Euro News

Bordeaux, France just surpassed Paris in a new ranking of the world's most beautiful cities, with Europe dominating nine out of the top 10 spots. The rankings are based on buildings that adhere to the 'golden ratio' for balanced and harmonious structures. Venice takes the lead as the most beautiful city, followed by Rome and Barcelona in second and third place respectively. Despite iconic landmarks, Paris lands at 12th place. In fifth place is the only non-European city to make the top 10: New York City.

9 Out of 10 of the World’s Most Beautiful Cities Are in Europe, Says New Ranking

A Vancouver Island company has found an unexpectedly green use for a greasy problem — and it could help solve a major pollution issue on British Columbia’s backroads.

Ergo Eco Solutions, based in Cobble Hill, B.C., is taking used cooking oil from local restaurants and converting it into a concentrate that can be sprayed on unpaved roads to suppress dust. After a successful pilot project last summer, the company is sharing results that point to a promising new way to reduce road dust while cutting water use and environmental damage.

“I think anybody who’s driven on a rural road — especially behind someone and kind of eaten the dust — knows that it’s a problem,” said CEO Brian Roberts. “Both for respiration, for human health, and also for visibility and safety.”

More than 90 percent of roads in B.C. are unpaved, and in the dry summer months, they kick up large amounts of fine particulate matter — a known health hazard. The standard methods to control dust include watering the roads several times a day or applying chloride salts, which are known to be corrosive and environmentally harmful.

Roberts, who previously worked as an environmental consultant, said their solution does things differently. The company collects waste oil from restaurants like the Cobblestone Pub, then refines it using a proprietary process at a facility just 10 km away. The final product is mixed with water and sprayed onto dirt roads.

Once applied, the oil-based solution binds with fine particles in the dirt, holding them down while also reinforcing the road surface to resist erosion.

The results have been encouraging. According to data from their pilot program, the cooking oil mixture helped reduce water usage for dust suppression by up to 99.5 percent — a significant gain in efficiency, with less road damage and fewer truck runs.

One of the first partners in the pilot was the Malahat Nation, where most roads are unpaved. According to the Nation’s chief administrative officer, Josh Handysides, the impact was immediate.

“You could see a clear line between where the product was applied and where it wasn’t,” he said. “It held up all summer, and really helped hold the road surface together as well.”

The Cobblestone Pub, one of the restaurants supplying oil to Ergo, contributes roughly 22 litres of used cooking oil each day. Since joining the program, they’ve sent nearly 8,000 litres of oil to the facility.

“It’s an easy way for us to be more environmentally responsible,” said pub manager Ashley Carlson. “We’re recycling food waste and supporting green jobs in the community.”

Beyond its environmental benefits, Roberts said the project is a local example of a circular economy in action — turning restaurant waste into a useful product, processed and distributed entirely within the region.

“There are so few good solutions for controlling dust on roads right now,” said Roberts. “This gives communities a way to manage it sustainably, with materials already on hand.”

Ergo Eco Solutions plans to expand the program further this summer, partnering with more communities and restaurants across the island.

Company Transforms Used Cooking Oil Into Dust Solution For Dirt Roads

People

When Stephanie Couser learned her mother’s health was rapidly declining, she didn’t hesitate — she picked up the phone, called her fiancé, and asked a life-changing question: “Do you want to get married today?”

The couple had originally planned to wed on September 20, 2025. But eight weeks before the big day, Stephanie got heartbreaking news: her mother, Marlys Carson, was no longer responding to treatment for stage 4 lung cancer and had developed pneumonia. Doctors at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa, told her there wasn’t much time left.

Stephanie was determined her mom wouldn’t miss the wedding.

With just hours to prepare, the hospital’s nurses and staff sprang into action to help give the bride her special day. The hospital chapel was reserved, a wedding cake was sourced from a local bakery, and a nurse from the labor and delivery unit volunteered as a photographer.

