Archived edition
Lithuania’s government on Wednesday approved the country’s policy programme for its presidency of the Council of the European Union. It sets five priorities, including security, enlargement, competitiveness, internal security and social policy, and also targets work on the EU’s 2028–2034 budget.
Lithuania’s State Security Department said on Tuesday it had expelled three Ukrainian citizens who carried out paid tasks for hostile intelligence services. The assignments were channelled through Telegram and other messaging platforms and involved gathering and relaying intelligence-relevant information inside Lithuania.
The government also allocated more than 42 million euros in social benefits and aid to Ukrainians. In defence, Lithuania signed a contract to buy Finnish BLOCKER naval mine systems, and the cabinet backed final assembly of CV90 vehicles in Lithuania and the selection of supply-chain companies without public tenders.
In healthcare, Kaunas Clinics carried out the first stomach cancer operation of its kind in the Baltic states. In business, Tesonet started construction of its 90 million euro, roughly 40,000 square metre mixed-use district in Kaunas’s Žemoji Freda, while Justas Bucnys took up a new role as commerce head of an international corporate group.
In politics, M. Sinkevičius ordered proposals on taxing windfall profits at energy companies, and finance minister Taurimas Valys said he understood who would benefit from the push. Lithuania’s ethics watchdog VTEK decided not to open an investigation into a possible conflict of interest involving Valys.
At home, attention also fell on the Marijampolė Poetry Park case, where an investigation into an attack on a minor was terminated and authorities later clarified what measures would apply to the minors involved. A parliamentary committee separately backed proposals to increase funding for the energy sector.
In a security development closely followed in Lithuania, as many as 38 people may still be under the rubble in Komyshuvacha after a strike on a school used as a humanitarian aid point. The same day, Russian drones hit Vilniansk in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, killing two people, injuring another and setting an apartment block on fire.
Poland said late in the day that the flight of the drone that exploded in Lithuania remains under investigation. In a separate security incident, Lithuanian border authorities blocked 20 tonnes of blueberries from Belarus after detecting radioactive contamination.
sources: vz.lt, delfi.lt, tv3.lt, 15min.lt, lrt.lt, lrytas.lt
The Council of the European Union is the body where ministers from EU member states adopt laws and coordinate policy in their fields. The rotating presidency country chairs meetings, brokers compromises and helps steer the agenda.
Russian drones hit Vilniansk in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region on Nov. 4, killing two people and injuring another, local officials said. The strike set fire to an apartment block and damaged nearby residential buildings. It came amid a fresh wave of Russian attacks across Ukraine, including strikes on civilian sites in the south and east. Ukrainian officials have been warning for days that Moscow is intensifying hits on non-military targets. (ukrinform.net)
Why it matters
For residents of Vilniansk, the strike means more deaths, fire damage and possible evacuations in a built-up area. It also forces local emergency services to deal with rescue work, building inspections and medical treatment at the same time. (ukrinform.net)
Who benefits
Russian military messaging gains from the strike, while Vilniansk residents and Zaporizhzhia emergency services bear the losses. (ukrinform.net)
What's next
The next step is the Zaporizhzhia regional administration and rescue services confirming the full damage tally and whether the site search is complete. (ukrinform.net)
Rescuers in Komyshuvakha were still digging through rubble on Nov. 4 after a Nov. 2 strike in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, with officials saying as many as 38 more people may still be under the debris. The attack hit a school building used as a humanitarian aid point, and bodies have been recovered over the past two days. Drone activity has repeatedly disrupted the operation. Ukrainian officials have described it as one of the deadliest civilian strikes in the region since the full-scale war began. (ukrinform.net)
Why it matters
The strike has left residents in Komyshuvakha without a safe place to collect food, medicine and other aid. If the missing cannot be reached, local services face a higher death toll and a longer shutdown of the site. (ukrinform.net)
On November 4, 2026, Lithuania’s State Security Department said it had expelled three Ukrainian citizens who had carried out tasks for hostile intelligence services in return for money. The assignments were passed through messaging platforms, including Telegram, and covered a broad range of activities. The agency said the trio acted as intermediaries to gather and relay information needed by foreign intelligence. VSD also said hostile services are actively recruiting people in Lithuania through digital channels. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Why it matters
The case raises the pressure on Lithuanian counterintelligence to police digital platforms where recruiters can reach Ukrainians and other foreign nationals. It also highlights the risk to military, transport and other sensitive infrastructure, because intelligence tasks can be handed out remotely. (lrt.lt)
On November 4, 2026, the government approved Lithuania's policy programme for its presidency of the EU Council. The text was drafted by the foreign ministry with other ministries and agencies. It sets five priorities, including security, enlargement, competitiveness, internal security and social policy. Lithuania also wants to push work on the 2028 to 2034 EU budget and strengthen support for Ukraine, Moldova and the bloc's eastern border. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Why it matters
The programme sets the agenda Lithuania will carry into Brussels in the first half of 2027. It will shape whether EU talks put more money toward defence, the eastern flank and Ukraine's path into the bloc. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Justas Bucnys, named Verslo žinios Young CEO in 2024, started on November 4, 2026 as commerce head at an international corporate group. He previously ran Vitlaima, a Taurage-based vehicle transport company built by his family since 1993, so his career has been rooted in logistics. The move takes him from running a family business into a broader role spanning more than one market. It puts him in charge of sales direction, client growth and commercial performance across the group.
