13 July 2026

Lithuania’s U20 men wrapped up the EuroBasket group stage in Gdynia today with a crushing win over Poland. Darius Songaila’s side, with Mantas Juzėnas in the squad, now await their round-of-16 opponent based on their final Group B placing.

The dispute over the Kazokiškės landfill remains one of Lithuania’s sharpest domestic issues after the environmental watchdog found VAATC had failed to comply with an order to stop excessive hydrogen sulphide pollution. Elektrėnai municipality and local residents are still pressing for action on odour and air quality, and the municipality had already declared an emergency earlier.

Eurostat data showed EU exports to the US fell 30.4% year on year in the first quarter, with Lithuania among the hardest-hit member states. Under the new EU-US trade deal in force since July 1, most European goods face a 15% tariff in the American market, and Lithuanian-origin exports to the US have already almost halved this year.

Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys is in Brussels today pushing for tougher EU sanctions on Belarus while maintaining Lithuania’s line that Russian energy revenues should be targeted more directly, including pressure for measures against groups such as Gazprom and Lukoil. Field tactics drills by Lithuania’s Dragoon battalion began today in Kazlų Rūda, with heavier military traffic on the Klaipėda, Kryžkalnis and Kazlų Rūda route set to continue through July 23.

Seimas held late hearings for incoming ministers, including the environment minister-designate on audits and possible limits on forest cutting. In Tauragė district, a storm disrupted power supplies, leaving some residents without electricity.