← 22 May Saturday 23 May 2026 · to 23:59 UTC 24 May →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
8,245 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 Bundibugyo, gas explosion in China and protests in Ashdod (Israel). Uganda's coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 26 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostUganda 78 in 100 of its 120 stories, usually 45
RegionEast Asia 23 in 100 of its stories, usually 12
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

93 of its 120 stories (78%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Bundibugyo accounted for 68 of Uganda's 93 stories about harm, carried by 111 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about 4 times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

Uganda over 30 days → its stories → Bundibugyo stories →
Disasters & accidents

China

254 of its 890 stories (29%) were about people being harmed, usually 11%. Reports of people killed ran at about 9 times the usual rate (198 stories). Gas explosion was named in 171 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with flooding. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

China over 30 days → its stories →
Protests & strikes

Israel

177 of its 288 stories (61%) were about people being harmed, usually 51%. 34 of Ashdod's 40 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Israel over 30 days → its stories → Ashdod stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Cambodia

14 of its 20 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (10 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Rights & justice

United Arab Emirates

29 of its 94 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 12%. Dubai accounted for 29 of the United Arab Emirates' 29 stories about harm, carried by 25 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (9 stories).

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Sri Lanka

26 of its 68 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (6 stories). Landslides were named in 14 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Palestine

Gaza accounted for 25 of Palestine's 46 stories about harm, carried by 28 outlets. Reports of refugees ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Türkiye

29 of its 81 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (16 stories).

its stories →
Rights & justice

Thailand

21 of its 55 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: landslides in Sri Lanka (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); heatwave in UK (39 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); ebola in India (20 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); respiratory illness in US (44 of its stories, about three times its usual).

19 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 17; 18 the day before
19 in 10017 in 10024 Apr1 May8 May15 May23 May24 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 10017 May: 19 in 10018 May: 18 in 10019 May: 18 in 10020 May: 17 in 10021 May: 18 in 10022 May: 18 in 10023 May: 19 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 23 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 8,245 stories about harm among 44,219 counted on 23 May.

Read the day's briefing

For the eighth day running, the news turned to Uganda. Stories about people being harmed made up 19 in every 100 of the day's 44,219 stories, above the usual 17. Mentions of gas explosion ran more than ten times their usual in China's news. In Uganda, 78% of the news was about people being harmed, where 45% is usual. On 23 May 2025, a year earlier, the share was 19 in every 100, the same as today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Congo78 in 100 of its 50 stories · usually 68 · mostly health Uganda78 in 100 of its 120 stories · usually 45 · mostly health Israel61 in 100 of its 288 stories · usually 51 · mostly rights & justice Palestine61 in 100 of its 76 stories · usually 53 · mostly conflict & violence Cuba55 in 100 of its 132 stories · usually 46 · mostly rights & justice

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US81 stories about protests or strikes, of its 282 Ashdod Israel34 stories about protests or strikes, of its 40 Belgrade 17 stories about protests or strikes, of its 17 Delhi India16 stories about protests or strikes, of its 169 Havana Cuba15 stories about protests or strikes, of its 52

Stories, not people.