Why it matters
In logistics, a move like this shows that Lithuanian managers can step into regional roles beyond a single company. For Vitlaima, it signals a possible leadership shift, while the wider market gets a clear sign that experienced commercial leaders remain in demand at international groups.
Tesonet has started construction on its Kaunas district project, with total investment set at 90 million euros. The group is building a roughly 40,000 sq m mixed-use complex in Žemoji Freda, combining offices with other functions. The project already had a construction permit, so the plan is moving from paper to site works. It is one of the larger private developments now moving ahead in Kaunas.
Why it matters
The main winners are construction contractors, designers and future tenants, who gain work and new space in Kaunas. The wider effect is more office supply, which can put pressure on rents and sharpen competition for space.
The death toll from Russia’s glide-bomb strike on Komyshuvakha in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region rose to 40 on Tuesday. The bombs hit an underground school and a nearby shelter as people waited for humanitarian aid, and Ukrainian officials said about 30 more people could still be trapped under the rubble. Rescue crews were still searching the site for a third day, but Russian drone activity was hampering the operation. Authorities said 31 bodies had been recovered and 12 victims had been identified.
Elsewhere in Europe, euro zone inflation accelerated to 4.0% in October from 3.8% in September, the highest reading in three years. Eurostat said energy prices drove the rise with a 20.8% annual increase, while services rose 3.3%, food, alcohol and tobacco 1.6%, and non-energy industrial goods 1.2%. The reading puts fresh pressure on the European Central Bank ahead of its December meeting and strengthens the case for keeping policy tighter for longer.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the death toll from Russian strikes on an aid point had risen to 40. Separately, Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau detained an SBU general, while the SBU chief fired two senior security officials linked to the Kartagina case.
sources: delfi.lt, 15min.lt, vz.lt, lrt.lt, lrytas.lt, tv3.lt
Eurostat is the European Union’s statistical office, responsible for producing comparable data across member states. It publishes the bloc’s official inflation estimates, including for the euro area.
Russian glide bombs hit an underground school and a nearby shelter in Komyshuvakha on Nov. 2, and the death toll had climbed to 40 by Nov. 4. People were waiting for humanitarian aid when the strike hit, and Ukrainian officials said another 30 people could still be buried in the rubble. Rescue crews were still working the site on the third day, but drone activity was complicating the search. Authorities said 31 bodies had been recovered and 12 victims had been identified. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
Civilians in Komyshuvakha are now facing a mass recovery effort and a growing list of missing people, with dozens still feared under the ruins. For frontline communities in Zaporizhzhia, it raises the risk around aid deliveries and evacuations. (apnews.com)
Who benefits
Ukrainian rescuers and forensic teams gain the chance to identify victims and continue the search, while Komyshuvakha residents and aid groups bear the loss. (apnews.com)
What's next
The next key update is when Zaporizhzhia regional officials publish the final death toll and missing-person count after DNA identification work. (apnews.com)
On November 4, Ukraine’s air force said it had neutralized 272 of 310 Russian drones launched overnight. Kyiv has been pressing partners for more interceptor missiles and cheaper anti-drone tools as mass drone raids keep stretching air defenses. Ukraine is also testing lower-cost interception systems to blunt the pressure. (lrt.lt)
Why it matters
Ukrainian civilians and critical-infrastructure operators have to absorb repeated overnight air-raid alerts, while each new drone wave increases the demand for costly interceptors and cheaper anti-drone systems. The pressure also shapes allied defense planning, because Kyiv is asking for equipment that has to be allocated across multiple fronts. (lrt.lt)
Eurostat said on November 4 that euro zone annual inflation hit 4.0% in October, up from 3.8% in September. Energy drove the increase, with prices up 20.8% year on year, while services rose 3.3% and food, alcohol and tobacco 1.6%. The flash reading leaves the European Central Bank facing fresh pressure ahead of its December meeting. It also lifts the odds that policy makers keep a tighter stance for longer.
