标签： Europe

The architectural world mourns the passing of Frank Gehry, the revolutionary designer whose sculptural buildings transformed city skylines worldwide. The Pritzker Prize-winning architect died Friday at 96 in his Santa Monica home following a brief respiratory illness, confirmed his firm Gehry Partners LLP.

Gehry’s extraordinary career spanned seven decades, during which he redefined architectural possibilities with his deconstructivist approach. His fascination with modern pop art manifested in breathtaking structures that became instant cultural landmarks, including the titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, the stainless steel sails of Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and Berlin’s innovative DZ Bank Building.

Beyond his iconic cultural institutions, Gehry designed significant corporate structures including Facebook’s Northern California headquarters expansion at the personal request of CEO Mark Zuckerberg. His professional accolades encompassed every major architectural honor, from the Royal Institute of British Architects gold medal to the Companion of the Order of Canada, his native country’s highest distinction.

Gehry’s journey began in Toronto, where he was born Ephraim Owen Goldberg on February 28, 1929. He moved to Los Angeles in 1947, eventually becoming a U.S. citizen and changing his name at his first wife’s suggestion to counter potential antisemitism. His architectural awakening came unexpectedly when a college ceramics professor recognized his talent, leading him to pursue formal studies at the University of Southern California and later urban planning at Harvard.

Despite universal acclaim, Gehry’s work occasionally faced criticism. Some detractors dismissed his structures as overscaled versions of the scrap-wood cities he built as a child in Timmins, Ontario. Princeton critic Hal Foster termed later works “oppressive” tourist attractions, while others compared Disney Hall to “cardboard boxes left in the rain.” The Eisenhower family notably objected to his proposed memorial design for the 34th president.

Gehry typically responded to criticism with characteristic wit, even parodying his design process in a 2005 “Simpsons” episode where he created a concert hall from crumpled paper. He continued working into his eighties, leaving behind a legacy that includes Manhattan’s shimmering IAC Building and the 76-story New York By Gehry tower. He is survived by his wife Berta, three children, and the extraordinary architectural landmarks that will continue to define cities for generations.

Berlin witnessed a surge of youth activism as demonstrators flooded the streets to voice staunch opposition to the German parliament’s recently approved voluntary military service initiative. The proposed program, designed to strengthen national defense capabilities in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has sparked intense debate about militarization and civic duty.

Protest organizers characterized the parliamentary decision as a dangerous step toward normalizing warfare, with many participants carrying signs reading ‘I don’t want to be part of this war machine.’ The movement reflects growing concerns among younger generations about being drawn into military structures despite Germany’s historical stance against compulsory service, which was abolished over a decade ago.

The demonstration highlights a significant generational divide in security perspectives, with many young Germans expressing skepticism about military solutions to geopolitical crises. The protest occurred amidst ongoing debates in the Bundestag about how best to address evolving security threats while respecting pacifist traditions that have shaped German identity since World War II.

Government officials have defended the voluntary service proposal as a necessary measure to ensure national security amid rising tensions in Eastern Europe. However, protesters maintain that alternative forms of national service and diplomatic solutions should take precedence over military preparedness in contemporary German society.

Greek farmers intensified their demonstrations on Friday as riot police deployed tear gas against protesters attempting to blockade the primary access route to Thessaloniki International Airport. The escalating unrest stems from significant delays in European Union agricultural subsidy payments that have left farmers financially strained and unable to plant next season’s crops.

Across Greece’s agricultural heartlands, thousands of tractors and farming vehicles have occupied strategic locations including border crossings, major highways, and transportation hubs. These coordinated actions have periodically halted traffic and threatened complete shutdowns of critical infrastructure. Authorities have implemented traffic diversions throughout northern and central regions to circumvent the blockades, while freight transportation at borders with Bulgaria, Turkey, and North Macedonia has already been severely disrupted.

The payment delays emerged following revelations of widespread fraudulent claims within Greece’s agricultural subsidy system. Protesters argue that the resulting administrative review process constitutes collective punishment, leaving legitimate farmers indebted and incapable of purchasing essential planting materials. This crisis compounds existing challenges for Greece’s agricultural sector, including a recent outbreak of goat and sheep pox that necessitated large-scale livestock culling.

