18 April 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

Lithuanian army bomb disposal teams have collected 252 explosives across the country so far in April. Most of the finds were Second World War-era shells and other ordnance exposed by spring digging and construction work.

In Vilnius on Thursday, prosecutors charged Vilhelmas Germanas, Mindaugas Navickas and two others with large-scale fraud, document forgery and money laundering. Investigators link the case to crypto-mining equipment and financial transactions routed through a licensed Lithuanian financial institution, and the court will now test whether the alleged assets and transactions stand up. Police this week also detailed a scam that drained more than 35,000 euros from bank accounts. The Customs Criminal Service said separately that it made record drug seizures last year.

Lithuania’s employers’ confederation on Thursday urged parliament and the government to delay transposing the EU pay transparency directive. Business groups want a longer transition because the legal framework is still incomplete, while rules due from June 7, 2026 would widen pay disclosure and reporting to Sodra.

Kaunas’ Zalgiris has 20 wins after 37 EuroLeague rounds and has already secured a top-10 finish. If it holds a top-six place it would go straight to the quarter-finals, and this season’s EuroLeague prize money is already the biggest in the club’s history. Talk of a Final Four run rests on one of the league’s strongest defences, with Arnas Butkevicius and Sylvain Francisco also standing out in individual statistics.

LRT this week revived the 1995 murder case of journalist Vitas Lingys with archive footage of prosecutor Arturas Paulauskas. Paulauskas repeated that he had sought the death penalty for Boris Dekanidze and said the verdict followed a long covert investigation.

In Vilnius, a patient’s complaint after a doctor’s call put fresh attention on the use of artificial intelligence in primary care. The row broke out after he said he was not paying compulsory health insurance to be treated by a chatbot.

One person died in an apartment fire in Vilnius. The Lithuanian military said its explosive ordnance disposal teams neutralised 252 devices across the country in April.

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

De-miners' harvest: 252 explosives found in different Lithuanian locations within a month

Lithuanian army bomb disposal teams have collected 252 explosives across the country so far in April, according to the latest tally on 2026-04-18. The haul included World War Two-era shells and other ordnance uncovered during digging and construction work. Spring is the busiest period for the units because thawing ground and fresh excavation bring old munitions back to the surface, so residents are told to leave finds in place and call 112.

Why it matters

Excavation, roadworks and construction can stall until the ordnance is checked and the site is cleared. A heavier spring workload also ties up military and police resources in towns and districts where wartime explosives are still turning up underground.

sources:lrytas.lt

Politics

Employers urge Lithuania to delay implementing the wage directive

On April 17, Lithuania's employers' confederation asked parliament and the government to delay transposing the EU pay transparency directive. The group says the legal framework is still incomplete and wants a longer transition period, plus a review of some provisions at EU level. Lithuania had planned to start applying the directive on June 7, 2026, with draft changes also set to widen pay disclosure and reporting to Sodra.

Why it matters

The rules would affect every employer that has to publish more pay data and gender pay-gap information. For larger firms, that means extra compliance work; for workers, it means more leverage to compare roles and challenge unexplained gaps.

sources:delfi.lt

Sports

Forecast: Žalgiris will reach the Euroleague Final Four

Kaunas’ Žalgiris has closed in on the EuroLeague playoffs with a 20-14 record after 37 rounds, and the club has been pushed to the top of the league’s recent rankings. LRT reported this week that Žalgiris has already secured a top-10 finish and could skip the play-in if it holds a top-six place, which would send it straight into the quarter-finals. That is the basis for talk of a Final Four run, backed by the team’s 20 wins and one of the league’s strongest defences.

Why it matters

Fans in Kaunas are watching not just for a playoff berth but for a top-six finish, because it would shorten the road to the Final Four and keep more knockout games in their own arena. For the club, that would mean more ticket revenue and stronger sponsor value if the series is played in Kaunas.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Paulauskas on death penalty and prime minister's call after Dekanidzė gang crushed

LRT this week resurfaced archive footage of prosecutor Artūras Paulauskas revisiting the 1995 murder of journalist Vitas Lingys and his call for the death penalty for Boris Dekanidzė. The clip links the case to extortion, intimidation and the order to kill a reporter, and Paulauskas says the verdict came after a long covert investigation. The renewed attention puts one of Lithuania’s most infamous criminal cases back at the centre of a debate over the country’s former capital punishment.

