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Vatican CANCELS Pope’s upcoming events as fears grow over 88-year-old Pontiff’s ‘complex’ health situation

THE Vatican has cancelled Pope Francis’ weekend engagements as the 88-year-old pontiff battles a “complex” respiratory infection.

Francis has been in Rome‘s Gemelli hospital since Friday for bronchitis treatment as fears grow over his health.

Pope Francis seated, hand to chin.
Splash
The Vatican has cancelled Pope Francis’ upcoming engagements[/caption]
Pope Francis being assisted by two men, one in a suit and the other in clerical garb.
Splash
Francis, 88, is battling a ‘complex’ respiratory infection[/caption]
Pope Francis waving from a balcony.
The Mega Agency
The Argentinian-born pontiff has been leading the Catholic Church since 2013[/caption]
Pope Francis's statue outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
EPA
He is currently being treated at the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome[/caption]

On Monday, Vatican officials revealed that his condition presented a “complex clinical picture”, requiring further medical care.

Later that evening, the Vatican said he was “stable” and did not have a fever.

Despite his illness, the Pope “read and worked” on Monday morning and was “touched by the numerous messages of affection and closeness that he continues to receive in these hours.”

The cancellations come as the Vatican prepares for the Holy Year, a once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism expected to draw 30 million pilgrims to Rome.

The Holy Year is packed with special papal audiences and Masses, but Francis’ illness has now cast uncertainty over his ability to participate.

This weekend’s planned event for deacons has been altered, with the Pope’s special audience on Saturday cancelled and a Jubilee Mass on Sunday now being led the archbishop organising the Holy Year. 

Similar adjustments were made last weekend when a cardinal presided over a Mass for artists instead of Francis.

The next major Jubilee event that traditionally involves the Pope is scheduled for March 8-9, dedicated to volunteers.

Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, has suffered from influenza and other health problems in recent years.

He had part of one lung removed after a pulmonary infection as a young man, making him prone to bronchitis during winter.

Pilgrims arriving at the Vatican have been offering prayers for his recovery.

“We certainly wish for him to get better very quickly,” said Reverend Tyler Carter, a Catholic priest from the US.

“He is our father and our shepherd, and so we want his continued health and blessing.”

Pope Francis using a cane, speaking with a cardinal.
Reuters
The Pope has suffered from influenza and other health problems in recent years[/caption]
Pope Francis in a wheelchair greets religious figures.
AFP
Pope Francis greets faithful as he arrives to lead the vespers at St Peter’s basilica in The Vatican on February 1[/caption]

Medical tests have confirmed that the Pope is suffering from a “polymicrobial respiratory tract infection”, meaning multiple viruses, bacteria, and possibly fungi are affecting his lungs.

As a result, his drug therapy has been adjusted.

Despite Vatican doctors advising him to rest, Francis has pushed himself through a busy schedule.

How will the next Pope be chosen?

THE next Pope is chosen through a process called a papal conclave, which takes place after the current Pope dies or resigns.

Here’s how it works:

  1. The College of Cardinals is summoned to the Vatican
  2. The cardinals meet in the Sistine Chapel and vote by a secret ballot
  3. They will prepare for the upcoming papal elections – called a conclave
  4. These Catholic leaders will vote once on the first days and four times a day on each additional day
  5. This vote will continue until one candidate gets two-thirds of the vote
  6. The nominee must then accept the offer and choose their new papal name
  7. This outcome will be confirmed to the public when white smoke burns out of the Sistine Chapel chimney

On February 9, he ignored calls to stay indoors and sat through an outdoor Jubilee Mass for the armed forces, even though he was visibly struggling to breathe.

His current hospitalisation has already sidelined him longer than his 2023 admission for pneumonia.

The Vatican has not given an indication of how long he might remain in hospital, only stating that treating such a “complex clinical picture” will require “an adequate stay.”

A pilgrim carries a large wooden cross in St. Peter's Square.
Reuters
Millions of pilgrims are expected to flock to Rome for the Holy Year celebrations[/caption]
Flowers and candles at the foot of a statue of Pope John Paul II.
EPA
Flowers and candles are laid at the foot of a statue of Pope St. John Paul II outside the Gemelli University Hospital, where Pope Francis is hospitalised[/caption]

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Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 return revealed after she quit Breakfast Show in shock move

ZOE Ball has revealed that she’s returning to Radio 2 with a brand new show just weeks after she quit.

