17 May 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

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.

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

Two bodies found in the country in one day, one of them a minor

Two dead people were found in Lithuania in a single day, including a minor, in separate locations. Because one of the victims was a child, police and prosecutors now have to establish the cause of death and whether a crime was committed. The next step is likely to be forensic work and the opening or expansion of a pre-trial investigation.

Why it matters

A child death means more than a criminal case. It also pulls in child protection officials and raises questions about the environment the child lived in, and whether warning signs were missed.

sources:lrytas.lt

Crime

Tragedy in Vilkaviškis district – a dead girl found in a farm building

On May 17, police found the body of a girl born in 2013 in a farm building in Šilalė district, with no visible signs of violence. Authorities are now working to establish how she died and who was with her before the body was discovered. The case is under active investigation, and forensic findings are expected to determine the next steps.

Why it matters

Cases involving the death of a child trigger a fast-moving criminal and forensic response. For the family and close circle, that usually means interviews, evidence checks and a wait for the medical findings that will shape the investigation.

sources:delfi.lt

Health

Found pancreas cancer weak spot: could offer new treatment method

US researchers said on May 14 that daraxonrasib showed encouraging activity in a trial of 168 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The study focused on tumours carrying KRAS mutations, which drive more than 90 per cent of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. The findings strengthen the case for a new targeted approach, but larger trials are still needed before the drug can move closer to routine use.

Why it matters

For patients, the result points to a possible shift from broad chemotherapy toward treatment matched to the tumour’s KRAS mutation. If later trials confirm the signal, oncologists could use the marker to select patients more likely to benefit.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

President: accusations against Žalimas over transparency in supporting Belarusian opposition – serious

President Gitanas Nausėda said on May 17 that accusations against MEP Dainius Žalimas over the use of EU money for Belarus's opposition are serious. He urged people to wait for law-enforcement findings, while Žalimas said he was certain the probe would find no criminal conduct. The dispute centres on funds for Belarusian democratic forces and whether their use was transparent enough.

Why it matters

Money for Belarusian opposition groups is politically sensitive in Lithuania and across the EU, because it helps fund exile-based democratic networks, legal support and public campaigning. Any finding of wrongdoing could reshape how such support is administered and raise pressure on the politicians who channel it.

sources:lrt.lt tv3.lt

Economy

How to build an investment portfolio that earns the average salary each month

Lithuanian business outlets this weekend revisited how investors can build a portfolio that produces monthly income equal to an average salary. LRT noted that investing 100 euros a month for 20 years could grow to about 52,000 euros at 7-8% annual returns, while 15min stressed the basics: a cash buffer, diversification and a mix of asset classes. The next step for savers is not picking a hot stock, but calculating the capital and return profile needed to turn a portfolio into a reliable monthly cash flow.

Why it matters

For small investors, the choice decides whether the portfolio is a growth engine or a source of retirement income. Even modest monthly contributions can compound into meaningful wealth, but only if savers understand the trade-off between return, risk and time.

sources:vz.lt

Economy

Sonata Gutauskaitė-Bubnelienė. Family businesses – Lithuania's quiet economic power

In a May 15 LRT opinion piece, Sonata Gutauskaitė-Bubnelienė said family businesses in Lithuania are becoming more numerous and more mature, with succession planning now a bigger theme. She pointed to broader European data showing family firms make up more than half of companies on the continent and account for about 100 million private-sector jobs. Her argument is that these firms are increasingly a pillar of long-term growth because they think in generations, not quarters.

Why it matters

Family firms shape jobs, local supply chains and investment decisions, so succession failures can hit workers and regional economies at the same time. When ownership transfers go smoothly, these businesses are more likely to keep capital and jobs in place for years, not just one reporting cycle.

sources:delfi.lt

Europe

Summary

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.

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

Moscow: Ukraine fired more than 500 drones at Russia, 3 killed

Russia's defence ministry said air defences shot down 556 Ukrainian drones overnight, while local officials said three people were killed in Moscow region strikes. One drone hit a house in Khimki and two men died in Pogorelki, about 10 km north of the capital, according to regional governor Andrei Vorobyov. In Moscow, at least 12 people were wounded near an oil refinery and several high-rise buildings were damaged.

Why it matters

The Moscow region is densely populated, so strikes near the capital quickly put civilians, transport and energy infrastructure at risk. If Russia really shot down hundreds of drones, it shows Ukraine can still penetrate deep into Russia's air-defence network.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Putin's dilemma: two powers clash over how the war in Ukraine will unfold

The Kremlin is facing two conflicting pressures over the Ukraine war. Donald Trump wants a quick freeze, while Vladimir Putin is trying to lock in more battlefield gains before any ceasefire. That leaves Moscow weighing talks that would halt some losses against a longer war that could further strain Russia’s economy and military.

Why it matters

Ukrainian civilians and soldiers are directly exposed to the outcome, because a ceasefire would freeze the front while prolonging the war would bring more strikes on cities and supply lines. For European governments, the stakes are higher defence spending, tighter ammunition stocks and a longer bill for supporting Kyiv.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Russian forces strike Dnipro, injuring three.

Russian drones struck Dnipro overnight on May 17, injuring three people and sparking fires, regional officials said. The attack came as Russian strikes also hit a fuel station in the Zaporizhzhia region, wounding one woman, according to local authorities. Fire crews were still working through the damage in Dnipro as officials assessed the extent of the destruction.