Even Stephanie’s best friend — eight months pregnant — stepped up to help, racing to Walmart to pick out wedding rings. “Can you imagine that?” Stephanie said with a laugh. “An eight-month pregnant woman at the Walmart ring counter?”

Back in the ICU, nurses transformed Marlys’ room into a makeshift bridal suite. Stephanie helped her mom with makeup and hair. Marlys returned the favor, helping her daughter into her dress and spraying on her perfume — a mother-daughter moment neither had expected to share again.

“They made the room feel like it was not a hospital room, and it was just my mom and I,” Stephanie said.

Later that day, the couple exchanged vows in front of a small group of family and friends, with Marlys seated in the front row. “To go above and beyond is something I can never say thank you enough for,” Stephanie said of the hospital staff.

Four days later, Marlys passed away.

Two months later, Stephanie and her husband Tim held a larger wedding celebration, where Marlys was honored and remembered. The pastor, who officiated both ceremonies, told guests: “I know Marlys is watching over us today.”

Stephanie agreed. “I absolutely felt her presence with me,” she said. “She gave me the strength to walk down the aisle and be here along with Tim.”

For Stephanie, it wasn’t about flowers, venues, or guest lists. It was about one memory that mattered most — one last day shared with her mom.

Iowa Bride Moves Up Wedding So Terminally Ill Mom Could Attend: “I Can Never Say Thank You Enough”

In Baltimore, the spirit of giving showed up early — in the form of a red suit, a stethoscope, and a whole lot of $100 bills.

Dr. Michael Zalikoff, known to his community simply as “Dr. Z,” got a surprise visit this week from none other than Secret Santa — the anonymous wealthy philanthropist who travels the country each year handing out cash to strangers in need.

Moved by a previous story on CBS's On the Road highlighting Dr. Z’s generosity — including how he refuses to turn away patients, regardless of whether they can pay — Secret Santa decided to show his gratitude in the best way he knows how: by giving.

“This year,” he said, “I wanted to say thank you to someone who already gives so much. And I wanted him to experience what I get to feel when I do this.”

Secret Santa outfitted Dr. Z in a red Santa hat labeled “Elf,” loaded his pockets with crisp $100 bills, and together they set off to hand out around $10,000 — no strings attached.

They visited grocery stores and food pantries. They gave to Dr. Z’s longtime patients and complete strangers alike.

One woman who came in for a check-up walked out holding four $100 bills. “I don’t even feel congested anymore,” she laughed.

Others were speechless. Some cried. One man, named John Hancock, was already known for sharing what little he had with hungry neighbors. With his new cash in hand, he said he planned to keep doing just that.

For Dr. Z, whose days are typically spent treating illness and easing pain, the chance to hand out joy was something else entirely.

“I’ve always tried to help people,” he said, “but this — this was different. This was just love. Unconditional love.”

That feeling, he said, is “beyond description.”

But as the smiles, hugs, and happy tears showed — sometimes you don’t need words. You just need kindness, a little cash, and a reminder of what the holidays are really about.

Secret Santa Teams Up with Baltimore Doctor to Spread $10K in Holiday Cheer

A one-of-a-kind instrument crafted in a Guelph, Ontario workshop is now echoing through cinemas around the world — thanks to a viral video, a French electronic rock band, and an acclaimed Chinese art house film.

The instrument is called the Fron2, and it’s the brainchild of Guelph woodworker and musician Fron Reilly. Unconventional in both look and sound, the Fron2 is made of strings stretched between two spinning wheels mounted on a tabletop frame. Players use a foot pedal to rotate the wheels and draw a bow across the strings to produce sound — resulting in a haunting, swirling tone that has captivated musicians across the globe.

Among those who fell under its spell was Joe Berry, a member of the French band M83. After stumbling across a YouTube video of Reilly playing the Fron2 — a clip that has since racked up over two million views — Berry reached out to have one built.

