30 May 2026

Archived edition

Lithuania

Summary

Vilnius is hosting the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s spring session, which opened in the Seimas yesterday and runs until June 1. Lithuania is using the gathering to keep allied attention on NATO’s eastern flank, air defence and support for Ukraine.

Parliament also saw a sharper domestic clash today over partnership registration, with Tom Vytautas Raskevičius saying Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė is unfit for the post. Tamašunienė has said in recent days that the ministry is still deciding which institution should handle partnership registration, while Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has publicly backed her. The government is also facing pressure over stolen Registry Centre data and over who should own the response. Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius said today he had no objections to Deputy Minister Alicija Ščerbaitė, although she is a distant relative of one of the border guards detained in a cigarette smuggling case. The probe, centred on cigarettes sent from Belarus by meteorological balloons, led to 27 detentions across Lithuania last week, including 10 Vilnius police officers and three border guards.

Lithuania’s border guard said on Saturday that no illegal migrant crossings were recorded on the Belarus border in the past 24 hours. Lithuania has turned back 769 illegal migrants this year and more than 25,000 since the Belarus-driven migration crisis began in 2021. In Marijampolė, a fire at a sports centre forced the evacuation of 300 people.

A Lithuanian climbing team on Saturday launched a new attempt to guide a deafblind Lithuanian woman to the summit of Everest in what would be a national first. The push follows Saulius Damulevičius’ turnaround this week at 8,450 metres, about 400 metres below the summit, after climbing from Camp 4 without supplementary oxygen. In health news, Lithuanian doctors warned today that parents still wait too long before seeking help for children whose symptoms are worsening, even though early checks can separate routine infections from more serious illness. Lithuania also reported the death of an honoured captain.

Lithuania’s women’s volleyball team secured a place in the European League after a favorable result elsewhere and a win over Luxembourg. The National Land Service said sales of state land have brought in more than €1.7 million so far this year.

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

VSAT: illegal migrants not registered at the border with Belarus

Lithuania recorded no illegal migrant crossings at the border with Belarus in the past 24 hours, the State Border Guard Service said on Saturday. The lull came as Latvia pushed back 67 foreigners on Friday and Poland stopped one attempt on Thursday. Lithuania has blocked 769 illegal migrants so far this year and more than 25,000 since the Belarus-driven migration crisis began in 2021.

Why it matters

A quiet shift eases pressure on Lithuanian border guards and frees resources for other stretches of the frontier and inland patrols. But the figures in Latvia and Poland show the regional route is still active, so the situation can change quickly.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Parliament hosts NATO Parliamentary Assembly spring session, focus on defense and security

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly opened its spring session in the Lithuanian parliament on May 29 and will run through June 1, bringing lawmakers from across the Alliance to Vilnius. Seimas said the agenda covers defense, security and transatlantic cooperation, with committee work and plenary meetings set over several days. Lithuania is hosting the session at a time when NATO’s eastern flank, air defense and support for Ukraine remain central issues for allies.

Why it matters

Lawmakers gathered in Vilnius can help narrow political differences on air defense, weapons and support for Ukraine. That feeds directly into NATO spending and force decisions, which shape security on the alliance’s eastern flank.

sources:15min.lt

Sports

Historic goal: Lithuanian woman could become the first deaf mountaineer to summit Everest

Lithuanian climbers on May 30 set out the latest attempt to push a deafblind Lithuanian woman toward a record Everest summit. The effort comes after Saulius Damulevičius this week turned back at 8,450 metres, 400 metres short of the top, after trying to climb from Camp 4 without supplementary oxygen. The team’s next challenge is the exposed upper ridge, where weather, altitude and logistics can decide whether the record bid survives.

Why it matters

A successful ascent would reset what Lithuanian mountaineering is seen to be capable of, and it would force expedition operators to think harder about communication, support and safety for climbers with sensory disabilities. It would also give disability sport in the region a rare global benchmark.

sources:delfi.lt

Health

Famous doctor sounds alarm: 'Believe me, how many parental tears I see...'

A Lithuanian doctor has warned that parents still wait too long before seeking help for children’s health problems, a message highlighted on May 30 in LRT’s health coverage. The central concern is delay: doctors say early checks can separate routine infections from more serious illness and prevent a trip to emergency care from becoming unavoidable. The advice will be repeated in public health messaging as medics try to get parents to spot warning signs earlier and act before symptoms worsen.

