Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), Lithuania was initially set to receive financial support worth €3 849.2 million to implement its national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP), including for the REPowerEU chapter. These resources represent 0.5 % of the entire RRF, equal to 7.9 % of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. In June 2022, the original plan, initially worth €2 224 million, was revised downwards to €2 100 million. In June 2023, Lithuania submitted a request to amend its NRRP, which included an additional grant allocation of €193.7 million for a REPowerEU chapter and a loan request worth €1 551.7 million. Lithuania also requested to transfer a portion of its share of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to its plan (€4.7 million). In November 2023, the Council adopted an amending implementing decision greenlighting the modified plan. In May 2024, a Commission implementing decision released €14.9 million linked to the first payment. It also reduced the financial contribution by €8.7 million, based on the partial non-fulfilment of a milestone linked to a reform measure. In March 2026, the European Commission released an additional €50.4 million to Lithuania under the RRF, linked to the third payment. Lithuania's NRRP has been modified several times. The Council approved the fourth modified plan in February 2026. The latest revision comprises 32 reforms and 10 investment measures, to be completed by 31 August 2026. Lithuania has so far received 70.1 % of the resources, or €2 694.1 million (in the form of pre-financing, three grant and two loan payments). The disbursements are slightly above the current EU average of 69 %. Further payments will depend on progress made in implementing the plan. The European Parliament participates in interinstitutional forums for cooperation and discussion on the implementation of the RRF, and continues to scrutinise the European Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Fifth edition. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The European Parliament is due to adopt its negotiating mandate for the EU's 2028-2034 budget during the April plenary session. The report of the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) defends a budget set at 1.27 % of EU gross national income (GNI), with the debt servicing for the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery fund (0.11 % of GNI) set outside the budget ceilings. This is a 10 % increase compared with the Commission proposal. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Water scarcity has become a structural issue, rather than a temporary crisis. Sustained pressure on water systems, due to rising demand, environmental degradation and climate change, has created lasting 'water bankruptcy' with significant consequences for public health, economic resilience, food security, social stability, and international security. Against this backdrop, effective governance to manage water resources, notably through coordination between various levels of governance and stakeholders ('integrated water resource management', IWRM) is of primary importance. This requires sustained investment, reliable data and strong institutions. However, IWRM implementation remains uneven across countries, notably as regards transboundary water resources. While many countries share rivers, lakes and groundwater reservoirs, existing cooperation remains incomplete and often ill-adapted to long-term scarcity. International legal frameworks provide guiding principles, but their translation into actual agreements is limited, fragmented and often weakly enforced. Some transboundary deals have contributed to sparing the human right to water from geopolitical tensions; however, water resources are increasingly instrumentalised in disputes and conflicts. Opportunities to strengthen cooperation and build trust between countries sharing the same watercourses ('riparian countries') include enhanced capacity-building, more effective and diversified financing, transparent data-sharing and a credible dispute resolution mechanism. Moreover, to sustainably adapt to water bankruptcy, water policies should encompass broader social and economic trade-offs beyond quantitative water allocations. The European Union's role in water diplomacy is part of its external action agenda, integrating cooperation on development, security and human rights. The EU promotes a nexus approach linking water with energy, food and ecosystems, at global level and through regional initiatives to support transboundary water management. The European Parliament acknowledges that water is a strategic priority for peace and security. It calls for stronger international engagement, improved enforcement mechanisms, and greater political commitment, including the creation of a dedicated EU representative to address international water-related risks and foster cooperation. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This study provides an evidence based assessment of the value for money of EU transport investments in the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework proposal, examining how CEF Transport, cohesion funds, the European Competitiveness Fund, InvestEU and EIB lending interact and how flexibility and performance frameworks can best support TEN T completion, decarbonisation, security and cohesion objectives. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Saxony is reportedly revoking and denying firearms licenses to members and supporters of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Read Full Article at RT.com

From a failed safety test to burning graphite and mass evacuation, this is how Chernobyl became the world’s worst nuclear disaster Read Full Article at RT.com

One-year contracts will be banned under the rules, with landlords fearing students will only stay for nine months and leave as soon as the summer holiday starts.

In a message sent to family members, the 31-year-old suspect called himself a “friendly federal assassin” and criticized the Trump administration.

Royal Mail has launched an investigation after a postman appeared to boast that they had binned Reform UK leaflets ahead of the local elections.

People in the UK are spending more years in bad health than a decade ago, with healthy life expectancy having now fallen below state pension age in most areas.

Residents of a quiet cul-de-sac have been left furious after an eight-foot, bright green parcel locker was abruptly 'plonked' right outside their doors.

Sabastian Sawe raced around the course in just 1 hour, 59 minutes, 30 seconds - more than one minute faster than the previous record. So, what was the key to Sawe's success? His shoes.

A trove of social media posts linked to Cole Allen has surfaced, featuring stark political rhetoric and warnings about democracy and the rule of law.

A Ukrainian drone strike has killed a worker at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, prompting an IAEA warning over safety risks Read Full Article at RT.com

First Lady Melania Trump has broken her silence about comedian Jimmy Kimmel's latest major faux pas.

A bitter feud broke out between local residents and Lebanese Grill Express when disruption began soon after it opened in Camden, north London.

Sue, 51, and Noel, 55, Radford, from Morecambe, Lancashire, who, together with their children, are the stars of 22 Kids and Counting, took their brood on a weekend away in their motorhome.

The warm-up fight and the mega-fight to follow have both been signed by Anthony Joshua. Thereby ending a decade of speculation and joculation between himself and Tyson Fury.

The political arena heats up as Congress voices its discontent over AAP's Rajya Sabha nominees, branding them as elitists with an impressive average net worth of Rs 818 crore. Ajay Maken argues that AAP functions as a puppet for the BJP, orchestrated to disrupt Congress's support in upcoming state elections.

Malian army has killed over 200 militants after coordinated attacks across multiple cities and seized military equipment Read Full Article at RT.com

US and Canadian Mints reportedly source gold linked to Colombia’s Clan del Golfo, laundered and supplied via a Texas-based contractor Read Full Article at RT.com

Bavarian state premier Markus Soder has called for the reintroduction of the draft to increase the size of the German army Read Full Article at RT.com

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Two-thirds of Germans believe migrants should only receive full benefits after working for an extended period, a new poll suggests Read Full Article at RT.com

A Singaporean family decided to show their appreciation to their domestic helper by giving her a taste of home by bringing her to a Filipino restaurant for her birthday. In a TikTok video posted on Sunday (April 26), 30-year-old Denson Chow and his family can be seen bringing Aseniero Abegail Quilicon, 34, to the restaurant to celebrate the occasion.In the video, Chow said: «We have to appreciate helpers because they leave their family and everything behind in their home country... to come to Singapore to work for a family that they are strangers to.»It's not because they're not smart, not because they're not educated.«He added that Abegail has a degree and could be a bank manager in the Philippines but she would earn two to three times less than as she would as a helper in Singapore. As she ate a spoon of sinigang, a Filipino stew, Abegail said: »(Feels like) I'm at home."Abegail begins tearing up at the end of the video as Chow's family and restaurant staff gift her a cake and sing her Happy Birthday.