1 November 2026

Explosive found in Vilkaviškis district after alert plan Skydas activated

A World War-era artillery shell was found on Oct. 31, 2026, in Meiliūnai village in Vilkaviškis district, local authorities said. Bomb disposal specialists were sent to the scene and the area was put under the emergency cordon plan known as Skydas. The shell was removed for destruction after the site was checked. Such finds are common in the district when land is being tilled or cleared.

In Vilnius hospital a minor died after suspected poisoning by unknown substances.

A 2010-born minor died at a hospital on Santariškių Street in Vilnius at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, police said. She had been brought in from Švenčionių district. Police suspect poisoning by an unknown substance and have opened a criminal probe to establish the cause of death. Officials have not said what the substance was or how it may have entered her system. (lrt.lt)

Emergency teams rushed to a mass accident in Kėdainių district; 5 people injured including a child

Emergency crews rushed to a pile-up in Kėdainių district today, and five people, including a child, were taken for treatment. In crashes like this, police, firefighters and medics usually have to clear the road at the same time, which can quickly choke traffic on the main regional routes. Investigators will now have to reconstruct how the collision chain started and whether speed, road conditions or a mechanical fault played a role. Any finding of fault will determine whether the case remains a routine traffic probe or moves into a more serious criminal inquiry.

In Lithuania a shortage of new teachers is forecast: 6.7 thousand teachers needed

Lithuania will need about 6,700 new subject teachers in 2026-31, but only about 4,200 pedagogy graduates are expected over that period, LRT reported on Sunday, citing the National Education Agency and an OECD review. The OECD said 42% of primary and secondary teachers in Lithuania were aged 55 or older in 2024, far above the OECD average of 23%. The biggest gaps are expected in English, maths and Lithuanian language teachers. Education group “Švietimas #1” wants new teachers to get paid mentors and a lighter workload for their first three years.

Castration for sexual crimes: There was a real case in my hometown

Lithuania's government and parliament have moved back to tougher controls on sex offenders after two high-profile cases involving priests and child victims. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius has backed a public registry, while Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė has floated voluntary drug treatment to suppress sex drive. The measures are part of a wider action plan aimed at preventing repeat abuse. Parliament is now weighing how far to go on naming offenders and tightening sentences for crimes against minors.

STT reveals what's happening in municipal company boards: connections of politicians and their relatives exposed

On Oct. 20, Lithuania's anti-corruption agency said it had reviewed 40 municipally owned firms across 16 municipalities and found significant risks in how boards are appointed. In nine municipalities, board members with party or committee ties made up 33% to 50% of boards, while in five others the share was 6% to 18%, the agency said. STT also flagged cases where the same people sat on several boards or served multiple consecutive terms. It sent recommendations to the economy ministry, the governance coordination centre and the municipalities under review. (stt.lt)

Russian strikes in Zhytomyr region left electricity outages for over 650 settlements

Volodymyr Zelensky: after Russian attacks on infrastructure hundreds of thousands of households were left without electricity

Ukrainian drone forces destroyed almost 17,000 Russian troops in October

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces said on Nov. 1 that their units destroyed 16,796 Russian troops in October, their highest monthly toll since the start of the full-scale war. Commander Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign Magyar, said the force also struck 64,807 targets in the month, averaging one hit every 41 seconds. He said the tally covers only drone-force units and was checked in the military’s Delta situational awareness system. The October figure was well above August’s 11,010 and September’s 13,468. (ukrinform.net)

Ukraine said it struck an oil refinery; Russia reported damage to a company

Ukraine said on November 1, 2026 that it struck a major oil refinery, while Russia said a drone damaged an industrial company east of Moscow. 15min, citing AFP and BNS, said Moscow gave no further details on the plant or the scale of damage. The claims are the latest sign that both sides are still targeting infrastructure deep inside Russia. (15min.lt)

Former NATO forces in Europe commander: Russia may mount a limited attack to split the alliance

Former NATO supreme allied commander Europe Philip Breedlove told LRT that Russia may try a limited military strike against a NATO target to test alliance unity and slow support for Ukraine. He tied the risk to Moscow's use of the war in Ukraine as leverage against the West, rather than a bid for a full-scale war with NATO. His warning lands alongside fresh NATO messaging that the alliance is ready to repel any attack, and Danish intelligence's view that the risk of a limited strike on one or several NATO countries is rising. In recent weeks, NATO officials have also been focused on a wider pattern of hybrid incidents, including sabotage and drone attacks across Europe.

