“The moment China takes Taiwan, or Russia takes Lithuania, I’m in Buenos Aires,” he said. “It’s good to have a 'Plan B' for civilization.”

That's a quote from a May 28 New York Times article by Emma Bubola and Ryan Mac quoting Martin Varsavsky, a Spanish-Argentine tech entrepreneur close to right-wing billionaire/wing-nut Richard Thiel, who has purchased a mansion in Buenos Aires as well as land in Uruguay where speculation has it that he has built a bunker capable of surviving nuclear war. Varsavsky has built a ranch in Mendoza, Argentina, which he sees as a potential shelter from World War III. He thinks Argentina would be completely unaffected if the northern hemisphere were wiped out by nuclear war.

Two days later a New York Times article by Christopher F. Schuetze headlined "Lithuania, Once Occupied by Germany, Is Glad German Troops Are Back" says Berlin has deployed forces to protect Lithuania amid fears of increased Russian aggression in Europe. The German brigade, which will reach its full complement of 4,800 troops in 2027, “...is so strong and so well equipped that it’s like we will have a second army in Lithuania,” said former Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas.

Thousands of undeterred Lithuanians gathered at the end of May for the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest, an annual three-day celebration dedicated to šaltibarščiai: Lithuania's iconic cold, pink beetroot soup. Centered around the White Bridge in Vilnius, the festival marked the official start of summer with pink parades, foam slides, waiters' races, and eating contests: https://www.vilnius-events.lt/en/event/vilnius-pink-soup-fest-2026/

See my July 2021 post featuring the recipe of one of my cousins: https://www.lithuanianjournal.org/post/lithuanian-cuisine-%C5%A1altibar%C5%A1%C4%8Diai