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Deandre Ayton was the Lakers’ biggest X-factor during the 2025-26 season that ended during the playoff’s second round after a four-game sweep by the Thunder.

Oops: Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s theories are running into yet another awkward reality — families don’t seem to want all the new pre-K slots he’s offering, despite City Hall’s sales efforts.

Kremlin Blasts 'Borderline Crazy' Threat From Baltic NATO State

Russia has express outrage and condemnation of what it has on Wednesday denounced as a "borderline crazy threat" from NATO member Lithuania.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys in an interview this week with Neue Zurcher Zeitung provocatively stated that NATO is capable of destroying all Russian bases located in Kaliningrad if necessary.

via MSC

"We have to show the Russians that we're capable of penetrating the small fortress they've built in Kaliningrad," he said of the Russian exclave. "NATO has the capability, if necessary, to raze Russian air defenses and missile bases there to the ground."

Russia's RT has published the Kremlin response as follows:

Recent threats directed at Russia’s Kaliningrad Region by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys are “borderline crazy” and reflect a “maniacal” hostility toward Russia among Lithuania’s leadership, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

“This anti-Russian sentiment makes them blind, prevents them from thinking about the future and from acting in the interests of their nations,” Peskov said, referring to political elites in all three Baltic states.

Later in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed Peskov’s remarks, arguing that Western officials resort to such hostile rhetoric to assert their relevance. “But unlike the philosopher [Rene Descartes] who said ‘I think, therefore I am’ these people simply are,” the diplomat joked.

As for his other hawkish comments in the interview, the Lithuanian top diplomat strongly suggested the Ukraine war could spread deep into Europe, saying that should the frontline in Ukraine collapse, the consequences would be felt not only across NATO's eastern flank but throughout the entire European Union.

"The idea that a conflict with Moscow would only affect Russia's immediate neighbors is a dangerous misconception. It's part of Russian propaganda," Budrys said.

"If the frontline collapses, everything collapses - the EU, the economy, social order," he added. "There isn’t a single safe haven in Western Europe that would escape the consequences of war. We must finally quantify the cost of a lack of deterrence honestly."

Source: EuroNews

As a reminder, Kaliningrad is surrounded by Poland to the south and Lithuania to the north and east, which makes Moscow naturally alarmed whenever Polish or Lithuanian officials spew forth threats related to the exclave, which is Russian sovereign territory. However, Europe has also been fearful over the significant military assets and radar capability that Russia has stationed there.

Tyler Durden Thu, 05/21/2026 - 07:20

“The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests,” the head of Britain’s trade body wrote in a letter.

We just watched the torch being passed from LeBron James to Victor Wembanyama in real time. 

Fraudsters behind the notorious "Quality Learing Center" daycare facility in Minnesota appear to have locked down roughly a quarter of a million dollars worth of pandemic-era loans.

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KOSPI, Samsung Soar After 11th-Hour Union Deal Averts Chip Strike; Workers Eye $340k Bonuses

South Korea's benchmark KOSPI jumped overnight after Samsung Electronics reached a tentative wage-and-bonus agreement with its main labor union, neutralizing the immediate risk of a paralyzing strike at the world's largest memory-chip producer.

The wage-and-bonus deal removes a major supply-chain threat in an already tight memory market, where AI data center buildouts have driven surging demand, soaring prices, and heightened procurement risk across global semiconductor supply chains.

Samsung Electronics' shares surged after it clinched an 11th-hour deal with its South Korean union to avert a strike, although the terms — which included bonuses of around $416,000 for some workers — gave rise to some concern https://t.co/azFdL0hten pic.twitter.com/1q5naanI5e

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 21, 2026

Here are the key points of the Samsung-union deal reached in the 11th hour of negotiations:

• Samsung will introduce a new 10-year performance bonus system for its semiconductor division.

• Plan links worker bonuses to profitability, with ambitious profit targets of 200 trillion won annually from 2026-28 and 100 trillion won annually from 2029-35.

• Bonus pool will be funded by 10.5% of performance and paid in stock after tax.

• Employees can sell 1/3 of the shares immediately, while the rest must be held for up to 2 years.

• Samsung also agreed to an average wage increase of 6.2%, improved child support payments, and expanded housing loans.

Based on Bloomberg calculations, Samsung's 78,000 semiconductor workers could receive an average bonus of about 513 million won, or $340,000, depending on final profit levels and individual allocation. That would be more than triple the company's average employee pay of 158 million won in 2025.

Local outlet Yonhap estimates suggest workers in the memory division could receive even larger payouts, potentially around 600 million won per person, though the company does not disclose exact staffing levels by chip segment.

Samsung's union told workers they will be able to vote on the proposed 2026 wage and bonus agreement on Saturday morning.

Putting the wage deal to a vote averted a massive general strike at Samsung today, leading to optimism in the markets.

"HK shares traded directionally lower today, with optimism resurging in memory-heavy markets. Samsung's deal with the labor union brought fresh optimism with Kospi jumping by +8%, and understandably fueling some rotation out of HK/China," Goldman analyst Shubham Ghosh told clients.

Korea's Kospi closes up 8.42%, fourth biggest one-day jump on record. The Index has had nine 5%+ moves just in 2026 pic.twitter.com/YeejMyyOEG

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) May 21, 2026

KOSPI

Samsung

Barclays analyst Bumki Son noted, "As Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are now competing for global talents, competitive compensation packages are well warranted."

Earlier this month, the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea warned, "There are mounting concerns that any significant production disruptions or operational uncertainty at Samsung Electronics could place additional strain on the global memory semiconductor market, potentially worsening supply bottlenecks, price volatility, procurement uncertainty, and broader supply chain instability."

