2 May 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

Irish police are searching for a 14-year-old Lithuanian girl after she was last seen boarding a bus in Newry today. Relatives said she left home in Blackrock, County Louth, and officers are checking routes linking Newry, Dublin and Northern Ireland.

Panevezys hospital this week began carrying out complex neurosurgical operations under one of Lithuania’s best-known neurosurgeons. The change means some urgent brain and spine patients can now be treated in Panevezys instead of being transferred to Vilnius or Kaunas. Lithuania opened its men’s World Championship Division I A campaign in Sosnowiec today with a 1-0 win over Kazakhstan. The six-team tournament offers two promotion places to the top division, leaving Lithuania little room for error in upcoming games against Ukraine and hosts Poland.

LRT director-general Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė said yesterday that the ruling parties’ latest LRT bill repeats last year’s attempt to make it easier to remove her. She said the earlier draft stalled in parliament after a wave of opposition amendments and drew doubts over compatibility with Constitutional Court case law and the European Media Freedom Act. In Vilnius, police are investigating an attempt to lure a 14-year-old girl off the street, reviewing CCTV footage and collecting witness accounts. Officers are urging parents to discuss with children how to respond when approached by strangers.

Health coverage over the past day also focused on radiation exposure, with one imaging exam described as roughly equivalent to 100 X-rays. LRT also renewed a warning over false morels, saying the gyromitrin they contain can cause severe poisoning or death, especially if they are only briefly boiled or the cooking water is used.

Vilnius mayor Valdas Benkunskas said construction restrictions in the capital will remain in force for as long as he is in office. Lithuania will create health attaché posts at its embassies in Ukraine and Israel.

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

Breakthrough at Panevėžys hospital: renowned neurosurgeon performs complex operations

Panevėžys hospital has started performing complex neurosurgical operations this week, led by one of Lithuania’s best-known neurosurgeons. The move expands access for patients who need highly precise brain or spine surgery, work that was more often concentrated in the country’s biggest medical centres. It means some patients can now be treated closer to home, with less time lost transferring to Vilnius or Kaunas in the most urgent cases.

Why it matters

For regional patients, this raises the chance of getting high-complexity care in their own county, especially when every hour counts after head or spine trauma. It also eases pressure on neurosurgical units in Vilnius and Kaunas, which have traditionally taken many of these cases.

sources:tv3.lt

Society

A Lithuanian girl missing in Ireland: last seen boarding a bus

Irish police are searching for a 14-year-old Lithuanian girl after she was last seen boarding a bus in Newry on May 2. Relatives say she left home in Blackrock, County Louth, and officers are checking routes linking Newry, Dublin and Northern Ireland as part of the search. Police have urged anyone with information to come forward while inquiries continue.

Why it matters

A missing minor triggers a wide search that depends on fast tips from local communities, schools and social media. Checking bus routes and cross-border points quickly can make the difference between finding her within hours and losing the trail.

sources:15min.lt lrytas.lt

Sports

Lithuania beats Kazakhstan 1-0 in World AI Division, live

Lithuania opened its men's World Championship Division I A campaign against Kazakhstan in Sosnowiec, Poland, with the game set for 4 p.m. local time. Six teams are fighting for two promotion places, and Kazakhstan arrived after dropping out of the top division in 2025. The format leaves little margin for error: Lithuania plays Ukraine on Sunday and finishes against hosts Poland on Friday.

Why it matters

For Lithuania, the opener shapes its promotion chase, because only two teams go up to the elite division. Points against Kazakhstan would give them room before the heavier run of games against Ukraine, Japan, France and Poland.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė: ruling party’s LRT bill is a smoke screen for the director’s dismissal

LRT director general Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė said on May 1 that the ruling parties’ new media bill is little more than a replay of last year’s attempt to make it easier to oust her. The previous draft stalled in parliament after a flood of opposition amendments and drew legal doubts over its fit with the Constitutional Court’s case law and the EU media freedom act. LRT now expects the Venice Commission’s stance and public criticism to force either changes to the bill or a delay in its path through Seimas.

Why it matters

If the bill passes unchanged, the LRT board would have a lower bar to remove top management, which would directly affect the broadcaster’s editorial independence. That matters for journalists working under political pressure and for audiences who rely on an autonomous public broadcaster for news.

sources:delfi.lt

Crime

Man tried to lure 14-year-old in street

In Vilnius, a 14-year-old girl escaped an attempt by a stranger to lure her off the street on April 30, and residents circulated warnings online. Police are gathering witness accounts and trying to identify the man. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and telling parents to discuss with children what to do when approached by strangers.

