16 May 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

Scammers have already taken nearly €10m from Lithuanian residents this year, with total household and corporate losses nearing €12m. Police and banks say the main traps are phone calls, fake bank messages and fraudulent transfers, with the biggest losses sealed within minutes and pensioners and people controlling both personal and company funds most exposed.

TV3 on Friday brought renewed attention to the death of 5-year-old Maria, whose mother Laura Marija says the child was misdiagnosed and did not receive proper treatment for laryngitis during a hospital stay three and a half years ago. In politics, pressure on Saulius Skvernelis intensified as a Spinter Tyrimai poll published today showed a sharp drop in his favourable ratings and weaker support for the Democrats’ Union “For Lithuania” after parliament stripped him of immunity in a corruption case alleging at least €51,000 in bribes. The party is being run on an interim basis by Virginijus Sinkevičius, with a permanent leader due by August.

Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys told a closed meeting of Social Democrat lawmakers yesterday that pressure from the United States was emerging to allow Belarusian fertiliser transit through Lithuania. He also described a workaround under which a US company would buy Belaruskali cargo in Belarus and relabel it as American goods, although President Gitanas Nauseda said yesterday that he saw no such pressure and Social Democrat leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius urged politicians not to turn the issue into a public fight. Police in Kaunas this week dismantled a home-delivery alcohol ring that kept operating even while under surveillance, with nearly 100 officers from Kaunas and Vilnius involved in an organised crime investigation carrying a potential prison term of up to eight years.

In energy, commentator Greta Ilekytė argued that Europe remains exposed to import shocks even after cutting dependence on Russian fuel, leaving domestic generation, renewables, grids and storage as the main buffer. In culture, attention remains on Lion Ceccah before the Eurovision final, with his team citing fatigue and hinting at a surprise on stage.

At a security policy conference in Vilnius, Kęstutis Budrys said Lithuania must build coalitions that can act, not just discuss. The National Library of Lithuania acquired three valuable rare editions.

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

Scammers have defrauded almost €12 million this year – police warn what they target most

Police said on May 15 that scammers have already taken almost €10m from Lithuanian residents this year, while total losses from households and firms are nearing €12m. Bank officials said the main traps remain phone calls, fake bank messages and fraudulent transfers, with fraudsters focusing on pensioners and on people who control both personal and company money. Police and lenders are still blocking some payments, but the biggest losses are locked in within the first minutes after the scam.

Why it matters

The heaviest losses fall on older people, who can lose savings in a single call, and on smaller firms, where one transfer can freeze working capital. The faster the money leaves the account, the lower the chance of getting it back.

sources:tv3.lt

Health

5-year-old Maria, ill with laryngitis, did not wake from night hospital stay; mother Laura mourns and blames doctors

On May 16, 2026, TV3 aired the account of Laura Marija, who said her 5-year-old daughter Maria died after a night in hospital while being treated for laryngitis. She said the child was taken to hospital and that the family believes she was misdiagnosed and did not receive proper treatment. Laura Marija said the death happened three and a half years ago, when Maria was almost six, and she is now pushing the case back into the open.

Why it matters

For parents whose children are admitted with sudden airway infections, the case raises hard questions about overnight monitoring and the decisions made by on-duty doctors. It also puts the spotlight back on how quickly a child’s condition can deteriorate and how clearly hospitals explain warning signs to families.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Belarusian fertilizer issue divides politicians: are the Americans pressuring Lithuania?

Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys told a closed Social Democrats caucus on May 14 that pressure from the US is emerging to allow transit of Belarusian fertiliser through Lithuania. He said Americans had also explored a workaround in which a US company would buy the cargo from Belaruskali in Belarus and recast it as American goods. President Gitanas Nauseda on May 15 said he did not see such pressure, while Social Democrat leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius urged less public debate over the issue.

Why it matters

The dispute will determine whether Lithuania keeps the current sanctions wall or reopens Klaipėda port and rail corridors to Belarusian cargo. It could affect port revenue, transit business and ties with Washington, where the signals now look mixed.

sources:tv3.lt

Energy

Greta Ilekytė. Another energy crisis reminds us: the dependence that hasn't disappeared

In a May 4 comment for LRT, Greta Ilekytė said the latest energy jolt shows Europe is still dependent on imports from abroad, even after sharply cutting reliance on Russian fuel. She argued that price shocks still follow supply disruptions and that countries with more domestic power generation and lower fossil-fuel use are better insulated. The next step, she said, is more investment in renewables, grids and storage, because import dependence will otherwise remain.

Why it matters

For households and companies, it means fuel and power bills can still swing on external supply shocks, not just local demand. The more electricity and heat are produced at home, the less those bills depend on import markets and geopolitical shocks.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Skvernelis scandal not ignored: ratings plummet, fewer democrats support

A Spinter Tyrimai poll published on May 16 showed a sharp drop in favourable ratings for Saulius Skvernelis and a smaller share of voters backing the Democrats’ Union “For Lithuania”. The slide follows the Seimas vote on April 16 to strip Skvernelis of immunity in a corruption case alleging at least 51,000 euros in bribes. The party is now being run on an interim basis by Virginijus Sinkevičius, with a permanent leader due to be chosen by August.