Why it matters
Higher inflation means households across the euro zone will face more expensive heating, fuel and services, while borrowers may live with higher rates for longer. Retailers and firms also face fatter input costs and harder pricing decisions heading into winter.
Ukraine said on Nov. 3 that Russia’s latest strike wave is now a threat to Europe’s nuclear safety, not just Ukraine’s own defences. Zelensky used a Berlin security forum to argue that Moscow sees a peaceful, united Europe as its enemy. The warning came after Ukraine’s alert app was hacked and fake messages about a nuclear threat were sent to users. The timing underscores how military attacks and information warfare are landing together as winter approaches.
Why it matters
Ukrainian civilians and Europe’s nuclear-energy sector face the sharpest risk, because attacks on grids, heating systems and warning channels raise the odds of accidents and disrupt winter preparations. For NATO states, the pressure rises to harden air defences, cyber protections and emergency communications.
Drones hit an Ozon logistics centre in Adygeysk, in Russia’s Republic of Adygea, on November 3, 2026, and the company said all workers were evacuated with no injuries reported. Ozon said the strike triggered a fire and emergency crews were sent to the site. The company suspended sales from the facility, cancelled some orders and diverted shipments to other warehouses. It also stopped accepting FBO deliveries there and rerouted goods already on the way. (seller.ozon.ru)
Why it matters
Ozon customers and sellers face cancelled orders and longer delivery times in southern Russia. The biggest hit falls on the platform’s logistics network and on merchants whose stock sits in the Adygeysk centre, because shipments are being diverted to other hubs. (seller.ozon.ru)
Europe went into the Nov. 3 U.S. midterms watching for one thing: whether Donald Trump would be boxed in on NATO, Ukraine and foreign policy. Lithuanian and regional coverage said allies had been preparing for a worst-case scenario if Republicans lost Congress, while a Democratic majority could at least narrow the White House’s room for manoeuvre. Politico highlighted the risk to U.S. commitments in Europe and to the NATO-backed PURL weapons-buying scheme for Ukraine. The immediate question now is whether Democrats can take control of either chamber once the vote count is settled.
Why it matters
NATO allies are watching because the result will shape how predictable U.S. backing for the eastern flank and Ukraine remains. If Democrats gain ground in Congress, European capitals expect more checks on the White House; if they do not, defence and Ukraine policy will stay heavily dependent on direct dealings with Trump.
Iran said four oil tankers hit naval mines and caught fire in the southern Strait of Hormuz. Tehran said the ships were destroyed, one was carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude, and Oman evacuated 25 crew members from a Panama-flagged tanker.
The United States said two days ago it had struck some Iranian targets in the same waterway. Iran-linked Fars on Tuesday published a “Zero Hour” list of possible retaliation targets that includes hotels in Qatar and the UAE used by Formula 1 and MotoGP teams. The publication has pushed teams and suppliers to review travel and lodging security across the Gulf.
U.S. Democrats seized control of Congress in the midterm elections after record early voting of 54 million people. Donald Trump said he would use presidential power to block a Democratic agenda, and the White House has prepared unilateral moves on immigration, tariffs, housing and federal spending. In Texas, James Talarico beat Ken Paxton for the state's first Democratic Senate win in 38 years, and South Carolina also flipped a long-held Republican seat. AP said voters focused more on the economy, Iran and living costs, while Trump's advice to act as if his name were on the ballot failed to lift Republican candidates.
In Israel, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Wednesday asked intelligence agencies for updates on a probe into suspected election tampering linked to Arab parties. Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud sought to delay the official count, but the election commission said results would be published on schedule, with Arab parties on 19 seats, Likud on 27 and Netanyahu's bloc on 53 in the 120-seat Knesset. North Korea fired several missiles into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday and warned of a tougher response to what it called U.S. hostility.
