EU Social Climate Plan: The European Commission has approved Lithuania’s €884m Social Climate Plan to support vulnerable households and micro-enterprises through the clean transition, including energy-efficiency renovations for 40,000+ homes, Energy Advisory Hubs, more social housing, and help for public transport EVs plus charging expansion. Schengen & Russian visas: Eleven EU states including Lithuania are pushing for tighter, more binding Schengen visa rules for Russian nationals, warning that rising Russian tourist travel clashes with the war in Ukraine and creates security concerns across the bloc. Lithuania-Ireland custody case: A Lithuanian boy taken to Ireland without his mother’s consent can stay, after a High Court ruling cited his “considerable maturity” and risks tied to his mother’s situation. Vilnius business & identity: iDenfy has added Smart-ID to its identity verification platform for the Baltic market, enabling customer checks in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia using everyday mobile IDs. Sports (Vilnius link): Lithuania’s 3x3 women faced Azerbaijan in Warsaw, with Azerbaijan winning in overtime; Lithuania also appears in the men’s quarter-final matchups. Culture & tourism: Five Lithuanian restaurants earned Michelin stars in the new Lithuania guide, with two new first-time winners.