Pope Francis’ shocking net worth at his time of death

By
Monica Pop
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With the words that Pope Francis “returned to the home of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the passing of the first Latin American pontiff.

“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Cardinal Farrell continued.

“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.

“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.″

Pope Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died early Monday morning at the age of 88. The news of his passing stirred emotions throughout the Catholic world.

He experienced ill health in recent months, suffering a respiratory infection and chronic bronchitis which later developed into pneumonia. In February, he was admitted to Gemelli Hospital where he had spent 38 days, the longest during his 12 years of papacy.

What left many stunned was the net worth of Pope Francis, revealed following his passing.

Reports suggest that he was worthy nearly $16 million at the time of his death despite not receiving salary since 2013, when introduced as the 266th pope.

Being a pope, Francis could choose to live in the Papal Palace, just like many of his predecessors, but instead, he chose a more modest accommodation, a smaller two-room suite within the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse.

Also, he was taking his meals in the communal dining room.

Franco Origlia/Getty Images

Pope Francis vowed to lead a simple life on the day of his election, and he honored that vow until the very end.

According to the Economic Times, the Catholic leader’s wealth accumulated from “royalties, donations, and access to a discretionary fund of $385,000 per year as head of the Roman Catholic Church.”

Pope Francis’ last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, just a day before his passing.

He blessed thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square. Before that, he met with US Vice President JD Vance.

Vance was among those who paid their tributes.

“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” Vance posted on the social media.

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful.”

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Simulation reveals harsh effects of Ozempic on the body

By
Monica Pop
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The desire to look attractive has always been present. However, this urge has increased drastically with the rise of social media and influencers who promote idealized beauty standards.

Achieving the perfect looks isn’t easy. It usually takes a lot of exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including sticking to a balanced diet. Having said that, there are plenty of individuals who opt for a “shortcut” in order to achieve the perfect weight.

Most recently, many turn to Ozempic for weight loss, including celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Rebel Wilson, and Amy Schumer.

However, not everyone is aware of its effects on the body.

Ozempic/ freemalaysiatoday.com

The main purpose of this drug is to help manage Type 2 diabetes, and although it hasn’t been FDA-approved for weight loss, people use it for that exact purpose because it does help them lose a significant amount of weight – but at what cost?

A YouTuber by the handle @ZackDFilms revealed the grim realities of what Ozempic does once injected in the body.

According to him, “Once Ozempic enters your bloodstream, it triggers the brain’s satiety center, making you feel full and naturally decreasing your appetite.”

From that point, it balances your blood sugar and helps reduce constant food cravings.

While this sounds nice and rather appealing, Ozempic comes with side effects.

Dr Ben Bickman, a scientist and professor at Brigham Young University in Utah, stated that the drug can cause muscle loss.

“You have a substantial amount of lean mass that’s getting loss as the person is losing weight. To make that clear, for every ten pounds of weight loss, only six is fat – four of it is coming from non-fat sources like muscle and bone,” he told Thomas DeLauer.

Dr Bickman added: “While muscle and bone mass might never return, the body has no trouble regaining fat mass.

“What’s more, one study found that one version of these drugs, actually stimulates the production of new fat cells.”

He continued: “This becomes a problem because when a person start to regain fat mass after stopping Ozempic, with more fat cells comes a greater potential to gain more fat.

“As a result, even though a person may still weight less than they did before starting the drug, they may be fatter, with a higher percentage of body fat.”

One thing we should all be aware of is that Ozempic, as well as other weight loss drugs, aren’t a magic bullet.

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Chilling final words of matador gored to death by a bull

By
Monica Pop
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36-year-old Ivan Fandiño was a renowned matador, known for his courage to face bulls dubbed too dangerous by others.

Unfortunately, his passion for bullfighting ultimately cost him his life.

In 2017, Fandiño, originally from the Basque country, was taking part in the Aire-sur-l’Adour bullfighting festival in southwest France.

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At one point, the matador got tangled in his cloak and fell to the ground, resulting in him being gored by the half-ton bull.

When he was taken out of the ring, he bled heavily. Emergency services transported him to the hospital, but he had suffered a heart attack and died.