"When you hear something like the Fron2, [you're just] like, 'oh wow, all of that sound is coming from that instrument and it's so cool that it's spinning,'" Berry said. "It’s just so mystical and miraculous."

Berry used the Fron2 extensively in M83’s soundtrack for Resurrection, a science fiction drama by Chinese director Bi Gan. The film, which tells the story of a world where people have forgotten how to dream, premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in May, where it won the Special Award. It also took home the Artistic Contribution Award at the Busan International Film Festival.

Two tracks in the film feature the Fron2 prominently: Spinning Fury, whose title nods directly to the instrument’s design, and Spectre, which uses it in more abstract, experimental ways.

Reilly said hearing his creation interpreted by someone else was a thrill. “I’ve complimented them greatly on it,” he said. “I was very excited to see the movie and hear the soundtrack in the movie and how it was used.”

Of Spectre, Reilly noted: “He plays individual notes going back and forth and all over the place. That was very creative. And I was very pleased to hear that because it sounded different from anything I’ve heard on the instrument.”

Part of what makes the Fron2 so unique, Berry said, is how much variation is built into the playing experience. “You and I could go up to the Fron2 and play the same note and we’ll hear the same note,” he explained. “But then as soon as you or I pick up the bow and start spinning, how I spin and hold the bow is different than how you spin and hold the bow. And how you spin and hold the bow is completely unique to you.”

That human variation is exactly what Reilly hoped to unlock when he first designed the instrument. “It’s very exciting. It’s what I intended for it all along,” he said. “I wanted people to own it and do interesting things with it that I never would have thought of.”

So far, Reilly has crafted several Fron2s for musicians and creators around the world — from the U.S. and Africa to Stratford, Ontario, where it was used in the Stratford Film Festival’s Goblin:Oedipus production.

And he’s not done yet.

“I do have a couple ideas in mind,” he teased when asked if another instrument might be on the horizon. “I’m not going to discuss them, but yeah, stay tuned. We’ll see.”

Resurrection is now playing in select theatres and will begin screening next month at Princess Cinemas in Waterloo.

Unique Canadian Instrument Fron2 Shines in Acclaimed Chinese Film Soundtrack

BBC News

A one-eyed seal pup named Popeye is making waves along the Northumberland coast — and rescuers couldn’t be happier.

The young common seal was spotted recently nibbling on fishing boat ropes near Seaton Sluice, just days after his release back into the wild. Rescuers say the sighting strongly suggests he’s thriving.

“It’s more than likely him,” said Debbie Harrison of British Divers Marine Life Rescue. “He was seen possibly two days later… and he’s probably living his best life.”

Popeye’s survival story has been anything but easy. He was rescued at just 10 days old from Crimdon Beach near Hartlepool, suffering from severe dehydration, malnutrition, mouth rot disease, and a serious eye infection. At the time, he weighed only 8 kilograms.

His condition was so dire that vets at Tynemouth Seal Hospital kept him under care for four months. During his stay, his infected eye ruptured and had to be surgically removed. He was temporarily transferred to the North East Seal Triage facility for the procedure before returning to Tynemouth to recover.

By the time Popeye was strong enough for release, he had grown to a healthy 39 kilograms.

Melanie Scott, one of the veterinary nurses who cared for him, was chosen to open his crate on release day. “What was special about Popeye was, because he’s had a four-month period in captivity, he’d really captured the hearts,” she said. “We said it was the sand, but there was hardly a dry eye.”

He was released with an ID tag marked 0081, making it possible for locals and marine monitors to identify him if he’s spotted again close to shore.

Popeye had originally been scheduled to be released alongside two other pups, Olive and Pebble, who had also been treated for mouth rot. But his condition delayed his release. The disease has proved deadly in the region — wiping out nearly all of the common seal pups in the Tees Estuary earlier this year — though Olive and Pebble both recovered in time to return to the sea.