Why it matters

For the Democrats, the poll weakens their hand in parliamentary bargaining and coalition talks. The case against Skvernelis could also speed up voter drift to other parties as the legal process moves on.

sources:delfi.lt tv3.lt

Crime

Alcohol at home in Kaunas: police amazed by boldness – criminals continued the scheme even while being watched

Police in Kaunas said this week they exposed a home-delivery alcohol ring that kept operating even after investigators had it under surveillance. Nearly 100 officers from Kaunas and Vilnius took part in the operation, which focused on night-time sales banned between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. The probe centers on organized criminal activity carrying a potential prison term of up to eight years.

Why it matters

For Kaunas residents, the case points to tighter checks on delivery channels and a higher chance that illicit orders will be intercepted before they reach customers. It also shows that alcohol-sale rules only bite when police target the whole order network, not just individual sellers.

sources:15min.lt

Europe

Summary

Ukraine said it shot down 269 of 294 Russian drones over the past day, though several regions still reported damage from impacts. The barrage followed a record 6,583 long-range Russian drones launched by Russia in April, pushing Kyiv to seek more interceptors and air-defence missiles.

Ukraine struck the Nevinnomyssky Azot chemical plant in Russia’s Stavropol region today, with local videos showing a fire at the site. The EuroChem-owned plant is a key producer of ammonia and nitrogen compounds for industry. Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian weapons reached targets 1,000 km inside Russia this week. Overnight explosions were also reported in Russia’s Stavropol and Tatarstan regions. Zelensky also said Russia was considering operations from Belarus in both the southern and northern directions.

Kyiv said today that Russia had returned 528 bodies of fallen Ukrainians, and forensic and law-enforcement teams will work to identify them. The handover came a day after 205 Ukrainian prisoners of war were returned in a separate exchange. A Moscow court on Friday ordered Belgium-based Euroclear to pay about $230 billion to Russia’s central bank over assets frozen in the EU. The case was filed after the EU in December 2025 tightened plans to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets to support a loan for Ukraine. Euroclear says it does not recognise the Russian court’s jurisdiction, making the ruling more likely to deepen the legal fight than release any money.

Ahead of the Eurovision final, the contest’s director did not rule out Russia returning in the future. Austria’s JJ also drew attention before the final after his team made a request over performance conditions.

In Italy, a man drove into pedestrians and then brandished a knife. The attack left people injured. An envoy from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia is facing problems with its Iskander missiles.

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

Ukraine's air defenses shoot down 269 of 294 Russian drones

Ukraine said its air defenses intercepted 269 of 294 Russian drones overnight on May 15, 2026, while several regions reported impact damage. The raid came after April saw a record 6,583 long-range Russian drones launched at Ukraine, according to Ukrainian air force tallies. Kyiv is pressing allies for more interceptors and air-defense missiles as Russia leans on mass drone strikes and Ukraine tries to shield cities and power assets.

Why it matters

For Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure operators, the issue is interceptor stockpiles, not just shoot-down rates, because one mass raid can saturate defenses across multiple regions at once. More allied air-defense deliveries will determine how many drones still reach homes, power grids and transport nodes.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Russia demands $250 billion from Euroclear over frozen assets

A Moscow court on May 15 ordered Belgium-based Euroclear to pay about $230 billion to Russia’s central bank over frozen assets held in the EU. The case was filed in December 2025 after the EU moved to tighten plans for using proceeds from frozen Russian assets to back a loan for Ukraine. Euroclear says it does not recognise the Russian court’s jurisdiction, so the ruling is likely to deepen the legal fight rather than unlock any money.

Why it matters

The ruling targets the legal architecture behind EU plans to use frozen Russian assets and their proceeds to support Ukraine. It could complicate future talks on how to structure that financing and raise the stakes for Euroclear, the clearing house that holds most of the immobilised reserves.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine. Ukraine strikes Russia's chemical plant

Ukraine struck the Nevinnomyssky Azot chemical plant in Russia’s Stavropol region on May 16, with local videos showing fire at the site. The plant belongs to EuroChem, one of Russia’s biggest fertiliser groups, and is a key producer of ammonia and nitrogen compounds for industry. The attack fits Kyiv’s push to hit military and industrial targets deep inside Russia with domestically produced drones.

Why it matters

Russia’s fertiliser and chemicals sector feeds both agriculture and parts of industry, so damage to a plant like this can disrupt supply chains. For people nearby, the immediate risk is fire, smoke and possible exposure to hazardous substances.

