888 casino live
2025-01-10   

Pembina Pipeline Corporation Announces Redemption of Series 22 Preferred SharesMasterChef contestant claims Gregg Wallace 'constantly' made sexual innuendos and reveals one that left her in tears By ARTHUR PARASHAR Published: 21:20 GMT, 2 December 2024 | Updated: 22:19 GMT, 2 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments A former MasterChef contestant has claimed that Gregg Wallace 'humiliated' her and drove her to tears with a sexually inappropriate comment during filming. Jackie Kearney, a chef and author who finished fourth in the BBC hit show in 2011, claimed Wallace made sexual innuendos 'constantly' in front of crew members. Wallace, 60, has stepped away from hosting MasterChef after nearly 20 years while allegations of inappropriate comments he made towards staff and celebrity guests over 17 years are investigated. He is facing claims from at least 13 women who have accused him of inappropriate behaviour, including roaming around on set naked with a sock on his penis, inappropriate jokes and groping crew members. The presenter has defended himself, pinning the blame on 'middle class women of a certain age'. But today he apologised for his controversial comments, admitting he was 'not in a good head space' when he posted the rant. But the scandal deepened tonight as Ms Kearney has spoken about how Wallace left her breaking down in tears in the toilets after making a lewd joke about his penis. She told Sky News : 'There were several times that he would comment on my legs, or comment on the skirts I was wearing... he made a comment once: "If I'd known you had legs like that, maybe you'd have made it further".' Ms Kearney returned to MasterChef as a guest judge in 2017, where she hoped to impress Wallace and co-host John Torode with her book about vegan food which she had published two years prior. But recalling how the interaction went, she claimed: 'I came into the studio and was like, "Hi Gregg, I've got something for you!" And he said, "Oh, is it a present for my c***?''' Jackie Kearney (pictured), a chef and author who finished fourth in the BBC hit show in 2011, claimed Wallace made sexual innuendos 'constantly' in front of crew members. The celebrity chef apologised for 'any offence I caused' after his controversial comments on Instagram on the weekend The BBC have decided to go ahead and broadcast the rest of Masterchef: The Professionals, which will conclude on December 12 Ms Kearney said the comment left her feeling 'humiliated' and 'embarrassed' and that she broke down in tears in the toilets. She said she also walked around hating what she was wearing because Wallace had allegedly already made a comment about her legs earlier in the day. Ms Kearney thought that someone would check up on her, but that nobody said anything. She claims that Wallace was mic'ed up when he made the sexual comment. The chef claims that Wallace created an environment where his sexual remarks were 'normalised in way that you would expect to see in a '90s lads mag'. As pressure mounts on Wallace and the BBC, best-selling author Marisa Mackle also claimed the MasterChef host ruined her birthday with lewd sex comments for up to two hours. Read More BREAKING NEWS MasterChef: The Professionals WILL be aired tonight despite Gregg Wallace scandal Ms Mackle claims that she flew to a five-star resort in Marbella for her 40th birthday in 2013 to enjoy a Michael Bolton show before sharing dinner a restaurant with the singer and Lord Sugar. But her night was allegedly ruined when she was moved to a table for dessert with her friends next to Wallace who she claims was bragging about sex positions. Ms Mackle told The Mirror : 'Up until I sat down beside Gregg Wallace that was probably the best night of my life, and he turned it into one of the worst nights of my life. I've been saying for years that man, he's just got a foul mouth on him.' She added: 'I don't mind people being loud and laughing, but the next minute, I was like, hearing all this really vulgar stuff about this man. I didn't know who he was. It was just this loud English accent talking about sex positions, you know, a favourite sex position.' A spokesman for Banijay UK, MasterChef's producers, said: 'Banijay UK takes this matter incredibly seriously but while the external investigation is ongoing, we won't be commenting on individual allegations. 'It is important to note, that MasterChef welfare processes are regularly adapted and strengthened and there are clear protocols to support both crew and contributors. These include multiple ways of reporting issues, including anonymously. 'HR contact details are promoted, and contributors are assigned a point of contact on set available to discuss any issues or concerns.' Wallace's representatives were approached for comment. It comes as BBC aired the Masterchef: The Professionals semi-final tonight, despite growing calls to pull the broadcast following the Gregg Wallace scandal . Executives at the corporation held crisis meetings today as the claims about Wallace threatened to undermine its Christmas schedule, which includes two MasterChef specials. The BBC have decided to go ahead and broadcast the rest of Masterchef: The Professionals, which will conclude on December 12, and the two Christmas editions, while they await the conclusion of the investigation into Wallace by production company Banijay. It is understood that the BBC and Banijay have been scouring the forthcoming episodes of MasterChef that have yet to air for