RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson sued CNN on Tuesday over its recent report that he made explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography website’s message board, calling the reporting reckless and defamatory. The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court, comes less than four weeks after a report that led many fellow GOP elected officials and candidates, including presidential nominee Donald Trump, to distance themselves from Robinson's gubernatorial campaign. Robinson, who announced the lawsuit at a news conference in Raleigh with a Virginia-based attorney, has denied authoring the messages. CNN “chose to publish despite knowing or recklessly disregarding that Lt. Gov. Robinson’s data — including his name, date of birth, passwords, and the email address supposedly associated with the NudeAfrica account — were previously compromised by multiple data breaches,” the lawsuit states, referencing the website. Robinson, who would be the state’s first Black governor if elected, called the report a “high-tech lynching” on a candidate "who has been targeted from Day 1 by folks who disagree with me politically and want to see me destroyed.” CNN declined to comment Tuesday, spokesperson Emily Kuhn said in an email. The CNN report, which first aired Sept. 19, said Robinson left statements over a decade ago on the message board in which, in part, he referred to himself as a “black NAZI,” said he enjoyed transgender pornography, said he preferred Hitler to then-President Barack Obama, and slammed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as “worse than a maggot.” The network report said it matched details of the account on the message board to other online accounts held by Robinson by comparing usernames, a known email address and his full name. CNN reported that details discussed by the account holder matched Robinson’s age, length of marriage and other biographical information. It also compared figures of speech that were used in his public Facebook profile and that appeared in discussions by the account on the pornographic website. Polls at the time of the CNN report already showed Democratic rival Josh Stein, the sitting attorney general, with a lead over Robinson. Early in-person voting begins Thursday statewide, and over 57,000 completed absentee ballots have been received so far. Robinson also in the same defamation lawsuit sued a Greensboro punk rock band singer who alleged in a music video and in an interview with a media outlet that Robinson, in the 1990s and early 2000s, frequented a porn shop the singer once worked at and purchased videos. Louis Love Money, the other named defendant, released the video and spoke with other media outlets before the CNN report. Robinson denies the allegation in the lawsuit, which reads, “Lt. Gov. Robinson was not spending hours at the video store, five nights a week. He was not renting or previewing videos, and he did not purchase ‘bootleg’ or other videos from Defendant Money.” Money said in a phone interview Tuesday that he stands by his statements and the music video's content as truthful: “My story hasn't changed.” The lawsuit, which seeks at least $50 million in damages, says the effort against Robinson “appears to be a coordinated attack aimed at derailing his campaign for governor.” It provides no evidence that the network or Money schemed with outside groups to create what Robinson alleges are false statements. Robinson’s lawyer, Jesse Binnall, said that he expects to find more “bad actors,” and that entities, which he did not identify, have stonewalled his firm's efforts to collect information. “We will use every tool at our disposal now that a lawsuit has been filed, including the subpoena power, in order to continue pursuing the facts,” said Binnall, whose clients have included Trump and his campaign. In North Carolina courts, a public official claiming defamation generally must show a defendant knew a statement was false or recklessly disregarded its untruthfulness. Most of the top staff running Robinson’s campaign and his lieutenant governor’s office quit following the CNN report, and the Republican Governors Association, which had already spent millions of dollars in advertising backing Robinson, stopped supporting his bid. And Democrats from presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris to downballot state candidates began running ads linking their opponents to Robinson. Robinson's campaign isn't running TV commercials now. He said that “we’ve chosen to go in a different direction” and focus on in-person campaign stops. Robinson already had a history of inflammatory comments about topics like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights that Stein and his allies have emphasized in opposing him on TV commercials and online. Stein spokesperson Morgan Hopkins said Tuesday in a statement that “even before the CNN report, North Carolinians have known for a long time that Mark Robinson is completely unfit to be Governor." Hurricane Helene and its aftermath took the CNN report off the front pages. Robinson worked for several days with a central North Carolina sheriff collecting relief supplies and criticized Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper — barred by term limits from seeking reelection — for state government's response in the initial stages of relief. Trump endorsed Robinson before the March gubernatorial primary, calling him “Martin Luther King on steroids” for his speaking ability. Robinson had been a frequent presence at Trump’s North Carolina campaign stops, but he hasn’t participated in such an event since the CNN report. This story was first published on Oct. 15, 2024. It was updated on Nov. 22, 2024 to correct which of Robinson’s social media accounts CNN cited in a comparison to language in messages from a pornographic website message board. CNN cited his public Facebook account, not his Twitter account.