Why it matters

The case affects how safe children feel moving around public spaces alone, and how parents manage that independence. If police identify the suspect, the episode could move into a formal inquiry over possible attempted contact with a minor.

sources:tv3.lt

Health

Eat and die: naturalist warns — popular Lithuanian bilberries can end in tragedy

On April 27, 2026, LRT ran a warning from a naturalist about morels, saying the spring fungus can trigger severe poisoning or death because of gyromitrin. The expert said the danger rises when people boil them briefly or use the cooking water, both of which can leave toxins in the meal. He urged pickers to treat morels as a high-risk seasonal mushroom, not an everyday food.

Why it matters

The warning matters for Lithuanian foragers and families who treat morels as a spring delicacy. If the mushrooms are prepared wrongly, poisoning can send people to emergency care and, in severe cases, to hospital treatment.

sources:delfi.lt

Europe

Summary

Russia launched nearly 410 drones at Ukraine over the past day, and Ukraine’s air force said it downed or neutralised 388 of them. In Ternopil, strikes on industrial and infrastructure sites injured 10 people. In Kherson, a Russian drone hit a civilian bus today, killing at least two people and injuring seven.

In the Odesa region, drones damaged apartment blocks and port infrastructure that is central to Ukraine’s Black Sea export route. Ukraine’s air force said yesterday that Russia launched 6,583 long-range drones in April, the highest monthly total since the full-scale invasion began. Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said this week that Russia had fired more than 1,300 strike drones, more than 1,000 guided aerial bombs and 29 missiles over the previous week. AFP, citing Ukrainian air force data, said 88% of incoming drones and missiles were intercepted in April.

The Pentagon has ordered about 5,000 U.S. troops withdrawn from Germany over the next 6 to 12 months, and NATO said it was working with Washington to clarify the plan. Germany will still host about 35,000 American troops, including forces at Ramstein Air Base and the Landstuhl military hospital. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said today that the biggest threat to the transatlantic community was not external enemies but the alliance pulling apart. NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said the bloc was seeking specific details from Washington on the troop reduction.

Romania scrambled fighter jets today after a Russian drone was reported to have entered its airspace. The European Union said it would defend its interests after Donald Trump announced higher tariffs on cars.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Iranian rights activist Narges Mohammadi was hospitalised in Iran, her colleagues said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy imposed sanctions on five individuals over threats to Ukraine's national security.

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

Russia launches drone strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure across the country

Russia fired almost 410 drones at Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian officials said, in one of the largest strikes in weeks. Ten people were hurt in Ternopil, where industrial and infrastructure sites were hit, while Ukrainian air defences said they downed or neutralised 388 drones. Separate strikes damaged apartment blocks and port infrastructure in the Odesa region, adding to pressure on Ukraine’s transport and energy network.

Why it matters

Western Ukraine and the Black Sea corridor are central to grain exports, supply movement and power distribution. When strikes hit Ternopil and the Odesa region, the damage reaches civilians first, but it also disrupts logistics that support both the local economy and the war effort.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

US withdraws 5,000 troops from Germany

The Pentagon ordered about 5,000 U.S. troops out of Germany over the next 6 to 12 months, a move confirmed on May 1 by chief spokesman Sean Parnell. Germany still hosts about 35,000 American troops and key U.S. facilities, including Ramstein Air Base and the Landstuhl medical center. The drawdown comes as Donald Trump’s feud with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz deepens over the war in Iran, adding fresh strain to NATO’s European posture.

Why it matters

The cut hits NATO’s backbone in Germany, where U.S. command, logistics and medical hubs support operations across Europe. Allies will have to move faster to fill gaps in air defense, transport and medical evacuation capacity.

sources:lrt.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine: Russia carried out drone attacks on several cities in Ukraine

Overnight on May 1, Russian attack drones struck apartment blocks and port infrastructure in Odesa region, injuring people in southern Ukraine. On May 1, Ukraine’s air force also said Russia launched 6,583 long-range drones in April, the highest monthly total since the full-scale war began. Odesa and its port remain a key target because they are central to Ukraine’s Black Sea export route.

Why it matters

For people in Odesa, the strikes mean renewed danger in residential districts and more damage to infrastructure tied to the port and daily life. If attacks disrupt shipping or storage, Ukraine’s grain and other Black Sea exports take another hit.

sources:tv3.lt delfi.lt

Politics

Russia used thousands of drones and guided bombs in a week

Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on April 30 that Russia fired more than 1,300 strike drones, more than 1,000 guided aerial bombs and 29 missiles at Ukraine over the previous week. AFP said on May 1, based on Ukrainian air force data, that April brought a record number of long-range Russian drones, while Ukrainian air defences intercepted 88% of incoming drones and missiles. Kyiv says Moscow is scaling up drone production and trying to overload air defences across the front and deep in the rear.

Why it matters

Ukrainian cities and energy sites remain under near-constant air-raid pressure, and the scale of drone attacks forces Kyiv to spend more interceptors and keep civil defence on high alert. If Russia expands production further, the strain on Ukraine’s air-defence stocks and allied supply lines will intensify.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Transatlantic disintegration is a bigger threat than external enemies, warns Donald Tusk

On May 2, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the biggest threat to the transatlantic community is not outside enemies but the alliance itself pulling apart. LRT reported that NATO is simultaneously working with the U.S. to clarify the planned reduction in American troop numbers, and NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said the bloc is seeking specifics from Washington. The warning lands as Europe faces fresh doubts over U.S. security guarantees and the durability of transatlantic deterrence.