Where harm was most of the news

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: near the world's share or lessZambia: near the world's share or lessYemen: 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: near the world's share or lessMicronesia: no storiesU.S. Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessGuam: 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 lessTurkmenistan: 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: near the world's share or lessTimor-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 lessSudan: 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 lessPeru: near the world's share or lessParaguay: near the world's share or lessPapua 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 lessNigeria: 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: no storiesNetherlands: near the world's share or lessCuraçao: no storiesNepal: near the world's share or lessNamibia: near the world's share or lessMozambique: near the world's share or lessMorocco: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara: no storiesMontenegro: 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 lessMali: near the world's share or lessMalaysia: near the world's share or lessMadagascar: no storiesNorth 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 lessLatvia: near the world's share or lessLaos: 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 lessItaly: near the world's share or lessIreland: near the world's share or lessIran: near the world's share or lessIndonesia: near the world's share or lessIndia: near the world's share or lessIceland: near the world's share or lessHungary: near the world's share or lessHaiti: near the world's share or lessGuyana: near the world's share or lessGuinea-Bissau: near the world's share or lessGuinea: near the world's share or lessGuatemala: near the world's share or lessGrenada: 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: no storiesGabon: 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: near the world's share or lessFrench Southern Territories: no storiesÅland Islands: no storiesFinland: near the world's share or lessFiji: 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 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: near the world's share or lessDenmark: near the world's share or lessCzech Republic: near the world's share or lessN. Cyprus: no storiesCroatia: near the world's share or lessCôte d'Ivoire: near the world's share or lessCosta Rica: near the world's share or lessComoros: no storiesColombia: near the world's share or lessHong Kong: near the world's share or lessChad: near the world's share or lessCentral African Republic: near the world's share or lessCape Verde: no storiesCanada: near the world's share or lessCameroon: near the world's share or lessBurundi: near the world's share or lessBurkina Faso: near the world's share or lessBulgaria: 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: near the world's share or lessBhutan: 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 lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): no storiesWestern Sahara (Free Zone): no storiesVatican 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: near the world's share or lessTurks & Caicos Islands: near the world's share or lessMontserrat: no storiesJersey: 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: no storiesNauru: near the world's share or lessMonaco: near the world's share or lessMaldives: near the world's share or lessLiechtenstein: no storiesWallis & Futuna: no storiesSt. Martin: no storiesSt. Barthélemy: no storiesMacao: near the world's share or lessNorfolk Island: no storiesSint Maarten: no storiesChristmas Island: no storiesGibraltar: no storiesMayotte: no storiesUnited Arab Emirates: 31 in 100 of its 94 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Ukraine: 41 in 100 of its 197 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Uganda: 78 in 100 of its 120 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Türkiye: 36 in 100 of its 81 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Thailand: 38 in 100 of its 55 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Syria: 53 in 100 of its 43 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Sri Lanka: 38 in 100 of its 68 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)South Africa: 33 in 100 of its 235 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Somalia: 45 in 100 of its 11 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Rwanda: 67 in 100 of its 12 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Russia: 34 in 100 of its 227 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Philippines: 28 in 100 of its 273 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Pakistan: 36 in 100 of its 294 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Malawi: 32 in 100 of its 37 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Lesotho: 55 in 100 of its 11 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Lebanon: 66 in 100 of its 47 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Kyrgyzstan: 57 in 100 of its 7 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Israel: 61 in 100 of its 288 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Palestine: 61 in 100 of its 76 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Iraq: 35 in 100 of its 34 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Honduras: 86 in 100 of its 7 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Greece: 25 in 100 of its 153 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Ethiopia: 40 in 100 of its 20 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)El Salvador: 62 in 100 of its 21 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Cyprus: 31 in 100 of its 49 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Cuba: 55 in 100 of its 132 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)DR Congo: 86 in 100 of its 22 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Congo: 78 in 100 of its 50 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)China: 29 in 100 of its 890 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Chile: 69 in 100 of its 36 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Cambodia: 70 in 100 of its 20 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Myanmar: 67 in 100 of its 6 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Bolivia: 80 in 100 of its 10 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Bangladesh: 37 in 100 of its 180 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Afghanistan: 43 in 100 of its 58 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Kashmir: 32 in 100 of its 117 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)China: 29 in 100 of its 890 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Palestine: 61 in 100 of its 76 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Palestine: 61 in 100 of its 76 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Kashmir: 32 in 100 of its 117 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Kashmir: 32 in 100 of its 117 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Ukraine: 41 in 100 of its 197 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Palestine: 61 in 100 of its 76 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)Kashmir: 32 in 100 of its 117 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 19)
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 19 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

● Uganda 78 in 100 of its 120 stories · mostly health ● Israel 61 in 100 of its 288 stories · mostly rights & justice ● Congo 78 in 100 of its 50 stories · mostly health ● Cuba 55 in 100 of its 132 stories · mostly rights & justice ● Palestine 61 in 100 of its 76 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Ukraine 41 in 100 of its 197 stories · mostly conflict & violence

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

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health26% 2,080 stories · about as usual Rights & justice25% 1,991 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents19% 1,508 stories · more than usual (usually 16%) Conflict & violence13% 1,012 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 438 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood5% 372 stories · about as usual Displacement4% 334 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 319 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 killed2,136 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests977 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected937 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured590 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Ukraine Stories reporting evacuations199 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and China Stories reporting abductions123 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Nigeria and India Stories reporting people displaced77 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees50 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill11 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Uganda

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.