Zelensky: in October Ukrainian forces liberated more territory than the Russians occupied

On November 1, Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces liberated 96.2 square kilometers in October, 10.4 square kilometers more than Russian troops captured over the same period. He said Russian losses in the month reached 54,400 killed or badly wounded, the heaviest monthly toll since the full-scale invasion began. The remarks came as Ukraine also said Russia is still striking the power grid ahead of winter, while civilians in occupied Oleshky were evacuated as a temporary truce ended. The message from Kyiv was clear: the battlefield is still moving, but so is Moscow's pressure on Ukraine's rear areas.

Scientists sound alarms: hidden danger under the Antarctic ice threatens the whole world

Scientists have flagged two linked risks beneath Antarctic ice. A late-September study said East Antarctica’s Wilkes Subglacial Basin holds a vast ice mass resting on bedrock that drops more than 2,000 metres below sea level in places, making it vulnerable to warming oceans and future sea-level rise. A separate analysis found Antarctic permafrost at the continent’s margins may already be leaking carbon dioxide as frozen ground thaws. The message is the same: the most dangerous changes in Antarctica are happening out of sight.

Investigation: Iranian strikes on US military bases caused billions of dollars in damage

An Associated Press investigation published on October 31 found that Iranian strikes and attacks by Iran-backed groups hit more than two dozen U.S. sites across the Middle East and caused billions of dollars in equipment losses. Using satellite imagery and briefings from four regional officials, AP said it documented more than 115 drone and missile strikes through August that damaged or destroyed structures at 26 bases and other sites with U.S. gear. The pattern was deliberate: early-warning and air-defense systems went first, then aircraft, hangars, warehouses and troop housing. One of the deadliest attacks killed six U.S. soldiers in Kuwait on March 1.

Yemen war drives residents to flee: more than 300,000 displaced

The United Nations said today that more than 300,000 people have fled their homes as fighting intensifies in western Yemen. The latest displacement is tied to renewed clashes on multiple front lines, according to the UN refugee agency and the Reuters-sourced report carried by 15min. UNHCR said in September that about 128,000 people had already been newly displaced since the latest escalation began, while 5.2 million Yemenis were internally displaced overall. It added that 22.3 million people need humanitarian help in 2026 and that its Yemen operation is only 18% funded.

Wembanyama delivered an impressive game guiding the Spurs to a win

Victor Wembanyama scored 43 points and blocked six shots as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-111 in San Antonio on Oct. 31, 2026. (newsespn.pages.dev) The win opened a three-game homestand and extended a three-game run for San Antonio, which had just beaten Utah in overtime two nights earlier. (cbssports.com) Dylan Harper added 25 points and six assists for the Spurs. (newsespn.pages.dev)

Record cryptocurrency theft: FBI identifies the perpetrators

The FBI said on Saturday that North Korean hackers were behind the $6.3 billion crypto theft from Binance, a claim picked up by Lithuanian outlets on Sunday. Blockchain firms TRM Labs and Chainalysis said they were highly confident the attack was carried out by Lazarus, also known as TraderTraitor. Binance said it had frozen about $3 billion in assets and temporarily halted deposits and withdrawals while checks continued. The company said it would publish a full technical analysis once the probe is complete. (tv3.lt)

War in Iran. Iran threatens a longer war: it will not dictate its end

Iran warned on November 1 that any new war with the United States would last longer than the last one, and that Donald Trump would not control how or when it ends. Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Washington could not dictate the timing or the terms of any settlement. Separately, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said mediation talks were still under way in Qatar and that Tehran was waiting for answers from the U.S. He said Iran was ready for both diplomacy and defence, depending on Washington's response.