Global LT
Voice of America journalist Romas Sakadolskis passes away
Prominent Lithuanian journalist Romas Sakadolskis, who had a lengthy career at the US radio station Voice of America, passed away at 68. […]
Vytautas Magnus University
CORPORATE
New era as Lithuania’s political pendulum loses momentum
During the last two terms of the Seimas, there have been two political firsts in Lithuania: between 2008-2012, Andrius Kubilius was the first prime minister to remain in his post for his entire term since Lithuania’s independence was regained. Now, the social democrats, who have been behind the government’s wheel for the last four years, have emerged with a strong lead in the polls – also the first time this has happened since independence. […]
CORPORATE
Society
Businessman promoting Jewish memory wins Person of Tolerance award
Businessman Valdas Balčiūnas has been named the 2015 Person of Tolerance in Lithuania, the public organization “Sugihara Foundation – Diplomats for Life” told BNS on Saturday. […]
CORPORATE
Ratings drop ‘pushing Lithuanian President to criticise government’
Falling opinion poll ratings for Lithuania’s president and an upcoming election are likely be the reasons why President Dalia Grybauskaitė has become increasingly critical of the current government of Algirdas Butkevičius, according to a leading analyst. […]
Society
Lithuanian universities’ wifi tops global rankings
Rotten WiFi, a Lithuanian WiFi watchdog startup in the UK, tested the WiFi connections of more than 350 universities around the world and found that Lithuanian universities dominated the top 10 in their rankings. Five of the top 10 positions belong to Lithuanian universities, and these also occupy the top 3 spots. […]
Society
Economy
Companies struggle to find German speaking employees in Lithuania
As German investment and tourism booms in Lithuania, companies are looking for employees who speak German. Unfortunately, the language does not seem to be very popular with Lithuanian students. […]
Culture
Tomas Venclova presented with Jerzy Giedroyc award in Poland
On 1 December in Warsaw, the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita presented the Jerzy Giedroyc award to Tomas Venclova, the Lithuanian poet, translator, publicist, and a well-known figure, for contributing to the current literary scene in Central and Eastern Europe. The award was also presented to the Institute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports. […]
Politics
Political scientists: Interior minister overreacted
Political scientists say that Saulius Skvernelis, Lithuania’s Interior Minister delegated by the party Order and Justice, overreacted when announcing his resignation. Political scientists say that although President Dalia Grybauskaite criticised the minister, she did not send a clear message that he should step down. […]
Society
Lithuanian WWII hero who captured Nazi submarine
During World War Two, Nazi Germany‘s submarines would regularly attack Allied forces. In response, the Allies formed special brigades to monitor German submarines. One of these brigades included a serviceman named Zenonas Lukošius, a Lithuanian expatriate. He has become a hero of WWII. […]
Society
Kaunas University of Technology and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences are to merge
A plan to merge Kaunas University of Technology and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences was proposed in a meeting of a working group set up by Education Minister Audronė Pitrėnienė to optimize Lithuania’s higher education resources. […]
Society
Four Lithuanian universities pooling resources
Four Lithuanian universities – Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Klaipėda University, Šiauliai University and the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences in Vilnius – have agreed pool their resources and allow students to use facilities in either institution. […]
Conservative victory in Poland will make Vilnius-Warsaw relations more tense, political scientist says
The expected triumph of the right-wing Law and Justice party in Poland‘s parliamentary elections will likely make relations between Vilnius and Warsaw more tense, particularly on issues pertaining to ethnic minorities, says Professor Šarūnas Liekis of Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University. […]
Foreign affairs
Could Lithuania mediate in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks?
During a meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė stressed the need for Israelis and Palestinians to go back to peace talks. She also hinted that Lithuania could serve as a broker in the negotiations. However, with Lithuania’s record of supporting Israel and opposing any Palestinian moves to establish themselves in the international community, Vilnius would not be a likely choice for a mediator, a political scientist says. […]
Opinion
Opinion: The dilemma of dictatorial stability
Current times in Eastern Europe can hardly be seen as a blessing. With the region more destabilized than ever, not only the economies of Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the surrounding countries suffer, but also the image of Eastern Europe has been in downfall lately. However, for someone these problems in the region might be coming at a perfect time. […]
Society
Vilnius University advances in QS World University Rankings
In the latest world university ranking 2015/2016, published by QS World University Rankings, Vilnius University (VU) improved its position to 501-550 from the 551-600 position previously, the university reports. […]
Society
Foreign minister of Lithuania pays tribute to Sugihara
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius on Friday attended an informal discussion at the Sugihara House in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city, on educational projects, introducing Chiune Sugihara’s achievements, prospects for cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the need to raise general public awareness, in particular amongst young people, on the legacy of Sugihara and other diplomats who saved lives. […]
One of the most important Central Europe’s political science events returns to Vilnius
Lithuanian Political Science Association in cooperation with Central European Political Science Association (CEPSA) is organising the 20th CEPSA conference on 25-26 September at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University (VU TSPMI), the International Political Science Association reports. […]
Opinion
Opinion: Refugee quotas and missed opportunity for Eastern Europe
The current refugee and illegal immigration crisis in European Union received multiple opinions and positions. Mismanagement can be easily seen in the current situation. One of the most noticeable parts of it is a clash of interests inside the EU itself. The reluctance of the Eastern part of EU to cooperate with the West show that the governments of the Union do not agree on the same terms and that there are different points of view on the situation. This can be seen in the recent EU agreement for the relocation of the refugees, where ministers of the member states were responsible. […]