Kendrick Lamar is rolling full steam ahead with his spotlight-hogging "GNX" album ... on Monday, his long-anticipated "Squabble Up" single dropped in HD!!! Reuniting with celebrated director Calmatic , the two L.A. natives turn a simple living room into the full-blown California experience they grew up with ... colorful gang life, girlies acting bad and boujee, Latinos livin' up the party and more!!! In the vein of the Pop-Out Concert, Kendrick also invites the homies from all around the way ... G Perico , RJMrLA , Big Floyd and Johnny El MerroJonkero get it crackin' in the background!!! If you remember, K. Dot had everyone going crazy when he teased the track at the height of the summer and the final result happened on his impromptu "GNX" album last week. Kendrick Lamar just announced Compton Christmas Parade on his new music video 'squabble up"🎄 pic.twitter.com/SXVaMpOWnP The video also closes with an Easter egg in the holiday stocking -- the Compton Christmas Parade is on the horizon and there's little doubt Dot will be the Grandmaster. Who said Santa Claus wasn't Black???LAS VEGAS , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Resorts World Las Vegas LLC announced today the formation of a Board of Directors, with industry veteran Jim Murren as the Chairman, and the appointment of Alex Dixon as its Chief Executive Officer as a key part of the Company's plan to deepen and strengthen its leadership. The new team, with a combined 130 years of experience in the gaming industry, will accelerate the Company's growth strategy and continue its mission to remain Las Vegas's premier resort destination for unmatched luxury and entertainment experiences and unforgettable moments. This announcement underscores Resorts World Las Vegas's path of evolution as the appointments bolster the property's governance structure to help drive the go-forward business strategy. The members of the Board assumed their roles on December 4, 2024 and Dixon will assume his position as CEO effective January 16, 2025 . "As Resorts World Las Vegas continues to establish itself as the premier resort destination in Las Vegas , we are excited to welcome this group of industry leaders overseeing and guiding the Leadership Team to deliver unparalleled guest experiences while fostering our commitment to compliance," said Kok Thay Lim , the Chairman and Chief Executive of Genting Berhad. "With over 40 years of collective experience in the global gaming and hospitality industry, we are confident that Alex and Jim, alongside the Board, will help drive the Company forward in pursuing our strategic goals for years to come." Industry veteran Murren will assume the role of Chairman, bringing a depth of expertise in the global gaming and hospitality industries. He previously served as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors at MGM Resorts, where he led the company through a period of expansion and growth. He currently holds leadership positions with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority in the United Arab Emirates , Cirque du Soleil, and Playstudios, as well as serving as a trustee on Howard University's Board of Trustees. Dixon, a Las Vegas native, will assume his role following his tenure as CEO at Q Casino & Resort and Dubuque Racing Association. He has more than 20 years of combined global gaming, hospitality, entertainment, real estate, and banking industries experience across iconic and Fortune 500 businesses, including MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment Corp., and Goldman Sachs & Co. Additionally, Dixon brings extensive experience in building winning teams, developing underutilized real estate, re-invigorating legacy brands, and driving clarity of purpose from the Boardroom to front-line operations. "Resorts World Las Vegas has transformed the Vegas Strip with its unceasing focus on providing the ultimate guest experience, which is why I'm thrilled to join the team and help continue setting the standard for premier hospitality," said Murren. "The Board and I are excited to continue building on the strong foundation set by the Executive Leadership Team and driving continued growth and innovation to benefit all of RWLV's key stakeholders." In addition to Murren as Chairman and independent member, the newly established Board of Directors includes three additional, prominent members, two independent and one non-independent from diverse backgrounds: Dixon added, "We have a bright future ahead of us, and I look forward to supporting and collaborating with Resorts World Las Vegas's leadership alongside the Board to continue showcasing the best the Strip has to offer. We have an incredible team of talented and committed employees throughout the organization and are confident we can achieve amazing things together." For more information about Resorts World Las Vegas, please visit www.rwlasvegas.com . About Resorts World Las Vegas Resorts World Las Vegas LLC is the