Why it matters

The Lingys case remains a reference point in Lithuania for organised crime and how the state responds to it. It still shapes public memory of the 1990s underworld and keeps the death-penalty debate alive in political and legal discussions.

sources:lrt.lt

Crime

Scandalous Germano and Navickas case: accused of large-scale fraud, their version differs.

On Thursday in Vilnius, prosecutors brought charges against Vilhelmas Germanas, Mindaugas Navickas and two others over alleged large-scale fraud, document forgery and money laundering. Investigators say the case involves crypto-mining equipment and financial transactions routed through a licensed Lithuanian financial institution, while Germanas says the watches seized in raids were not his and claims he was blackmailed. The next step is for the court to assess the competing accounts and decide whether the assets and transactions cited by prosecutors can stand up in trial.

Why it matters

The case could affect not just the four defendants but also the reputation of a licensed Lithuanian financial institution, because investigators say transactions were run through it. If prosecutors prevail, the court may also be asked to rule on asset seizure and any knock-on losses for business partners.

sources:delfi.lt

Health

Frustrated after a doctor's call: 'I didn't pay PSD to be treated with ChatGPT'

A patient in Vilnius vented after a doctor called him back and wrote that he was not paying compulsory health insurance to be treated with ChatGPT. The outburst landed as Lithuania is debating how far artificial intelligence should go in primary care and whether patients are being pushed toward chatbots instead of doctors. Doctors say the tools cannot replace an examination, though they can help patients prepare for a visit or understand advice they have already been given.

Why it matters

Patients risk acting on inaccurate health advice and delaying care if they blur the line between a chatbot and a clinician. For health providers, it raises pressure to draw a clear boundary between automated support and a real medical consultation, and to stand behind the information patients receive.

sources:tv3.lt

Europe

Summary

Russia struck infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa and Chernihiv regions overnight, with Ukrainian officials saying energy facilities were among the targets. Odesa has faced repeated attacks in recent weeks on ports, power lines and transport links, and Kyiv is seeking more air-defence cover and repair support.

Drone strikes again hit Russian oil infrastructure over the past day, with major fires reported at sites in occupied Crimea and the Samara region. Ukrainian attacks on Russian industrial areas also killed at least one person. The ATESH partisan movement said it had disrupted power supply to a Russian rail hub. The Pentagon said today that support for Ukraine cannot rely on the United States alone. Volodymyr Zelensky said today that Moscow is again trying to draw Belarus into the war and use its territory to pressure Ukraine and Europe.

The Black Sea environmental disaster also remains in focus after mazut from the tanker spill reached Crimea’s coast near Feodosia, Alushta and Sudak. Dozens of dead marine animals were found after the spill, and some beaches remain under restrictions while a new damage assessment is carried out.

In Kyiv, a man opened fire on people in broad daylight and the shooting caused fatalities.

Iran said it is considering new U.S. proposals on the next steps in the region. Hungary announced its final election results, while international media increasingly assess a possible political shift in Budapest after Viktor Orban’s setback.

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

Russia strikes infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa and Chernihiv regions.

Russia struck infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa and Chernihiv regions overnight on April 17-18, with Ukrainian officials saying energy sites were among the targets. Odesa has been hit repeatedly in recent weeks, as Moscow steps up pressure on ports, power lines and transport links in the south. Kyiv is now pushing for more air-defence cover and repair support as it tries to keep homes, industry and export routes running.

Why it matters

The attacks hit power supply and logistics for civilians and businesses, especially in Odesa’s Black Sea corridor. Every strike raises repair costs and can disrupt exports of grain, metals and other cargo.

sources:vz.lt 15min.lt delfi.lt lrt.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine. In Russia drone strikes hit oil facilities, large fires erupted

On April 18, 2026, drone strikes again hit Russia's oil infrastructure overnight, with local channels and officials reporting fires at several sites. The attacks fit Ukraine's wider push to target fuel assets deep inside Russian territory, where damage can take longer to repair than on conventional battlefield targets. If refining or storage capacity is disrupted, Moscow may have to divert more money to emergency repairs and manage tighter domestic fuel supplies.