Why it matters

For NATO allies, the warning adds pressure to expand their own forces and pin down how many U.S. troops will stay in Europe. For Poland and the Baltic states, the credibility of deterrence depends directly on those decisions, which shape regional defence planning.

sources:15min.lt

World

Summary

The United States warned shipping companies today that they could face sanctions if they pay Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran curtailed normal traffic after its war with the U.S. and Israel and began offering some vessels paid routes closer to its coast. Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal at the White House yesterday and kept in place a U.S. naval plan to restrict shipping near Iranian ports. Talks between Washington and Tehran through Pakistani mediators have stalled, with the U.S. tying any easing to Iran’s nuclear programme and its leverage around Hormuz.

A senior Iranian military official said today that conflict with the United States was likely to resume. An oil tanker hijacked off Yemen was redirected toward Somalia. Cuba said today that new Donald Trump sanctions amount to collective punishment.

In Vilnius, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said today that transatlantic disintegration is a greater threat than external enemies. He linked that warning to pressure on NATO members to harden deterrence and raise defence spending. In Miami, Lando Norris topped Formula 1 qualifying today and will start Sunday’s Grand Prix from pole position. Alex Zanardi died yesterday at a care facility in Padua aged 59, after a career that later brought him four Paralympic gold medals following his 2001 IndyCar crash.

Former Formula One driver and Paralympic champion Alex Zanardi has died. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced impending government changes, with decisions expected next week.

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

Iran: war with the US could resume

The United States on May 2 warned shipping firms they could face sanctions if they pay Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The alert comes after Iran curtailed normal traffic in the waterway following its war with the U.S. and Israel, then began offering some vessels alternate routes close to its coast for a fee. Washington is trying to squeeze Tehran’s revenue stream without giving Iran room to turn the strait into a pay-to-pass corridor for global trade.

Why it matters

Hormuz is one of the world’s most sensitive energy chokepoints. Any toll system or fresh disruption can lift oil and gas costs in Europe and raise insurance and freight bills for companies tied into global supply chains.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Iran war: Trump weighs extending blockade of Iranian ports

On May 1, 2026, Donald Trump rejected Iran's latest peace proposal at the White House and kept in place a U.S. naval plan to restrict shipping near Iranian ports. The U.S. and Iran have stalled talks via Pakistani mediators, with Washington pressing Tehran over its nuclear program and leverage around the Strait of Hormuz. If the move is extended, U.S. forces could keep intercepting vessels linked to Iranian ports for longer, tightening pressure on oil flows and the ceasefire talks.

Why it matters

Oil traders and shipping firms face more uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of global oil and gas flows. Every extra day of restrictions can raise insurance, freight and stockpiling costs across the Middle East and Europe.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Tusk: NATO dissolution is a greater threat than external enemies

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on May 2 that transatlantic disintegration is a bigger threat than outside enemies. LRT reported the remarks from Vilnius, tying them to rising pressure on NATO members to harden deterrence and lift defence spending. Tusk is framing alliance cohesion itself as the core security issue, which puts unity, funding and military readiness at the top of the next NATO conversations.

Why it matters

NATO allies are being told the alliance itself is the vulnerability, just as capitals are deciding on budgets, air defence and rapid-reaction forces. For the Baltic states, any political fracture in the bloc would weaken deterrence on the eastern flank and complicate support for Ukraine.

sources:lrt.lt

Sports

Former F1 driver Alex Zanardi has died

Alex Zanardi died on the evening of May 1 in a care facility in Padua, his family said on May 2. He was 59. Zanardi was one of motorsport's most remarkable comeback stories, winning four Paralympic golds and two silvers after losing both legs in a 2001 IndyCar crash and then being badly injured again in 2020.

Why it matters

His death closes one of sport’s most visible comeback stories, with reach far beyond motor racing. He leaves behind a legacy that mattered to Paralympic sport, to Italian motorsport and to anyone following racing safety and rehabilitation after catastrophic injury.

sources:delfi.lt lrytas.lt tv3.lt

Sports

Mercedes' dominance ends? Norris – fastest in Miami

Lando Norris set the pace in Miami qualifying on May 2, 2026, with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli next best for Mercedes. It is the latest sign that McLaren have the outright speed in South Florida, where Oscar Piastri won the race last year. Norris will start Sunday's Grand Prix from the front end of the grid, giving McLaren a real shot at another win.

Why it matters

McLaren can bank valuable points on Mercedes right away if Norris converts pole into a clean start and keeps track position in the long opening stint. A strong finish would also reshape the title race before the next round.

sources:tv3.lt