any sexually inappropriate comments by Wallace. With four episodes yet to air, Masterchef: The Professionals is a key part of the BBC's festive schedule. Masterchef itself also supports a lucrative merchandising operation, with knives and cookware featured in the series sold as Christmas gifts. Following speculation about the fate of tonight's MasterChef semi-final, a BBC spokesman told the Mail earlier in the day: 'MasterChef is life-changing for the chefs that take part and the show is about more than one individual.' Wallace's Wife Anne-Marie Sterpini was seen looking downcast as she was pictured in Kent today Wallace continued to address the scandal today, this time apologising for pinning the blame on 'middle class women of a certain age.' In a fresh video on social media posted this afternoon, the under-fire presenter said of his middle class women slur: 'I wasn't in a good headspace when I posted it. I've been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion. 'I felt very alone [and] under siege yesterday when I posted it. It's obvious to me I need to take some time out now while this investigation is underway. 'I hope you understand and I do hope that you can accept my apology.' Wallace's lawyers say 'it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'. Today, Anita Rani also joined the growing number of women who have spoken out against Wallace after he blamed 'middle class women of a certain age'. The presenter wrote: 'It's important to remember that many middle class women of a certain age grew up as working class girls who were, and are, fierce as f**k. With long memories.' Sir Keir Starmer also said Wallace was 'completely inappropriate and misogynistic' for making the comments. And in a further sign of Wallace's fury, he has today unfollowed co-host John Torode and his wife on social media. After spending nearly two decades presenting Britain's best-loved cooking show together , the legacy of famed duo Gregg Wallace and John Torode appears to have come crashing down in just a matter of months. Torode has not uttered a word on Wallace's MasterChef exit, despite working together since 2005. But previous comments in which he admitted he had never been a 'friend' of Wallace's, as well as claims about them moving to opposite sides of the room when the cameras cut, show that all was not well in their partnership. Wallace stepped down from MasterChef last week after it was revealed that 13 people, including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark , accused him of 'wrong' and inappropriate 'sexualised' behaviour during filming. Former Celebrity MasterChef contestants say they raised concerns about Wallace's alleged behaviour as far back as 12 years ago, with actress Emma Kennedy - who won the series in 2012 - alleging she had witnessed Wallace 'grope' a camera assistant during a photo shoot that year. The grocer turned broadcaster appeared to make things worse yesterday when he posted a series of incendiary videos online where he hit back at critics by saying: 'Can you imagine how many women on MasterChef, female contestants, have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo?' Wallace had said: 'I've been doing MasterChef for 20 years, amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef, and I think, in that time, I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds, all walks of life . Gregg Wallace posted on Instagram on Sunday hitting back at the allegations made against him - claiming they were all from 'middle-class women of a certain age' Gregg Wallace (right) has been co-host of BBC1 show MasterChef alongside John Torode (left) Actress Emma Kennedy (pictured), who won Celebrity MasterChef in 2012, has alleged that she witnessed Wallace 'grope' a camera assistant during a photo shoot that same year Read More Gregg Wallace is FURIOUS at John Torode for failing to defend him - and has unfollowed him 'Apparently now, I'm reading in the paper, there's been 13 complaints in that time. I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age, just from Celebrity MasterChef. This isn't right'. But his posts caused outrage and were branded 'shocking' and laced with 'thinly veiled misogyny' - and did not touch on the sexual allegations made by numerous MasterChef celebrities, producers and contestants on the show he left last week. One insider told MailOnline today: 'Gregg has gone rogue and ignored all advice'. Another expert said: 'He needs to shut up'. Ulrika Jonsson, who competed on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017, saying she was 'seething' after seeing the comments - while Kirstie Allsopp described his response as 'unacceptable '. And Mark Borkowski, one of the UK's leading PR gurus and crisis managers, told MailOnline today that Wallace was 'only listening to his own ego' instead of advice, adding: 'The first law of PR in a crisis is never let your emotions rule your Instagram.' There are also allegations related to four other shows Wallace worked on. There are 13 people, including Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, who have formally complained about Wallace's behaviour over a 17-year period across five shows, between 2005 and 2022. The Sunday Times yesterday reported that BBC executive Kate Phillips raised concerns Wallace's behaviour was 'unacceptable and cannot continue' after broadcaster and former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir complained about inappropriate comments during filming. Co-host of Masterchef The Professionals