For Popeye, the veterinary team had early concerns about his ability to swim and survive on his own, given his age and vision loss. But early signs suggest he’s more than managing.

“He’s got every chance out there in the world now,” Harrison said.

Popeye, a Rescued One-Eyed Seal, is Thriving in the Wild and Delighting Rescuers

Stephanie Gamble’s journey from foster care to international fashion shows hasn’t just been about clothing — it’s been about healing, transformation, and creating something bigger than herself.

Gamble, a Plains Cree woman from Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, grew up surrounded by addiction, trauma, and instability. After surviving foster care and the devastating loss of her brother to an overdose, she knew she needed to rewrite her story — not just for herself, but for her children and community.

“I basically turned my pain into power,” she said during a recent trip to Saskatoon, where she was designing for a youth empowerment fashion show.

Her path into fashion started with a simple gift: a sewing machine and a bucket of fabric. She stitched together her first dress and watched her mom model it proudly. That moment stuck with her.

“This is what I need to do for women who went through so much in their life,” Gamble said. “To give them that empowerment and that transformation and that inspiration.”

From that first creation in Saskatoon, her designs have since walked runways in New York, Italy, and France. She now lives in Calgary, having moved there to give her children a better life away from the grief and trauma that haunted her past.

Her Cree name, Piyesiwok-Kitow Piyesiw Iskew, means Thundering Thunderbird Woman — a name that reflects both strength and movement. And Gamble has done plenty of both. She’s a mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, and mentor to Indigenous youth and two-spirit people. Her work is as much about community as it is about couture.

“You're breaking cycles,” she said. “You're just showing them that life is worth living. And there's so many opportunities bigger than your backyard out there.”

She brings youth with her to shows around the world — some of whom have never left their home province, let alone boarded a plane. Her niece, Heaven Angus, modelled in New York and said the experience changed her.

“I used to be really shy, but now I can speak up. I can be confident,” Angus said. “It’s been a really amazing journey.”

Gamble’s approach has also inspired other Indigenous designers, like Heather Boucher, who’s also from Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation. Boucher, a residential school survivor, said working in fashion has helped her reclaim her voice.

“I come from a lot of trauma, but I’m taking all of that with me and using it as a tool,” she said. “There’s something in just kind of harnessing your own creativity in any way you can.”

Next year, Gamble will open her first storefront in Calgary — a space that will house her one-of-a-kind designs but also double as a hub for youth empowerment. She plans to host sewing workshops, regalia-making classes, and other programs that help Indigenous youth tap into their creativity and culture.

For Gamble, success isn’t just about runways or recognition. It’s about impact. “I just want young people to believe in themselves,” she said. “There’s so much possibility out there. It’s already in your reach.”

Cree Fashion Designer Inspires Indigenous Youth By Turning Pain Into Power

A gardener in Essex has claimed a spot in the record books — with a 10.6-foot-tall artichoke growing in his front yard.

Paul Garnett, 49, from Rayleigh, was officially awarded the Guinness World Record for the tallest artichoke thistle after judges fast-tracked the assessment this summer. At 3.22 metres tall, the plant towered over his front garden and even blocked sunlight from entering his family’s living room.

“It was surreal,” Garnett said. “Once we knew for sure [it was a record], it was a really, really good feeling.”

He named the towering plant Audrey, after the singing, people-eating plant in Little Shop of Horrors. While Audrey has since been trimmed back for the season, Garnett said she’ll grow back “with gusto” in 2026 — and he’s already planning for a rematch against any challengers.

“I’m hoping that this one may be taller again next year, so we’ve got a race on our hands,” he told BBC Essex. “I’ve got quite a few [artichokes], some have self-seeded in the garden at the back, so I’ve got some baby Audreys out there — so bring it on!”

Garnett has even started offering Audrey’s seeds to others, collecting donations for Havens Hospices in return. The hospice, based in Southend-on-Sea, supports people with complex or incurable conditions.

