15 April 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

President Gitanas Nausėda said in Vilnius today that he sees no sign the United States is preparing to cut its military presence in Lithuania and expects U.S. troops to stay. He made the remark during a visit by members of Congress, as Lithuania presses to keep roughly 1,000 rotating U.S. troops and expands training infrastructure at Rūdninkai and Pabradė. The presidency also called for a major overhaul of the school graduation exam system, arguing that school-leaving exams should be separated from university admissions. The government faces a tougher domestic backdrop as a new poll shows 71% of Lithuanians view the cabinet negatively.

In parliament, Social Democrats are pushing to scrap the three state-exam requirement for graduates from the autumn term. The Foreign Affairs Committee backed opening a Lithuanian embassy in Brazil. The Culture Committee rejected a proposal for a public service contract between the state and public broadcaster LRT. The IMF kept Lithuania’s 2026 growth forecast at 2.8% but warned that higher inflation, including energy prices, is the more immediate risk.

In crime news, Vilnius police said today they are still searching for a minor who disappeared last year and asked the public to contact investigators or call 112 with any information. Near Kaunas, law enforcement uncovered what investigators describe as a narcotics hub in a hangar holding cargo worth about 70 million euros, while police in Alytus detained three suspects in a separate major drug case. Lawmaker and former canoeist Jevgenijus Šuklinas underwent urgent surgery abroad after an injury and will not return to work immediately. Simona Milinytė said publicly that her family first learned of her brother’s murder by phone, in a case historically linked to a 2010 attack and the Kedys scandal.

In business, Vilnius broker NTlence said it handled 13% of the capital’s March home sales worth 29.2 million euros, while SBA Urban is continuing preparations for its premium Poemos project in Kaunas. For households, this heating season was roughly one-third more expensive than the last. Lithuanian doctors also reported a significant step forward in cancer detection.

Germany’s Bundestag assigned Rheinmetall an attack-drone contract for the German brigade in Lithuania. Lithuania’s presidential palace hosted a state dinner for Estonian President Alar Karis and first lady Sirje Karis.

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

Nausėda believes American soldiers will stay in Lithuania

On April 15 in Vilnius, President Gitanas Nausėda said he expects U.S. troops to remain in Lithuania and sees no sign Washington is preparing to cut its military presence. He made the comments during a visit by members of Congress, as Lithuanian officials keep pressing American lawmakers over force posture in Europe and the roughly 1,000 U.S. troops on rotation in Lithuania. The message is aimed at keeping the deterrence umbrella intact while Lithuania expands training infrastructure at Rūdninkai and Pabradė.

Why it matters

U.S. troops in Lithuania are a core part of Baltic deterrence and joint training. Any shift in Washington’s posture would affect not only military planning but also spending on ranges, bases and host-nation support.

sources:delfi.lt

Crime

Capital police still searching for missing minor from last year

Vilnius police said on April 15 that they are still searching for a minor who vanished last year and asked the public to report any information on her whereabouts. The force did not disclose the exact time or place of the disappearance, but said the search remains active and is being handled in the capital. Officers asked anyone who has seen her or knows where she may be to contact investigators or call 112.

Why it matters

Long-running searches for missing minors depend on the public’s vigilance, because one credible tip can end uncertainty fast. The longer a case stays open, the more police time and investigative resources it absorbs, cutting into capacity for other missing-person and crime cases in the capital.

sources:lrytas.lt

Crime

Simona Milinytė spoke about the greatest life tragedy – her brother's murder: 'We got a call...'

Simona Milinyte spoke publicly about her brother’s killing in remarks circulated by Lithuanian media on April 15, 2026. She said the family first learned the news by phone, and earlier accounts linked the killing to a December 2010 attack. Her comments pushed an old case back into view, years after it became tied to the Kedys scandal.

Why it matters

The remarks put one of Lithuania’s most widely discussed criminal cases back in public view and show that the family is still carrying the fallout from the 2010 killing. That keeps pressure on public memory around a case that has shaped debate far beyond the original crime.

sources:tv3.lt lrytas.lt

Politics

We must stop this: presidency criticizes the graduation exam system and proposes its own reform.

The presidency on April 15 attacked Lithuania’s graduation exam system and floated a reform that would separate some exams from university admissions and split Lithuanian and maths into two parts. Senior adviser Irena Segalovičienė said the current setup forces schools to use the same tests for graduation and selection, while this year’s exam season has already triggered disputes over scheduling, wording and grading. The presidency now wants to push the plan into talks with the education ministry and universities before rules are set for the 2026-27 school year.

