Frank O. Gehry, the Canadian-American architect whose audacious, sculptural designs liberated modern architecture and whose Guggenheim Museum Bilbao revolutionised urban planning and firmly put the post-industrial city on the global map, died on Friday, December 5, at his home in Santa Monica. He was 96. The cause was a brief respiratory illness, confirmed by his firm.

Widely considered one of the most important designers since Frank Lloyd Wright, Gehry was the most prominent voice of Deconstructivism, a style characterised by fragmented forms, non-rectilinear shapes, and a rejection of traditional cool formalism. His buildings, clad in shimmering titanium and steel, blurred the lines between architecture and sculpture, challenging both critics and the public.

The ever lasting “Bilbao Effect”

Gehry’s most impactful creation, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, opened in 1997 on the banks of the Nervión River in Spain, single-handedly placing the once-shabby, post-industrial Basque city on the global cultural map and helping the city to regain the pride it needed to put an end to separatist terrorism. The curving, seemingly chaotic titanium-clad structure was an instant international sensation, drawing upward of 1 million visitors a year and generating massive economic and cultural revitalisation.

This transformative process, coined the “Bilbao Effect“, became a global blueprint for urban renewal driven by a single piece of landmark architecture. The success was so profound that in 1997, his peer, the eminent architect Philip Johnson, proclaimed the Bilbao museum “the greatest building of our time”.

A legacy of not only curves

Gehry’s vision extended far further than Bilbao. His other unmistakable works include the sweeping curves of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (2003), the distinctive Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris (2014), and the bold, raw aesthetic of his own Gehry Residence in Santa Monica.

Essentially, Gehry’s practice pioneered the use of CATIA software, initially developed for the French aerospace industry, to translate his spontaneous physical models into precise, constructible blueprints. This innovation helped usher in the era of digital design in architecture. A winner of the 1989 Pritzker Prize, architecture’s highest honour, Gehry received global recognition eight years before the Guggenheim was even completed, making him recognised as a revolutionary long before the titanium sheen of Bilbao captured the world’s imagination.

Frank Gehry, born Frank Owen Goldberg in 1929, leaves behind a legacy defined by risk-taking and an emotional, visceral power in his buildings that revived architectural spirit after decades of restraint. He will be remembered not just for the spectacle of his forms but for irrevocably changing the way buildings are designed and how cities utilise architecture to dream again.

In a bizarre twist that surreally mixes geopolitics with global football, US President Donald Trump was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the eagerly awaited draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The ceremony, held at a star-studded gala in the nation’s capital, kicked off with operatic flair from Andrea Bocelli’s rendition of “Nessun Dorma” but quickly veered into the world of the weird as Trump took centre stage—literally—to accept the honour from his close ally, FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Trump carries off his own World Cup trophy

“This award is for the exceptional effort you’re making to fight for peace. That’s what we want from a leader,” Infantino declared as Trump ascended the podium, beaming under the spotlight. “You, Mr. President, deserve it for your achievements. In your own way, but you’ve done it, and you’ll always have my support and that of the entire football community.”

Trump, never one to undersell a moment, lit up the room with self-congratulatory fervour. “This is one of the greatest honours of my life,” he proclaimed, crediting himself with averting conflicts worldwide. “We’ve saved thousands of lives—in the Congo, India, Afghanistan—we’ve stopped wars before they even started. It’s a great honour to be with you, Gianni. I want to thank my family, and I think we’re going to see something incredible, working shoulder-to-shoulder with Canada and Mexico to coordinate everything. Our relationship is exceptional. Thanks to everyone who’s made the world a safer place. A year ago, we weren’t the country we are today, thanks to my leadership.”

The accolade comes mere weeks after Trump narrowly missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize, a snub he has publicly lamented. FIFA’s new peace award, presented for the first time, appeared tailor-made for just this occasion, reveals the extent of Infantino’s longstanding rapport with the US leader. As Trump returned to his seat clutching the trophy like a schoolboy shunned from the previous school sports day, the evening shifted gears to the main event and why everyone was tuning in: unveiling the 12 groups for the expanded 48-team tournament, set to be played June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Who is playing who at the World Cup?

