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Lithuania’s government today approved the policy programme for its 2027 presidency of the Council of the European Union, putting defence and the reduction of strategic economic dependencies at the top of the agenda. The plan calls for stronger protection of the EU’s eastern border, longer-term support for Ukraine, a bigger European defence industry and closer cooperation with NATO and the United States. On the economic side, Vilnius wants a more competitive EU, more innovation, broader trade partnerships and work on the bloc’s 2028–2034 long-term budget.
In healthcare, State Health Insurance Fund deputy head Tatjana Golubajeva said the system is not expected to face an unbearable financial shock next year, even as patient numbers rise faster than available funding. That leaves service volumes and the allocation of limited money at the centre of the 2027 budget debate. Lithuania’s annual inflation has meanwhile risen above 6%, although food had still been cheaper since the start of the year: fruit prices were down by a quarter year on year, butter by a tenth, and Maxima said food prices fell 3.8% in October. SEB economist Tadas Povilauskas said food is likely to become more expensive again in January, with gas this week at 100 euros per megawatt-hour and wheat purchase prices up about 20%.
Vilnius today announced the 20th edition of its GreenTech forum and said three extra GreenTech Stars awards will be handed out for contributions to renewables, job creation, technology and the economy. The forum itself takes place in the coming days and is being framed around Lithuania’s energy independence, bringing together players from energy, transport and the green economy. In the capital, the city is also planting 326 trees and 356 shrubs in Pasilaiciai on Laisves Avenue opposite the district court, part of an autumn programme that totals nearly 1,000 trees, about 23,000 shrubs and more than 32,000 herbaceous plants. In culture, Lithuania is showing the work of Swiss sound artist Zimoun for the first time, while restoration work at Ausros Vartai is nearing completion with the Vytis and Saint Casimir images being revived.
In an interview published by Delfi, Azuolas Zvagulis said he was bullied at school in Britain because of his language and Lithuanian background. He also said he started working at 13 and described how his family went through his father’s cancer and the collapse of some of his businesses.
Lithuanian leaders and ministers expressed condolences to Poland after the Krakow shooting. Separately, parliamentary deputy speaker Vytautas Mitalas said he would run for mayor of Vilnius.
sources: delfi.lt, tv3.lt, lrt.lt, lrytas.lt, 15min.lt
The Council of the European Union is the body where ministers from EU member states negotiate and adopt laws together with the European Parliament. The country holding the rotating presidency chairs meetings for six months and steers the agenda.
Vilnius marked the 20th edition of its GreenTech forum on Nov. 7 and said three extra GreenTech Stars awards will be handed out. The prizes will go to leaders and companies that have helped expand renewables, create jobs, advance technology and strengthen the economy. The forum itself is set for Nov. 11 and is framed around Lithuania’s energy independence drive. Organisers are positioning the event as a meeting point for energy, transport and green-economy players.
Why it matters
The awards can lift the profile of companies investing in renewables and new technology. That matters to energy, industry and labour-market players because recognition can help draw in partners and capital.
Who benefits
Renewable-energy companies and technology developers stand to gain, while fossil-fuel businesses get less attention.
What's next
The forum organisers will name the GreenTech Stars winners and hold the main debates in Vilnius on Nov. 11.
Lithuania on Nov. 7 approved the policy programme for its 2027 EU Council presidency, putting defence and economic resilience at the top of the agenda. The plan calls for stronger protection of the bloc's eastern border, longer-term support for Ukraine and closer ties with NATO and the United States. On the economic side, Vilnius wants a more competitive EU, more innovation and work on the bloc's 2028-2034 budget. Lithuania takes over the presidency on Jan. 1, 2027. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Why it matters
The agenda will hit exporters, defence firms and tech companies because trade, investment and security issues will sit at the centre of Lithuania's presidency. Ukraine and the EU's eastern frontier states stand to gain or lose time on military aid, border protection and budget decisions. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
On November 7, Delfi reported that Lithuania’s annual inflation has already topped 6%, even as food has still become cheaper since the start of the year. Fruit is down by a quarter year on year, butter by a tenth, and food prices at Maxima fell 3.8% in October, according to the retailer. But suppliers are already pushing for higher prices, while gas costs and wheat prices are moving up sharply. SEB economist Tadas Povilauskas said food prices are likely to rise in January, with annual food inflation seen at 3% next year.
