 17 in 10016 May: 18 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 16 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 8,382 stories about harm among 46,491 counted on 16 May.

Read the day's briefing

Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Nigeria and Israel. of the day's 46,491 news stories, 18 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. Canada's news mentioned hantavirus about 5 times as often as usual. Uganda's news was 50% about people being harmed, against a usual 25%. A year earlier, on 16 May 2025, 18 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, the same as today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Lebanon63 in 100 of its 71 stories · usually 56 · mostly conflict & violence Palestine58 in 100 of its 136 stories · usually 55 · mostly conflict & violence Israel55 in 100 of its 494 stories · usually 49 · mostly conflict & violence Cuba51 in 100 of its 156 stories · usually 43 · mostly shelter & services Uganda50 in 100 of its 94 stories · usually 25 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

London UK71 stories about protests or strikes, of its 149 Washington US38 stories about protests or strikes, of its 218 Havana Cuba25 stories about protests or strikes, of its 60 Jerusalem Israel20 stories about protests or strikes, of its 41 Delhi India16 stories about protests or strikes, of its 118

Stories, not people.

Where harm was most of the news

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: near the world's share or lessVietnam: near the world's share or lessVenezuela: near the world's share or lessVanuatu: near the world's share or lessUzbekistan: near the world's share or lessUruguay: no storiesMicronesia: near the world's share or lessU.S. Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessPuerto Rico: near the world's share or lessUnited States: near the world's share or lessSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: no storiesFalkland Islands: no storiesCayman Islands: near the world's share or lessIsle of Man: near the world's share or lessUnited Kingdom: near the world's share or lessUnited Arab Emirates: near the world's share or lessTurkmenistan: near the world's share or lessTurkey: near the world's share or lessTunisia: near the world's share or lessTrinidad & Tobago: near the world's share or lessTonga: near the world's share or lessTogo: no storiesTimor-Leste: no storiesTanzania: near the world's share or lessTajikistan: near the world's share or lessTaiwan: near the world's share or lessSwitzerland: near the world's share or lessSweden: near the world's share or lessEswatini: no storiesSuriname: near the world's share or lessSouth Sudan: near the world's share or lessSri Lanka: near the world's share or lessSpain: near the world's share or lessSouth Korea: near the world's share or lessSomaliland: no storiesSolomon Islands: near the world's share or lessSlovakia: near the world's share or lessSlovenia: near the world's share or lessSingapore: near the world's share or lessSierra Leone: near the world's share or lessSeychelles: near the world's share or lessSerbia: no storiesSenegal: near the world's share or lessSaudi Arabia: near the world's share or lessSão Tomé: no storiesSamoa: near the world's share or lessSt Vincent: near the world's share or lessSt. Lucia: near the world's share or lessRomania: near the world's share or lessQatar: near the world's share or lessPortugal: near the world's share or lessPoland: near the world's share or lessPhilippines: near the world's share or lessPeru: near the world's share or lessParaguay: no storiesPapua New Guinea: near the world's share or lessPanama: near the world's share or lessPalau: near the world's share or lessOman: near the world's share or lessNorway: near the world's share or lessNorth Korea: near the world's share or lessNiger: near the world's share or lessNicaragua: near the world's share or lessNew Zealand: near the world's share or lessNiue: near the world's share or lessNetherlands: near the world's share or lessCuraçao: no storiesNamibia: near the world's share or lessMozambique: near the world's share or lessMorocco: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara: near the world's share or lessMontenegro: near the world's share or lessMongolia: near the world's share or lessMoldova: near the world's share or lessMexico: near the world's share or lessMauritius: near the world's share or lessMauritania: no storiesMalta: near the world's share or lessMalaysia: near the world's share or lessMadagascar: near the world's share or lessNorth Macedonia: near the world's share or lessLuxembourg: near the world's share or lessLithuania: near the world's share or lessLibya: near the world's share or lessLiberia: near the world's share or lessLesotho: near the world's share or lessLatvia: near the world's share or lessLaos: near the world's share or lessKyrgyzstan: near the world's share or lessKuwait: near the world's share or lessKosovo: no storiesKiribati: no storiesKenya: near the world's share or lessKazakhstan: near the world's share or lessJordan: near the world's share or lessJapan: near the world's share or lessJamaica: near the world's share or lessIreland: near the world's share or lessIraq: near the world's share or lessIndonesia: near the world's share or lessHungary: near the world's share or lessHonduras: near the world's share or lessHaiti: near the world's share or lessGuyana: near the world's share or lessGuinea-Bissau: no storiesGuinea: near the world's share or lessGrenada: near the world's share or lessGreece: near the world's share or lessGhana: near the world's share or lessGermany: near the world's share or lessGeorgia: near the world's share or lessGambia: near the world's share or lessGabon: near the world's share or lessFrance: near the world's share or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: near the world's share or lessFrench Polynesia: no storiesNew Caledonia: no storiesFrench Southern Territories: no storiesÅland Islands: no storiesFinland: near the world's share or lessEthiopia: near the world's share or lessEstonia: near the world's share or lessEritrea: near the world's share or lessEquatorial Guinea: near the world's share or lessEl Salvador: near the world's share or lessEgypt: near the world's share or lessEcuador: near the world's share or lessDominican Republic: near the world's share or lessDominica: near the world's share or lessDjibouti: near the world's share or lessGreenland: near the world's share or lessFaroe Islands: no storiesDenmark: near the world's share or lessCzech Republic: near the world's share or lessN. Cyprus: no storiesCyprus: near the world's share or lessCroatia: near the world's share or lessCôte d'Ivoire: near the world's share or lessCosta Rica: near the world's share or lessComoros: near the world's share or lessColombia: near the world's share or lessChina: near the world's share or lessHong Kong: near the world's share or lessChile: near the world's share or lessChad: near the world's share or lessCentral African Republic: near the world's share or lessCape Verde: near the world's share or lessCanada: near the world's share or lessCameroon: near the world's share or lessBurundi: no storiesBurkina Faso: no storiesBulgaria: near the world's share or lessBrunei: near the world's share or lessBrazil: near the world's share or lessBotswana: near the world's share or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: no storiesBhutan: near the world's share or lessBenin: near the world's share or lessBelize: near the world's share or lessBelgium: near the world's share or lessBelarus: near the world's share or lessBarbados: near the world's share or lessBahrain: near the world's share or lessBahamas: near the world's share or lessAzerbaijan: near the world's share or lessAustria: near the world's share or lessAustralia: near the world's share or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: no storiesArmenia: near the world's share or lessArgentina: near the world's share or lessAntigua & Barbuda: near the world's share or lessAngola: near the world's share or lessAndorra: no storiesAlgeria: near the world's share or lessAlbania: near the world's share or lessAksai Chin: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Free Zone): near the world's share or lessVatican City: near the world's share or lessMarshall Islands: near the world's share or lessNorthern Mariana Islands: no storiesAmerican Samoa: near the world's share or lessChagos Islands: no storiesSt. Helena: no storiesPitcairn: near the world's share or lessAnguilla: no storiesBermuda: near the world's share or lessBritish Virgin Islands: no storiesTurks & Caicos Islands: no storiesMontserrat: near the world's share or lessJersey: near the world's share or lessGuernsey: near the world's share or lessSan Marino: no storiesSt Kitts & Nevis: near the world's share or lessCook Islands: near the world's share or lessAruba: near the world's share or lessNauru: no storiesMonaco: near the world's share or lessLiechtenstein: no storiesWallis & Futuna: no storiesSt. Martin: near the world's share or lessSt. Barthélemy: no storiesMacao: near the world's share or lessNorfolk Island: no storiesSint Maarten: no storiesChristmas Island: no storiesGibraltar: near the world's share or lessMayotte: no storiesZimbabwe: 33 in 100 of its 83 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Yemen: 53 in 100 of its 15 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Guam: 45 in 100 of its 11 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Ukraine: 33 in 100 of its 117 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Uganda: 50 in 100 of its 94 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Thailand: 46 in 100 of its 127 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Syria: 43 in 100 of its 42 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Sudan: 68 in 100 of its 25 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)South Africa: 24 in 100 of its 205 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Somalia: 40 in 100 of its 25 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Rwanda: 53 in 100 of its 30 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Russia: 40 in 100 of its 227 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Pakistan: 33 in 100 of its 350 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Nigeria: 36 in 100 of its 1,276 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Nepal: 31 in 100 of its 45 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Mali: 73 in 100 of its 11 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Malawi: 36 in 100 of its 39 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Lebanon: 63 in 100 of its 71 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Italy: 34 in 100 of its 408 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Israel: 55 in 100 of its 494 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Palestine: 58 in 100 of its 136 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Iran: 24 in 100 of its 552 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)India: 23 in 100 of its 3,610 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Iceland: 67 in 100 of its 6 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Guatemala: 83 in 100 of its 6 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Fiji: 31 in 100 of its 36 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Cuba: 51 in 100 of its 156 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)DR Congo: 100 in 100 of its 21 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Congo: 93 in 100 of its 44 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Cambodia: 41 in 100 of its 32 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Myanmar: 45 in 100 of its 11 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Bolivia: 69 in 100 of its 13 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Bangladesh: 35 in 100 of its 154 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Afghanistan: 49 in 100 of its 35 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Kashmir: 40 in 100 of its 84 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Palestine: 58 in 100 of its 136 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Palestine: 58 in 100 of its 136 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Kashmir: 40 in 100 of its 84 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Kashmir: 40 in 100 of its 84 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Ukraine: 33 in 100 of its 117 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Palestine: 58 in 100 of its 136 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Kashmir: 40 in 100 of its 84 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)Maldives: 84 in 100 of its 25 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 18)
A quarter or more above the world's share Near the world's or lessNo stories

Each country shaded by how much of its news was about people being harmed, against the world's 18 in 100 that day. Stronger colour: further above. A country with few stories is drawn closer to the world's. Click a country.

Most of its news about harm

● Israel 55 in 100 of its 494 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Palestine 58 in 100 of its 136 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Lebanon 63 in 100 of its 71 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Cuba 51 in 100 of its 156 stories · mostly shelter & services ● Uganda 50 in 100 of its 94 stories · mostly health ● Thailand 46 in 100 of its 127 stories · mostly disasters & accidents

Stories, not people. Countries with at least 50 stories.

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice25% 2,062 stories · about as usual Health25% 2,034 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence17% 1,370 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents16% 1,317 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given6% 490 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood5% 421 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 358 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 169 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 killed2,133 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests974 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected835 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured649 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Israel Stories reporting abductions163 at about twice the usual rate · most about Nigeria and Israel Stories reporting people displaced112 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees49 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations46 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Canada Stories reporting people falling ill13 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 · 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.