The record-breaking plant, officially identified as a cynara cardunculus (also known as a cardoon or artichoke thistle), was verified by horticulturist Simon Corlick, who praised its condition.

“The plant was not only huge but was also in perfect health with no signs of disease,” said Corlick. “It’ll be interesting to see if other gardeners will attempt to grow larger specimens next year!”

According to Guinness World Records, this was the first time they had ever verified a plant of this species — a “genuine first of its kind.”

Garnett credited his giant artichoke’s growth to one simple trick: “a bit of horse manure.” But the real magic may have been his persistence. While the plant started out as an “annoyance” to his family, once its growth began making headlines, they got on board.

“My wife’s even made a blue plaque for me,” he said.

Reactions from the community have been mixed. The local postman was a fan. One councillor called it a “monstrosity.”

Still, Garnett sees it as a natural extension of the family legacy. “My dad was a fruit farmer,” he said. “So maybe it’s a family thing.”

Amateur Gardener Sets World Record With Towering Artichoke

The Guardian

Thousands of people braved the cold and darkness to gather at Stonehenge early Sunday morning, marking the winter solstice with a shared sense of awe, ritual, and tradition.

The event drew revellers from around the world, including pagans, druids, spiritual seekers, and curious tourists. Many wore traditional clothing, while others came simply to witness the sunrise on the shortest day of the year. At Stonehenge, the sun aligns perfectly with parts of the ancient structure as it rises through the south-eastern arches and the great trilithon, a reminder of the site’s astronomical and cultural significance.

“There’s just such a fantastic atmosphere here,” said Win Scutt, a curator with English Heritage who helps oversee the site. “So many different people, different kinds of people as well, many pagans, druids, all sorts of people. It’s got that power, hasn’t it, this incredible sight, that it draws people from all different walks of life.”

The winter solstice, which typically falls on 20, 21 or 22 December, marks the point in the year when the sun reaches its lowest arc in the sky. In much of Britain, that translates to around seven hours of daylight. But for some parts of the country, like Shetland in the far north, sunlight lasts just five and a half hours. In Cornwall, it’s a bit longer — a little over eight.

At Stonehenge, though, what mattered most wasn’t the length of daylight but the moment it began.

For some, like Bradley O’Neill, the experience was a lifelong dream fulfilled. He had travelled all the way from Australia to be there. “I just like old mysteries,” he told the BBC. “The world is full of questions and I’m not going to get many answers either, but I’m sure going to see something special.”

He added, “Today we get to touch the stones and feel the energy. The presence they have, it’s actually fantastic. I feel special, in my heart.”

Others brought with them deep cultural traditions. Golnar Pooya, a Persian Zoroastrian living in the United States, made the journey to Stonehenge with her family for the first time this year. Zoroastrians have marked the solstice for more than 2,500 years.

“We stay up all night, we have a lot of pomegranates – which symbolise birth, rebirth and life – and we gather with family, we read poetry until the sun rises,” she said. “The celebration is that the darkness is now over.”

“For us it’s not a religious event, it’s more a tradition,” Pooya explained. “It’s spectacular to see so many people from so many different cultures coming together, from so many different regions, just to see the sun rise and light come back to Earth.”

As the sun finally appeared over the Salisbury plain, cheers broke out among the crowd. For a few quiet minutes, people stood still, bathed in golden light — a reminder that even in the darkest part of the year, the light always returns.

Thousands Gather At Stonehenge For Winter Solstice Celebration

A UPS worker in Delaware is going viral again — not for speed or efficiency, but for kindness.

Aubrie Whitford, 27, has spent the past three holiday seasons delivering packages for UPS. But recently, she’s become known for going a step further: wrapping children's presents in her own yard before dropping them off, just to preserve the magic of Christmas.

