Lithuania Prime Minister steps down after investigations and protests

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas resigned Thursday amid investigations into his business dealings that sparked protests in the capital. Paluckas, leader of the Social Democrats, faced media scrutiny and probes over alleged past misconduct, including an unpaid fine related to a 2012 corruption case. His entire cabinet is expected to step down, leaving the government in limbo just weeks before joint Russian‑Belarus military exercises, NBC News has reported. Paluckas denied wrongdoing, calling the criticism a political attack, and resigned before impeachment proceedings could begin.