Why it matters
Shoppers are looking at a short reprieve at the till, but the next round of increases is likely to hit bread, meat products and baked goods first. Processors and retailers will also feel the squeeze as energy, raw materials and packaging costs rise.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, Vilnius plans to plant 326 trees and 356 shrubs in Pašilaičiai, on Laisvės Avenue opposite the Vilnius District Court. It is the second planting drive this autumn in the district. The city says the site will get birch, maple, pine, lime, ash, hornbeam, dogwood, viburnum and currant. Another planting session is scheduled for Nov. 14 on Žemynos Street, while the city’s autumn programme totals nearly 1,000 trees, about 23,000 shrubs and more than 32,000 herbaceous plants.
Why it matters
For Pašilaičiai residents, the drive means more shade, a denser streetscape and a greener corridor along a busy avenue. The city is also inviting locals to join, with tools and planting guidance provided on site.
In an interview published by Delfi on Nov. 7, Ąžuolas Žvagulis said he spent part of his childhood with his grandmother before moving to Britain with his mother and stepfather. He said he was bullied at school for his language and Lithuanian background, and that he started working at 13, delivering milk and newspapers and taking jobs in a restaurant. He also spoke about his father's cancer and the collapse of some of his businesses. The conversation ran in Delfi's weekend celebrity series.
Why it matters
The account shows how a well-known surname can mask childhood hardship, early work and bullying tied to language and origin. It will resonate with families raising children abroad and with anyone coping with a parent's cancer diagnosis.
Valstybinės ligonių kasos deputy director Tatjana Golubajeva told tv3.lt today that the health system does not expect unbearable financial shocks next year and that there is no magic machine that prints money. Her comments came amid concern over rising patient numbers and a tight public health budget. She said expectations have to stay realistic because demand is rising faster than the system’s ability to fund every need. That puts the focus on service volumes and how available cash will be split in 2027 budget talks. (tv3.lt)
Why it matters
For family doctors, hospitals and outpatient clinics, this means more pressure to fit demand into a limited compulsory health insurance budget, while patients may face longer queues or a narrower set of services. (tv3.lt)
Kyiv came under one of its heaviest recent Russian attacks overnight, with missiles damaging the Northern Bridge over the Dnipro, forcing its closure in both directions and injuring five people, including a 14-year-old. Homes and commercial buildings were damaged in the capital, and mayor Vitali Klitschko said the same strike also hit energy facilities in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions. Ukraine's energy ministry said the strikes damaged transmission lines carrying electricity from the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear plants to Kyiv and central Ukraine. Consumers in the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions were left without power by morning, while Kyiv also suffered major water and heating disruptions.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned beforehand of fresh attacks on Ukraine's energy sector and civilian infrastructure. He later said Russia launched 36 ballistic missiles and more than 170 drones. Russia's defence ministry said it had targeted the Northern Bridge because Moscow sees it as a logistics route for Ukrainian forces.
In Poland, a gunman in Krakow's main market square opened fire on random pedestrians from a moving car. Five people were killed and more than a dozen were injured, including police officers. Police said the attacker acted alone, found multiple weapons parts and ammunition in his car, and tightened security in the city centre.
In sport, Kristaps Porzingis said he is stepping away from basketball indefinitely because of health issues. The 31-year-old Latvian has not played this season, and the Golden State Warriors had already ruled him out indefinitely because of an undisclosed medical problem.
Russia launched a massive air attack on Kyiv, sending more than 170 drones towards the city. In Poland, European forces began exercises to prepare for a possible deployment to Ukraine.
sources: lrytas.lt, lrt.lt, tv3.lt, 15min.lt, delfi.lt
A ballistic missile follows a largely ballistic trajectory after its powered launch phase. It is used for longer-range strikes and is often harder to intercept than slower airborne weapons.