owner and operator of Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV), a world-class integrated resort with over 3,500 hotel rooms and suites, and includes a multitude of gaming, convention, retail, food, beverage, and entertainment amenities. Located on approximately 86 acres on the northern end of the Strip, RWLV brings state-of-the-art technology and distinctive entertainment and experiential amenities to Las Vegas . Additionally, the Resort has over 42 acres of undeveloped land, which offers significant growth potential which few of its peers can match. Resorts World Las Vegas LLC is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Genting Berhad, an investment holding and management company focused predominantly on the global gaming and hospitality industry. The Genting Group has a track record of close to six decades relating to sourcing, developing and operating integrated resorts in various parts of the world, including in highly rated and regulated jurisdictions such as Malaysia , Singapore , the U.K., the United States and the Bahamas . The Genting Group comprises Genting Berhad (KLSE: Genting) and its listed companies including Genting Malaysia Berhad (KLSE: GENM), Genting Plantations Berhad (KLSE: GENP) and Genting Singapore Limited (SGX: G13), as well as principal unlisted subsidiaries Genting Energy Limited and Resorts World Las Vegas LLC. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/resorts-world-las-vegas-establishes-board-of-directors-with-jim-murren-as-chairman-appoints-alex-dixon-as-chief-executive-officer-302324364.html SOURCE Resorts World Las VegasIran said on Sunday that it would hold nuclear talks in the coming days with the three European countries that initiated a censure resolution against it adopted by the UN's atomic watchdog. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of Iran, France, Germany and the United Kingdom would take place on Friday, without specifying a venue. "A range of regional and international issues and topics, including the issues of Palestine and Lebanon, as well as the nuclear issue, will be discussed," the spokesman said in a foreign ministry statement. Baghaei described the upcoming meeting as a continuation of talks held with the countries in September on the sidelines of the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. On Thursday, the 35-nation board of governors of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution denouncing Iran for what it called a lack of cooperation. The move came as tensions ran high over Iran's atomic programme, which critics fear is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon -- something Tehran has repeatedly denied. In response to the resolution, Iran announced it was launching a "series of new and advanced centrifuges". Centrifuges enrich uranium transformed into gas by rotating it at very high speed, increasing the proportion of fissile isotope material (U-235). "We will substantially increase the enrichment capacity with the utilisation of different types of advanced machines," Behrouz Kamalvandi, Iran's atomic energy organisation spokesman, told state TV. The country, however, also said it planned to continue its "technical and safeguards cooperation with the IAEA". During a recent visit to Tehran by IAEA head Rafael Grossi, Iran agreed to the agency's demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in power since July and a supporter of dialogue with Western countries, has said he wants to remove "doubts and ambiguities" about his country's nuclear programme. In 2015, Iran and world powers reached an agreement that saw the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme. But the United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and reimposed biting economic sanctions, which prompted Iran to begin rolling back on its own commitments. On Sunday afternoon, the United Kingdom confirmed the upcoming meeting between Iran and the three European countries. "We remain committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, including through snapback if necessary," London's Foreign Office said. The 2015 deal contains a "snapback" mechanism that can be triggered in case of "significant non-performance" of commitments by Iran, allowing many sanctions to be reimposed. Ali Vaez, an Iran expert with the International Crisis Group think tank, told AFP that Friday's meeting was set to happen earlier, but "those plans were derailed as a result of Iran-Israel tensions" over the Gaza war. Though the parties will be meeting "without knowing what the incoming Trump administration wants to do", Vaez said that "after a lose-lose cycle of mutual escalation, now both sides are back to realising that engagement might be the least costly option." Tehran has since 2021 decreased its cooperation with the IAEA by deactivating surveillance devices monitoring the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors. At the same time, it has increased its stockpiles of enriched uranium and the level of enrichment to 60 percent. That level is close, according to the IAEA, to the 90 percent-plus threshold required for a nuclear warhead, and substantially higher than the 3.67 percent limit it agreed to in 2015. pdm/smw/ami
