9 May 2026

Lithuania today signed a nearly €6.4 billion SAFE defence loan agreement with the European Commission in Vilnius. The funding comes from the EU’s €150 billion SAFE facility, and the first disbursements could reach Lithuania as early as March.

Lithuania recorded no illegal crossings from Belarus over the past day. Latvia, by contrast, turned back 136 migrants. In Vilnius, the Seimas is holding a Democracy knowledge contest for Europe Day today, while a march in the capital and a protest outside the Russian embassy in solidarity with Ukraine are also taking place. The Foreign Ministry is also considering revoking one diplomat’s accreditation on national security grounds.

In Nepal, climber Subelytė was confirmed today as the first Lithuanian woman to reach the 8,485-metre summit of Makalu. Makalu is the world’s fifth-highest mountain. Lithuania’s men’s ice hockey team beat Poland 2-1 in Sosnowiec yesterday to secure its place in the World Championship Division I A.

Vilnius also saw fresh crime news. Late last night, someone tried to set a parked car on fire on S. Nėries Street, and police opened an investigation into property damage by a method dangerous to many people. Over the past two days, two Vilnius residents lost more than €35,000 to callers posing as bank and law enforcement staff.

Lithuania is buying an additional package of surface-to-surface rocket artillery. In late sports news, Vilnius side Rytas won the cup after overtime.

Moscow staged its Victory Day parade today even as Washington said yesterday that Donald Trump wants at least 30 days of unconditional ceasefire, not the Kremlin’s three-day pause. Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected Moscow’s offer and said yesterday that Russia had failed to stop fighting during previous short truces. The Kremlin said today that the temporary pause should test Kyiv’s readiness for a longer peace. In less than 24 hours, Moscow twice told Kyiv residents and diplomats to leave the city, warning it could strike the capital if the holiday events were disrupted.

Zelenskiy said yesterday that Ukrainian drones could appear over Moscow’s parade if Russia kept using the truce only to shield the event. Ukraine’s General Staff said today there were 245 clashes along the front in the previous 24 hours, with the fiercest fighting on the Pokrovsk axis in Donetsk region. Kyiv also said Russia kept up missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities during the declared ceasefire. Vladimir Putin said today that Russian forces in Ukraine are fighting a NATO-backed “aggressive” force.

Mariupol’s mayor said yesterday that residents in the Russian-occupied city are not living, but surviving. He pointed to shattered infrastructure and scarce access to water, heating and food. In sport, Euroleague playoff refereeing drew attention after Ergin Ataman publicly attacked the officials. In Rome, Iga Swiatek narrowly avoided an early exit at the WTA 1000 event, while Naomi Osaka and Karolina Pliskova advanced.

A senior German military commander warned that Russia is massing forces near NATO borders and accelerating its military build-up, increasing the need for stronger allied deterrence. Vladimir Putin said he was ready to meet Volodymyr Zelenskiy but attached a condition, while Moscow and Kyiv later traded blame over ceasefire violations.

Iran warned on Friday of catastrophic consequences after a US strike on two tankers near the Gulf. The immediate risk is to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly a fifth of global oil flows.

Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, told US Vice President JD Vance that Iran must stop attacks on Gulf states immediately. Doha is still talking to both Tehran and Washington, but it is tying any diplomatic track to an end to the strikes first. At the same time, Iranian and US negotiators have agreed through intermediaries to meet again next week to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme and sanctions. Oman remains the main mediator, while the venue and exact date have not been made public.

Fighting around Palmyra continued on Friday, making civilian movement and aid deliveries harder on the Syrian desert axis between Homs and Deir al-Zor. If the clashes persist, local authorities may restrict road access and aid groups will have to redraw humanitarian routes. The Pentagon on Thursday began publishing a new batch of classified UFO files, including records tied to Buzz Aldrin, a sighting in Kazakhstan and objects making sharp 90-degree turns. The release extends a declassification drive that has run for years, after the White House pushed the issue back up the agenda this spring.

Apple said it will hold a Special Event on May 13, fuelling speculation that it could announce a new acquisition. The company has been rolling out software and device updates in recent weeks as it tries to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence and services.

WHO said all passengers and crew on the ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak are considered high-risk contacts. Lebanon's health ministry said at least seven people were killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon.