11 May 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

A medical breakthrough drew attention in Lithuania on Monday after researchers isolated human-like antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus, which infects about 95% of people worldwide. The antibodies block the virus from attaching to immune cells, a finding with implications for research on cancers and some neurological diseases.

Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas said in Vilnius on Monday that Lithuania is in the final stretch of talks to buy 100 CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicles. The six-country purchase is tied to Lithuania’s plan to reach full divisional combat capability by 2030, with deliveries due from 2028. Defence and civil protection officials in Vilnius also said the first 72 hours after a possible attack would be critical for keeping communications running, moving civilians and supplying municipalities, prompting work to map shelters, communications nodes and stockpiles in advance. Lithuania also decided to join operations in the Strait of Hormuz after a US request.

In the domestic economy, employers warned that labour shortages are already slowing expansion plans at some companies and threatening on-time delivery of orders. The sharpest shortages are in construction, manufacturing, transport, healthcare and social care, while faster wage growth is pushing up hiring costs. Inflation is spreading across more goods and services, and electricity prices doubled over the week even though local generation covered about 90% of Lithuania’s demand. Companies are also dealing with higher resource costs, tighter liability for substandard goods and expected changes for petrol stations.

In crime news, a court ordered two of the three suspects in the killing of paramedic Mantas Sadauskas to remain in custody. Prosecutors said the 1995-born man disappeared after driving to Paliukai village to install a trampoline, and his body was later found hidden at a remote homestead.

Lithuania's parliament approved new rules on liability and compensation for defective goods. The State Defence Council backed Lithuania joining maritime security operations in the Strait of Hormuz, while President Gitanas Nauseda discussed the US role in Europe and stronger air defence with NATO forces.

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

Medical breakthrough: new antibodies developed against a virus that infects 95% of people

Fred Hutch Cancer Center said on April 15 that scientists had isolated human-like antibodies from mice engineered with human antibody genes that block Epstein-Barr virus from attaching to immune cells. The virus infects about 95% of people worldwide and is linked to several cancers and some long-term neurological diseases. The team says the work could speed up the hunt for protective antibodies against other pathogens, and it has already filed intellectual property claims on the findings.

Why it matters

Because Epstein-Barr virus usually persists for life, a working antibody treatment could matter for patients at risk of virus-linked cancers and other chronic disease. If the approach translates into human trials, it could open the door to more targeted prevention and treatment rather than just managing the fallout of infection.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Lithuania may soon sign a multimillion CV90 deal

Lithuania’s defence ministry said in February it would buy 100 CV90 MkIV tracked infantry fighting vehicles, and the six-country technical agreement has already been signed in Helsinki. The purchase is tied to Lithuania’s plan to reach full divisional combat capability by 2030, with deliveries due from 2028. The next step is the main contract, which would lock in the joint procurement with Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia and the Netherlands.

Why it matters

Lithuanian land forces would gain heavier, better protected vehicles that change brigade mobility and firepower. A joint order with several Nordic and Baltic partners should lower unit costs and make spares and training easier to standardise.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Weak Lithuania in wartime: first three days are crucial

Lithuanian defence and civil protection officials in Vilnius on May 11 said the first 72 hours after a possible attack would be the critical window for keeping communications alive, moving civilians and getting supplies to where they are needed. The focus is not just on the armed forces but on municipalities, which would have to operate without normal power and logistics. The next step is to map shelters, communications nodes and stockpiles in advance so local authorities can act before a crisis hits.

Why it matters

For residents, the first hours would determine whether shelter, transport and basic supplies are available when normal services fail. If communications and logistics break down, the difference between a prepared plan and improvisation will decide how many people can be moved safely.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Minister: we are in the final stretch for the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle purchase

Lithuania is in the final stretch of talks to buy CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas said in Vilnius on Monday. In late March, Lithuania and five other countries in the CV90 Nordic programme signed a technical agreement in Helsinki, moving the project one step closer to a contract. The purchase would add tracked armour to Lithuania’s wider ground-force rebuild, alongside its tank programme. The next step is a final deal that sets price, numbers and delivery timing.

Why it matters

The deal will shape when Lithuania’s army gets the heavier tracked vehicles needed for its new land-force structure. Any delay also pushes back training, maintenance and the integration of the vehicles into operational units.

sources:15min.lt

Crime

Grigaravičius on Mantas Sadauskas murder: a crime hard to comprehend

A court this week ordered two of the three suspects in the killing of paramedic Mantas Sadauskas to be held in custody. Prosecutors said the 1995-born man disappeared after driving a white Hyundai to Paliukai village to install a trampoline, and his body was later found hidden at a remote homestead. The case covers murder, unlawful detention and illegal possession of firearms, and the third suspect was considered separately by the court.

Why it matters

The custody orders give investigators more room to press ahead with interrogations and test each suspect’s role. For the family and prosecutors, the key issue is how the body was concealed, whether the victim was abducted, and whether firearms were used, because those facts will shape the charges and likely penalties.

sources:delfi.lt

Economy

Entrepreneurs struggle to find workers: we may hit a limit when the system stalls

Lithuanian employers are again warning on May 11, 2026 that worker shortages are starting to bite, with some firms saying vacancies and churn are already slowing expansion plans. Recent business surveys point to construction, manufacturing, transport, healthcare and social care as the hardest-hit sectors, while faster wage growth is also pushing up hiring costs. Business groups say that if labour supply does not improve, some companies may struggle to deliver orders on time.

Why it matters

The pressure lands first on customers in construction, logistics and healthcare, where delays in projects, deliveries and care can become more common. As wages rise and vacancies stay open, smaller firms find it harder to compete for the same workers as larger employers.

sources:delfi.lt

Europe

Summary

Ukraine suffered another wave of Russian strikes over the past day, with three civilians killed, including a child, and 16 wounded. Rescue teams were still searching for victims as regional authorities reported fresh damage to residential areas and new evacuation needs.

In Brussels, EU foreign ministers are meeting today to approve a new sanctions package against Russia over the abduction of Ukrainian children. The measures would widen asset freezes and travel bans on people and entities linked to transferring children into Russian-controlled territory. Kyiv also said it would respond in kind if Moscow stopped carrying out mass air attacks. Volodymyr Zelenskiy tied that position to nearly 100 attack drones launched by Russia in one night and to dozens of assaults across front-line sectors.

Iran warned Britain and France on Monday not to act in the Strait of Hormuz, where the two countries have been coordinating plans to protect shipping. The waterway has remained tense since Iran blocked it in late February and has used it as leverage ever since. The warning could complicate European efforts to build a defensive escort mission and add pressure on oil and LNG flows.

In Spain, Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-0 at home on Sunday and sealed a 29th La Liga title with three games left. Marcus Rashford scored in the ninth minute, Ferran Torres added a second nine minutes later, and Hansi Flick secured a second straight league crown. In Italy, Atalanta won 3-0 away at AC Milan on Sunday and dented the hosts’ Serie A title push. Milan made four changes after the break, gave Mario Mandzukic his debut, and still failed to score.

Moscow showed no sign of readiness to end the war in Ukraine, and Kyiv warned of fresh Russian strikes. In Latvia, a coalition crisis deepened after a minister’s fall, while President Gitanas Nauseda discussed the US security role and stronger air defence with NATO commanders in Europe.

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

Iran warns UK and France against taking action in Hormuz

Iran warned Britain and France on May 11 not to act in the Strait of Hormuz, where the two countries have been coordinating plans to protect shipping. The waterway remains tense after Iran blocked the strait in late February and has used it as leverage ever since. The threat could complicate European efforts to build a defensive escort mission and add pressure on oil and LNG flows.

Why it matters

A large share of global oil and LNG trade depends on the Strait of Hormuz, so any military flare-up quickly feeds into prices and shipping insurance. For European governments, that means higher risk to maritime traffic and more pressure on energy markets.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

ceasefire in Ukraine ends as Russian attacks kill 3 civilians and injure 16

Russian strikes across Ukraine over the past day killed three civilians, including a child, and wounded 16 others, Ukrainian officials and local media said. The attacks hit several settlements as Russian forces kept targeting residential areas and civilian infrastructure. Kyiv said rescue teams were still searching for victims, while regional authorities logged fresh damage and more evacuation needs.

Why it matters

For people in frontline regions, the strikes mean more evacuations, broken power and water lines, and extra pressure on hospitals. Each hit makes it harder for residents to return home and for local authorities to keep basic services running in damaged areas.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

EU to impose new sanctions on Russia over Ukrainian children abductions

EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels on May 11, 2026, to back a new sanctions package against Russia aimed at people and entities tied to the removal of Ukrainian children. The move follows mounting evidence gathered by Ukrainian officials and international investigators on the transfer of children into Russia-controlled areas. The package would widen asset freezes and travel bans already used by the bloc.

Why it matters

The measures could shut down travel and banking access for Russian officials involved in the transfers. For Ukrainian families, that matters because it keeps pressure on Moscow to identify the people behind the removals and return the children.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine. Zelenskiy: if Russia avoids mass air attacks, Ukraine will respond in kind

On May 7, 2026, in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine would mirror Russia’s mass air attacks if Moscow stopped using them. He made the remarks after saying Russian forces had launched nearly 100 attack drones overnight, alongside dozens of assaults in several front-line sectors and multiple air strikes. The message ties Ukraine’s next military moves to the ceasefire talks now in play, with Zelenskiy insisting Kyiv will only hold back if Russia does the same.

Why it matters

Ukrainian civilians remain under near-constant drone and missile threat, so any change in the air campaign would directly affect shelter use, power supply and the strain on air defenses. If both sides actually curb strikes from the air, pressure on energy infrastructure and interceptor stocks would ease quickly.

sources:lrt.lt

Sports

Barcelona wins El Clasico to seal La Liga title

Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-0 on Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Barcelona to clinch a 29th La Liga title with three games left. Marcus Rashford struck in the ninth minute and Ferran Torres added a second nine minutes later, pushing the Catalans 14 points clear. It is Barcelona’s third league crown in four seasons and Hansi Flick’s second straight title in charge, after a day marked by the death of his father.

Why it matters

Real Madrid now have no realistic path to the title, while Barcelona can use the last three league games to rotate and plan for the summer window. Beating their biggest rival to seal the championship also strengthens Barcelona’s hand in squad talks heading into next season.

sources:delfi.lt tv3.lt lrt.lt

Sports

AC Milan unable to hold off Atalanta at home

AC Milan were beaten 3-0 at home by Atalanta in Serie A on May 10, 2026. Milan made four changes after the break and Mario Mandzukic came on for his debut, but the hosts never found a way through. The result left Milan unable to cash in on Inter's slip and cost them ground in the title race.

Why it matters

The defeat costs Milan points in the Serie A title race and tightens the margin for error in the closing stretch of the season. Atalanta also strengthens its position at the top, keeping the pressure on the clubs chasing them.

sources:tv3.lt

World

Summary

Netanyahu said today that Iran still holds more than 400 kg of enriched uranium after last July’s strikes on its nuclear sites. He said the stockpile is not enough on its own for a bomb, but remains the core of the programme and must be removed from Iranian control. Over the past day, Tehran rejected Donald Trump’s peace proposal and demanded reparations, shutting down a fresh attempt to restart talks quickly. The course of US-Iran talks also moved oil prices again, while the war’s fallout is lifting profits for some defence and energy companies.

Trump said today that Vladimir Putin had let him down over the war in Ukraine. Washington is weighing tougher sanctions and tariffs on Russian oil as the Kremlin shows no readiness to accept a ceasefire. Ukraine and its allies discussed new long-range strikes inside Russia in Kyiv yesterday after weekend drone attacks on oil infrastructure and military sites. Moscow tightened controls around this year’s May 9 parade and revoked accreditation from several foreign media outlets. A drone attack in Kherson injured five people.

China confirmed that Trump will visit later this week, and US officials expect him to press Xi Jinping over Iran during the trip. In Morocco, the army found the body of one of two missing US soldiers. The UN rights office said at least 880 Sudanese civilians were killed in drone attacks from January to April, with the heaviest toll in Darfur and around Khartoum. Astronomers this week reported a black hole in the early universe that may have formed before the first bright stars switched on.

Donald Trump said the U.S.-Iran truce remained in critical condition and accused Tehran of violating a uranium deal. He also said he planned to discuss U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Xi Jinping.

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

Incredible discovery: a black hole formed earlier than the star ignited

Astronomers this week reported a black hole in the early universe that may have formed before the first bright stars switched on. The finding comes from observations of very distant galaxies and strengthens the case that some of these objects could have emerged almost immediately after the Big Bang, not only from collapsing massive stars. That forces a rethink of early-universe models and of how fast the first black holes may have grown.

Why it matters

Early-universe models underpin how scientists explain the rise of galaxies, stars and supermassive black holes in the first few hundred million years. If the interpretation holds, astronomers will have to revise growth-rate calculations and adjust the benchmarks used in future observations.

sources:lrytas.lt

Politics

UN: In Sudan, drone attacks killed at least 880 civilians from January to April

The UN rights office said at least 880 Sudanese civilians were killed in drone attacks between Jan. 1 and April 30, with the heaviest toll in Darfur and around Khartoum. UN agencies have also said nearly 250 children were killed in the first quarter and that more than 200 attacks on health facilities have been verified since the war began in April 2023. The April strikes have left aid corridors and evacuation routes under growing strain, as drones are increasingly used against markets, hospitals and other civilian sites.

Why it matters

For civilians in Sudan’s towns and cities, even routine trips to markets, clinics and work have become lethal. Drone strikes on hospitals and transport routes also make it harder for aid groups to move food, medicine and fuel into the worst-hit areas.

sources:lrt.lt delfi.lt lrytas.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine. WSJ: May 9 parade reveals Putin’s fears – fighting trend tilts in Ukraine’s favor

The Kremlin tightened controls on this year’s May 9 parade in Moscow and pulled accreditation from several foreign media outlets. Analysts quoted by LRT said the move points to security fears, not confidence, ahead of a showcase event meant to project power. The WSJ reading of the war draws on recent battlefield pressure on Russia and the fact that Moscow is increasingly focused on protecting its own symbols rather than announcing gains.

Why it matters

For Ukraine, the tighter security around the parade shows Moscow is forced to protect itself at home rather than freely flaunt military strength. For Western capitals, it is a sign that the balance is being shaped by battlefield and rear-area vulnerabilities, not Kremlin pageantry.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine. Putin’s lies to Trump: NYT calculations take your breath away

Donald Trump on May 11 again said Vladimir Putin had let him down over the war in Ukraine, while the New York Times laid out Kremlin calculations that suggest Moscow thinks it can keep fighting for a long time. The paper said Russia believes it still has the upper hand on the battlefield, even as its economy comes under pressure and Western officials talk more openly about tougher sanctions and tariffs on Russian oil. Washington is still pushing Kyiv and Moscow toward talks, but there is little sign the Kremlin is ready to agree to a ceasefire.

Why it matters

For Ukrainians, it means the war’s end date remains open, and Russian strikes and mobilisation can continue for longer. For Europe, it raises pressure to keep sanctions tight and step up defence spending if Washington moves into another round of talks.

sources:lrytas.lt

Politics

Netanyahu: the war with Iran is not over yet; it is necessary to remove uranium

Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 11 that Iran still holds more than 400 kg of enriched uranium after strikes on its nuclear sites last July. He said the stockpile is not enough on its own for a bomb, but it remains the core of the program and must be removed from Iranian control. The warning lands as Washington and Tehran have stalled nuclear talks, while Donald Trump says negotiations should continue.

Why it matters

Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile sits at the center of any sanctions deal or nuclear accord. If it remains in place, the dispute could harden into either more strikes or a prolonged freeze in negotiations.

sources:lrt.lt

Politics

Ukraine allies plan new strike at Russia

On May 10, Ukraine and its partners discussed fresh long-range strikes inside Russia after Ukrainian drones hit Russian oil infrastructure and military sites at several locations over the weekend. British and other Western officials were in Kyiv to line up more military support, while Ukrainian officials said the aim is to squeeze Moscow’s ability to finance the war. Kyiv is now looking for new delivery decisions in the coming days on long-range weapons and air-defence missiles.

Why it matters

Ukrainian civilians stand to gain if partners speed up air-defence deliveries, because more interceptors can blunt Russian strikes on power grids, homes and transport hubs. Energy markets are also watching, since attacks on Russian oil assets can jolt prices and complicate Moscow’s export revenue flow.

sources:delfi.lt