3 May 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

A locomotive and four freight wagons bound for Duisburg derailed today on the Jiesia rail section in Kaunas district. LTG said the main recovery work is complete, passenger and freight traffic has resumed, and a separate investigation team is examining this derailment alongside the May 1 incident at Gudžiūnai station.

In Vilnius, three dead men were found on Saturday afternoon in an apartment on Šaltkalvių Street. Police were called at 2:25 p.m., and forensic experts will determine the cause of death; investigators are also examining possible drug use in the derelict flat. In Vilnius district, a man attacked and injured a minor, and a pre-trial investigation has been opened.

Lithuania’s Court of Appeal in recent days sentenced former MP Kristijonas Bartoševičius to seven years in prison for sexual offences against minors. The court also imposed a five-year ban on working with children after his release, and he can still appeal to the Supreme Court. In Alytus, a live military and emergency-services exercise began today with about 600 troops from the Grand Duchess Birutė Ulonai battalion, meaning residents will hear blank-fire shots and see military vehicles in the city through the end of the week.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė is attending the European Political Community summit in Armenia today, where Lithuania is pressing its priorities on security, Ukraine, the South Caucasus, defence and sanctions. Labour authorities said yesterday that personal matters handled during working hours cannot be booked as paid work time, warning that poor records can inflate wage and tax costs. President Gitanas Nausėda issued Mother’s Day greetings today to mothers and guardians.

President Gitanas Nausėda said he supports the idea of a European army, stressing that it should strengthen the European Union’s role within NATO. In Vilnius, the bodies of three men were found in an apartment after several days, and authorities are investigating the circumstances of their deaths.

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

Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė will attend European Political Community summit in Armenia

Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė will take part in the European Political Community summit in Armenia on May 3, putting Lithuania into one of Europe’s main political forums outside the EU. The gathering brings together EU and non-EU leaders, with security, Ukraine and the South Caucasus high on the agenda. Ruginienė is also expected to hold bilateral talks on the margins, where she can press Lithuania’s line on defence and sanctions.

Why it matters

For Ukraine and Europe’s eastern flank, the summit is a chance to keep pressure coordinated on Moscow and to line up support for defence spending. The talks can shape whether European capitals stay aligned on sanctions, aid to Kyiv and broader regional security.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Warns residents of this Lithuanian city: you will hear gunfire and troops will move through the streets

Residents of Alytus were warned on May 3 that they will hear blank-fire shots and see troops and military vehicles on city streets as part of a live exercise. Around 600 soldiers from the Grand Duchess Birutė Ulonai battalion are taking part, alongside police, border guards, fire and rescue crews, and riflemen. The drill runs through the end of the week and is designed to test how quickly the services respond to a scenario involving unrest and armed local groups.

Why it matters

For Alytus residents, the immediate effect is extra noise, military traffic and a heavier security presence in parts of the city. For local authorities and emergency services, it is a live test of coordination in a crisis scenario without exposing the city to real danger.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Court ruled: famous singer sentenced to prison for a long time

Lithuania's Court of Appeal on April 30, 2026 sentenced former MP Kristijonas Bartoševičius to seven years in prison in a case involving sexual offences against minors. The appellate panel tightened the lower court ruling and imposed a five-year ban on working with children after release. He can still take the case to the Supreme Court.

Why it matters

The ruling sets the legal ceiling for how the case may evolve if it reaches the Supreme Court, which could either uphold or alter the punishment. The post-release ban also removes any prospect of him returning to roles involving children for five years after prison.

sources:tv3.lt

Society

TV3 News: Four train cars and a locomotive derail in a complex rail section; three men found dead in Vilnius

In the Jiesia rail section of Kaunas district on May 3, 2026, a locomotive and four freight wagons loaded for Duisburg derailed. LTG said the main recovery work has been completed and passenger and freight traffic on the line has resumed. A separate LTG investigation team is now looking into this derailment alongside the May 1 incident at Gudžiūnai station, with track condition, rolling stock and human error all under review.

Why it matters

The derailment briefly disrupted freight flows on one of Lithuania’s key westbound rail corridors. If investigators find a track or rolling-stock fault, carriers may face rerouting costs and tougher maintenance checks.

sources:tv3.lt

Crime

Three people found dead in a Vilnius apartment – latest police update

Police found three dead men in an apartment on Šaltkalvių Street in Vilnius on Saturday afternoon. Officers were called at 2.25 p.m. by a relative who first found one body, then located two more after a full search of the flat. The apartment was derelict, and investigators suspect drug use was involved; the exact cause of death will come from the forensic inquiry.

Why it matters

The case highlights the risks of hidden drug use in private flats, where relatives and neighbours are often the first to discover what has happened. The forensic result will determine whether police broaden the probe into possible drug supply or distribution.

sources:tv3.lt lrytas.lt

Economy

Non-work matters during work hours can cost Lithuanian businesses dearly

On May 2, labour officials in Lithuania reminded employers that time spent on personal matters during work hours can be wrongly booked as paid work, opening the door to pay disputes. Labour law guidance says idle time, on-call duty and work away from the workplace must be recorded under strict rules, or firms risk inflating payroll and tax costs. If a company cannot prove how hours were spent, it may have to rebuild time records and pay the difference going back weeks or months.