In December the much-loved broadcaster, 54, waved goodbye to her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show for good.

Zoe Ball at BBC Radio 2.
BBC
Zoe Ball returns to Radio 2 with a brand new Saturday daytime show[/caption]
Announcement of Zoe Ball's return to BBC Radio 2.
Instagram/@bbcradio2
The radio favourite joins a stellar line-up along with Richie Anderson[/caption]

But Zoe today announced she has landed a Saturday afternoon slot on the same station launching in May.

The news was shared on BBC Radio 2 official Instagram page.

They wrote: “In May, Zoe Ball launches a brand new Saturday show, live from 1-3pm, playing some of her favourite music, having lots of laughs and reconnecting with listeners.”

Zoe will be joining a Saturday line-up of high calibre radio hosts.

The caption continued: “Pick of the Pops, hosted by Mark Goodier, will move to a new – and nostalgic – home, live on Sundays from 5-7pm.

Richie Anderson, who presents the traffic and travel news every Monday – Thursday (noon-7pm), will also launch a new Sunday night into Monday morning show from midnight-3am, broadcasting live from BBC MediaCity in Salford.”

In an emotional farewell at the end of last year, Zoe, 54, revealed she wanted to focus on family after her mother Julia passed away from cancer.

And since ditching the hustle and bustle of London, the mum-of-two has been enjoying a more cosy home life in Sussex.

The popular presenter – who was earning almost £1million a year from her Radio 2 gig – has reportedly been “working at a local cafe” with her ex-husband.

Spilling the tea, their son Woody told the MailOnline: “In the last five years, it’s been funny watching my parents take up gardening both of them.”

“These crazy party people I grew up with are now gardening, making puzzles and working in the local café,” Woody said.

“It’s very funny to see that transitional period, just as I’m kind of leaving the nest and now at the start of something big for me in music.”

Zoe and musician Fatboy Slim – real name Norman Cook – were married from 1999 to 2020.

The DJ and record producer owns the Big Beach Cafe in Hove and is often seen working there wearing a name badge reading: “Norm.”

Speaking about his mum’s decision to leave BBC Radio 2, Woody said: “It’s lovely seeing my mum more, because obviously she’s had quite a weird schedule for the last few years.”

EMOTIONAL RADIO EXIT

Zoe bid an emotional farewell to Radio 2 on December 20.

Messages of support flooded in from listeners and celebrities such as Kylie MinogueDavid Tennant and Robbie Williams.

Woody also left a message for his mum, which had her in tears.

It read: “Hey mum, you’ve done such an amazing job on the Breakfast Show and I just wanted to thank you for making everyone’s mornings a bit more magic.

“Here’s to a healthier sleeping schedule. Love Woody.”

ZOE’S RADIO JOURNEY

Zoe was the first female host of the Radio 1 and Radio 2’s breakfast shows, taking over at BBC 2 from Chris Evans in 2019.

Many will remember she rose to fame as a ladette of the nineties presenting music magazine show O-Zone, Live and Kicking and more.

As she said goodbye to the Breakfast show to focus on family she began her five-minute on air monologue by saying: “I am obviously full of feels today and I have so many people I want to thank.”

But the mum-of-two gave a special shout out to her kids, Woody and Nelly, telling them: “Being your mum is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Zoe Ball at the ARIAS awards.
PA
Zoe has reportedly been ‘working at a local cafe’ with her ex-husband[/caption]

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TUI is axing flights to three popular holiday destinations in 2025

St Lucia Caribbean, woman on vacation at the tropical Island of Saint Lucia Caribbean ocean
TUI is scrapping flights to three major holiday spots this year (Picture: Getty Images)

TUI Airways has confirmed it is cancelling flights from the UK to three popular long-haul destinations.

From spring, the travel company will stop direct flights from London Gatwick to Costa Rica and Saint Lucia. As of next winter, the direct service from Birmingham to Florida’s Melbourne Orlando International Airport will also be scrapped.

Tui has been running winter flights to Costa Rica since Covid restrictions were lifted. Around 2.5 million tourists visit the Central American country each year, 50,000 of them from the UK.