Democrats won the U.S. midterm elections and took control of Congress. After the Republican defeat, J.D. Vance said the war with Iran was the main reason for the loss, while Donald Trump said he did not see himself as to blame.
sources: delfi.lt, 15min.lt, lrt.lt, vz.lt, tv3.lt, lrytas.lt
The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow shipping lane linking the Gulf to the Arabian Sea. A large share of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports passes through it, making any disruption globally significant.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Nov. 4 that four oil tankers struck naval mines and caught fire in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz while trying to take a banned route. Reuters said Tehran described the ships as destroyed, and AP reported that one of them was carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude. The United States said on Nov. 2 it had carried out defensive strikes on some Iranian targets in the same waterway, with thousands of U.S. troops still in the area. Earlier reports from AP and Iranian state media also described fires, explosions and the evacuation of 25 crew members from a Panama-flagged tanker.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for oil and LNG, so even a handful of damaged tankers can disrupt supply and push up costs for shippers and importers in Europe and Asia. Shipping lines carry more risk, while oil traders and consumers bear the bill through higher insurance and freight rates.
Who benefits
Oil traders betting on price spikes and marine insurers stand to gain, while crude importers, the chemicals sector and fuel buyers lose out.
What's next
The next concrete step is whether Iranian authorities produce evidence on the mines and whether the United States announces another operation in the strait after its Nov. 2 strikes.
Donald Trump said in a Nov. 3 interview with the New York Post's Pod Force One podcast that he was ready to use presidential power if Democrats took control of Congress. Reuters reported the White House has spent months drafting unilateral moves on immigration, tariffs, housing and federal spending in case Republicans lose ground. The midterm vote has made the House look vulnerable for Republicans, while the Senate remains too close to call. The administration is also bracing for Democratic probes of Trump's team if the opposition wins.
Why it matters
A shift in Congress would determine whether Democrats can block Trump's bills and launch investigations into his administration. It would also shape how much of his agenda can be pushed through executive action on tariffs, immigration and federal spending.
Democrats seized control of Congress in the November 3, 2026 midterms, delivering a sharp rebuke to Donald Trump and cracking open Republican territory that had looked safe for years. Early voting hit a record 54 million nationwide, and long lines at polling places pointed to unusually heavy turnout. Texas produced the night’s biggest shock, with James Talarico beating Ken Paxton for the state’s first Democratic Senate win in 38 years. South Carolina also flipped, while New Mexico and Georgia elected firsts for Native American and Black women in statewide office. (investing.com)
Why it matters
With Democrats in control of Congress, Republicans lose an easier path on spending bills and legislation, while oversight hearings and investigations are now likely to multiply. The shift matters most in states like Texas and South Carolina, where the GOP’s hold looks weaker heading into the next presidential cycle. (investing.com)
On Nov. 3, Iran-linked Fars published a “Zero Hour” list of possible retaliation targets that reportedly includes hotels in Qatar and the UAE used by Formula 1 and MotoGP teams. The timing is awkward: Qatar’s MotoGP round is due on Nov. 6-8, while F1 is headed to Lusail later in the month and Abu Dhabi in early December. The list was framed as a response scenario if the U.S. and Israel strike Iran again. The publication has revived security checks around team travel and lodging across the Gulf. (sports.yahoo.com)
Why it matters
For hotels, event organisers and airlines in Qatar, the list means extra security checks before several high-profile races. Teams may change travel routes, lodging and protection plans, which raises costs and complicates operations in Doha and Abu Dhabi. (behindthepaddock.com)
On November 4, 2026, Donald Trump faced blowback after Republicans suffered poor midterm results and his advice to voters to act as if his name were on the ballot did not translate into votes. AP said voters were focused more on the economy, Iran and living costs, while Trump's pull looked weaker than in past elections. Election Day itself was largely orderly, even as fears lingered over Trump-linked interference. The White House is already trying to frame the loss around the fact that Trump was not actually on the ballot. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
For Republicans, the result means less leverage in Congress and a weaker proof-of-power test for Trump himself. For voters, it shows that prices, jobs and the Iran war mattered more than simple party loyalty. (apnews.com)
On November 4, 2026, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara asked intelligence services for updates on a probe into alleged election tampering linked to Arab parties. Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud had pushed to delay the official result count while Shin Bet looked into the allegations. The election commission rejected that demand and said results would be published on schedule. The dispute hangs over a fragmented 120-seat Knesset, where Arab parties won 19 seats, Likud took 27 and Netanyahu's camp has 53 overall.
Why it matters
The fallout now shapes coalition math in Jerusalem. If the allegations harden into a formal case, Arab parties could be frozen out of government talks and Israel could be pushed toward another election.