Why it matters

The biggest exposure is for firms running shifts, remote work and flexible schedules. Even a handful of misrecorded hours can trigger extra pay, worker disputes and a higher tax bill.

sources:delfi.lt

Europe

Summary

In Kherson early today, a Russian drone struck a civilian car carrying local company employees in the Dniprovskyi district, killing a 60-year-old man and injuring five others. A later strike in the same area damaged an ambulance without hurting medics, and prosecutors opened a war-crimes investigation. Over the past day, Russian attacks across Ukraine again hit civilian sites, with rescue crews counting the injured and searching damaged buildings for survivors.

In eastern Ukraine, Russian forces failed over the past 48 hours to break through near Pokrovsk, a key rail hub they have been trying to crack for almost two years. Pokrovsk had about 60,000 residents before the war, and Russia’s failure there is limiting its room to push farther west. Ukraine meanwhile hit Russian Black Sea Fleet fuel tankers in Novorossiysk and other targets at the port of Primorsk. Volodymyr Zelenskiy also warned Alexander Lukashenko against any war-related actions from Belarusian territory and said Ukraine would respond.

Moscow over the past day again cast its goal as restoring the order that existed before the Soviet Union’s collapse, tying that vision to the war in Ukraine and influence over former Soviet republics. The Pentagon said on Friday it will withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany over the next 6 to 12 months, with some returning to the United States and others moving to different overseas bases. Berlin said it was taking the move calmly and stressed that the main U.S. bases in Germany remain central to NATO deterrence.

In Germany, the housing shortage has reached a record level, prompting Berlin to consider setting up a federal construction company to accelerate new building projects. Carmakers have warned of a possible €4.26 billion hit from raw material prices. In China on Saturday, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli took Formula 1 pole and will start Sunday’s race from P1.

The U.S. is considering withdrawing thousands of troops from Germany. NATO officials and influential Republicans have questioned the move because of its implications for European security, including the Baltic states and Poland. In Madrid, Jannik Sinner beat Alexander Zverev in just over an hour to win the ATP Masters final and set a new tournament record.

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

War in Ukraine. Brutal Russian attack: civil buildings hit, injuries counted

Russian forces struck several civilian sites in Ukraine in the past 24 hours, leaving rescuers to tally the injured and assess the damage. The assault comes as Moscow has stepped up drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent months, with homes and other non-military buildings taking repeated hits. Emergency crews kept working at the strike sites while Ukrainian officials gathered casualty reports and searched the rubble for survivors.

Why it matters

Ukrainian civilians pay the immediate price through injuries, ruined homes and disrupted emergency care when strikes land in residential districts rather than military targets. The attacks also force local authorities to divert resources into evacuation, rescue and treatment instead of routine public services.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

A person died from a Russian strike in Ukraine

In the early hours of May 3, a Russian drone struck a civilian car carrying employees of a local company in Kherson’s Dniprovskiy district, killing a 60-year-old man and injuring five others. A second strike later damaged an ambulance in the same area, though medics were unharmed. Prosecutors have opened a war-crimes investigation, and one of the wounded, a 54-year-old man, is being treated for concussion and blast trauma.

Why it matters

Kherson’s civilians are still moving through the city in vehicles that can be targeted on the way to work. Each strike adds pressure on emergency crews and hospitals, which must treat casualties while keeping ambulances out of harm’s way.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Humiliation for Russia: occupiers cannot capture this important city for two years

Russian forces have failed over the past 48 hours to break through near Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, where they have been trying for almost two years to crack a key rail hub. Before the war, Pokrovsk had about 60,000 residents, and Ukraine's defence has forced Moscow to abandon a straight frontal assault in favour of other tactics. The inability to take the city ties down troops and limits Russia's room to push further west.

Why it matters

Holding Pokrovsk protects supply lines to Ukraine's eastern front and makes it harder for Russia to pressure Myrnohrad and nearby towns. If Moscow cannot force a breakthrough, Kyiv keeps a vital logistics hub while Russia burns manpower and equipment in a drawn-out battle.

sources:lrytas.lt

Politics

Russia's goals named: aims to restore what existed before the USSR's collapse

On Oct. 27, 2022, Vladimir Putin said conflicts in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics were a consequence of the Soviet Union's collapse. He made the remarks at a meeting with intelligence chiefs from the Commonwealth of Independent States and accused the West of trying to ignite new conflicts in the post-Soviet space. The comments came a day before Russia announced the annexation of four occupied Ukrainian regions.