Reportedly, on the way to the hospital, Fandiño said, “Hurry up, I’m dying.”

His internal organs, including his lungs were damaged from the bull attack.

At one point, the matador got tangled in his cloak and fell to the ground, resulting in him being gored by the half-ton bull.
Matador Ivan Fandiño/ LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images

Matador Juan del Alamo, who later killed the bull, said at the time: “I can’t believe it. None of us understand how it could have happened; it was all so fast. The bull knocked him down with its hindquarters and he fell face down.”

Prior the fatal incident, Fandiño had been injured twice during a bullfight. In 2015, he was thrown into the air by a bull in Spain, and a year later, he was left unconscious in Bayonne, France.

Fandiño was the first matador to die in France since 1921, when matador Isidoro Mari Fernando lost his life in the arena in Béziers.

At one point, the matador got tangled in his cloak and fell to the ground, resulting in him being gored by the half-ton bull.
Matador Ivan Fandiño/ DANIEL VELEZ/AFP via Getty Images

The number of bulls losing their lives in these fights in France is around 1,000.

The Spanish royal family and prime minister honored Fandiño, with King Felipe saying he was a “great bullfighter figure.”

Bullfighting is considered a controversial and cruel practice. Back in 2010, the Catalan regional government in Barcelona voted for a ban, but the decision was overturned by the Spanish constitutional court in 2016, calling bullfighting a “cultural heritage.”

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El Salvador president’s harsh response on returning father wrongfully deported to the ‘world’s worst prison’

By
Monica Pop
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Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was among the Venezuelan immigrants transported to the Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT) in El Salvador, also known as the “world’s worst prison” by Trump’s administration.

His deportation took place despite immigration officials admitting to making an administrative error when arresting him.

Garcia was indeed an illegal immigrant who arrived in the Sates in 2011, but a judge ruled in 2019 that he shouldn’t be deported back to his homeland due to threats by gangs.

Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was among the Venezuelan immigrants transported to the Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT) in El Salvador.
Kilmar Ábrego García/ Reuters

Upon acknowledging the mistake, a Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s administration must ‘facilitate’ Garcia’s return.

Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Stefania Vasquez Sura, has been vocal of his situation. She speaks of the injustice that has been done to him and his family.

“I will not stop fighting until I see my husband alive. Kilmar, if you can hear me, stay strong. God hasn’t forgotten about you. Our children are asking when you will come home … they miss their dad so much,” she said.

Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was deported due to an ‘error’ (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

However, following an alleged meeting between Trump and El Salvador’s leader, Nayib Bukele, it was determined that Garcia’s potential return to US is up to Bukele, who isn’t willing to do such a thing.

“I hope you’re not suggesting that I smuggle a terrorist into the United States. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous,” the El Salvador leader said.

“We just turned the murder capital of the world to the safest country the western hemisphere. And you want us to go back into the releasing criminals, so we can go back to the murder capital of the world, and that’s not going to happen.”

Nayib Bukele and Donald Trump’s meeting at the White House (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that returning Kilmar Garcia to the Sates from El Salvador isn’t a decision that can be made by the US.

“That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him. That’s not up to us,” Bondi said. “The Supreme Court ruled that if El Salvador wants to return him … we would facilitate it: meaning, provide a plane.”

Trying to explain how the mistake could happen in the first place, acting ICE field office director, Robert Cerna, explained that Garcia was “not on the initial manifest of the Title 8 flight to be removed to El Salvador,” but was an “alternate.”

He simply dubbed it an “oversight.”

Wife of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

According to The Telegraph, the US government claimed Garcia is a wife abuser, not an “upstanding Maryland” resident.

This came after documents of his wife asking for a restraining order against him in the past have come to light.

She, however, claims things between her and Garcia never escalated and they didn’t take the matter to court.

In fact, she only asked for a civil protective order in case things escalated, acting out of caution after an argument because she had experienced domestic violence with another partner in the past.

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The reason tourists are rethinking trips to the US and which places they are choosing instead

By
Monica Pop
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A visit to the United States of America has long been a dream of millions of foreign tourists, and we can see why. The country offers a plethora of iconic landmarks and attractions, including the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, Times Square, and Disney World among the rest.

