Chanel’s newest creative director, Matthieu Blazy, unveiled his first-ever Chanel Haute Couture collection on Tuesday at the Grand Palais in Paris. The setting marked a striking departure from Blazy’s previous Chanel Métiers d’art 2025-26 show, staged inside the New York City subway. This dramatic contrast further cemented his versatility, drawing early acclaim for his ability to move seamlessly between the two realms of haute couture and ready-to-wear. These “emotional artefacts” transformed the pieces into intimate expressions, creating a sense of couture as a living canvas for self-storytelling. Photo: Chanel“Haute Couture is the very soul of Chanel — it is the foundation and the full expression of the House,” Blazy stated in his show notes.

Britain's Starmer meets China's Xi for talks on trade, securityListen to this articleBritain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer walks to his meeting with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on January 29, 2026. Starmer met with China's leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on January 29, state news agency Xinhua reported, with talks expected to cover trade ties, national security and human rights. BEIJING - Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, seeking closer trade ties while balancing sensitive issues of national security and human rights. Starmer held talks with Xi at the opulent Great Hall of the People, and the two leaders will later have lunch. Downing Street has lauded the China visit as an opportunity to strengthen trade and investment ties while discussing thorny topics including human rights.

Pichai Naripthaphan of the Pheu Thai Party said Thailand has long known about disaster risks, but refused to take decisive action. “This is indirect vote-buying,” he said, arguing disaster budgets averaging 55 billion baht a year should instead fund long-term infrastructure. As well, she said, the party advocates seamless administration between central and regional authorities to address disaster risks effectively. Suradech Taweesaengsakulthai of the Thai Sang Thai Party said crises should be turned into economic opportunities. Anusree Tubsuwan of the New Aspiration Party said processing agricultural products into higher-value goods is the correct response.

(Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The Supreme Court has upheld the stiff sentences against Sattatham “Pai Tik” Jangchai, the manager of the Victoria’s Secret massage parlour in Bangkok, and several associates, in a high‑profile human trafficking case. Prosecutors indicted them in April 2018 under the Anti‑Human Trafficking Act, Prostitution Prevention Act, Immigration Act and the Penal Code. In Thursday’s ruling, the Supreme Court upheld the convictions, citing credible testimony from victims and undercover officials. The Supreme Court adjusted the compensation terms, raising interest to 7.5% annually in line with revised financial regulations. Former massage parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit said he sold the establishment to Kampol in 2004.

Economist Anusorn Thammajai of the People’s Party encouraged Thailand to stop deflationary pressures and an economic recession by injecting 250 billion baht into the system. Two profitable state-owned financial institutions, each earning about 15 billion baht annually, would be assigned to jointly provide 300 billion baht in loans to small borrowers over three years. Mr Anusorn said Thai economic growth of 3-5% remains achievable, provided household incomes are increased and debt burdens reduced. Mr Anusorn proposed forming a strategic team for trade negotiations that would prioritise the interests of the entire population rather than specific sectors. “In trade negotiations, we may grant market access for some imported products to benefit consumers and promote competition,” he said.

Teenage Russian stays patient but wants chance to prove he belongs on ONE’s biggest stageListen to this articleRustam Yunusov (right) celebrates his decision win over Khunponnoi at ONE Friday Fights 139Rustam Yunusov left Lumpinee Stadium with another win – and the same unanswered question. “I’m just waiting,” Yunusov told the Bangkok Post, his left arm resting on an ice bag after absorbing heavy elbows. Our main goal is to show great fights, bloody fights, to make the public happy. Rustam Yunusov is still chasing a ONE Championship contractAgainst Khunponnoi, Yunusov believed the finish was there. He was surprised not to earn a deal after stopping Petsukhimvit in October, and knows he may need something more definitive.

Iran’s army chief Amir Hatami on Thursday vowed a “crushing response” to any attack, according to state television, which reported 1,000 “strategic drones” had joined the combat regiments. The United States had hit Iranian nuclear targets when it briefly joined Israel’s war against Iran in June. A Gulf official told AFP that fears of a US strike on Iran are “very clear”. Iran is ready to negotiate on the nuclear file again,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television in English. NATO member Turkey is also weighing contingency plans along its 530-kilometre border with Iran should the dispute escalate, a senior official told AFP.

WASHINGTON - American rock hero Bruce Springsteen dived into the outrage over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown with a fiery song released on Wednesday that pays tribute to two protesters fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis. Springsteen said the song Streets of Minneapolis was a response to "state terror" in the northern US city, rocked by the actions of armed federal officers that have stoked vociferous local protests. Pretti died after a scuffle with agents on a snowy Minneapolis street on Saturday. We'll remember the names of those who died on the streets of Minneapolis." But on Wednesday he warned the mayor of Minneapolis that he is "playing with fire" with his refusal to cooperate with federal authorities.