Why it matters

Russia's framing of the Soviet collapse as the root of current conflicts links directly to its territorial claims and war aims in Ukraine. It raises the risk that pressure will also be applied to other former Soviet states.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

US troop withdrawal from Germany: warnings of dire consequences

The Pentagon said on Friday it will pull 5,000 U.S. troops out of Germany over the next 6 to 12 months. Some will go back to the United States and some to other overseas bases, though officials have not yet set out the full redeployment map. Berlin said it was taking the move calmly and stressed that the big U.S. bases in Germany remain central to NATO deterrence.

Why it matters

The U.S. footprint in Germany underpins NATO air defence, logistics and rapid reinforcement across Europe. If part of that force moves farther from the continent, allies will have to cover the gap with their own money and capabilities.

sources:tv3.lt

Sports

Antonio Antonelli fastest in intrigue-filled Formula 1 qualifying

Kimi Antonelli topped qualifying in China on Saturday, giving Mercedes pole position for the race. George Russell was hit by problems, while rivals were shuffled by strategy and mistakes, leaving Mercedes on the front row. Antonelli will start Sunday’s race from P1 and faces the first big test of his young Formula 1 career.

Why it matters

Mercedes now has track position that can decide the race before the first pit window. Antonelli’s pole also raises the pressure on Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull to respond on strategy and pace from the start.

sources:lrt.lt

World

Summary

David Benavidez stopped Gilberto Ramirez by technical knockout in Los Angeles and became a world champion in a third weight class. The unbeaten American added the WBA and WBO light-heavyweight belts, moved to 30-0 and put himself closer to an undisputed title fight at 175 pounds.

Naoya Inoue beat Junto Nakatani by unanimous decision at Tokyo Dome yesterday to retain all four super-bantamweight titles. About 55,000 fans watched what was billed as the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history, as Inoue improved to 33-0 and handed Nakatani his first professional defeat.

In the Middle East, attention is on Iran and the US after a senior Iranian officer warned a new conflict with Washington was likely and Tehran tabled a 14-point counteroffer. Donald Trump said he was considering Iran's peace proposal but also said the US was unlikely to accept it, while Tehran did not rule out military action. Israel struck southern Lebanon over the past day and said it had targeted Hezbollah positions.

In the occupied West Bank, a 26-year-old Palestinian man was killed during an Israeli raid in Nablus, four other people were wounded and about 40 suffered tear-gas exposure. North Korea, meanwhile, called US accusations of cybercrime an absurd defamation.

Three people died on a cruise ship in the Atlantic after an outbreak of a respiratory illness. One Palestinian was killed during an Israeli raid in the West Bank.

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

Benavidez defeated Ramirez by technical knockout to become world champion in three weight classes

David Benavidez stopped Gilberto Ramirez by technical knockout in Los Angeles on May 3, 2026, and added the WBA and WBO light-heavyweight belts to his collection. Benavidez came in unbeaten at 30-0, with 24 wins inside the distance, while Ramirez arrived as a former two-division champion. The victory moves Benavidez closer to an undisputed title fight at 175 pounds, with the WBC belt still outside his grasp.

Why it matters

The light-heavyweight division now has a clear pace-setter, with Benavidez holding two of the four major belts. That raises the pressure on the remaining champions and pushes the division toward an undisputed showdown.

sources:tv3.lt

Sports

Naoya Inoue defended undisputed titles before 55,000 fans in historic Japan fight

Naoya Inoue beat Junto Nakatani on May 2, 2026, by unanimous decision at Tokyo Dome to keep all four super-bantamweight belts in front of roughly 55,000 fans. The bout was billed as the biggest in Japanese boxing history, and Nakatani suffered his first defeat as a professional. Inoue improved to 33-0 with 27 knockouts, leaving his camp to weigh another title defence or a move up in weight.

Why it matters

The 55,000 crowd in Tokyo showed that Japanese boxing can still fill stadium-scale events with homegrown stars. Nakatani’s first loss resets his title path, while Inoue remains the sport’s biggest draw in Japan.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

High-ranking Iranian officer: likely new conflict with the US

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on May 3 that Washington’s only choices are an “impossible” military operation or a “bad deal.” The comment lands after the fighting was halted on April 8 and a first peace round in Pakistan failed. Tehran is signalling that the ceasefire remains fragile and that the next move may again be military if talks stall.

Why it matters

Oil-importing economies in Europe and Asia face the risk of another jump in energy costs if the standoff turns violent again. A renewed conflict would also put shipping routes and insurers on alert, lifting freight costs fast.

sources:15min.lt tv3.lt

Politics

Palestinians: one person killed during Israeli raid in the West Bank

Israeli troops shot dead a 26-year-old Palestinian man and wounded four others during a raid in Nablus in the occupied West Bank on May 3, the Palestinian Red Crescent said. The Palestinian health ministry said his wife was in labour at a hospital when she learned he had been killed. The Israeli military said it was responding to a confrontation in which Palestinians threw stones at soldiers, while around 40 people suffered tear-gas exposure.

Why it matters

The raid adds to the strain on hospitals, rescue crews and families in the West Bank, where military operations and street-level clashes are colliding more often. It also keeps pressure on Israel’s security forces as accusations of excessive force and widening civilian harm intensify.

sources:15min.lt