Why it matters

For parents, the practical effect is less panic in the first hours of illness and clearer rules on when home care is enough. Earlier medical advice also lowers the risk that a child deteriorates into an emergency case or a longer, more disruptive treatment path.

sources:tv3.lt

Politics

Raskevicius criticizes Tamašunienė: she is neither suitable nor competent for these duties

On May 30 in parliament, Tom Vytautas Raskevičius said Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė should not hold the post, tying his attack to the fight over partnership registration and compliance with court rulings. In the past few days, Tamašunienė has said the ministry is still sorting out which institution should handle partnership registration, while Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has publicly backed her and said the coalition has already argued over the issue. The row comes as the government is already under pressure over the stolen Registry Centre data breach and over who should own the response.

Why it matters

The partnership-registration rules will directly affect same-sex couples waiting for the state to turn court rulings into practice. The clash also makes cabinet management harder, with the opposition, the prime minister and coalition partners now publicly at odds over the Justice Ministry's line.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Border guard’s connections led to the ministry: relative in minister V. Kondratovičius’ team

Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius said on May 30 that he had no objections to Deputy Minister Alicija Ščerbaitė, who is distantly related to one of the border guards detained in a smuggling probe. The case centres on cigarette smuggling by meteorological balloons from Belarus, with 27 people detained last week across Lithuania, including 10 Vilnius police officers and three State Border Guard Service officers. Kondratovičius said the relative was a fourth- or fifth-generation family member and framed the link as part of a broader corruption investigation inside the services.

Why it matters

Border officers and police now face tighter scrutiny over possible links to the smuggling network, which could trigger staff vetting and tougher internal controls. If the probe widens, it may affect not only those detained but also their workplaces and careers.

sources:lrytas.lt

Europe

Summary

Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Ukrainian intelligence had detected preparations for a new large-scale Russian strike and urged civilians to react immediately to air-raid alerts. The warning followed Russia’s May 24 assault on Kyiv, when Ukraine said Moscow launched 600 strike drones and 90 missiles.

Over the past day, Russia attacked Ukraine again with drones and missiles, while strikes in the Kherson region wounded 21 people. The attacks hit residential areas and civilian infrastructure, and Zelenskiy renewed calls for allies to supply and fund Patriot systems to intercept Russian ballistic missiles. Overnight, Ukraine also struck oil infrastructure in western Russia and in occupied Crimea, extending a May campaign that has already hit terminals in Tuapse, Primorsk and elsewhere. In Kyiv on Thursday, officials published debris analysis from a Russian Oreshnik missile showing the weapon was assembled in 2017 from components made in 2016 or earlier.

Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday publicly criticised Russia and asked what kind of alliance remained if Moscow was treating Belarus unfairly. European security officials also warned that Russia has intensified hybrid operations and threats against Latvia, Lithuania and other countries backing Ukraine in recent weeks.

In Budapest, police said they would not raid this year’s LGBTQ+ parade after earlier political clashes over the event. In Europe’s car market, electric-vehicle sales reached a new record despite a weaker overall market. In Spain, Gran Canaria were relegated from the top basketball division after a dramatic end to the season.

Ukrainian forces struck and destroyed a base used by a Russian unit that Kyiv links to the Bucha killings. The UK is preparing tougher penalties for suspected undersea cable breaches, including in the Baltic Sea. Switzerland thrashed Norway to reach the Ice Hockey World Championship final.

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

War in Ukraine. Zelenskiy: Russia plans a 'new mass strike'

Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on May 29, 2026 that Ukrainian intelligence had detected Russian preparations for a new large-scale strike and urged civilians to take shelter and follow official alerts. The warning came days after Russia launched one of the war’s heaviest attacks on Kyiv on May 24, when Ukraine said 600 strike drones and 90 missiles were used. It suggests Moscow may be lining up another mass assault within hours or days, putting air defences and civil protection back on high alert.

Why it matters

For civilians in Ukrainian cities, it means another surge in overnight air-raid risk, with hospitals, rescue crews and power sites having to brace for outages and evacuations. The larger the number of drones and missiles launched at once, the harder it is for air defences to cover the country.

sources:lrt.lt 15min.lt tv3.lt

Politics

War in Ukraine. Ukraine strikes oil infrastructure in western Russia and in occupied Crimea

Overnight on May 30, Ukrainian forces hit oil infrastructure in western Russia and in occupied Crimea, according to local reports cited by LRT. Kyiv has been widening long-range drone strikes on Russian fuel facilities, following attacks this month on sites in Tuapse, Primorsk and other oil assets. The aim is to hit export revenue and military supply lines, and the campaign has already triggered fires and disruption at several terminals.