Why it matters

For final-year pupils, it would reduce the pressure to use one set of exams for both graduation and university selection. Universities would have to rewrite admissions rules if part of the filtering moved away from the graduation exams and into a separate entry system.

sources:lrt.lt

Health

MP Šuklina's vacation turns into a nightmare – requires complex surgery.

Former canoeist and Lithuanian MP Jevgenijus Šuklinas needed urgent surgery during a holiday after an injury led to serious complications. The incident happened while he was travelling outside Lithuania, and doctors judged that conservative treatment would not be enough. He now faces a period of restricted movement and follow-up care, so his return to public duties will not be immediate.

Why it matters

A case like this usually means rehabilitation and time away from work, which can disrupt schedules and public commitments. For an MP, it can also force colleagues to cover committee and constituency duties in the short term.

sources:delfi.lt

Economy

IMF Keeps Lithuania's Growth Forecast, Warns of Higher Inflation Risk

The IMF kept Lithuania’s 2026 growth forecast at 2.8% in its April 15 World Economic Outlook, but raised its global inflation view to 4.4% and warned that higher energy prices could feed through to Lithuania. It sees euro zone growth at 1.1% this year and global trade slowing to 2.8% after a 5.1% rise last year, a softer external backdrop for exporters. The fund’s message is that inflation pressure is now the bigger near-term risk, which could keep borrowing costs higher for longer.

Why it matters

For households, faster inflation would leave less room in budgets for food, fuel and other essentials. For companies, pricier energy and weaker foreign demand can squeeze margins and make hiring and investment plans more cautious.

sources:lrt.lt

Europe

Summary

Turkey was hit by a second school shooting in two days after a middle school student opened fire on two classrooms in the southeast, killing at least four people and wounding at least 20. Police surrounded the gunman inside the school building, and local media said he was carrying several firearms and magazines taken from his father, a retired police officer. The attack followed a separate shooting yesterday in which a former student wounded 16 people before killing himself.

In Ukraine, two people were killed in Russian attacks on the Zaporizhzhia region as Kyiv warned that shortages of air-defence missiles have become critical. Volodymyr Zelensky said Patriot shortages were at their worst point and that Washington’s focus on the Iran-Israel crisis could further squeeze supplies to Ukraine. Kyiv said yesterday it had begun planning joint production of advanced drones and other battle-tested weapons with Germany. Zelensky also said Ukraine is working on a new air-defence system after February brought Russia’s highest monthly missile strike count in three years. Ukrainian officials also said Russia is now losing more troops than it can mobilise, while Ukraine struck an important chemical plant inside Russia.

Elsewhere in Europe, officials have accelerated a NATO fallback plan in case the US pulls forces from the continent or refuses to defend allies. After Germany signed off on the effort, the aim is to preserve deterrence against Russia, keep command structures functioning and maintain nuclear credibility. Estonia today started digging new anti-tank trenches in the southeast along the Russian border as part of the Baltic Defence Line. Tallinn has previously said the strip there could include up to 40 km of anti-tank ditches, alongside bunkers and storage sites for engineering equipment.

In sport, PSG beat Atletico Madrid yesterday to become the first team into this season’s Champions League semi-finals. Debate over a common EU army has also sharpened, with the argument now centred less on principle than on manpower and how such a force would be staffed.

Germany's parliament approved the contract for an attack-drone brigade in Lithuania, clearing the way for the project to move forward. Ukraine expanded its mandatory evacuation zone in the Kharkiv region to more than 20 settlements, while Kyiv said it is now intercepting about 80% of Russian missiles and 90% of drones.

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

Another tragedy in Turkey: school shooting claims four lives; others injured

A middle school student opened fire on two classrooms in southeastern Turkey on April 15, 2026, killing at least four people and wounding at least 20 others. Police surrounded the gunman inside the school building, and local media said he was carrying several firearms and magazines taken from his father, a retired police officer. It was the second school attack in Turkey in as many days, after a former student wounded 16 people in a separate shooting on April 14 before killing himself.

Why it matters

Schools in southeastern Turkey are now operating under heightened security after two attacks in as many days, forcing parents and teachers to decide whether to return children to class. The investigation could also sharpen scrutiny of how service weapons are stored and how easily they can be accessed at home.

sources:lrytas.lt

Politics

Zelenskiy speaks of critically needed weapons shortages

On April 15, 2026, Volodymyr Zelensky told ZDF Heute that war in the Middle East could leave Ukraine with fewer weapons, while shortages of Patriot air defence systems have already reached what he described as the worst point. He said Washington's focus on the Iran-Israel crisis could divert attention and supply from Ukraine, which still depends on Western air-defence stocks. Zelensky also said Kyiv had offered help over the Hormuz Strait, linking Ukraine's battlefield needs to a wider security shock.

