Weekly News from Lithuania, May 20


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May 29, 2020

POLITICS

Lithuania and Poland moves towards a joint electricity network | Credits @ Ministry of Energy

Lithuania Contributes to the Funding of Production of Face Masks for Prevention of COVID-19 in Bhutan

Lithuanian Embassy in New Delhi today signed the agreement to fund the production of face masks in Bhutan. The project will supplement Royal Government’s of Bhutan efforts in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and will allow to produce locally 46,000 two and three ply layer masks that primarily will be distributed to the frontline workers and those who need them most.

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Lithuanian and German Foreign Ministers discuss upcoming Eastern Partnership summit

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius had a telephone conversation with the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Heiko Mass.

The interlocutors discussed the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit. “I hope that Germany will continue to support the Eastern Partnership, which has to remain the EU’s strategic direction also in the future. This is a critical success factor. Thus, it is of great importance to support the motivation and the pro-European direction of our Eastern partners," said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

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Thank You, Lithuania!

Next Monday, 1 June, a nationwide campaign ‘Thank You, Lithuania’ will take place to show gratitude to the Lithuanian people for the successful efforts in overcoming the first wave of COVID-19 and to ask them to continue staying focused and hopeful, so as to be ready to confront any other challenges lying do it again.

The campaign ‘Thank you, Lithuania’ will start at 17.00 hrs. on 1 June all across the country, its cities and towns, with music sounds filling squares or parks or coming from the top of administrative and cultural buildings.

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BUSINESS & SCIENCE

Global startup survey StartupBlink has ranked our startup ecosystem 15th in the world in its new 2020 report, which maps 1,000 cities across 100 countries. Our thriving Fintech hub outclassed established rivals including Denmark, Ireland and Norway | Credits @ Invest Lithuania

Invest Lithuania among the winners of Investors’ Forum Awards

The launch of direct flights between Vilnius and London City airports in May 2019 has been voted the ‘Best Decision for the Improvement of the Business Climate’ in the annual awards of Lithuania’s Investors’ Forum.

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Blue Growth Accelerator raises a new generation of unicorns in the Baltic Sea Region

There is a growing awareness that the quality of life and the future of societies are inseparable from the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources. Today’s challenges also open up great opportunities for the Blue Growth startups, representing marine fields such as aquaculture, blue biotechnology or related topics.

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Europe Summer Travel? The 10 Safest, Longest, Socially-Distancing European Beaches To Visit Post-Lockdown

A unique place in Europe, ideal to disconnect from social networks yet offering continuous news channels and reconnection with nature, Nida is located one hour by car from Klaipéda and four hours from Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius. “More than 100 kilometers of fine sand await you in this paradisiac place, almost cut from the rest of the world,” explains EBD.

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Kaunas shines a green light on street food culture: more space opens up in the city for “kitchens on wheels”

The Square of the Constituent Seimas and the Daugirdas Amphitheater are two new places where Kaunas residents and guests will be attracted by not only the picturesque fountain or the Nemunas coast, but also appetizing food flavors. Until now, food trade from specialized cars was allowed only during mass events and at Lake Lampėdis and Kaunas Lagoon. According to the decision of Kaunas City Council, from now on it will take place in the city center as well.

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		NY Baltic Film Festival 1:55 AM - May 29, 2020

🏠Stay at home with NY Baltic FF 🌍 BRIDGES OF TIME (by Kristīne Briede & Audrius Stonys), a doc about the Baltic New Wave of documentary cinema, is the Film of the Week at DAFilms Americas and now streaming in the US - along with many other films of Audrius Stonys 💥 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵: bit.ly/StreamBridgesOfTime

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CULTURE & HISTORY

The Hill of Crosses shouts for remembering with forget-me nots | Credits @ We love Lithuania

Lithuania's sole cat museum purrs for visitors amid quarantine

The cat museum in Šiauliai, northern Lithuania, marked its 30th anniversary on May 22. Despite attracting thousands of visitors each year, the celebrations were emptier than usual due to the ongoing quarantine.

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Architecture of Optimism: Building a Temporary Capital for Lithuania

After World War I, the small central Lithuanian city of Kaunas suddenly and unexpectedly became the de facto capital of a European state. This surprising situation was the result of a dispute over the current capital, Vilnius: the Republic of Lithuania claimed Vilnius as the historic capital of the medieval Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but Poland also laid claim to it on the grounds of its large Polish-speaking population. After changing hands several times in the years after the Russian Revolution, a coup was staged in 1920 by Polish general Lucjan Żeligowski, creating a short-lived Republic of Central Lithuania, which was soon absorbed into the Polish state. Lithuanian hopes of recovering the city in the near-term seemed distant.

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		Lietuvos ambasada Vašingtone / Embassy of Lithuania in Washington, D.C. 3:53 PM - May 26, 2020

On June 1, #Lithuania will become an open-air concert hall. That day more than 250 musicians will perform across country's parks, courtyards, from the top of cultural and administrative buildings, etc. in a nationwide campaign ‘#ThankYou, Lithuania’. The initiator of the concert- the Office of the Government- says that the campaign is aimed to show gratitude to the Lithuanian people for the successful efforts in overcoming the first wave of #COVID19. Photos below are from the previous concerts held to show solidarity with people under quarantine. Photos: D. Matvejev, R.Ančerevičius, E.Ovčarenko.

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June 2

Post COVID-19 world: In Search for the Best Supports for Global Recovery | Webinar

Join in a virtual webinar and a discussion with the Lithuanian ambassador to the European Union Jovita Neliupšiene, Nobel prize winner professor Robert J. Shiller and Chief of FT Brussels Bureau Sam Fleming

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May 25 - 29

Africa Days 2020

Lithuania celebrates international Africa Day online - with concerts, live discussions and more.

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May 27 -29

9th Litvak Days in London 2020

This year the Lithuanian embassy in United Kingdom is hosting the 𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐯𝐚𝐤 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧, but, for the first time, the in-person encounters will have to be substituted by what organisers hope will be similarly enjoyable, enriching, and stimulating virtual meetings.

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