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One Direction fans have accused Spotify of “tastelessness” after hearing comments on an . The music streamer introduced a feature this year in which users could hear AI-generated voices discuss their personal listening habits across 2024. However, issues arose when the podcast turned its attentions to the in late October, prompted by the . Spotify users shared clips and quotes from the podcast on social media. One widely shared video sees two AI voices discussing One Direction. “It’s so cool you know, One Direction are classics,” says one AI voice. “And you even had a seven-day listening streak,” adds another. “Seven days straight? That’s some serious dedication,” says the first. The second voice then speculates: “I wonder if that coincided with the release of something, maybe a new album or a reunion. It would be really awesome if that happened. It would be a great thing.” “Maybe there was a One Direction marathon happening?” asked the AI. “Maybe you just really love One Direction and just listen to them all the time,” it continued. “It’s a great choice but awesome.” The TikTok user was left unimpressed as they captioned the video, “I don’t think that’s what it coincided with tbh”. In another clip shared on X/Twitter, the AI voices can be heard remarking about how One Direction are “still going strong”. Consequently, fans have criticised the feature, with one writing: “This is so distasteful oh my god.” “No they did this to me too and it just kept going with me close to tears,” wrote another. has contacted Spotify for comment. The controversy comes amid sustained criticism over the implementation of AI by Spotify and other media companies. Earlier this week, singer Mariah Carey responded after fans had . “Hey, it’s Mariah. Thank you so much for listening to my music on Spotify,” the “All I Want For Christmas Is You” singer said in the video. “Your support through the years is the greatest gift I could ask for. “This year, we’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of my album, Merry Christmas,” she continued. “I hope you enjoy listening to it and I can’t wait to share new music with you soon. Happy Holidays.” “Bad lighting and a red lip have you all thinking this is AI??” she wrote on X. “There’s a reason I’m not a fan of either of those things!”Paramount Plus Has a Black Friday Deal for $3 That You Can Gobble Up
Shares of This Little-Known Home Improvement Business Have Outperformed Home Depot Stock Over the Last 5 Years. Here's Why I Expect This Trend to Continue Over the Next 5 Years.
( ) on Thursday reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that topped Wall Street targets. HPE stock climbed amid strong revenue growth from artificial intelligence systems, mainly data center servers processing AI workloads. The maker of computer servers, networking equipment and data storage systems reported earnings after the market close. For the October quarter, HPE earnings rose 12% to 58 cents on an adjusted basis. Revenue rose 15% to $8.5 billion, the company said. Analysts expected HPE earnings of 56 cents a share on sales of $8.25 billion. Fiscal Q4 revenue from AI servers came in at $1.5 billion, up 16% from the previous quarter, vs. $900 million in fiscal Q3 and $400 million in the April quarter. Competition has heated up with ( ) in AI servers. For the current quarter ending in January, the company forecast adjusted EPS in a range of 47 cents to 52 cents, versus estimates of 49 cents. HPE said it expects revenue growth in the "mid-teens." On the , HPE stock rose more than 1% to 22.04 in extended trading. Shares were up 28% in 2024 prior to the HPE earnings report. Heading into the HPE earnings report, the tech stock had a Relative Strength Rating of 76 out of a best-possible 99, according to . HPE Stock: Juniper Closing Near? In early 2024, HPE agreed to buy Sunnyvale, Calif.-based ( ) for $14 billion in cash. The purchase is expected to close soon. HPE expects the deal to be earnings and free-cash-flow accretive in the first year post-close. However, HPE added significant debt to finance the transaction. Morgan Stanley analyst Meta Marshall on Thursday upgraded HPE stock to over-weight prior to the earnings report release. "With the close of the pending Juniper acquisition seemingly near, we think upwards of 40% to 50% of the pro-forma earnings power being driven by networking can help shares rerate to a (higher) multiple," he said in a report. "Combined with Juniper coming out of an inventory digestion and having new cloud customers, we are biased to think that there is more upside to Juniper's numbers in the near term vs. downside."
