31 March 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

Israel's parliament on March 31 gave first-reading approval to a bill that would impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis. The measure, pushed by national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, passed 52-21 and still faces further votes before it can become law.

The United States is striking Iranian military and defence-industrial targets as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates urge Washington to keep up the campaign. An Iranian attack damaged a Kuwaiti oil tanker off the UAE coast, and markets are already pricing in a longer disruption to oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Washington sees one path to ending the war as Ukraine also reported 970 Russian troop losses over the past day.

Lithuanian hauliers and suppliers on the Polish border have been hit by delayed payments from several Polish buyers over the past two days. If invoices are not cleared quickly, some firms may cut trips and pause new orders to protect cash flow. Domestically, Lithuania submitted its sixth RRF payment request and opened a 4.5 million euro support scheme for business.

sources: tv3.lt, 15min.lt, delfi.lt, lrt.lt, lrytas.lt

Israel backs death penalty bill

Israel's parliament gave first reading approval on March 31 to a bill that would impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis. The bill, pushed by far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, passed 52-21. It still needs additional votes before it can become law, and the move is likely to intensify pressure inside Israel and abroad over how the state handles Palestinian detainees.

Why it matters

For Palestinian prisoners and their families, the bill would mark the harshest escalation in Israel's penal policy in years. If it advances, it could further complicate hostage talks, prisoner exchanges and security coordination with Palestinian authorities.

sources:tv3.lt 15min.lt delfi.lt

Security

US and Gulf focus on Iran war

President Donald Trump sharpened his criticism of allies on March 30-31 as fuel prices climbed on the Iran war, while Dubai authorities said a Kuwaiti oil tanker hit by an Iranian attack off the UAE coast was contained on Tuesday morning. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are privately urging Washington to keep up the campaign against Tehran, even as Iran targets shipping and energy infrastructure across the Gulf. The U.S. is striking Iranian military and defense-industrial targets, and markets are already pricing in the risk of a longer disruption to oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Why it matters

Higher fuel prices are already hitting motorists and freight operators in the Gulf, and the risk of more attacks is feeding straight into European fuel markets. If shipping through Hormuz stays dangerous, both crude and liquefied natural gas costs could rise further for import-dependent European economies.

sources:15min.lt lrt.lt

Economy

Polish payment delays hurt Lithuanian firms

Lithuanian hauliers and suppliers on the Polish border have been hit by delayed payments from several Polish buyers over the past two days, forcing some firms to push back their own bills and fuel purchases. Bank and business data in Lithuania show that late settlement tends to hit transport and wholesale first, because those sectors run on tight cash cycles. If Polish clients do not clear invoices quickly, Lithuanian firms may trim journeys and pause new orders to protect cash flow.

Why it matters

For hauliers and wholesalers, a few days of delay can be enough to disrupt fuel contracts and payroll timing. Smaller firms often end up leaning on credit lines and paying more for working capital.

sources:lrt.lt

Europe

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