Rīga (Latvia) and Umeå (Sweden) are the European Capitals of Culture in 2014. The cultural programme will officially begin on 17 January in the Latvian capital and on 31 January in Umeå.

On radio show Ryto Garsai on Friday, the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) announced its Man of Year 2013. The LRT's Man of Year became traveller, climber and organizer of the wellness events Algimantas Jucevicius.

23 EU Member States as well as Norway and Switzerland – Schengen associated countries – took part in this international operation.

According to preliminary data of Statistics Lithuania, in the third quarter of 2013, the number of trips by local visitors who spent one or more nights increased by 4%, while the number of same-day visitors fell by 2.1% year-on-year.

An exhibition depicting the history and significance of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was opened in Tallinn University of Technology (TUT), Estonia.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė extended congratulations, both personally and on behalf of the Lithuanian people, to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves of Estonia, on his sixtieth birthday anniversary.

Best wishes at this Holy Christmas season and Happy New Year.

My sincere wishes go to all the people of Lithuania for a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Our grandchildren may not know the taste of most fish species if in the nearest future the rational, not political, regulation of fishing is not applied. As stated in the last report of the European Court of Auditors, overfishing affects up to 90% of the species in the seas of the Community.

On behalf of the Lithuanian people and on her own behalf, President Dalia Grybauskaitė extended congratulations to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Akihito, on his 80th birthday and Japan's national holiday.