At the same time, US is a favorable destination because of the diverse landscapes and the cultural influence it has on other countries.

In 2023, US welcomed 66.5 million visitors, but according to a recent research by the Tourism Economics these numbers may drop sharply in 2025.

According to the publication, a number of potential visitors are rethinking their plans to travel to the States which will result in potential $18 billion reduction in tourist spending.

Tourists are rethinking trips to the US.
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BBC reports that the main reason for this ‘phenomena’ are the decisions made by the Trump’s administration, including imposing tariffs to nearly every country in the world.

“The nation’s stricter border enforcement has recently led to the detention of Canadian and European tourists, prompting Germany, the UK, Denmark, Finland and Portugal to issue travel warnings and advisories for the country,” the publication writes.

Justin Trudeau, the former prime minister of Canada, urged the people of his country to choose Canada.

Until now, around 20 million Canadians visited the States annually, but with the tariffs and Trump’s threats to annex the nation and make it part of the US, the numbers are expected to drop significantly.

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As reported by Statistics Canada, border crossing were down by 20% in February of this year. While some Canadians decide to avoid US as a tourist destination because of Trump’s politics, other say they don’t feel safe traveling there.

It is the same with other European countries. A majority of people in Britain (53%), Germany (56%), Sweden (63%), and Denmark (74%) find the US unfavorably.

The number of people authorities are detaining due to different issues, mainly their visas, has grown in recent months.

A number of countries have advised their non-binary and transgender citizens to declare their biological sex at birth on their visa applications. This comes after Trump signed an executive order that only recognized two genders, male and female.

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Reportedly, Bermuda and a number of European countries became preferable destinations, with the number of Canadians who made reservations at Bermuda hotels and resorts increasing for 20%. Those at European countries jumped to 32% compared to 2024.

Visa and entry restrictions are likely to impact major US events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.

US workers and small businesses will mostly feel the impact by the US travel boycotts, many believe. Hundreds of thousands of jobs will be at risk since tourism is a significant contributor to US economy.

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Immigration parole ruling by Judge Talwani under scrutiny amid political connections and history of controversy

By
Monica Pop
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U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani temporarily blocked the effort by the Trump administration‘s to terminate the CHNV parole program established during President Biden’s term for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

The plan presented by the head of CHNV was to revoke the parole status of around 500,000 migrants coming from these countries on April 24.

Judge Talwani argued in a 41-page order filed in Boston federal court that abruptly revoking these people’s parole status would tear families apart and force them to endure hardship.

Wikipedia

This decision gave hope to around half-a-million migrants who expect to stay in the U.S. for a two-year period.

“The immediate impact of the shortening of their grant of parole is to cause their lawful status in the United States to lapse early — in less than two weeks,” the judge wrote. “If their parole status is allowed to lapse, [the paroled immigrants] will be faced with two unfavorable options: continue following the law and leave the country on their own, or await removal proceedings.

“If [they] leave the country on their own, they will face dangers in their native countries,” she added.

REUTERS

The publication further states that most of the people Trump’s administration wanted to sent back to their native countries have been working in South Florida after receiving help from relatives and after seeking asylum and other forms of protection.

However, Talwani ruling is now under scrutiny by the government following the release of information regarding her past involvements in multiple Democratic campaigns.

Among the rest, she volunteered for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, presidential candidate Barack Obama, state Attorney General Martha Coakley, and Senator Elizabeth Warren.

This raises the question whether judges with partisan history should step aside from cases with strong political significance. Past political involvement with certain political party can negatively affect the critical perception of judicial impartiality, experts argue.

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However, the most controversial aspect of Talwani’s past political involvement is her work with the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), an organization reportedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The association’s founder, Fay Wong, was said to have described China’s Communist revolution as “very inspiring,” which many saw as evidence of the organization’s ideological alignment.

Judge Talwani who ruled to terminate the CHNV parole program received a “Workers Justice Award” from CPA in the past.

Critics argue that Talwani’s most recent ruling is an example of judges using their authority to promote progressive policies lawmakers have failed to pass.

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Experts caution against using air fryers instead of ovens

By
Monica Pop
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Technological advances have definitely made their way into the kitchen. Nowadays, more and more people have replaced their ovens with air fryers, which have become very popular appliances.

They have overtaken the place of the slow-cookers and work using hot air that circulates at a very high speed.

Air Fryers are a healthier alternative to deep frying, providing the same results but with no or much less oil.

However, culinary experts claim that there are certain foods that shouldn’t be cooked in an air fryer.

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While broccoli won’t do great in this appliance because of its bland taste compared to the old-fashioned cooking, it is other foods that are the main concern.

For example, popcorn is a definite air fryer faux pas due to its potential to ignite, Mirror reports. This is because the kernels may get stuck in the air fryer’s heating elements, posing a serious fire threat.

Another ingredient is the wet batter. The crispy coating on fried chicken is something most chicken lovers enjoy, but an air fryer won’t get hot enough for it to set properly, resulting in a messy and soggy dish.

Alamy

Martin Lewis, a money-saving expert, says that relying on air fryers for cooking everything may not always be a good idea because of the time and money it takes for certain foods to be made.

“Air fryers are good for small things that cook quickly,” he said during an appearance on This Morning. “If you’re gonna have to use your air fryer 15 different times for different items, generally, on energy usage, you’d be better off to use an oven. So it’s an interesting thought.”

He continued: “If you’re gonna have to use your air fryer fifteen different times for different items, generally on energy usage you’d be better off to use an oven.

“If you’re doing a jacket potato for 10 minutes it’s going to be far cheaper [in the microwave] than doing a single jacket potato in an oven and keeping it on for an hour and a half.

 ITV

Steven Kipling at Which? backs up this opinion. “The savings soon drop off if you have to cook in batches. And if you’ve got lots to cook you might well, as air fryers don’t have as much space as a typical oven or hob. So if you’re cooking a large amount of food, the oven or hob may still be the most economical choice.”

Despite this, those that rely on air fryers a lot hate the idea of not using this appliance every day, even for many times.

“I’m not listening to him on this. I’m air-frying everything. I’ll even air fry a cup of tea,” one person commented.

What are your thoughts on this? Are you among those who rely on your air fryer a lot?

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Doctor warns of disturbing reason to avoid taking a cruise ‘anytime soon’

By
Monica Pop
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In a viral TikTok video, Doctor Rubin, a well-known paediatrician who shares plenty of advice on the social media, has issued a warning about avoiding taking a cruise ‘anytime soon.’

“Here’s why you’re not gonna see me on a cruise ship anytime soon, and I encourage people to consider this before they book a cruise,” he started his latest video that has since gone viral.

“So you know how there’s been all these cuts at federal public health agencies lately? Well one of them is the CDC’s vessel sanitation program which conducts health inspections on cruise ships at least twice a year.”

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Dr Rubin then went on to discuss the recent budget cuts to federal agencies in America which have also affected health and safety inspections on ships.

Referring to an CBA News article that stated cruise ship inspectors have been “laid off amid bad year for outbreaks,” the doctor added: “Well one of [the cuts] is to the CDC’s vessel sanitation program, which conducts health inspections on cruise ships at least twice a year and they trace outbreaks to help reduce the chances of more people getting sick.”

“We’ve already had 12 Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships this year compared to eight last year,” he continued.

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Norovirus, also known as the ‘winter vomiting bug,’ is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily in cramped environments such as cruise ships. Some of the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, body aches, a high temperature and a headache.

VT reported that 69 passengers and 13 crew members from the Coral Princess, that were on a three-week trip from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, have been affected by the virus.

Virus outbreaks have also been reported on 12 other cruise ships.

“The cruise ships pay for these health inspections, so it’s not like we’re actually saving any money from the taxpayers perspective. This makes absolutely no sense,” Dr Rubin concluded.

@rubin_allergy CDC’s cruise ship inspectors laid off. #cruise #tiktokdoc #learnontiktok ♬ original sound – Dr. Rubin, MD

While there have been those who agreed with the doctor about his warning to avoid taking a cruise at this time, there have also been those who accused him of “fear mongering.”

“Sorry but I love cruising. I already have 2 cruises booked,” one person commented.

“We cruise every year and just went in mid February, which is prime time for norovirus. We were on Carnival’s biggest ship and were fine.”

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