As we visit friends and family over the holiday season, it’s always nice to take along a gift. There are, of course, many options, like a bottle of wine or a specialty food item. A bouquet of flowers, however, is one of the most meaningful and appreciated. Ever since the dark days of COVID-19, flowers have become the new "hug." They evoke a sense of happiness, and they bring a connection to nature. I love the fact that Millennial folks are growing their own cut flower gardens, even in small spaces. They love having their own source of cut flowers to enjoy in their homes and also to share as gifts with friends and neighbours. As our gardens are now dormant until spring, we are fortunate to have so many local, high-quality cut flower growers here in B.C. For that matter, they are now exporting cut flowers to other provinces and to the United States, and their selection is amazing, ranging from roses, orchid stems, chrysanthemums, alstroemerias, lilies, gerbera daisies and fragrant stocks to Ilex berries and skimmia flowers. Because of all their innovation and use of technology, their carbon footprint is quite low. If you are considering a gift of flowers, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind. The first is the lasting quality, especially in our warm, dry houses at this time of the year. Most cut flowers will deliver a week to ten days of enjoyment, while others can last for weeks. Always try to purchase flowers which are on the tight side and just beginning to open. Today, chrysanthemums are spectacular, both the spray type with multiple flowers and the single stem disbuds. They are available in so many new colours and various flower forms. Alstroemerias come in a wide range of colours and are noted for their long-lasting appeal. Tight lilies, both the colourful Asiatics and the fragrant Orientals, also last well. Roses are classy, and the spray forms, with their multiple smaller buds, have exceptional lasting qualities. Carnations, too, offer multi-flowered elegance. I love wax flowers with their masses of tiny blossoms that add a nice touch to any bouquet. Berry stems, like hypericum, also hang in there very well. Fragrance is an important consideration in any bouquet. Oriental lilies, freesias and Polianthes tuberosa will never disappoint. Eucalyptus has also become a favourite because of its unique perfume. At this time of the year, accessorizing bouquets with perfumed greens, such as small branches of soft white pine, silver fir or incense cedar, will add a pleasing forest scent. Your gift of flowers will be a much-appreciated bouquet of beauty and perfume to be enjoyed, possibly for weeks!
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How this engineer and robot SPock hunt hazards to protect Singapore’s power tunnelsPhiladelphia Flyers (11-10-3, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. St. Louis Blues (11-12-1, in the Central Division) St. Louis; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blues -140, Flyers +118; over/under is 6 BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues host the Philadelphia Flyers after Dylan Holloway's two-goal game against the New Jersey Devils in the Blues' 3-0 win. St. Louis is 11-12-1 overall and 5-6-0 at home. The Blues have conceded 76 goals while scoring 60 for a -16 scoring differential. Philadelphia has gone 5-4-2 in road games and 11-10-3 overall. The Flyers have allowed 79 goals while scoring 67 for a -12 scoring differential. Saturday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. The Flyers won the last matchup 2-1. Travis Konecny scored two goals in the victory. TOP PERFORMERS: Jordan Kyrou has seven goals and 12 assists for the Blues. Jake Neighbours has three goals and two assists over the last 10 games. Konecny has 13 goals and 16 assists for the Flyers. Matvei Michkov has scored four goals and added three assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Blues: 4-5-1, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.9 assists, three penalties and six penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game. Flyers: 6-2-2, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.7 assists, 3.1 penalties and 6.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. INJURIES: Blues: None listed. Flyers: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated Press