A perfect season by Platte County football is accompanied by a Class 5 State title after the Pirates took down Helias Catholic 49-14 on Saturday. Met with little resistance all season long, Platte County left Helias with zero hope of capturing a state championship by jumping out to a 35-0 lead before the Crusaders could muster any momentum. Junior dual-threat quarterback Rocco Marriott, considered to be one of the best quarterback prospects in the state of Missouri, accounted for two of the game's first three touchdowns and finishing his junior season with a superb championship performance in Columbia, Missouri. Marriott, considered a three-star prospect according to 247Sports, finished with 55 yards and two touchdowns rushing, as well as 279 yards and two touchdowns through the air in the win over Helias. The last two trips to a state championship game in 2019 and 2020 didn't end the way Platte County had hoped, as both seasons ended in a runner-up finish. This year, the Pirates are able to capture the coveted first place trophy in blowout fashion.
– WWE revealed some candid footage of the tames inside the WarGames Shark Cage at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames. You can check out the new footage of CM Punk, Liv Morgan, The Bloodline, and more below: – WWE Superstar Tiffany Stratton attended today’s Minnesota Vikings game against the Atlanta Falcons, which the Vikings won. Stratton is also a Minnesota native. Stratton cheered on the vikings with a custom Vikings WWE title belt. You can view the clip she shared from the game below: Thanks for hanging out with us at home today, @tiffstrattonwwe ! pic.twitter.com/AV3pxbw6ws — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 8, 2024Season 16 brings a nuclear winter and an icy landscape New 100-play Domination mode challenges you to take over key research points A new Mountain Infantry unit has also been introduced Winter is here and it’s about to be a nuclear one as Conflict of Nations: World War 3 has just released its sixteenth season. This time, the globe is threatened by natural calamity as icy chaos spreads, causing global temperatures to plummet, and reshaping the surrounding landscape. Scientists are our last hope and it’s up to you to capture enough control points to secure victory. Conflict of Nations: WW3’s Season 16 introduces a brand-new way to experience the battlefield with the Domination game mode. This isn’t just about conquering territory anymore. Success now depends on capturing and holding key locations around the world, such as research facilities, to accumulate Victory Points. There’s a battle royale feel to it as 100 players go at it simultaneously. The fate of your nation is in your hands as you fight against others to ensure that you remain part of humanity’s future. And if you're looking for a similar experience, then here’s a list o the To navigate the harsh nuclear winter, you’ll have new tools at your disposal. The Mountain Infantry is designed specifically for this challenging environment. Faster and more durable in tundra and mountainous terrain, this unit adds some much deeper depth to your tactical options in the cold. However, it does come at a higher cost. You’ll spend more on the Mountain Infantry than its counterpart, the base motorised infantry. It’s a strategic decision you’ll have to make depending on your resources. In addition, the Elite Frigate makes a return as well, providing versatile naval support to bolster your forces at sea. This season also introduces limited-time missions. Completing these objectives will not only solidify your dominance but also reward you with extra resources. The new loadout system further enhances your options, letting you equip your forces with temporary boosts to turn the tide in critical moments. Survive the nuclear winter by downloading Conflict of Nations: World War 3 now for free.
Mike McDaniel stepped in to keep Dolphins from trading veteran DT Calais Campbell to Ravens