Why it matters

Russia’s fuel sector is already absorbing repeated hits, which can squeeze supplies for both the military and domestic market. Every new strike adds pressure on refining and export capacity that helps bankroll the war.

sources:lrt.lt

Politics

Russia more aggressively seeks to steal military secrets

LRT on May 27 cited The Wall Street Journal as saying Russia has stepped up threats against Latvia, Lithuania and other European countries backing Ukraine in recent weeks. European security officials said Moscow is intensifying hybrid operations and hostile rhetoric, with the scenario tied to a possible mobilization drive at home. The report said the Kremlin could be trying to widen the conflict and improve its hand before any negotiations.

Why it matters

For the Baltic states, the pressure translates into more work for border security, intelligence and counterintelligence, plus a faster need to spot attempts to target society and the military. For European governments backing Ukraine, the risk is higher security costs and more pressure on political resolve.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Russian attacks in the Kherson area injure 21 people

Russian attacks in Kherson region wounded 21 people over the past day, regional authorities said, with strikes hitting residential areas and civilian infrastructure. The report came as Moscow threatened to step up attacks after a Ukrainian strike in occupied Luhansk. President Volodymyr Zelensky also renewed calls for allies to supply and fund Patriot air-defence systems capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.

Why it matters

People in Kherson remain exposed to front-line fire that hits homes, roads and public services. Repeated strikes on civilian targets strain ambulances, evacuations and power supply in a region that already operates under wartime pressure.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

Kremlin launches 'Oreshnik' missile; debris analysis reveals its real age

On May 29 in Kyiv, Ukraine’s sanctions commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk said debris from a Russian Oreshnik missile pointed to a weapon assembled in 2017 with components made in 2016 or earlier. The findings were presented alongside electronics and guidance parts recovered after the May 24 strike on Bila Tserkva in Kyiv region. The analysis undercuts Moscow’s claim that Oreshnik is a wholly new system and suggests Russia is drawing on older, domestically made parts for a missile it has used several times this spring.

Why it matters

Ukraine’s air defenders and Western intelligence services gain hard data on the missile’s age, parts origin and likely weak points. That makes it harder for Moscow to sell Oreshnik as a breakthrough weapon and helps assess the threat to Ukrainian cities if Russia fires it again.

sources:delfi.lt

Politics

From Lukashenko — public criticism of Russia: what alliance can we talk about?

On May 29, Alexander Lukashenko publicly criticised Russia and questioned what kind of alliance it could still be talking about if Moscow was treating Belarus unfairly. The remarks came as Belarus remains formally tied to Russia through the Union State, even as Minsk has become increasingly dependent on Kremlin economic and military backing. The public rebuke exposed friction inside the partnership and raised fresh questions about how much room Lukashenko has to bargain on energy, trade and security.

Why it matters

Belarusian firms and consumers depend on Moscow for fuel, fertiliser and trade flows, so any spat inside the alliance can quickly spill into prices and supply lines. It also matters for regional security planners because Minsk’s ties with the Kremlin shape Russia’s military footprint in Belarus and the pressure on Ukraine and NATO’s eastern flank.

sources:delfi.lt

World

Summary

Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israeli forces had pushed deeper into southern Lebanon, with troops entering Dibbine near Marjayoun. Civilians fled toward Tyre’s old city after fresh Israeli evacuation warnings, while Lebanese and Israeli military officials held direct talks at the Pentagon that the United States called productive. Gaza also saw a new Israeli advance that Hamas called an apparent violation of the ceasefire.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived on Friday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of the new Ebola outbreak. The WHO has already deployed experts and released $500,000, but the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved vaccine or treatment. In Laos, five gold miners were rescued over the past day from a flooded cave.

Argentina on Friday named its 26-man World Cup squad, with Lionel Messi included for a record sixth finals appearance, matching Cristiano Ronaldo. Coach Lionel Scaloni kept much of the core that won the 2022 title in Qatar, while teenage prospect Franco Mastantuono missed out. U.S. stocks closed at fresh records on Thursday, with the Nasdaq up 8% for May and Dell Technologies surging 32.8% after stronger-than-expected earnings.

