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The world on 20 October 2026

Riftrate read 73.7 (Tension) on Tuesday 20 October 2026, down 2.0 points from the day before, and up 1.1 over 7 days.

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Riftrate73.7Tension
Since yesterday▼ −2.0points
Over 7 days▲ +1.1points
Most intenseYemen33.8% of its news
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World tension: 74/100 · Tension · ▼ 2.0
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Saudi Arabia: 19% of its news this week is about armed violence.

Against its own history since 2017: 99/100.

#4 of 74 countries.
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What moved it

How the effect is computed

Top stories

  1. Zelensky, U.S. envoys hold Oslo talks as Ukraine claims U.S. missile holdupCovered by 4 newsrooms: Taipei Times, BBC News, The Hindu, The GuardianUkraine United States
  2. Sudan drone strike kills around 150 in Abyei marketCovered by 5 newsrooms: DW, BBC News, The Hindu, France 24, The GuardianSudan
  3. France: Local curfews imposed after protestsCovered by 4 newsrooms: Taipei Times, France 24, CBS News, The HinduFrance
  4. UK police rearrest two men on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligenceCovered by 3 newsrooms: Al Jazeera, The Hindu, Middle East EyeIran United Kingdom
  5. Ukraine carries out first drone airlift of wounded soldier from front lineCovered by 3 newsrooms: CBS News, Euronews, BBC NewsUkraine
Where conflict is most intenseshare of its news about armed violence
CountryIntensity7 days
Yemen33.8%▼ −0.3
Gaza and the West Bank32.7%▲ +3.8
Mali20.1%▲ +12.5
Saudi Arabia19.3%▼ −4.1
Sudan17.1%▼ −3.9
Israel15.1%▼ −1.5

Most cited in the headlines

Ukraine 18 storiesUnited States 18 storiesIran 9 storiesRussia 9 storiesFrance 10 storiesYemen 6 stories
Coming up this week
25OctBrazil presidential runoff (if needed)Americas · election27OctIsrael legislative election (Knesset)Middle East · election
Riftrate · last 60 days
025507510022 Aug29 Aug5 Sep12 Sep19 Sep26 Sep3 Oct10 Oct17 Oct