Monica Galetti (right) appeared to throw her support behind the beleaguered chef last week BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter 'talking openly about his sex life among others Gregg Wallace and his wife Anne-Marie pictured at the London Palladium in July What are the allegations against Gregg Wallace? Gregg Wallace is alleged to have made inappropriate sexual comments towards 13 women who worked with him on a variety of television programmes in a 17-year period . BBC News contacted the star's representatives on Tuesday outlining the full range of allegations. Gregg is alleged to have told 'sexualised' stories and jokes while on the MasterChef set, and openly spoken about his sex life in front of colleagues . He is also alleged to have taken his top off in front of a female colleague saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and to have told another junior worker he wasn't wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans. Further to this, BBC News reported claims Gregg: Showed topless photos of himself to a MasterChef worker and asked for massages Told a female worker on Channel 5's Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends he was fascinated by the fact she dated women and spoke about sex and spanking Showed another worker on the 5 show photos of a woman in her underwear Stared at a female colleague's chest at the BBC Good Food Show in 2010 Openly spoke about his sex life, including how often he was having sex and his ability as a lover, on the show Impossible Celebrities Allegedly told an Eat Well for Less colleague: 'You can come to my car but can you handle the fact everyone will think you got off with a celebrity?' After receiving the letter, Gregg said he would step back from presenting MasterChef while Banijay UK said the presenter was co-operating with its own internal investigation. Advertisement The newspaper claimed Wallace received another warning the following year after a complaint was raised about his behaviour on the quiz show Impossible Celebrities. Meanwhile, the Sunday Telegraph reported that producer Georgia Harding, who worked on MasterChef between 2014 and 2015 and later Eat Well For Less, claimed she raised concerns about 'inappropriate' behaviour from him while working on the show. She alleged the presenter undressed in front of colleagues and 'made inappropriate sexual jokes' in front of the crew and people appearing on the shows, and said 'nothing was done' about concerns raised, claiming there was 'an acceptance' of his behaviour. Wallace has also been accused of being 'obsessed' with a female colleague who was dating a woman, and repeatedly asked how questions about the 'logistics'. Meanwhile more claims about Wallace's alleged behaviour continue to appear. TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp claimed Wallace made an inappropriate sexual joke to her while she was on Masterchef. She wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'Within 1hr of meeting Gregg Wallace he told me of a sex act that he & his partner at the time enjoyed 'every morning', she'd just left the room, we were filming a pilot. Did he get off on how embarrassed I was? It was totally unprofessional.' And previously aired clips from shows Wallace has appeared on, including Masterchef and Strictly Come Dancing - where he was a contestant in 2014 - are resurfacing in light of the recent allegations. In a resurfaced clip from his Strictly stint Gregg, then 50, left Aliona, 30, visibly uncomfortable following his wardrobe malfunction. After tearing his trousers he confessed, giggling: 'I don't wear underwear' while gesturing to his crotch, leaving his stunned partner to asked: 'Are you for real?'. Beaming he explained, while shaking his hips : 'It's easy to move with [no underwear] I've never worn underwear. I wear socks.' Aliona then told the camera: 'I'm just way too distressed about the situation' before begging him to 'put it away' as he seemingly teased her, with viewers only seeing the grocer from the waist up. Meanwhile Charlotte Crosby branded Gregg 'extremely unpleasant' on Instagram as she joined celebrities slamming the BBC star. Gregg Wallace, 60, left Strictly partner Aliona Vilani 'distressed' during show rehearsals as he touched his crotch after ripping his trousers and declared he 'never wears underwear' Aliona then told the camera: 'I'm just way too distressed about the situation' before begging him to 'put it away' as he seemingly teased her, with the camera only showing the grocer from the waist up Charlotte Crosby branded Gregg 'extremely unpleasant' on Instagram as she joined celebrities slamming the BBC star Read More Calls for MasterChef to be taken off air while Gregg Wallace misconduct allegations are investigated She wrote: 'He [Gregg] was extremely unpleasant to me when I was on MasterChef'. Actress Katy Brand has also broken her silence about the 'awkward' moment Gregg told her he would 'munch the living daylights out of her little tart' on Celebrity MasterChef. A shocking video from the 2013 series of the programme shows Wallace making the apparent innuendo about the comedian's egg tart. The grocer turned broadcaster tells Brand: 'I find this quite pleasant. Left to my own devices, I'd probably munch the living daylights out of your little tart.' Reacting to the resurfaced video of Wallace's tart comment, Brand called the encounter 'awkward' and recalled her immediate 'shock and disbelief' at the 'crass and idiotic joke'. 