The moment that put her on the internet’s radar came last year, when a TikTok clip showed her wrapping a child’s very obviously packaged gift. The video struck a chord, earning more than 1.7 million views. Since then, she’s made it a regular part of her December routine.

“I think everyone can relate that doing something good just makes you feel that warm and fuzzy feeling,” she told People.

Whitford doesn’t get paid extra for the extra time and effort. She just cares — about the families she delivers to, the kids who believe in Santa, and the surprise that comes with a gift on Christmas morning.

“I’m a Christmas lover through and through,” she said. “Just knowing my job is related to Christmas time brings me so much happiness.”

That love came from her great-grandmother, who taught her to do good for others whenever she could. Now, Whitford says her job lets her live that out in real time.

Because she knows her route well, she’s learned which homes belong to grandparents, which ones have kids who get off the bus at 3 p.m., and when to time her drop-offs so gifts aren’t accidentally spoiled.

“I don’t want a child, or even an adult’s, Christmas surprise ruined,” she said.

As the big day gets closer, Whitford says she ends up wrapping about one or two gifts a day. The boxes are usually delivered to her home, so she keeps supplies — wrapping paper, tape, trash bags — ready to go in her garage.

Then, once the package is camouflaged, she gets it back in the car and onto the doorstep, always on time.

“My deliveries always make it to their destination on time or even early,” she said. “That efficiency gives me the flexibility to take five minutes to conceal a package.”

The gesture may seem small, but for Whitford, it’s about something bigger: helping parents, especially single ones, keep the holiday magic alive for their kids.

“There’s a common misconception that people order online because they are lazy,” she said. “But the reality is, so many single [parents] are working overtime and don’t have time to go to the physical stores.”

She sees her job as a way to bridge that gap — to be part of the village that helps make Christmas possible.

“Concealing their hard-earned Christmas gift for their children means the world to me,” she said.

Local UPS Driver Reveals Surprising Reason for Hiding Packages Before Holidays

Parents are getting creative to keep the magic of Santa Claus alive — and this year, some are turning to tech for help.

Using Snapchat’s new Imagine Lens, families are creating surprisingly realistic images and videos of Santa making a pit stop in their very own homes. Whether it’s the jolly man dropping off gifts under the tree, sneaking out of the fireplace, or taking a break to nibble on milk and cookies, the tool gives parents an easy way to craft “proof” that Santa came and went.

Charmaine Walker, a mom of two, said the feature helped bring the magic back after her daughter started questioning things a little too early. “When my oldest daughter Nola went to school telling her classmates that ‘Santa isn’t real,’ I realized I might have taken that magic away too soon,” she said. “Using Snapchat’s Imagine Lens brought that joy back into our home.”

Snapchat’s Imagine Lens is part of the platform’s AI-powered tools. After opening the app, users can search “Imagine” and select from prompts like “Santa sitting here” or “Santa coming out of the fireplace.” Within seconds, the tool generates a believable image of Santa in your living room, which parents can then show to their kids as part of the holiday experience.

And it’s not just images — some families are using the tool to create entire scenes. “They are so into their elves and this really took it to a whole new level,” said mom Althea T., who used the tool with her two kids, aged 3 and 9. “I’m now getting asked regularly if Santa visited the night prior!”

The reactions have been more than just holiday fun — some parents say the AI-generated scenes are turning into core memories. “Being able to show them Santa in our house was priceless,” said Wesly H. “They spent 10 minutes searching for the gift he was putting under the tree in the image. I know this will definitely be a new tradition for our family.”

While some parents have mixed feelings about the Santa story, many say the tool strikes the right balance between fun and fantasy — especially in an age when kids are quicker than ever to Google the truth.

“We always leaned toward being honest,” Charmaine said. “But watching my kids believe Santa had ‘stopped by’ reminded me how special childhood magic really is.”

With just a few taps on their phones, parents are finding new ways to extend that magic a little longer — and maybe even start some holiday traditions of their own.

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