Lithuania

Corruption cases and political friction are competing for space on the front pages. Algirdas Kopūstas, a member of the Ukmergė District Council, has been found guilty in the "cekiukų" check forgery case. Meanwhile, law enforcement officials have declared they have no confidence in Rita Tamašunienė, the justice minister. In Vilnius, the mayor is waiting for answers from a minister he accuses of lying about recent disorder in the capital.

The energy sector is providing a more predictable set of headlines. An Israeli firm is putting €60 million into a private storage facility near Alytus, and two wind farms worth €324 million have begun operations. For those living in converted industrial spaces, the outlook is less certain; the environment ministry has clarified exactly what happens to residents if living in lofts is banned.

The half-year results for Lietuvos draudimas show that even the insurance business is not immune to the season’s volatility, with profits falling 26 percent. Separately, a study shows that while national savings accounts hold billions, four out of ten residents could not cover an unexpected bill. A new comparison of land rental prices across different municipalities also highlights the varying costs for those looking to rent land.