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PARIS — Notre Dame Cathedral , its air thick with the smell of incense, hosted its first Mass on Sunday since the catastrophic fire of 2019, a moment that transcended religious significance to become a powerful symbol of Paris’ resilience. Beneath the glow of traditional chandeliers and modern spotlights, which illuminated its intricately carved stonework , the cathedral emerged reborn, its grandeur restored after five years of reconstruction. For Catholics, it marks the revival of the city’s spiritual heart, a place where faith has been nurtured for centuries. For the world, it signals the rebirth of one of global heritage’s most famous landmarks. The event was both solemn and historic. Archbishop Laurent Ulrich presided over the morning Mass, including the consecration of a new bronze altar. The liturgy was attended by 2,500 people, including French President Emmanuel Macron — enjoying a brief respite from France’s political tumult and economic troubles — clergy, dignitaries and a few lucky members of the general public who stood in long lines to enter. Nearly 170 bishops from France and around the world took part, along with one priest from each of the 113 parishes in the Paris diocese, accompanied by worshippers from these communities. Macron, in line with France’s strict division of state and church, did not take communion. Notre Dame’s journey from ruin to resurrection was defined by extraordinary craftsmanship, nearly $1 billion in global donations and a collective, unyielding determination to rebuild. After the Mass, faithful attendees, priests, nuns, and other guests lingered in the cathedral, their awe evident. Many took pictures and selfies in front of the altar, the baptistery, and vibrant rose windows, their joy mingling with reverence. Others knelt to pray at chapels dedicated to saints, savoring a spiritual intimacy many had not experienced since the fire. Later Sunday, the cathedral opened its doors to members of the public who secured reservations last week for the first fully public Mass. The Associated Press learned that tickets for this service were claimed within 25 minutes, underscoring Notre Dame’s enduring appeal. What’s more extraordinary is that this is taking place in a country with a strong emphasis on secularism and a low rate of church attendance. Public viewing areas along the Seine on Sunday morning drew hundreds of people who wished to witness the historic moment from afar, although their numbers were likely subdued by rainy and miserably cold weather conditions. Retired engineer Claude Lancrenon, watching from a viewing area, expressed both awe and disappointment. “There is so much security,” he said, gesturing toward the barriers. “Yesterday, that seemed appropriate. But today, I had hoped it would be more open so we could approach the cathedral. I still hope we’ll be able to get closer.” Tight security — akin to that of the Paris Olympic Games — reflected the importance of the occasion, ensuring the safety of dignitaries and the public alike. Nathalie Martino, a retired event organizer visiting Paris, recalled the anguish of watching the cathedral burn. “I cried so much that day,” she said. “And now, here I am. I had to come. It was something I needed to do.” Sunday’s Masses follow Saturday evening’s ceremonies in which Ulrich symbolically reopened the cathedral’s massive wooden doors by striking them three times with a crosier crafted from charred beams salvaged from the fire. As the doors swung open, choirs filled the air with song and the cathedral’s great organ — silent since the fire — resounded with majestic melodies. Inside, the restoration reveals a cathedral transformed with now-gleaming limestone walls cleaned of centuries of grime. The restored stained-glass windows project dazzling patterns of color across the nave. “No one alive has seen the cathedral like this,” said the Rev. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, Notre Dame’s rector. “It is more than restored — it is reborn.” The consecration of the new altar was a pivotal moment in Notre Dame’s return to full liturgical life. The altar houses relics of five saints tied to Paris, including St. Catherine Labouré and St. Charles de Foucauld, continuing a centuries-old tradition of embedding sacred artifacts at the heart of worship spaces. The consecration, involving holy water, chrism oil, incense and prayer, transforms the altar into a sacred centerpiece of the cathedral. That was the most moving moment of the day for Marie Capucine, 37, a consecrated virgin representing her Parisian parish of Saint Germain des Prés at the reopening. She recalled the day the fire raged, and the ‘’communion in prayer all over the world’’ for the cathedral to be saved. “That shows that the Church gathers, no matter whether people are believers or not, it says something to the world, something beautiful,” she concluded. The reopening of Notre Dame is also a moment of cultural and national unity. Macron, who vowed to restore the cathedral within five years after the fire, called the project “a jolt of hope” for France, a nation often divided by political crises. The Sunday Masses underscore Notre Dame’s dual role as a place of worship and a symbol of communal resilience. They also ensure that members of the broader Catholic community can partake in the cathedral’s spiritual