Farmer Vasilis Mavroskas articulated the desperation felt by many: “We’re bankrupt and protesting when we should be sowing. Our inability to plant will directly impact urban food supplies—this is about survival.” Near Thessaloniki, approximately 200-300 farmers with over 100 tractors attempted to breach police cordons to completely seal airport access.

While Public Order Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis maintained the government’s openness to dialogue, he simultaneously issued warnings against the disruption of major transit points. Christos Tsilias, vice president of the Thessaloniki farmers’ union, appealed for public support to pressure authorities into releasing the frozen payments.

The current protests reflect a recurring pattern of agricultural demonstrations in Greece, though the underlying subsidy scandal has proven particularly consequential. The investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office uncovered systematic fraud and money-laundering activities, prompting the resignation of five senior government officials in June and the phased dissolution of the state agency responsible for subsidy distribution. Dozens of individuals have been arrested in connection with false claims, marking one of Greece’s most significant agricultural subsidy scandals in recent years.

Archaeological investigators at the former Tuam Mother and Baby Home site in County Galway have confirmed the discovery of a historical burial ground containing infant remains, according to the latest report from the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT).

The excavation team, which began operations in July with the objective of locating and identifying human remains, has uncovered graves of child and infant proportions in the western sector of the property. This finding aligns precisely with historical maps that previously designated the area as a ‘burial ground,’ though no surface indications remained visible prior to the current investigation.

ODAIT’s fourth progress update reveals that eleven sets of infant remains have now been recovered from this location, with the most recent excavation uncovering four additional sets following seven previously identified last month. Initial forensic assessments indicate all remains were interred in coffins. The layout and dimensions of the graves provide conclusive evidence that this section served as a formal burial ground during the institution’s operational years from 1925 to 1961.

The discovery validates the groundbreaking research of local historian Catherine Corless, whose 2014 investigation first revealed that 796 children died at the facility despite the absence of official burial records. Her work brought international attention to the Tuam institution and prompted the ongoing excavation.

The site gained further notoriety in 2017 when government investigators discovered ‘significant quantities’ of remains in underground chambers approximately 100 meters from the current excavation area. The current forensic operation, conducted both mechanically and manually under protective tents, is expected to continue until 2027, with subsequent analysis anticipated to require additional years.

The Tuam institution was operated by the Bon Secours Sisters religious order under the ownership of Galway County Council. Both entities have issued formal apologies acknowledging inadequate burial practices and institutional failures. The Bon Secours Sisters have contributed €2.14 million toward excavation costs, while Galway County Council apologized in 2021 for ‘failing mothers and children’ in their care.

The year 2025 witnessed the passing of numerous influential figures whose deaths created seismic shifts across global institutions, cultural landscapes, and political spheres. The transition within the Catholic Church reached historic proportions with the death of Pope Francis, leading to the unprecedented election of the first American pontiff to guide the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. This religious milestone was overshadowed by political violence when conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a public appearance, triggering nationwide conversations about political extremism and security protocols at public events.

The entertainment world suffered multiple devastating blows with the mysterious dual death of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in their home, and the passing of heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne shortly after his farewell concert. Boxing legend George Foreman’s death closed a remarkable narrative of athletic triumph and business success, while the suicide of Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre brought renewed scrutiny to high-profile sexual abuse cases.

Political spheres felt the absence of powerful figures including Dick Cheney, one of America’s most influential vice presidents, whose conservative legacy continued to shape political discourse. The year’s extensive list of notable deaths spanned generations and domains—from 114-year-old marathoner Fauja Singh to 29-year-old chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, demonstrating that impact knows no age boundaries.

Cultural icons including fashion designer Giorgio Armani, filmmaker David Lynch, musician Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, and actress Diane Keaton left indelible marks on their respective industries. The collective passing of these figures created a cultural reset moment, with their deaths prompting global reflection on their contributions to arts, science, politics, and social movements.