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

Politics

Kyiv says Russia returned 528 Ukrainian remains

On May 16, Ukraine said it had received 528 bodies from Russia, which Moscow described as the remains of Ukrainian servicemen. Ukraine’s coordination штаб said forensic and law enforcement teams will work to identify the dead. The handover came a day after 205 Ukrainian prisoners of war were returned in a separate exchange.

Why it matters

For Ukrainian families, the transfer opens the formal identification process and can finally resolve cases of the missing. It also shows that Kyiv and Moscow still maintain narrow humanitarian channels even as the war continues.

sources:delfi.lt

Culture

Why are bridges depicted on euros?

The bridges on euro banknotes were chosen as a pan-European symbol, not as portraits of real places. The first series used styles ranging from classical to modern so no single country or city was favoured. That design choice still defines how euro cash looks today across the currency bloc.

Why it matters

The design avoids national winners and losers, which is why the same notes work across the euro area without political friction. It also gives the currency a shared visual identity for the more than 340 million people who use it every day.

sources:delfi.lt

World

Summary

Thirteen cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola have now been confirmed in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and one death in Uganda has been linked to the outbreak. The cluster is centred on a busy border corridor, and health authorities are intensifying tracing and isolation because the virus spreads through close contact with infected body fluids. Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed the new outbreak in Ituri province yesterday, and the WHO said 13 of 20 suspected samples tested positive for the rare Bundibugyo strain. The cases are tied to severe illness and deaths in the Mongbwalu and Rwampara health zones, marking the country’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak since 1976.

Israel’s military said on Friday it struck in Gaza to target a Hamas military commander linked to the group’s chain of command and operations inside the enclave. Palestinian health officials said several people were killed, as Israel expands its campaign in Gaza City ahead of any renewed negotiations.

Donald Trump said over the past day that a senior Islamic State leader had been eliminated in Iraq. U.S. and Nigerian forces also reported killing a high-ranking IS commander in West Africa, while explosions in Baghdad coincided with the formation of a new government. Washington is again weighing how far to go on arms sales to Taiwan as part of broader talks with China, and Pakistan has sent a minister to Tehran to offer to host peace talks between the United States and Iran. Iran’s efforts to evade U.S. sanctions through freight routes and trade across the Caspian Sea also drew fresh attention.

Romas Sakadolskis, one of the best-known voices of the Lithuanian service at Voice of America, died in New York, according to LRT and BNS. Born in Germany to Lithuanian parents, he spent more than three decades with the U.S. broadcaster before later teaching at Vilnius University and Vytautas Magnus University.

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

More details revealed about dangerous virus outbreak: one in three infected die

Thirteen cases of the Bandibadži Ebola strain have now been confirmed in DR Congo and Uganda, and one death in Uganda has been linked to the virus. The outbreak is centered in a border corridor where cross-border movement is frequent. Health authorities are stepping up tracing and isolation because the virus spreads through close contact with infected body fluids.

Why it matters

Border communities face tighter screening, monitoring and isolation rules, which can curb movement between DR Congo and Uganda. For health services, every new case means more contact tracing and more pressure on clinics and field labs.

sources:lrytas.lt

Health

Dangerous Ebola virus outbreak in Africa: 13 confirmed cases of a rare variant

The Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Ituri province on May 15, and the WHO said lab tests identified the Bundibugyo strain in 13 of 20 suspected samples. The cases are linked to severe illness and deaths in Mongbwalu and Rwampara health zones. It is the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the country since the virus was first identified in 1976.

Why it matters

Health teams now have to isolate patients, trace contacts and manage burials fast, because Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. If the response slips, a local cluster in Ituri can move into denser areas and become far harder to contain.

sources:delfi.lt tv3.lt

Politics

Israel reports operation in Gaza targeting Hamas military leader

Israel's military said on May 16 it struck in Gaza with the aim of hitting a Hamas military commander, while Palestinian health officials said several people were killed in the attack. Israel said the target was tied to Hamas' military chain of command and its operations inside Gaza. The strike comes as Israel broadens its campaign in Gaza City and looks to weaken Hamas' leadership before any renewed negotiations.

Why it matters

Civilians in Gaza bear the immediate cost of strikes on Hamas leadership, since a single target can still put surrounding neighborhoods at risk. The deeper Israel goes after the group's command structure, the harder any ceasefire and hostage talks become.

sources:delfi.lt

Culture

A renowned journalist passed away abroad

Romas Sakadolskis, one of the best-known voices of the Lithuanian service at Voice of America, died in New York on February 25, 2016, according to LRT and BNS. Born in Germany to Lithuanian parents, he spent more than three decades with the US broadcaster before returning to Lithuania after independence. He later taught at Vilnius University and Vytautas Magnus University, and was widely seen as a defining figure in Lithuanian-language journalism abroad.

Why it matters

Sakadolskis helped connect Lithuanian listeners to uncensored information during the Soviet era and in the years after it. His teaching later shaped a generation of reporters in Vilnius and Kaunas.

sources:lrytas.lt