revival. The path to restoration was fraught with challenges. Lead contamination forced work to pause, and the COVID-19 pandemic added delays. Yet the project, overseen by architect Philippe Villeneuve, has been hailed as a triumph of human ingenuity and collective resolve. Cutting-edge fire prevention systems, including thermal cameras and a misting system, have been installed to safeguard the cathedral’s future. Villeneuve described the effort as “restoring not just a building but the soul of a nation,” emphasizing the personal and national significance of the work. With its spire once again piercing the Parisian sky, Notre Dame is poised to reclaim its role as a global beacon of faith and art. The cathedral, which previously welcomed 12 million annual visitors, is expected to draw 15 million in its new chapter. This monumental revival is not confined to a single day. Ulrich has announced an “octave” of celebrations — eight days of special religious services, each with its own theme, running through Dec. 15. These daily liturgies, open to diverse groups from local parishioners to international pilgrims, emphasize Notre Dame’s role as a unifying spiritual hub. John Leicester, Yesica Brumec and Bela Szandelszky in Paris contributed. Associated Press religion coverage receives support through The AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election, beating the incumbent prime minister. Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, will face reformist Elena Lasconi in a Dec. 8. runoff after most local surveys predicted he would win less than 10% of the vote. Georgescu, 62, was ahead after nearly all ballots were counted with around 22.95%. According to local media, Georgescu in the past has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a man who loves his country” and called Ukraine “an invented state.” He has also sparked controversy for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes. Lasconi, of the progressive Save Romania Union party, or USR, followed with 19.17%. She beat by a slim margin incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party, or PSD, who stood at 19.15%. Lasconi on Monday warned that Romania is now in “a historical confrontation between preserving Romania’s young democracy ... and those who want to return Romania to the Russian sphere of influence.” She added: “Let us be very clear, Calin Georgescu is an open admirer of Vladimir Putin. He is open against NATO and the European Union ... He is for Romania’s isolation, which he calls neutrality ... And without NATO we are at the mercy of Russia.” Georgescu on Monday denied charges of being an extremist as “false, totally fake” and said he is “completely dedicated” to the Romanian people. “We remain directly linked to European values, but we must find our (own) values,” he said. “I’m not an extremist, I’m not a fascist, I’m a Romanian who loves his country.” Many observers have attributed Georgescu’s success to his TikTok account , which has 3.7 million likes and 274,000 followers. He gained huge traction and popularity in recent weeks. It is the first time in Romania’s 35-year post-communist history that the country’s most powerful party, the PSD, doesn't have a candidate in the second round of a presidential race, underscoring voters’ anti-establishment sentiment. Ciolacu's shocking defeat prompted him to submit his resignation as party leader on Monday. After polls closed on Sunday, the Central Election Bureau said 9.4 million people — about 52.5% of eligible voters — had cast ballots. Georgescu won 43.3% of the vote in Romania's large diaspora, while Lasconi got 26.8%. Romania's president serves a five-year term in the European Union and NATO member country and has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. According to his website, Georgescu holds a doctorate in pedology, a branch of soil science, and held positions in Romania’s environment ministry in the 1990s. Between 1999 and 2012, he was a representative for Romania on the national committee of the United Nations Environment Program. His campaign positions included supporting farmers, reducing import dependence and ramping up local energy and food production. Georgescu's rising popularity will be tested when he faces Lasconi, who may attract more moderate voters who initially choose other candidates. Lasconi, a former journalist, told The Associated Press ahead of the vote that she saw corruption as one of Romania's biggest problems and expressed support for increased defense spending and continued aid to Ukraine. If she wins the final vote, she will be the first female president in Romania's history. Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 1 that will determine the country’s next government and prime minister.
Hubbard scores 14 of his 25 points late as Mississippi State pulls away from Prairie View A&M, 91-84