Those fears have led other central banks to significantly increase their gold reserves. Although central bank purchases of gold fell slightly in volume from the previous year, their total value increased by 13% in 2025. Gold now makes up more than 20% of central bank reserves, a level not seen since the early 1990s, the WGC said. Demand was also boosted by enthusiasm for exchange-traded funds linked to the gold price. “Gold ETFs have made gold more accessible to many investors” by making it as easy to buy as a company stock, Gopaul said.

Five English sides finish in top eight of Champions LeagueListen to this articleLiverpool are one of five English sides already into the Champions League last 16. (Photo: AFP)MANCHESTER - Premier League clubs have flexed their muscle on and off the field in Europe, with five English sides finishing in the top eight of the Champions League group phase. Bankrolled by television rights deals that dwarf those in other nations, Premier League clubs have long enjoyed a significant financial advantage over most of their European rivals. “I won’t point out how much money they spent, as that would be too obvious, but the Premier League does have a very different type of intensity and pace to Italian football.”The success of Premier League sides in Europe this season has come despite underwhelming domestic campaigns for some teams. The England international has scored six times in this season’s Champions League but has not netted from open play in the Premier League for more than a year.

British tourist rescued after illegal paragliding mishap in KrabiListen to this articleAn experienced local climber helps a 52-year-old British tourist down the cliff at Railay West Beach in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi on Wednesday. (Photos: Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park)National park officials in Krabi needed about six hours to rescue a 52-year-old British man who had become stranded on a cliff while paragliding. A marine patrol team from Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park spotted a foreign man preparing for a paragliding attempt, which is prohibited in the park, at 10.30am on Wednesday at Railay West Beach. A drone was deployed to get a closer look, and video showed the man had sustained injuries to his leg. After a long operation, the tourist, who remained conscious and responsive, was successfully brought down to safety at 4.30pm.

Nipah outbreak in India has China worried before Lunar New YearListen to this articleA patient, who according to medics is suffering from Nipah infection, is shifted to an ICU of Nipah isolation ward in Kozhikode Medical College in Kozhikode district in the southern state of Kerala, India, on July 20, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)An outbreak of the highly fatal Nipah virus in India's eastern state of West Bengal has sparked widespread attention and public concern in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday when millions will travel. The most fatal complication of Nipah infection is inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis. Overall, the likelihood of a Nipah outbreak in China was considered low under current conditions, she said. Between mid-May and mid-July last year, four confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection, including two deaths, were reported in two districts of Kerala, a tropical coastal state in India.

China's ambassador warns Australia on buyback of key portListen to this articleChina's Landbridge group was granted a 99-year lease on the Port of Darwin in 2015. SYDNEY - China will act to defend its companies' interests if Australia forcibly buys back control of the strategic northern port of Darwin, Beijing's ambassador has warned. China's Landbridge group was granted a 99-year lease on the port in 2015, a widely criticised decision that led to stricter scrutiny of infrastructure sales. "We will see when it's time for us to say something, do something, to reflect the Chinese government's position and protect our Chinese companies' legitimate interests," he said. The ambassador warned that retaking control of the port could affect Chinese companies' investment, cooperation and trade with the Darwin region.

China issues 73 life bans, punishes top football clubs for match-fixingListen to this articleFormer China national team head coach Li Tie is already serving a 20-year prison sentence for briberyBEIJING - China's football association issued lifetime bans to 73 people, including former national team head coach Li Tie, and punished 13 top professional clubs for match-fixing and corruption, it said Thursday. Several top officials in the Chinese Football Association (CFA) have been brought down, while dozens of players have been banned for match-fixing and gambling. He is now banned from all football activities for life, alongside 72 others, the CFA statement said. - Negative start to season -The football clubs that will be punished are similarly high-profile. President Xi is a football fan who has said he dreams of China hosting and winning the World Cup one day.

(Photo: Handout via Bangkok Post)SURAT THANI - Tourists have been using Singapore as a transit point to traffic cannabis from Thailand to the United Kingdom, customs officials say. Samui Customs Office chief Ruangyos Komoltham said on Wednesday that many marijuana seizures made between March and September last year were linked to a popular trafficking pattern. A lot of the cannabis seized was destined to be brought to the UK via Singapore, mostly by British holiday makers. The Samui customs office confiscated 406.6 kilogrammes of dried weed from tourists during the seven-month period at Samui Airport, with UK citizens being prime suspects. All admitted to wrongdoing to customs authorities and police upon arrest, he added.