Why it matters

Dnipro is a key city in Ukraine’s southeast, and overnight drone strikes put civilians and emergency crews in immediate danger. Each attack also drains regional resources as authorities are forced to spend more on air defence, fire response and repairs.

sources:15min.lt

Politics

Zelenskiy on nearly 600 drone strikes against Russia: a rightful response to its attacks

On May 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said nearly 600 Ukrainian drone strikes inside Russia were a rightful reply to Moscow's attacks on Ukraine. He tied the statement to Russian overnight missile and drone strikes that, he said, continued even as the Kremlin talked about ceasefires and propaganda events. Zelenskiy said Ukraine views the strikes as targeted hits on military and war-related facilities, not random attacks.

Why it matters

Ukrainian civilians are affected because Kyiv is signalling that Russian air attacks will trigger a reciprocal campaign against targets in Russia. That raises pressure on Russian logistics, fuel supply and air defences, especially if drones keep reaching deeper inside the country.

sources:vz.lt

Politics

Russian economy expert: Putin will soon realize that time is not his ally

Vladimir Putin and his economic team are again under public fire over weakening macro data and rising strain on state finances. Russian economists quoted by 15min say inflation and slower growth are forcing the Kremlin to choose between war spending and domestic stability, a squeeze sharpened by the lengthening war in Ukraine. The pressure could force Moscow into new revenue measures and tighter spending controls in the coming months, as time is moving against the Kremlin.

Why it matters

For Russian households, the result is pricier goods, weaker purchasing power and a greater chance that the state will direct more money to the war than to wages or public services. For Ukraine, the key issue is how long budget strain still leaves the Kremlin able to fund a large-scale offensive.

sources:vz.lt

Culture

Bangaranga: who is Dara, the dazzling Eurovision winner?

Dara won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on May 16, 2026, taking the title for Bulgaria with Bangaranga. In the post-show press conference, she said she had not expected to win and thanked her husband and the fans chanting her name. Bulgaria returned to the contest after a break, and Dara now becomes the face of a victory that has already set off debate across Europe.

Why it matters

For Bulgaria’s broadcaster and music industry, the win brings a bigger global audience, stronger streaming numbers and more leverage for future projects. For Eurovision viewers, it puts a returning Balkan act back at the centre of the contest and gives the competition a song built for instant replay online.

sources:delfi.lt

World

Summary

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.

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

“Russia is preparing for escalation”: how it plans to use Belarus and Transnistria, and possible strikes on Ukraine

On May 16, Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is weighing two options from Belarusian territory: a push toward the Chernihiv–Kyiv axis or pressure against a NATO state to the north. He said Ukrainian agencies are tracking moves to pull Minsk deeper into the war, including roads and artillery positions near the border. The warning comes as Alexander Lukashenko has publicly spoken about targeted unit mobilization and told the armed forces to prepare for war.

Why it matters

Ukraine’s northern regions would have to divert more air defense, engineering and manpower to the border. Any deeper Belarusian involvement would also raise the stakes on NATO’s eastern flank, where spillover risks would be felt immediately in Poland and Lithuania.

sources:15min.lt

Health

Ebola is spreading again – WHO warns of a global threat

On May 17, 2026, WHO said Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda now meets the threshold for a public health emergency of international concern. The agency said the first suspected case developed symptoms on April 25, with laboratory confirmation on May 14, and that cases have been found in both Kinshasa and Kampala. WHO also said rising syndromic reports and clusters of deaths in Ituri suggest the outbreak may be larger than current counts show.

Why it matters

Hospitals in eastern Congo and Uganda now have to scale up isolation, contact tracing and testing fast, because WHO says the early samples suggest many infections are still being missed. That raises the risk of imported cases across the region and puts extra strain on already fragile health systems.

sources:tv3.lt

Health

DR Congo reports over 80 Ebola deaths as WHO declares international emergency

The World Health Organization on May 17 declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. By May 16, WHO said Ituri province had logged eight confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths, while two confirmed cases, including one death, were reported in Kampala. WHO is moving extra epidemiologists, lab staff and infection-control teams into the region to tighten surveillance along border corridors with Uganda and South Sudan.

Why it matters

People in eastern Congo and along the border routes are most exposed, because weak roads and fragile clinics slow diagnosis and isolation. The WHO move unlocks more international resources for testing, contact tracing and response teams to keep the outbreak from widening beyond Congo and Uganda.

sources:delfi.lt 15min.lt lrt.lt

Politics

The Middle East. Despite ceasefire attempts, tensions in the region persist: Israel strikes Lebanon again

Lebanon’s state news agency said Israeli warplanes hit the eastern Bekaa town of Sohmor twice on May 17, 2026, and carried out further strikes in the south, despite the 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. The strikes keep the border file volatile and leave the ceasefire exposed to fresh retaliation, with no sign of a near-term breakthrough in talks.

Why it matters

For residents in southern Lebanon, the strikes keep evacuation alerts, road disruption and the risk of renewed attacks in place. For Beirut, they complicate border talks and make any ceasefire framework harder to enforce.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Palmyra: a day will reveal who is loyal and who is not

Palmira Kelertienė’s name surfaced on May 17 in a horoscope item that said the day would show who is close to you and who is not. Kelertienė has previously framed astrology around birth data and reading signs, not a single fixed fate. The piece fits a familiar weekend pattern, when horoscope content tends to draw heavier traffic as readers look for a quick guide to the days ahead.

Why it matters

Horoscopes like this tend to get strong readership from people who use them as a quick filter for relationships and day-to-day choices. For publishers, that means steady traffic for lifestyle sections and recurring attention for an established astrologer’s forecasts.

sources:lrytas.lt