Why it matters

Disruption to Russia's fuel sector would most likely hit domestic transport and industry first, especially in regions dependent on a narrow refining chain. It also forces Moscow to spend more on protection and repairs, leaving fewer resources for the war effort.

sources:tv3.lt

Environment

Environmental disaster in the Black Sea: oil slick expands to enormous size

Mazut from the Black Sea tanker disaster has already reached Crimea’s coast, with polluted stretches reported near Feodosia, Alushta and Sudak, according to satellite imagery from January 2025. Dozens of dead marine animals were found after the spill, and Russian emergency crews kept working to clean beaches and skim fuel from the water. The slick has spread far enough to force local restrictions on some beaches and trigger a fresh damage assessment.

Why it matters

The pollution hits Crimea’s resort coast, where hotels, beaches and small businesses depend on summer traffic. Mazut also threatens fish, seabirds and dolphins, while cleanup can drag on for weeks or months.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Zelensky: Russia again tries to involve Belarus in the war

Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 18 that Russia is again trying to drag Belarus into the war and use its territory to pressure Ukraine and Europe. He linked that warning to Russian military activity in Belarus and to earlier signs that Moscow could use the country as a launchpad against Ukraine and neighbouring states. Zelensky said the Kremlin is also seeking to turn Belarus into a tool of political and military coercion across the region, keeping Minsk one of the war’s most sensitive fault lines outside Ukraine.

Why it matters

For Ukraine’s border regions, this means more pressure along the northern frontier, where any Russian movement in Belarus forces tighter air defence and border surveillance. For Poland and the Baltic states, it raises the stakes for military planning and faster NATO reaction time.

sources:15min.lt vz.lt lrt.lt

Energy

Jet fuel shortage threatens summer flights across Europe

The International Energy Agency warned on April 17 that Europe may have only about six weeks of jet fuel left if oil and fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz stay disrupted. IEA chief Fatih Birol said airlines are already trimming routes and lifting fares, while SAS has announced at least 1,000 flight cancellations this month. Airport and industry groups are now pushing for closer monitoring across Europe, fearing that summer demand could outstrip local supply in key hubs.

Why it matters

For travellers booking summer trips, the immediate risk is fewer seats and higher fares, especially at the busiest point of the season. If supplies do not recover soon, airlines will likely cut frequencies and shrink connections between major European cities.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Sweden's military chief warned Russia may try to seize an island in the Baltic Sea

Swedish armed forces chief Micael Bydén told LRT on April 13 that Russia could try to move on Gotland, the island that sits at the centre of Baltic Sea access routes. He said the risk lies in a limited strike or pressure test that would probe how NATO responds to a small but strategically critical target. The warning keeps the focus on Baltic defence planning and on whether the alliance can deter a fast-moving move against the island.

Why it matters

Gotland matters because it sits on the sea and air routes linking Sweden with the Baltic states and the rest of NATO. Any Russian move against the island would force the alliance to react fast to protect shipping lanes, air defence and regional deterrence.

sources:lrytas.lt

World

Summary

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that Iran’s navy was ready to defeat U.S. forces as Washington tightened its blockade on Iranian ports. Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy would keep blocking Iranian ports until Tehran accepts a nuclear deal and ceasefire terms. Iran’s joint military command said over the past day that the Strait of Hormuz was back under strict military control, while the Pentagon widened interdictions beyond the Persian Gulf.

Axios reported today that Trump’s public remarks on Iran unsettled parts of the Israeli government. Israeli officials were most concerned by hints of broader U.S. involvement after weeks of Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets. In Washington and Muscat, debate over the past 48 hours has shifted back to whether talks with Iran stay focused on the nuclear file or expand to Tehran’s regional proxies. Lebanese officials and Israel are already discussing Hezbollah’s disarmament, while the group remains Iran’s main source of leverage in Lebanon and on Israel’s border.