Why it matters

Ukraine's air defence still depends on limited Patriot missiles and launchers, so any shortfall leaves cities and energy sites more exposed to Russian strikes. If the U.S. shifts attention and stockpiles toward the Middle East, new air-defence deliveries to Kyiv could slow further.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Europe prepares for worst-case scenario: drafting backup plan if the US withdraws from NATO

European officials have accelerated a backup NATO plan after Germany signed off on it, the Wall Street Journal reported on April 15, 2026. The aim is to preserve deterrence against Russia, keep command structures working and maintain nuclear credibility even if Washington pulls forces from Europe or refuses to defend allies. The plan was first floated last year, but concern over US reliability has pushed it forward.

Why it matters

European defence planners are now preparing for a gap in US backing, not just a harder burden-sharing debate. That shifts the focus to eastern flank protection, air defence and nuclear deterrence, where any delay would raise immediate military risk.

sources:tv3.lt

Sports

Atlético Survives, PSG Dominate: First Champions League Semi-Finalists Revealed

PSG survived against Atletico Madrid on April 14, 2026, to become the first team into the Champions League semi-finals. Atletico were forced to chase the game away from home and could not turn the tie back in their favour once PSG seized control. The result fixes the first semi-final path and raises the stakes for the remaining quarter-finalists heading into the final games of the round.

Why it matters

For PSG, the win means another step toward the title and another revenue boost from UEFA prize money and gate receipts. For Atletico, elimination leaves the club without Europe’s top trophy and keeps the pressure on the coach and squad planning for next season.

sources:lrt.lt

Politics

Strengthening the border with Russia: anti-tank trenches dug on the Estonian border

Estonia on April 15, 2026, started digging new anti-tank trenches in the southeast of the country along the Russian border, part of the Baltic Defence Line. Tallinn has previously said the strip there could include up to 40 km of anti-tank ditches, alongside bunkers and storage sites for engineering equipment. The work is taking place on border land that must be cleared with landowners and border officials, which means the timetable hinges on permits and access agreements.

Why it matters

The build-out affects civilian land use in southeast Estonia, where private plots and border areas are being folded into military infrastructure. It also shows the Baltics are moving from abstract deterrence to physical barriers and logistics sites that would shape any future NATO response on the eastern flank.

sources:lrytas.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine. Wars 'devour' missiles: critical shortage pushes Ukraine to seek exits

Kyiv said on April 14 it had started planning joint production of advanced drones and other battle-tested weapons with Germany. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is also working on a new air-defense system as February brought the highest number of Russian missile strikes in three years. The push is meant to ease reliance on scarce Western missile stocks and keep Ukraine’s air shield supplied as Russia widens its attacks.

Why it matters

For Ukrainian cities, the deal could mean better protection for power plants, hospitals and housing blocks against missile strikes that have intensified again this year. If production moves closer to the front, Kyiv may get drones and interceptors faster, at a time when Western stockpiles are not unlimited.

sources:15min.lt lrytas.lt

World

Summary

Xi Jinping spoke publicly about the Iran war for the first time yesterday in Beijing, telling Pedro Sánchez that China and Europe should defend multilateralism. At the Great Hall of the People, Xi warned against a return to the “law of the jungle” as Beijing tries to shield trade with Europe from war-driven shocks to energy markets and demand.

The Financial Times reports that Iran bought a Chinese spy satellite during the war and used it to refine targeting of U.S. bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. Iran said yesterday through state media that any further U.S. military move would make American and allied bases across the Gulf legitimate targets. Israel’s intelligence chief said today that the country’s mission against Iran is not over. Israel and Hezbollah also continued exchanging attacks along the Lebanese border over the past day, even as Washington reported progress in separate direct contacts between Israel and Lebanon.

The International Energy Agency warned today that closing the Strait of Hormuz would disrupt about a fifth of global seaborne oil trade. The agency said the route also carries a large share of the world’s liquefied natural gas, exposing Asian and European gas markets to another shock. U.S. forces in the eastern Pacific struck a suspected drug-smuggling boat over the past day, killing five men, and Southern Command says the campaign has killed at least 99 people since September.