'I took it as an innuendo-laden remark at the time, and I still see it that way now,' she said. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has held talks with BBC bosses in the wake of the Wallace row, Downing Street said. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The Culture Secretary spoke with the BBC leadership at the end of last week on this matter and wider workplace culture issues to seek assurances that there are robust processes in place to deal with complaints. 'Clearly the comments we have seen from the individual over the weekend were completely inappropriate and misogynistic. 'More broadly the BBC is conducting an independent review into workplace culture which must deliver clear and timely recommendations. It's essential that staff and the wider public have confidence that the BBC takes these issues seriously.' Asked whether MasterChef should be pulled off air, the spokesman added the decision was for the BBC and the show's production company, and reiterated that Downing Street believes it is 'right' that a thorough investigation is conducted. The production company Banijay UK confirmed it had appointed law firm Lewis Silkin to lead an investigation into Wallace's alleged behaviour. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. 'Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them. 'It would be inappropriate for us to comment on anything that could form part of Banijay's ongoing investigation or otherwise influence it.' Breaking News John Torode Keir Starmer BBC Share or comment on this article: MasterChef contestant claims Gregg Wallace 'constantly' made sexual innuendos and reveals one that left her in tears e-mail Add comment888 casino live 。

Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem marked another somber Christmas Eve on Tuesday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus under the shadow of war in Gaza. The excitement and cheer that typically descends on the West Bank during Christmas week were nowhere to be found. The festive lights and giant tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing, as were the throngs of foreign tourists that usually fill the square. Palestinian scouts marched silently through the streets, a departure from their usual raucous brass marching band. Security forces arranged barriers near the Church of the Nativity, built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The cancellation of Christmas festivities is a severe blow to the town's economy. Tourism accounts for an estimated 70% of Bethlehem’s income — almost all from the Christmas season. Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, noted the shuttered shops and empty streets and expressed hope that next year would be better. Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis kicked off the 2025 Holy Year on Tuesday, inaugurating a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome in a test of the pope's stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. From his wheelchair, Francis knocked a few times and the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica swung open. He was wheeled across the threshold as bells tolled across Rome and the choir inside the basilica began Christmas Eve Mass. In his homily, Francis said the Holy Year is an opportunity to relieve the debt of poor countries and commit to protecting the planet. The aim of the Jubilee, he said, is “to bring hope to the interminable, dreary days of prisoners, to the cold and dismal lodgings of the poor and to all those places desecrated by war and violence.” The ceremony inaugurated the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee, in which the Catholic faithful make pilgrimages to Rome. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope, and he will underscore that message when he opens a Holy Door on Thursday at Rome’s Rebibbia prison in a bid to give inmates hope for a better future. Francis has long incorporated prison ministry into his priestly vocation, and has made several visits to Rebibbia and other prisons during his travels. Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department's operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. 21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court ruling MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country's highest court confirmed ruling Frelimo party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections killed at least 21 people, including two police officers, authorities said Tuesday. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court's announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. “From the preliminary survey, in the last 24 hours, 236 acts of violence were recorded throughout the national territory that resulted in 21 deaths, of which two members of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique also died," Ronda said. He said 13 civilians and 12 police were injured. Ronda said 25 vehicles were set on fire, including two police vehicles. He added that 11 police subunits and a penitentiary were attacked and vandalized and 86 inmates were freed. Tensions were high in the country ahead of the The Constitutional Council ruling on Monday and violent protests started immediately after the announcement was made. Prosecutors find workers in 'slavery like' conditions at Chinese car company site in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors said it rescued 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like" conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese electric vehicle company BYD is building a factory. On Tuesday, the Labor Prosecutor’s Office released videos of the dorms where the construction workers were staying, which showed beds with no mattresses and rooms without any places for the workers to store their personal belongings. In a statement issued Monday, the prosecutor’s office said the workers had been hired in China by Jinjiang Construction Brazil, one of the contractors on the site, which is located in Camaçari, a city in the Salvador metropolitan region. Officials said Jinjiang Construction Brazil had confiscated the workers' passports and held 60% of their wages. Those who quit would be forced to pay the company for their airfare from China, and for their return ticket, the statement said. Efforts to reach Jinjiang Construction in Brazil were unsuccessful as a contact phone number and email address were not immediately available. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus in a prime-time interview on NBC after lifting the Lions to a win over the Texans with a 52-yard field goal as time expired. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his Christian faith. “This doesn’t happen without Jesus and by this, I mean any of this, like, living doesn’t happen without Jesus dying on the cross,” Bates said recently at the team’s practice facility. “He put us on a stage to glorify his name.” The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way. Stunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano HONOLULU (AP) — One of the world's most active volcanoes spewed lava into the air for a second straight day on Tuesday. The eruption of Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island has stayed within the mountain's summit caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. No homes were threatened. Molten rock began shooting from the volcano before dawn on Monday when fissures opened in the caldera floor and propelled lava 295 feet (90 meters) into the air. The red liquid formed tall fountains and then spread across 650 acres (263 hectares). The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory estimated the lava was about 1 yard (1 meter) thick. Scientists expect activity to fluctuate in the coming days. The lava paused Monday afternoon but fountains reemerged Tuesday morning. The eruption occurred in an area that's been closed to the public since 2007 due to hazards including crater wall instability and rockfalls. Visitors to the park were able to watch the foundations at a distance from an overlook spot. Haiti gangs fire on journalists covering a planned hospital reopening, leaving casualties PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Suspected gang members opened fire on journalists in Haiti's capital on Tuesday as they were covering the attempted reopening of the country's largest hospital, wounding or killing an unknown number of people. Haiti's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the vicious Christmas Eve attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. “I send my sympathies to the people who were victims, the national police and the journalists,” Voltaire said, pledging “this crime is not going to go unpunished.” There were concerns there could be fatalities — a video posted online by the reporters trapped inside the hospital showed what appeared to be two lifeless bodies of men on stretchers, their clothes bloodied. One of the men had a lanyard with a press credential around his neck. Radio Télé Métronome initially reported that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded. Police and officials did not immediately respond to calls for information on the attack. Hurricane-force winds bear down on California, latest in stretch of extreme weather LOS ANGELES (AP) — Record-setting flooding over three days dumped more than a foot of rain on parts of northern California, a fire left thousands under evacuation orders and warnings in Los Angeles County, forecasters issued the first-ever tornado warning in San Francisco and rough seas tore down part of a wharf in Santa Cruz. All of this extreme weather has hit California in the past several weeks, showcasing the state’s particular vulnerability to major weather disasters. Strong storms Tuesday produced waves that forecasters said could reach 35 feet (10.7 meters) around Santa Cruz. The National Weather Service issued a high surf warning until early evening, cautioning people to stay out of the ocean and away from piers. For Chandler Price, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego, these extreme weather events are both typical and unusual for a La Niña winter, a natural climate cycle that can cause extreme weather across the planet. In California, it means a wetter than average northern region and a drier south. “So far we’ve seen that pattern play out pretty well,” he said, but added, “obviously, you know, the tornado in the Bay Area was atypical. ... We haven’t seen that before, at least not for a very long time.” Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request after it experienced trouble with its flight operating system, or FOS. The airline blamed technology from one of its vendors. As a result, flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% of the airline's 3,901 domestic and international flights leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Nineteen flights were canceled. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the FOS system. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said.

By Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse A recent survey conducted by the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey highlights the influence of the recent U.S. elections on Americans’ international travel plans for 2025. The findings show a mix of enthusiasm and caution among travelers regarding their future global itineraries. Approximately 30% of respondents indicated they expect to increase their international trips next year, while 7% foresee scaling back on foreign travel. However, the majority — 55% — anticipate no significant changes to their plans despite the election outcome. The reasons behind increased international travel are varied. Some respondents cited dissatisfaction with the election results as a driving factor, expressing a strong desire to spend more time abroad. One traveler remarked, “I want to spend as much time as possible outside the U.S. over the next four years.” For others, optimism about a potential post-election economic boost played a pivotal role. “The economy should show signs of improvement, and if the new administration can make peace deals around the world, then travel will be as good or better next year,” shared another participant. Related Articles Conversely, those who reported no change in their travel plans pointed to stable financial conditions. With inflation at its lowest point in three years, many travelers have already secured their 2025 travel arrangements. “I have a general feeling of being better off and secure. I anticipate increased disposable income available, and I’m already booked for 2025,” stated one respondent. Economic factors appear to be bolstering travel confidence overall. Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board member, explained: “With inflation at a three-year low, fewer travelers are canceling or postponing trips. In 2024, travelers embarked on their long-postponed dreams of global travel, fueled by a stabilizing economy and a renewed focus on meaningful experiences over material possessions.” Still, a small proportion of respondents (7%) plan to travel less internationally in the coming year, citing personal safety concerns tied to the U.S. elections. “The change of U.S. administration makes me more apprehensive about being in a foreign country with the risk of anger and animosity toward Americans being higher,” one participant admitted. Others attributed their hesitance to ongoing geopolitical tensions, including conflicts and terrorist threats worldwide. ©2024 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Thomas Brown embraces opportunity — one game at a time

When the snow is falling and hot chocolate is piping, few activities are more refreshing and relaxing than plopping down on the couch and turning on the television. Some will watch live Christmas events from Rockefeller Center, while others will tune into a bowl game. But if you’re of a certain age, you clearly remember the excitement when Nickelodeon began to roll out its litany of timeless Christmas specials. From Kenan & Kel in the 1990s to Danny Phantom in the late 2000s, Nickelodeon has entered the pantheon of networks that have consistently rolled out classic holiday specials. While Nickelodeon’s legacy is cemented, the ranking of its best holiday season episodes is and will always be hotly contested. Not to start a debate at the holiday dinner table, but here are the 10 best classic Nickelodeon holiday specials. Show: Keenan & Kel Air Date: December 14, 1996 Kel ( Kel Mitchell ) loves orange soda and Kenan ( Kenan Thompson ) loves Christmas. He spends the entire year saving money to buy a new bike and takes an extra job as Santa at the mall to help get the last few dollars he needs. However, his plans are derailed when he comes across a brother and sister who dream of a great Christmas filled with presents that their mother can’t afford. In a selfless mood, Kenan uses the money he makes as Santa to surprise the kids and their mom with presents. Kenan’s upset that he didn’t get the bike he wanted, but he knows he did the right thing and Santa rewards him with a bike of his own. As with many Nickelodeon holiday specials, Kenan’s act of giving underscores the importance of family, friends, community, and giving throughout the holiday season. Show: Invader Zim Air Date: December 10, 2002 Name two more idiotically entertaining rivals than Zim ( Richard Steven Horvitz ) and Dib (Andy Berman). I’ll wait. While I wait, also figure out why Dib’s dad, Professor Membrane ( Rodger Bumpass ), named him Dib. Anyway, Zim and Dib’s rivalry takes center stage when Zim learns about the lure of Santa, kidnaps a man dressed up in a Santa suit and drains his brain. Normal holiday festivities, right? Once Zim drains the man’s brain and learns more about the lure of Santa, he devises a plan to build a Santa suit and convince all of humankind that he’s worthy of following and giving their undying devotion too. For the most part, it works and Zim is close to bringing all of human kind to the Tallest in order to extend his rule. However, Dib intervenes and garners the support of his sister, Gaz (Melissa Fahn), and his father, Professor Membrane, and stops Zim before