In China, property magnate Hui Ka Yan pleaded guilty to fraud today, with about $250 billion in debt still tied to his business empire. China’s economy posted a strong start to the year, but rising risks kept attention on vulnerabilities in the property sector. In Brazil, basketball great Oscar Schmidt died on Friday at 68. He spent 19 years with Brazil’s national team, played 326 games, averaged 23.6 points and had battled a brain tumour for 15 years.

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

Iran's leader warns: naval forces ready to defeat US forces

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on April 18 the country's navy was ready to defeat U.S. forces as Washington tightened its blockade on Iranian ports and expanded interdictions beyond the Persian Gulf. The warning came after President Donald Trump said U.S. forces would seize or destroy Iran-linked vessels and keep the pressure on until Tehran accepts a deal on its nuclear program. Iran's joint military command said control of the Strait of Hormuz had returned to strict military management, while the Pentagon has widened operations to catch ships it says could move weapons, oil, metals or electronics.

Why it matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical oil route, so each interception or exchange at sea risks lifting fuel costs and disrupting supplies to Europe and Asia. If U.S. and Iranian forces keep widening their naval actions, shipping firms, oil buyers and import-dependent states face the biggest hit.

sources:tv3.lt 15min.lt

Politics

Why Hezbollah is Iran’s key leverage in talks with the United States

Over the past 48 hours, the debate in Washington and Muscat has moved back to whether talks with Iran will stay confined to nuclear issues or expand to Tehran’s regional proxies. LRT reported this week that Lebanese officials and Israel are already discussing the disarmament of Hezbollah, while US and Iranian negotiators keep working through indirect talks on broader security terms. That matters because Hezbollah gives Tehran leverage in Lebanon and on Israel’s border, even as Iran insists publicly that the talks should stay focused on the nuclear file.

Why it matters

Lebanon’s political system could come under direct pressure if the US and Iran tie any nuclear deal to Hezbollah’s weapons. Israel’s security calculations will also hinge on whether the group remains an active Iranian lever on its border.

sources:lrt.lt

Politics

Trump: if no deal, the U.S. will continue blocking Iranian ports

On April 17, 2026, Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy would keep blocking Iranian ports until a deal with Tehran is sealed. Iran said it was reopening the Strait of Hormuz the same day, but Washington did not lift its control over access to Iranian ports. The blockade followed the collapse of talks in Islamabad and is tied to U.S. demands on Iran’s nuclear program and the ceasefire terms.

Why it matters

The blockade hits Iran’s export earnings and cash flow because oil and cargo move through its ports. Decisions on the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf routes feed straight into shipping bans, insurance costs and European oil prices.

sources:15min.lt vz.lt

Politics

Axios: US president’s statements sparked concern in the Israeli government

On April 18, 2026, Axios reported that President Donald Trump's public remarks on Iran unsettled parts of the Israeli government as Washington and Jerusalem coordinated next steps in the region. Israeli officials cited by the outlet said the sharpest concern came from hints at broader US involvement and the pressure those signals could put on near-term diplomacy. The unease follows weeks of escalation, with Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets and tighter US security measures across the region.

Why it matters

Israeli decision-makers need clarity on whether US backing will stay firm and predictable. Any shift in the White House tone on Iran can alter diplomacy, air-operations planning and oil prices across the region.

sources:delfi.lt

Sports

Brazilian basketball legend Oscar Schmidtas has died.

Oscar Schmidt, Brazil's basketball icon, died on Friday at 68 in Brazil, his family said. He spent 19 years with the national team, played 326 games and averaged 23.6 points, becoming the country's all-time scoring great. Schmidt had battled a brain tumour for 15 years, and Brazilian sports bodies hailed him as one of the defining figures in the nation's sporting history.

Why it matters

Brazilian basketball loses the player whose 49,737 career points and Olympic and World Cup scoring records set the standard for generations. His death will be felt across South American basketball, where he was the most visible proof that a player from the region could belong among the sport's global greats.

sources:lrt.lt