Russian missiles hit Kyiv overnight, damaging the Northern Bridge over the Dnipro and shutting it to traffic in both directions, city officials said. Five people were wounded, including a child, and homes and commercial property were damaged in the capital. Authorities also reported fresh power and water outages after the strike. Moscow's defence ministry said it had targeted the bridge, which it described as a logistics route for Ukraine's forces.
Why it matters
For Kyiv residents, the strike adds pressure on transport and basic services at the same time. Closing a major Dnipro crossing can slow traffic, complicate emergency response and disrupt daily movement across the city.
Who benefits
Russia's military may gain if the damage hampers Ukrainian logistics, while Kyiv commuters, transport operators and utility providers absorb the losses.
What's next
The next concrete step is a Kyiv city decision on when the Northern Bridge can reopen after inspection and repairs.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on November 7 that a Russian night strike damaged energy facilities in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions and hit the capital's Northern Bridge. He said the damage has made power supply in the city extremely difficult and disrupted heating and water systems. Five people, including a 14-year-old child, were injured in Kyiv, he said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned a day earlier that Russia could launch fresh attacks on Ukraine's energy sector and civilian infrastructure. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
For Kyiv residents, the damage threatens heating, water and electricity supply just as cold weather sets in. A hit on a major bridge can also complicate movement across the city and slow emergency response. (15min.lt)
On November 7, 2026, a gunman opened fire on random people from a moving car in Krakow’s main market square before being wounded in a gunfight with police. Five people were killed and more than a dozen injured, including officers. Police said the attacker acted alone and that they found multiple other weapons parts and ammunition in his car. Polish investigators are handling the case and police have said the public is safe. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
Krakow’s old town is one of Poland’s busiest tourist districts, so the shooting hits public safety and transport in a heavily visited area. With officers among the wounded and extra weapons found in the car, police now have to assess whether the attacker could have gone further. (apnews.com)
Russian strikes on November 7 damaged power lines carrying electricity from Ukraine's Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear plants to Kyiv and central regions, leaving consumers in five regions without power by morning. Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk were among the hardest hit, according to Ukraine's Energy Ministry. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia fired 36 ballistic missiles and more than 170 drones. Kyiv also faced serious disruptions to water and heat supply after the attack. (delfi.lt)
Why it matters
Kyiv households, hospitals and utilities face emergency restrictions on electricity, water and heat, while industrial users get less reliable supply. Energy crews have to restore damaged grid links under fire, which slows repairs and raises the risk of longer outages. (theprint.in)
Kristaps Porzingis said on November 6 that he is stepping away from basketball indefinitely because of health issues. The 31-year-old Latvian said his body did not respond as expected as he ramped up his preparation, and that he wants to put his health first. The Golden State Warriors had already ruled him out indefinitely on September 29 because of an undisclosed health problem, and he has not played this season. Porzingis said he will work with the team on a solution that makes sense for both sides. (nba.com)
Why it matters
Golden State is opening the season without a key frontcourt piece, which affects its rotation and depth in the Western Conference. For Latvia and European NBA fans, the open question is when, or whether, Porzingis can return. (nba.com)
In Yemen, strikes on a village near Sanaa killed at least 22 people and wounded 30. Houthi health officials said most of the dead were women and children, and spokesman Yahya Saree accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out three strikes with warplanes from Khamis Mushait. Yemen's Saudi-backed government denied any air strikes hit the area and blamed the Houthis instead. The attack came a day after a strike on a market in Taiz province killed at least 30 people.
In Washington, Secret Service officers arrested a man near the White House late on Thursday after finding multiple guns in his parked car. He told officers he was hearing voices telling him to kill President Donald Trump, and he was later charged with illegal transport and possession of firearms. U.S. Central Command said on Friday it was offering a $20 million reward and possible relocation for information on Iran's nuclear programme, including sites, equipment and scientists. The United States is also facing its biggest measles outbreak in more than 35 years.
As Washington prepares for trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi next week on the war in Ukraine, analysts say Vladimir Putin is seeking territorial concessions from Kyiv and a wider role in Europe's security order. White House ideas for a European security framework and guarantees for Ukraine have unsettled European diplomats, while U.S. officials warn that talks on NATO force posture could create precedents Russia wants. In Asia, U.S. and Chinese officials are voicing trade concerns ahead of the APEC summit. In sport, Cleveland beat Philadelphia 119-95 at home in the NBA Cup, while LeBron James scored 8 points in 31 minutes and was booed by Cavaliers fans in the first half.
At least 12 people were killed in an accident in Chile. Israel's president plans to task Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government.
sources: tv3.lt, lrt.lt, delfi.lt, lrytas.lt, vz.lt, 15min.lt
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a 21-member forum focused on trade, investment and economic coordination across the Pacific Rim.
U.S. Secret Service officers arrested a man near the White House late on Nov. 6 after finding him in a parked car with multiple guns, AP reported. According to the account, he told officers he was hearing voices instructing him to kill President Donald Trump. He has since been charged with illegal transport and possession of firearms. The stop happened on Constitution Avenue, just outside the White House security zone. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
The case shows how quickly a potential threat near the White House can become a federal security and criminal matter. It means more pressure on Secret Service protection and on prosecutors handling threats against the president. (apnews.com)
Who benefits
The Secret Service and federal prosecutors gain from a quick arrest, while White House security teams and people working or moving near the complex face tighter screening. (apnews.com)
What's next
The next step is the federal court case on the firearms charges. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Houthi health officials said at least 22 people were killed and 30 wounded in strikes on a village near Sanaa, with women and children making up most of the dead. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree blamed Saudi Arabia and said three warplanes flying from Khamis Mushait carried out the attack. Yemen's Saudi-backed government denied any airstrikes hit the area and blamed the Houthis instead. The strike came a day after a market attack in Taiz killed at least 30 people, deepening the scramble over responsibility and casualty counts.
Why it matters
Yemen's civilians are once again bearing the brunt of the conflict, and the casualty toll will strain already fragile local hospitals. The blame game between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis also makes it harder to revive ceasefire talks and reduce the risk to people living near the front lines.
As Washington prepares for trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi next week, analysts quoted by Delfi say Vladimir Putin is after territorial concessions from Ukraine and a wider say over Europe’s security order, not a quick peace deal. RFE/RL and CNN both argue that Moscow is still not ready to drop its hard line on Ukrainian land and sees diplomacy as a way to pressure Kyiv rather than end the war. The White House has meanwhile set out broad ideas for a European security framework and guarantees for Ukraine, but that has unsettled European diplomats. US officials and analysts warn that even discussing NATO force posture could hand Russia a precedent it wants.
Why it matters
Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure remain exposed if the Kremlin treats talks as leverage rather than a route to stopping the war. Europe’s security order could shift if Washington agrees to put NATO force posture on the bargaining table.
U.S. Central Command said on Friday local time it is offering a $20 million reward, plus possible relocation, for information on Iran's nuclear programme. The request covers nuclear sites, equipment and people involved in the programme, including scientists. The move widens Washington's effort to collect intelligence on Tehran's nuclear network. It is also aimed at insiders who may be able to identify hardware and personnel the U.S. wants to track. (delfi.lt)
Why it matters
The offer is designed to pull information out of Iran's nuclear network and could raise the cost of keeping sites and personnel hidden. It also gives Washington a direct incentive to recruit people with access to sensitive material. (delfi.lt)
On Nov. 7, 2026, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 119-95 in the NBA Cup, while LeBron James managed only 8 points in 31 minutes. James, who joined Philadelphia in the summer, was booed in the first half and missed all four of his three-point attempts, going 3 for 12 from the field. It was only the 10th time in his 24-year NBA career that he finished a regular-season game in single digits. Cleveland took control with a 16-point cushion in the second quarter and stretched it to 25 in the fourth.
Why it matters
Cleveland fans got a rare look at James being held to a single-digit night in their own building, while Philadelphia walked away with another lopsided road loss. The game also matters to James' career ledger, because sub-10-point outings are unusual for him.