he’s able to fully takeover. Overall, it’s a pretty weird storyline for a kid’s show during the holiday season, but Invader Zim is at its best when it’s weird. Show: Rocko’s Modern Life Air Date: December 1, 1994 Rocko ( Carlos Alazraqui ) is a better person than most because his grace throughout this Christmas special is unmatched. For nearly the entire episode, Rocko works to put together beautiful holiday decorations and host a lovely holiday party. Instead, his friends treat him poorly, other characters bully him, and no one except a magic elf shows up to his party. The elf works his magic and creates a memorable snowfall around Rocko’s house and Rocko’s house only. When the blizzard leaves a perfect amount of snow and holiday cheer around his house, Rocko’s friends show up at his front door to apologize and make the most of the holiday party. Rocko, being the kind soul he is, lets them in and thanks them for coming. Show: iCarly Air Date: December 13, 2008 Timmy Turner ( Tara Strong ) isn’t the only character in the Nickelodeon multiverse to have their dreams come true during the holiday season. When Carly’s brother, Spencer ( Jerry Trainor ), builds an electromagnet Christmas tree that sets fire to holiday gifts, Carly ( Miranda Cosgrove ) wishes that her brother was a bit more normal. However, things aren’t as great as Carly hoped they’d be. Spencer becomes a “normal” lawyer dating Ms. Benson (Mary Scheer) while Freddie ( Nathan Kress ) no longer has a crush on Carly, and Sam ( Jennette McCurdy ) is in a juvenile detention center. Most shockingly, Carly, Spencer, and Freddie were never friends in this alternate universe and never launched a webcast. The weirdness of the episode pays off in the end because Carly realizes what we’ve always known: her life is pretty great as is. Show: As Told by Ginger Air Date: December 10, 2001 As Told by Ginger is one of the most underrated series in the Nickelodeon catalog for various reasons, including its humor and ability to reach both young and older audiences. Case in point, the show’s “Even Steven” holiday special is immaculate. In the tertiary plot, Ginger (Melissa Disney) discovers that her grandfather is Jewish and immediately pivots from celebrating Christmas to celebrating Hanukkah. Her shift from Christmas to Hanukkah happens so quickly that it causes a rift between her and Dodie (Aspen Miller) because Ginger refuses to go to Dodie’s Christmas party and hosts her own instead. Splitting the room down the middle, half of Ginger’s party is devoted to celebrating Hanukkah, and the other half is adorned with Christmas decorations. Meanwhile, Hoodsie ( Tress MacNeille) is writing letters to Santa, asking him to give him rhythm for Christmas. Yes, you read that correctly. He genuinely asked Santa for rhythm, the ability to dance on beat. When Ginger’s brother, Carl (Jeannie Elias), finds Hoodsie begging Santa for rhythm, he not only makes fun of him, but also declares that Santa isn’t real. As a result, Carl spends the remainder of the episode attempting to prove that Santa is real. Through this effort, he learns that Carl is not a fan of the holiday season because he routinely asked Santa to bring his father home for Christmas as a kid, and his dad rarely stopped by on the holidays. With this information, Hoodsie runs up to a man dressed as Santa on the street and asks him to bring Hoodsie’s Dad home for Christmas. Little does Hoodsie know, the man dressed up as Santa is Carl’s dad. In the end, Carl’s dad visits him for Christmas, and while they’re talking in the driveway, a fire starts inside as Ginger is hosting her holiday party. Carl’s dad runs in, puts out the fire, and saves the day, making Ginger realize that the most important part of the holidays is being surrounded by family and friends. And no, Carl does not get rhythm. Show: The Fairly OddParents Air Date: December 12, 2001 Clichés may be annoying, but they’ve stood the test of time for a reason. However, when an elder said, “Be careful what you wish for,” Timmy Turner clearly wasn’t listening. Instead, he had to learn the hard way when he told Wanda (Susanne Blakeslee) and Cosmo ( Daran Norris ) that he’d like it to be Christmas every day. In his head, there’d never be school, and he’d get presents every time he woke up. Conversely, Wanda and Cosmo are magically depleted, his parents can’t work, and the other holidays become envious of Santa Claus. As a result, Timmy must make a trip up to the North Pole all alone. Tough luck for a kid who can literally wish for whatever he wants every other day of the year already. Show: Drake & Josh Air Date: December 5, 2008 Give a little girl named Mary Alice the best Christmas ever, or go back to jail. That’s essentially the plot of “Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh.” Drake ( Drake Bell ) desperately wants to host a party on the rooftop of Josh’s workplace, Premier Theater. To the surprise of just about everyone, Josh’s boss agrees to let Drake host the party as long as he volunteers to dress up as Santa for kids in the mall. Drake agrees, but things go haywire when a woman tries to kiss him, and he runs away. While hiding, he runs into a little girl named