But from April, Brits will no longer be able to take a direct 10-hour flight to Costa Rica’s Liberia Airport, which provides easy access to the country’s coastal resorts.

Instead, winter sunseekers will have to book a connecting flight, increasing travel time to up to 18 hours.

The only other airline operating direct flights to Costa Rica is British Airways, which flies three times a week non-stop from Gatwick to San Jose — but only in high season, between November and March.

Travellers will no longer be able to fly directly to Costa Rica (Picture: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, sunworshippers travelling to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia will only have until May to catch a direct flight from Gatwick.

However, a TUI spokesperson confirmed they will continue to offer holiday packages using other airlines.

After speaking with TUI, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) is confident the shake-up won’t cause a drop in tourist numbers.

SLTA Director UK & Europe Patricia Charlery-Leon said she is confident that flight coverage from British Airways and Virgin Atlantic from major UK airports will keep travellers coming.

She said: ‘With daily flights to the island with British Airways (six in the summer) from Gatwick airport and three flights a week on Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow, Saint Lucia will remain well served from the UK market.’

Finally, there have been rumours of TUI’s direct flight from Birmingham to Melbourne Orlando being dropped in October.

A peaceful view of Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida on a bright day.
A major Florida airport is reportedly going to be affected too (Picture: Getty Images)

Currently, the airline has not confirmed the axe. Rather, Travel Gossip noted TUI’s website only shows the route to be available via packages with indirect flights on third-party airlines.

This comes after Ryanair revealed it will be axing many European routes this year to reduce taxes and surcharges incurred for operating at airports across the continent.

The low-budget airline will no longer be offering flights to 12 popular Spanish hotspots, including Jerez, Zaragoza and Santander.

Plus, flights to popular holiday destinations like Italy, Denmark and France will also be impacted.

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1 in 4 Gen Z Brits owns a retro gaming console reveals new study

N64 console
The N64 was state of the art in 1997 (Wikipedia)

Retro gaming is getting unexpectedly popular with younger generations, with 74% of Britons saying they play old school games to relax.

It’s not going to be long until the entire concept of video games that come on a disc or cartridge is consigned to the history books. It’s already an unfamiliar concept to many younger gamers and yet Gen Z (those currently aged 13 to 28) is apparently getting nostalgic for an era they’ve barely even known.

According to a new survey of 2,000 Britons, 66% have bought retro tech of some kind in the last two years, with 24% of Gen Z now owning a retro games console.

Of those polled, 89% of gamers said that retro games give them a break from the internet and 74% agreed that ‘nostalgic games’ are more relaxing. 77% said they keep retro tech for sentimental value, which suggests that 23% are buying them despite having never owned them when they were new.

The report was commissioned by Pringles, who were initially promoting a Retro Console Clinic in London, offering free repairs for retro handheld and home consoles. Although it was only open for two days.

According to the survey, 30% of Britons claim they’re considering swapping their smartphones for old school flip phones, while 61% are convinced that cassette tapes are on the verge of a vinyl style comeback.

Retro Console Clinic in London
The Retro Console Clinic was a pop-up store for a few days (Pringles)

Even relatively more recent technology is coming back into vogue, with DVD players accounting for 20% of retro hardware sales and digital camera another 23% – with 55% of Gen Z claiming they’d rather take photos with a digital camera than a smartphone.

This has coincided with a general interest in 90s and 00s fashion and music, as the fascination with the 80s gradually migrates into more recent decades.

Although there are multiple reasons for the fascination with older tech, much of it is based on nostalgia. The youngest in Gen Z would’ve been born in 2012 – the year the ill-fated Wii U was released – while the oldest were born in 1997, the year the N64 launched in the UK.

It’s Generation Alpha and beyond that are going to grow up with little or no concept of physical media (unless they play their relative’s newly bought retro consoles) so it’s going to be interesting to see what they think of all this.

Perhaps they will also see the appeal in lower tech device, as 78% of those polled suggested that the other reason they like using retro gadgets is because it means they’re not using their smartphone, which many now seem desperate to get away from – at least for a time.

Original Tomb Raider screenshot
Video games have come a long way in the last few decades (Aspyr)

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