In Palmyra, archaeologists and heritage specialists said after a new assessment that parts of the stone ruins now need heavy restoration work. A more detailed conservation plan is being prepared in Syria to determine which sections of the ancient site can be stabilised first. Among the month’s biggest corporate deals, McCormick’s agreed $66 billion merger with most of Unilever’s food business still awaits regulatory approval and a shareholder vote.

Vladimir Putin said Russia has the means to “level everything to the ground.” Lebanon’s prime minister warned of a dangerous Israeli escalation, while efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being hindered by conflict and reduced aid.

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

Argentina announces World Cup squad: Messi in core team

Argentina named a 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on Friday, May 29, and Lionel Messi is in the group. The captain will play a record sixth finals, matching Cristiano Ronaldo, while coach Lionel Scaloni has kept much of the core that won the title in Qatar in 2022. Teenager Franco Mastantuono missed out, and the final list still requires FIFA's formal approval before the tournament begins next month in North America.

Why it matters

Argentina keeps its title defence anchored around the same spine that won in 2022. Messi's presence also makes the team one of the tournament's biggest draws, on and off the pitch.

sources:lrt.lt

Politics

Israeli forces advanced further into Lebanon

Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 29 that Israeli forces had pushed deeper into Lebanon, as troops entered the village of Dibbine near Marjayoun in the south. The move came as civilians fled toward the old city of Tyre after fresh Israeli evacuation warnings covered most of the city and nearby areas. The ground advance and strikes landed while Lebanese and Israeli military officials were holding direct talks at the Pentagon, which the US described as productive.

Why it matters

Residents in southern Lebanon are facing repeated evacuation orders and rapid displacement as the fighting moves into populated areas. The direct military talks in Washington now matter because they could shape not just the front line, but whether civilians can return to Tyre and villages around Marjayoun.

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

Health

WHO director-general arrives at Ebola outbreak epicenter in DR Congo

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus landed on May 30 in eastern DR Congo, the hardest-hit area in the new Ebola outbreak. WHO has already sent experts and released $500,000, while the outbreak is tied to the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. The agency is now assessing the local response and looking to shore up support in a conflict-hit area where access is difficult.

Why it matters

For people in eastern Congo, the visit signals a push to reinforce clinics that are already struggling with insecurity and weak contact tracing. The longer the outbreak runs unchecked, the higher the risk of spread into neighboring countries that have already been warned to prepare.

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

Economy

Month’s deal: McCormick and Unilever Foods merge in a $66 billion deal

McCormick on March 31 agreed to merge with most of Unilever's food business, in a deal that gives Unilever $15.7 billion in cash and a large stake in the new company. The transaction includes brands such as Knorr and Hellmann's, but excludes India and some other assets, and would create a group with roughly $20 billion in annual revenue. The deal still needs regulatory approval and McCormick shareholder sign-off, with closing expected around mid-2027.

Why it matters

Knorr and Hellmann's will sit under one owner, which can reshape supply contracts, pricing and marketing spending across dozens of markets. For consumers, that could mean less brand rivalry in sauces and seasonings, while investors will be watching a long integration and debt-reduction phase.

sources:vz.lt

Economy

US markets roundup: tech-led stocks end at record highs as Nasdaq climbs 8% in May

US stocks closed at fresh highs on May 29, 2026, with the Nasdaq up 8% for the month and leading the major gauges. Tech shares did the heavy lifting, while Dell Technologies surged 32.8% after earnings that trounced forecasts. Traders kept buying even at record levels, with resilient corporate profits still outweighing doubts over how long the rally can run.

Why it matters

Pension funds and other long-term investors are getting another strong month, but richer tech valuations also raise the risk of a sharp pullback if earnings disappoint. The direction of US equities matters for Europe too, because it helps set global risk appetite and capital flows across stock markets.

sources:vz.lt

Culture

Palmyra: heavy restoration works deemed suitable

In Palmyra on May 29, 2026, archaeologists and heritage specialists inspected the site after a new assessment and said parts of the stone structures now need heavy restoration work. The Syrian landmark remains one of the most important surviving ancient cities in the region, and any repair plan has to account for damage from years of war and looting. A more detailed conservation plan is expected soon, setting out which sections can be stabilised first.

Why it matters

Palmyra matters to Syria’s tourism and local jobs, because restoration decisions determine when visitors and technical crews can safely return. The longer repairs are delayed, the more expensive stabilisation becomes and the harder it gets to preserve original details.

sources:lrytas.lt