17 May 2026

Police in Šilalė district today found the body of a girl born in 2013 in a farm building, with no visible signs of violence. Investigators are working to establish the cause of death and who was with the child before the body was discovered, with forensic findings set to shape the next steps.

Across Lithuania over the past day, two bodies were found in separate locations, including that of a minor, prompting police and prosecutors to examine whether crimes were committed. Crime coverage also included a case in Vilnius involving a man suspected of abusing a minor. President Gitanas Nausėda said today that accusations against MEP Dainius Žalimas over the transparency of EU funds used to support the Belarusian opposition are serious. Žalimas said he was certain the investigation would find no criminal conduct.

Health news included public concern over hantavirus infection risk in Lithuania and continued interest in coach Remigijus, whose clients lost between 30 and 110 kilograms. In science coverage, US researchers said daraxonrasib showed encouraging activity in a trial of 168 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer driven by KRAS mutations, though larger studies are still needed. Weekend economic coverage returned to household investing, with Lithuanian outlets noting that saving 100 euros a month for 20 years could grow to about 52,000 euros at annual returns of 7 to 8 per cent.

Commentary stressed three basics for investors: a cash buffer, diversification and a mix of asset classes. Business debate also highlighted family firms, which broader European data show account for more than half of companies and about 100 million private-sector jobs. In culture, Lithuania finished 22nd in the Eurovision final, and social media widely shared video of a near-accident during the contest.

A suspected military drone was found crashed in Utena district late on Tuesday. Authorities activated the “Shield” response plan and said initial checks found no signs of an explosion. The president’s adviser also said there was no information on any possible increase in US troop numbers in Lithuania.

Three people were killed in the Moscow region overnight in one of Ukraine’s biggest drone attacks in months, and Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down 556 drones. Governor Andrei Vorobyov said one drone hit a house in Khimki, two men were killed in Pogorelki, and at least 12 people were wounded near an oil refinery in Moscow. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said today that nearly 600 Ukrainian strikes inside Russia were a rightful response to Moscow’s missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. Kyiv says those strikes are aimed at military and war-related facilities, not random civilian targets.

The Kremlin is weighing whether to accept the quicker freeze in fighting sought by Donald Trump or press for more battlefield gains before any ceasefire. Russian planning is also being watched for a broader escalation that could involve Belarus and Transnistria. At the same time, Russian economists are warning that inflation, slower growth and strain on state finances are forcing Moscow to choose between war spending and domestic stability. The pressure could push the Kremlin toward new revenue measures and tighter spending controls in the coming months.

In Ukraine, Russian drones struck Dnipro overnight, injuring three people and starting fires. A separate strike on a fuel station in the Zaporizhzhia region wounded one woman, and at least three people were killed and more than 60 injured across Ukraine over the past day.

In Vienna, Bulgaria’s Dara won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with “Bangaranga”, giving the country its first-ever victory. Dara said afterwards that she had not expected to win and thanked her husband and fans, while the final was also marred by voting-sequence production failures and a fire on the main stage after Serbia’s performance.

Late in the evening, the main focus was on reports from the Ukraine front, where the latest assessments said Russian forces were losing ground in some sectors. Commenting on a large-scale strike in the Moscow region, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the war was returning to Russian territory.

The World Health Organization on Saturday declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. As of Friday, Ituri province had recorded eight confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths, while Kampala had two confirmed cases, including one death. WHO said the first suspected case fell ill on April 25, laboratory confirmation came on May 14, and cases have now been identified in both Kinshasa and Kampala. The agency is sending extra epidemiologists, lab staff and infection-control teams to border corridors with Uganda and South Sudan because death clusters and syndromic reports in Ituri suggest the outbreak may be larger than official counts show.

Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Russia is weighing two options from Belarusian territory: a push toward the Chernihiv-Kyiv axis or pressure on a NATO state to the north. Ukrainian agencies are tracking roads and artillery positions near the border, while Alexander Lukashenko has publicly spoken about targeted unit mobilization and told the armed forces to prepare for war.

In the Middle East, Lebanese state media said Israeli warplanes struck the eastern Bekaa town of Sohmor twice on Sunday and carried out further strikes in the south despite a ceasefire in place since April 17. A Hezbollah-linked Lebanese lawmaker said talks with Israel had reached a dead end, while the Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure across several southern locations. An armed officer said Hezbollah fired about 200 shells into Israel over the weekend, alongside rocket and drone attacks. In sport, Francis Ngannou returned to the cage and knocked out Philippe Lins in the first round.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces now control about 60% of the Gaza Strip. Donald Trump warned that “nothing will be left” of Iran if Tehran does not agree to a peace deal. Ten people were killed in an attack in central Mexico.