Hosts stole early glances of glory in the draw. Mexico landed in Group A along with South Korea, while Canada drew Switzerland in Group B.  The US, as co-host, faces Australia in Group D, promising a trans-Pacific showdown on home soil. Powerhouses like Brazil (Group C with Morocco) and Germany (Group E with Ecuador) avoided early nightmares, but the intrigue deepened elsewhere.

Spain, fresh off their Euro 2024 triumph under coach Luis de la Fuente, drew a manageable Group H: Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde. “La Roja” will debut against the Uruguayans, led by Real Madrid star Federico Valverde. Yet, the real drama comes in the knockout stage: Spain could clash with Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the round of 32, depending on seeding and results from Group J (Argentina, Austria).

Other marquee clashes lit up the draw: France, commanded by Kylian Mbappé, meets Senegal in Group I while Group F pits the Netherlands against Japan, a rematch of their dramatic 2022 encounter. Belgium (Group G with Iran) and Portugal (Group K with Colombia) eye deep runs, while England faces Croatia in Group L, a nod to their epic 2018 semifinal.

Hosts Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart kept the energy electric, trading quips with Infantino, who opened the proceedings by dubbing FIFA “the official provider of happiness to humanity.” The red carpet brimmed with dignitaries, from soccer legends to Hollywood A-listers, but Trump’s prize overshadowed the proceedings and the Internet fell off its chair vowing never to drink again.

Netflix announced on Friday December 5 a seismic shift in its business strategy after reaching an agreement to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, including its streaming service HBO Max. The deal is valued at around 83 billion dollars (71.2 billion euros), making it the most significant corporate move in the history of streaming.

Competition for Warner Bros had been fierce. Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, and telecommunications giant Comcast were also in the running. In the end, Netflix offered 27.75 dollars per share, representing a premium of nearly 12% on Thursday’s closing price.

A colossal merging of catalogues

The acquisition would unite some of the world’s most influential franchises. Warner’s iconic titles —The Big Bang Theory, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wizard of Oz and the DC Universe— would join Netflix’s global hits such as Wednesday, Money Heist, Bridgerton and Stranger Things. The result would be one of the most extensive entertainment libraries ever created.

Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-chief executive, stated: “Our mission has always been to entertain the world. By combining Warner Bros’ extraordinary library —from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favourites like Harry Potter and Friends— with our own culture-defining titles, we can deliver even greater value to our global audience.”

A decisive strategic shift

Nearly three decades after its beginnings as a DVD rental service, Netflix is preparing to take full control of its creative pipeline. The company has long invested in original content and more recently in live events, but owning an entire studio marks a dramatic strategic evolution.

A key incentive is Warner’s enormous catalogue, which includes every DC Comics saga along with HBO’s prestige productions. Netflix was an early success story of the “long tail” business model, acquiring films and series at low cost to create a vast library its algorithms could tailor to each viewer.

Regulatory scrutiny expected

Analysts suggest the deal would not dramatically enlarge Netflix’s market share, though it would significantly strengthen its competitive position against rivals such as Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. Regulatory approval in the United States, however, could prove challenging, given that the agreement brings together two of the country’s largest streaming platforms.

Ahead of the sale being finalised, Warner Bros would spin off its cable networks —including CNN, TBS and TNT— to streamline the transaction. On Friday morning, Warner’s shares rose roughly 3.7% in pre-market trading, while Netflix shares dipped by around 0.6% in after-hours trading.

Concerns ripple through Hollywood

The prospect of the merger has caused unease within the film and television industry. According to Variety, a consortium of high-profile Hollywood figures urged the US Congress to intervene, warning of potential economic and institutional disruption if Netflix were to take control of Warner.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Paramount Skydance accused Warner Bros Discovery of conducting an unfair sales process favouring Netflix. In a letter to chief executive David Zaslav, Paramount’s legal team questioned the “fairness and adequacy” of the bidding procedure and requested confirmation that an independent board committee had been formed to evaluate the offers.

Paramount’s frustration intensifies

Paramount had previously attempted to buy the entire company in October with an offer of roughly 60 billion dollars, which was rejected by Warner’s board. A formal sales process followed, culminating in Netflix’s bid —the highest offer and the one viewed as providing the strongest assurances of continued access to the Warner Bros film library.

Although the deal still requires regulatory clearance, it marks a defining moment for the global entertainment industry. If approved, it would reshape the streaming landscape and cement Netflix’s position as the dominant force in the next era of digital entertainment.