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2026-09-22

Dominant emotion: fear

Today's headlines are dominated by displacement, threat, and instability across multiple regions: Lithuanians bracing for invasion, Yemenis fleeing across the Red Sea, evacuations, sanctions, political upheaval, natural disaster, and institutional corruption. Rather than depicting any single conflict, I chose to represent the universal human experience threading through nearly all these stories—the experience of being uprooted, threatened, and forced to move. The turbulent sea becomes a metaphor for the global instability that permeates the news cycle.

Headlines read that day

• Lithuania ready to 'fight back' but has evacuation plans in face of Russia threats, PM tells BBC — Sinkevičius told BBC Newsnight Lithuanians feel "constantly threatened" by Moscow, but the nation was prepared to "fight back" if attacked.
• Yemenis flee across Red Sea as Houthis and Saudi-backed forces escalate war — The BBC's Frank Gardner speaks to some of those who have fled the war by crossing the Red Sea to Djibouti.
• Iran must stop arming Houthis in Yemen, G7 says ahead of UN General Assembly — The G7 also condemns "in the strongest terms" Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying that the escalation in fighting in Yemen jeopardises global energy security.
• CNN, MS NOW and Politico file lawsuit against Trump's White House ban — Major US networks later suspended White House TV coverage of Trump as he headed to New York for a UN summit.
• Merz vows to keep coalition together for Germany's 'democratic future' — The chancellor has come under increasing pressure after resounding state election defeats, but says the results "go far beyond my own person"
• First UK charges brought over 1994 Rwanda genocide — Dr Vincent Brown, formerly Dr Vincent Bajinya, 65, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with seven offences.
• Four dead after powerful Typhoon Dujuan lashes Japan — The storm pulled away from Japan after bringing heavy rains and strong winds to Tokyo and surrounding areas.
• Infantino says he is open to talks over Fifa reform — Fifa president Gianni Infantino has proposed an external review of how world football's governing body operates. shifting tone as he seeks support to stay on.
• Russia's elections had few surprises - but how the Kremlin uses the results will be crucial — Vladimir Putin will likely use the result to claim most Russians back the so-called special military operation in Ukraine, writes the BBC's Steve Rosenberg.
• Seven Ethiopian rebel groups form new alliance — The groups have been active in Ethiopia's most populous regions for years and now say they will work together.
• US strikes on alleged drug boats could be crimes against humanity, says UN — A report says the attacks, of which there have been at least 68, were not self-defence.
• Airlines criticise air traffic control as second glitch causes more disruption in UK — Prime Minister Andy Burnham said further issues "cause even greater concern" about the UK's air traffic control and the head of the organisation that runs it.