Mary Alice ( Bailee Madison ) and promises to give her the best Christmas ever. Drake finishes his shift as Santa and gets to host the party after all, but it’s cut short when a few uninvited guests show up, and Josh ( Josh Peck ) calls the police. However, there’s a mixup when the police arrive and Josh gets arrested. Being the good stepbrother he is, Drake tries to break Josh out of jail. Unfortunately, Drake gets arrested, too. When Drake and Josh get to speak to a judge, they explain that they need to get out to fulfill Drake’s promises to Mary Alice. The judge releases them, but warns that they will be brought back if they do not give Mary Alice the best Christmas ever. No pressure, right? Show: Rugrats Air Date: December 6, 1992 It may not seem like it, but there is not much of a difference between The Boondocks ‘ Huey Freeman ( Regina King ) and the children of Rugrats . Huey chases Santa around the mall with a BB gun, screaming, “You gon’ pay what you owe.” Meanwhile, Tommy ( Elizabeth Daily ), Chuckie (Christine Cavanaugh), and the crew are setting dangerous traps for Santa , so they can question him about his character. “The Santa Experience” kicks off at the mall where Angelica (Cheryl Chase) bum rushes the line to see Santa and tells Mr. Claus how much she needs a dream dollhouse for Cynthia. While Mr. Claus pushed her away, mall staff gave her a box of free toys to apologize for Santa rightfully pushing her away. Even with the free presents, Angelica is ungrateful and doesn’t want them. Meanwhile, Tommy and Chuckie are debating whether or not Santa is a good person. You know, typical baby stuff, right? Tommy is convinced Santa is a great guy, while Chuckie is, of course, scared of Saint Nick and thinks he’s a bad guy. In the kitchen, the parents are having a relatable conversation about their challenges and struggles, trying to ensure each of their children has a good holiday season. Later, the kids and parents head north to celebrate Christmas in a cabin. There, Chuckie and Tommy set up a booby trap to catch Santa. Much to their disappointment, the trap only manages to catch Stu ( Jack Riley ). Ultimately, everything turns out for the best as Santa just rings the front doorbell and delivers the presents face-to-face. Angelica gets her doll house, Chuckie determines Santa is a good person after all, and the Rugrats get the perfect Christmas. Show: SpongeBob SquarePants Air Date: December 6, 2000 If you ask most fans of SpongeBob SquarePants about Squidward (Rodger Bumpass), most would say he’s closer to being the Grinch than Santa Claus. However, “Christmas Who?” proves otherwise. Spongebob ( Tom Kenny ) visits Sandy ( Carolyn Lawrence ) and finds the proud Texan setting up Christmas decorations around her house. Instead of helping her, Spongebob freaks out because he thinks the lights and decorations have started a fire. It would be nearly impossible to start a fire that far underwater, but I digress. Anyway, Sandy stops him and explains to Spongebob who Santa Claus is and what happens on Christmas. Excited and enchanted, Spongebob shares the story of Christmas and Santa Claus with nearly everyone in Bikini Bottom. As a result, everyone but Squidward sends letters to Santa and spends all night caroling. When Santa doesn’t show up, everyone calls Spongebob a fraud and mocks him, including Squidward. However, Spongebob turns Squidward’s heart from coal to gold when he gives him a handcrafted clarinet for Christmas so that he won’t go without a gift. In return, Squidward dresses up as Santa and surprises Spongebob, who is delighted, and wishes him a merry Christmas. Squidward didn’t account for all of the other citizens of Bikini Bottom spotting him and asking for gifts. Instead of ruining the charade, Squidward ends up giving away nearly everything in his home away as a gift. Thankfully, Squidward is rewarded when the real Santa Claus sends a letter thanking Squidward for helping keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Show: Hey Arnold! Air Date: December 11, 1996 “Arnold’s Christmas” is not only the best Nickelodeon late-year holiday special, but it’s arguably one of the best episodes of the entire series. The series revolves around Arnold (Toran Caudell) attempting to pull off a Christmas miracle for his neighbor, Mr. Hyunh (Baoan Coleman). Through this endeavor, much of Mr. Hyunh’s backstory is revealed, including the heartbreaking story of how he and his daughter, Mai (Hiep Thi Le), have been separated for more than 20 years. While Arnold and his best friend, Gerald (Jamil Walker Smith), fall short in their quest to find Mai and reconnect her with Mr. Hyunh, Helga (Francesca Marie Smith) unexpectedly saves the day and gets Mai in touch with her father. Helga never gets the credit for creating this touching reunion, but she will always be remembered for being the driving force behind one of the most touching moments in Nickelodeon history. More Headlines:Investigator finds Colorado voter system passwords were not intentionally posted onlineBrainy, 'normal guy': the suspect in US insurance CEO's slaying

Related hot word search:

Previous: 7bit casino live chat
Next: 888 casino live chat support