All eyes are on the union vote this weekend that extends into next week.

Tyler Durden Thu, 05/21/2026 - 06:55

The granddaughter of Benito Mussolini who once proclaimed she was proud to be a fascist has landed a six-figure payout after she won Italy's version of “Celebrity Big Brother.”

The Islanders want salary-cap flexibility, they don’t want to move any of their top-tier prospects or key veterans and they want to level up into being a Cup contender.

Residents Of UK Town Forced To Form 'Vigilante' Security Team To Protect Women And Kids From Migrants

Authored by Steve Watson via modernity.news,

Residents of a quiet East Sussex town have been left with no choice but to patrol their own streets after the leftist Labour government dumped hundreds of unvetted male migrants into a former army camp on their doorstep.

Crowborough, a small community of around 20,000 people, is now home to a volunteer security force called Crowborough Aware. With 81 vetted locals stepping up, the group is conducting regular patrols to deter trouble and keep women and children safe.

This is the direct result of years of open borders policies that have seen tiny, peaceful towns turned into testing grounds for mass migration.

Meanwhile in Crowborough, UK

“6 Migrants surrounded a member of the public”

81 Local Volunteers have formed their own Community Security Team – some are calling them vigilantes.

Why?

Because the treasonous UK Government have just moved over 500 unknown military age… pic.twitter.com/enfoJE32L9

— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) May 18, 2026

The breaking point came when six migrants surrounded a member of the public. That incident pushed locals into action.

The post continues, “Some are calling them vigilantes. Why? “Because the treasonous UK Government have just moved over 500 unknown military age fighting Men into their small town & they are trying to prevent the horrific headlines that are seen daily in every corner of the country from happening there.”

A GB News reporter spoke directly to members of the new patrol group. One volunteer stated clearly: “We are a visible presence to provide safety and security. We are a deterrent.”

The group is not hunting trouble—they are preventing it in a town the government abandoned.

This is Britain in 2026: a small town of 20,000 forced to form a patrol group to protect women and children from hundreds of illegal migrants the government planted there as it abandoned British people to fend for themselves.

The town’s residents have been orderly protesting for months, describing themselves as “petrified,” installing extra security and questioning why their community—historically used to train British soldiers—was being repurposed without consultation.

A local woman named Lucy called into a radio show and encapsulated the mood: “I just know that a load of women and young girls are walking around even in the day with alarms. They’ve taken self-defence classes… It’s scaring all women.”

Instead of addressing those legitimate safety concerns, some local officials doubled down on absurdity. In February, Green Party councillor Anne Cross announced she was taking her young grandchildren to hand-deliver handmade Valentine’s cards to the adult male migrants at the camp.

“There is nothing like getting to know people and hearing their stories in order to dispel fear,” she claimed, insisting there was “no evidence children or women are at a higher risk from people seeking asylum”

The Home Office has moved around 350 single adult male asylum seekers into the Crowborough Training Camp since January, with capacity for more. Migrants can leave the site, creating what locals call a “village within a village.” Police have increased presence following incidents, but residents say it is not enough.

The fact that their community feels the need to do this, is a damning indictment into this Govt’s failing policy to deal with the illegal immigration crisis. Time and again it’s been proven that some of those migrants have criminal backgrounds, and they have been allowed to roam…

— Greg Johnson (@GregJ1966) May 18, 2026

What a sad reflection of the times.

People feel so unsafe in their communities, that they are compelled to give up their own time and patrol the streets.

— Mrs Slocombe (@Maidinamerica3) May 18, 2026

The government should be very worried that this is happening in a nice, middle class town. The government must take notice and do something to stop the situation getting worse. It's a sign of how vile the British establishment is that the working class communities have been…

— HelCol2025 (@HelCol2025) May 18, 2026

When the Government won’t protect its citizens, they will be forced to protect themselves. The inevitable result is vigilantism…..

— Susan Dooley (@SDooley57592) May 19, 2026

It's not "vigilanteism", it's self-defence. This Labour government is setting these savages on us. It is a criminal act of war, and dereliction of duty of care. Us citizens have a right to defend ourselves if the government refuses!!!

— Winston Smith (@WinstonSmi17587) May 18, 2026

The government cares more about housing 500 fighting-age migrants than its own people.
Two-tier Britain in full effect.

— True Europa (@TrueEuropa) May 18, 2026

Why does the government keep targeting small, 95% white villages and towns like Crowborough for these placements?

It is almost as if the goal is to engineer the maximum possible cultural upheaval in the shortest time.

Peaceful communities with low crime and strong social cohesion are suddenly expected to absorb hundreds of unknown military-age men from vastly different backgrounds, with no meaningful vetting or integration plan.

The pattern repeats across the country—tiny places with limited resources and policing get flooded while officials lecture residents about “misinformation” and “fear.” The result is exactly what we see now: locals forced to organise their own security.

Crowborough Aware’s patrols are a visible sign that British communities are no longer waiting for Westminster to wake up. They are acting to protect their own.

The government’s response—more accommodation sites, more dismissals of local concerns—only confirms what more people are realising: the people must look after themselves when the state refuses to do its most basic job.

Tyler Durden Thu, 05/21/2026 - 06:30

Ben Walker and Ditto Transcripts have changed the way they provide transcription services by using only human transcriptionists who are trained in medical and legal transcription.

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"I sincerely doubt he is going to heaven. He is lucky he is not already in hell."

New York City was pummeled with heavy rain and thunderstorms, with drivers left stranded thanks to the flash floods.