New Delhi unveiled a draft EV policy over the weekend that would stop registering new petrol, diesel and CNG two-wheelers from mid-August 2026. The plan would also make electric auto-rickshaws the only option for new registrations from the start of 2027 and would bar petrol and diesel vehicles from joining delivery and ride-hailing fleets this year.

US oil exports hit record highs as analysts assessed the potential impact of a war with Iran on the global economy and energy prices. Facebook, Messenger and YouTube suffered service disruptions, while China’s foreign minister told Iran that Beijing supports faster peace talks.

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

Xi Jinping speaks publicly about war in Iran for the first time

Xi Jinping publicly referred to the Iran war for the first time on April 14 in Beijing, telling Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that China and Europe should defend multilateralism. The comments came during talks at the Great Hall of the People, where Xi warned against a world sliding back to the “law of the jungle.” Beijing is trying to keep its trade ties with Europe intact even as the war stirs uncertainty in energy markets and global demand.

Why it matters

European exporters and energy buyers need the signal Beijing is sending: it wants to limit a deeper economic shock while the war is already slowing trade growth. If China becomes more active diplomatically, its stance could shape the pace of talks with the EU.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

FT: Iran used a Chinese satellite to target U.S. bases

The Financial Times, as cited by LRT, says Iran bought a Chinese spy satellite during the war and used it to sharpen targeting of U.S. military bases across the Middle East. The report says the satellite improved Iranian intelligence on American deployments in places including Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. The disclosure puts fresh focus on the depth of China-Iran cooperation and the vulnerability of exposed U.S. facilities in the region.

Why it matters

U.S. troops and civilian contractors at regional bases are more exposed when an adversary can improve targeting with orbital intelligence. The report may also push Washington and its partners to tighten controls on sensitive space and satellite technology moving toward Tehran.

sources:vz.lt

Environment

Strict pollution control plan: New Delhi to impose ban on petrol-only models

New Delhi on April 12 unveiled a draft EV policy that would stop registering new petrol, diesel and CNG two-wheelers from Aug. 15, 2026, and make electric auto-rickshaws the only option for new registrations from Jan. 1, 2027. The plan also bars petrol and diesel vehicles from being added to delivery and ride-hailing fleets this year, deepening the city's push to clean up some of the world's worst air. The draft now goes to the local cabinet, which will decide whether to adopt the measures and how far to extend them to other vehicle classes.

Why it matters

Delivery firms, ride-hailing operators and small couriers would have to replace much of their fleets faster, lifting upfront costs for electric or CNG vehicles. The rules would also hit the city’s cheapest everyday transport, shaping what millions of residents can buy and use in the capital.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

TEA warns: if the strait is closed, the whole world should brace for major disruptions

The International Energy Agency warned on April 15 that closing the Strait of Hormuz would disrupt roughly a fifth of global seaborne oil trade. The agency said the choke point also carries a large share of the world’s liquefied natural gas, raising the risk of knock-on damage to gas markets in Asia and Europe. A closure would force countries to draw on strategic reserves and scramble for alternative export routes through Gulf producers and Saudi Arabia.

Why it matters

Refiners, shipping lines and consumers in Europe would feel the squeeze fast, because any disruption at Hormuz quickly feeds into fuel and power prices. Asia would be hit hardest, since many of its biggest economies rely heavily on oil and gas moving through the strait.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Iran Threatens US, Signals Major Strike

On April 14, 2026, Iran warned through state media that U.S. and allied bases in the region would become legitimate targets if Washington takes another military step. The warning follows months of strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, with Tehran publicly pointing to U.S. forces around the Gulf and the wider Middle East. The message raises the stakes for Washington because any retaliation could hit shipping lanes, air bases and energy infrastructure across the region.

Why it matters

The Persian Gulf is central to oil and LNG flows, so any strike on a U.S. base or shipping lane would quickly feed into fuel prices and insurance costs. Civilians across the region would face fresh evacuation risks, while Europe would feel the strain through higher energy bills and disrupted supply routes.

sources:15min.lt

Crime

US forces strike drug-smuggling vessel in the Pacific; 4 people killed

US forces struck another suspected drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific on April 13, killing five men, US Southern Command said. Washington had already announced another strike in the same region earlier this week, taking the death toll in the campaign to at least 99 since September. The military says the boats were on known smuggling routes, but it has released no public evidence on the cargo or a legal case for the attacks.

Why it matters

Smuggling networks using eastern Pacific routes now face more frequent US strikes, with boats and crews destroyed at sea before any interdiction at port. The campaign also raises the stakes for regional partners, because the attacks are carried out in international waters and without court proceedings.

sources:tv3.lt