At last it’s official, the most coveted job in has been filled: , formerly the creative director of Italian label Bottega Veneta, has been named the artistic director of , effective early next year. The 40-year-old, Paris-born designer will oversee creation of all haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories collections for the house, which was founded by in 1913. Why is overseeing Chanel considered the plum position in global fashion? The brand remains a privately held company in a luxury industry that has experienced a merger mania in recent years. It’s also undeniably at the top of today’s respected houses: Gucci or Louis Vuitton may be hotter or buzzier with the public, but Chanel, which posted supremely healthy 2023 revenues of $19.7 billion, revels in its quiet reputation as the pinnacle of fashion, and that isn’t expected to change anytime soon. Chanel owners Alain and Gérard Wertheimer — whose grandfather, Pierre, went into business with Coco when he purchased 70 percent of her house in 1924 — also have steadfastly refused any notion of selling the brand, bringing on a partner or taking the brand public. The arrangement allows Blazy the freedom to create without having to keep one eye focused on the latest stock price. (If that attitude sounds mercenary, consider some 2022 headlines about shelved movies at Warner Bros.) “Matthieu Blazy is one of the most gifted designers of his generation,” said Chanel’s global executive chairman Alain Wertheimer and global CEO Leena Nair in a joint statement released Thursday. “His vision and talent will reinforce the energy of the brand and our position as a leader in luxury. Under Bruno Pavlovsky’s leadership, we are confident that Matthieu Blazy will continue to shape what’s next and write a new page in Chanel’s creation.” Blazy will report to Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel Fashion and subsidiary Chanel SAS, who likewise extolled the designer’s virtues on Thursday. “I am delighted to welcome Matthieu Blazy,” he said. “I am convinced that he will be able to play with the codes and heritage of the house, through an ongoing dialogue with the studio, our ateliers, and our maisons d’art. His audacious personality, his innovative and powerful approach to creation, as well as his dedication to craftsmanship and beautiful materials, will take Chanel in exciting new directions.” Corporate-speak aside, Blazy is a terrific choice who brings talent, pedigree and gravitas to his new position. His designs for Bottega Veneta undeniably elevated that brand’s visibility and perception among fashion fans and Hollywood alike, with a focus on handwork and a sense of modernity that’s also fluid and accessible. Then again, other than Bottega’s celebrated handbags, who aside than the most diligent students could pinpoint the codes of that house? Chanel will be a bigger stage with a brighter spotlight, and an audience that’s exceedingly well-versed in even the most minute details of its DNA. Yet Blazy, who graduated from La Cambre, a visual-arts school in Brussels, interned for Balenciaga and John Galliano, worked at Maison Margiela and later for Raf Simons at Calvin Klein and Phoebe Philo at Céline, seems more than up to the task. And while it may seem like a minor point, that Blazy was born and raised in Paris brings a wonderful symmetry and sense of that city’s heritage to his appointment. That detail never concerned the German-born Karl Lagerfeld, of course, but the man who oversaw Chanel between 1983 and his death in 2019 was too busy turning the house into the style juggernaut it is today to be concerned about whether his own heritage mattered. Blazy’s predecessor, Virginia Viard, who was Lagerfeld’s studio director before being named his successor, which ended with her departure in early June, was born in Lyon and likewise brought her own French sensibility to the house. Blazy now presents an opportunity for a reset, as a Parisian man at the Parisian house with a reputation and name recognition unlike any other. Of course, these days, does it matter that Blazy is, indeed, a man? It’s unquestionable that the fashion industry overall is facing a dearth of women designers in high-profile roles. That’s a problem that requires a deeper and wider conversation to solve. Chanel’s focus clearly was on the best person for the job, and as someone lucky enough to have interviewed Lagerfeld on several occasions, I can picture him scoffing at the idea that a man shouldn’t helm a house built by a woman. Blazy’s personal and artistic sensibilities also make it clear that, like Lagerfeld and Viard, he will honor the ideas that trailblazing, feminist women made both famous and acceptable for women of the early 20th century. Perhaps most delightfully for Hollywood — which increasingly values red-carpet appearances — Blazy already has established himself as an industry favorite, and surely that will carry over to his new gig. A brief and incomplete rundown of stars Blazy has created red-carpet looks for recently: Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Yeoh, Elle Fanning, Jennifer Lawrence, Pamela Anderson, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, Pedro Pascal, Nicholas Hoult and Jacob Elordi, who stars in Bottega Veneta’s latest campaign — and that list only covers the dressing announcements between October and early December. The latter section of the list also raises another key question: Might Blazy expand the availability of menswear at Chanel? The brand rarely has extended that category beyond one-off looks for Pharrell Williams and a select few others, but Blazy’s talent likewise presents opportunities to play in that arena. And now we’re off to the races, from an attention point of view. The take place Sunday, Jan. 5; the Critics Choice Awards are set for exactly one week later; and Week for the Spring 2025 haute-couture collections is scheduled for Jan. 27-30. When will we see Blazy’s first Chanel design, and will it be on the runway or on a Hollywood star? Those questions will be answered exactly when the house decides, of course, but the anticipation will be at a level unlike any other recent fashion appointments. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood Reporter

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Mono Next Plc (MONO) is considering legal action against the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), saying the bourse's announcement on Dec 3 about MONO's irregular trading caused unnecessary panic among investors and affected its share price. Navamin Prasopnet, acting chief executive of the media and content firm, clarified that the changes in the trading conditions of its ordinary shares are based on external factors and circumstances beyond the company's control. MONO considers the SET's actions to be excessive and lacking appropriate consideration of their impact on both investors and the company, he said. The company is considering exercising its legal rights regarding actions that caused damage to the company and its shareholders in order to protect their interests, Mr Navamin reported via the SET website yesterday. The SET on Tuesday announced that MONO is subject to Level 1 trading control measures from Nov 27 to Dec 17, 2024, as the bourse identified certain groups of individuals who may reasonably be believed to have acted in concert, engaging in substantial daily transactions of the shares. Mr Navamin said the investor warning caused unnecessary panic and disproportionate harm, adversely affecting the company's stock price and investor confidence in the company and its securities, without sufficient legal justification. "Should the SET possess clear evidence indicating violations of applicable laws, it is obligated to report such incidents to the Securities and Exchange Commission for further legal action," he said. Such warnings require a higher degree of caution because they may have a widespread impact on investors, said Mr Navamin. According to the SET's statement, MONO's share price and trading value soared daily for four business days until Dec 2, rising 31.5% since the trading control measures were implemented without any new material information during the period. The high turnover rate may indicate higher speculation, as the daily turnover percentage increased continuously from an average of 0.75% before the measures to 3.04%, noted the bourse. The SET identified a group of people trading roughly 15% of the total trading value each day, contributing to the upward price movement. The bourse said if the trading conditions of MONO securities are still abnormal without supporting fundamental factors, the stock will be upgraded from Level 1 control measures to Level 2, in accordance with market surveillance protocols. Level 1 trading control measures prohibit credit limit calculation and requires 100% cash payment for trading of such shares. Level 2 measures comprise the prohibition of net settlement, exclusion from credit limit calculation, a cash balance requirement and use of the auction-only trade method.

India Inc condoles Monmohan Singh's death, recalls commitment to inclusive growth

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, some 270 miles (435 km) away, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The tsunami warning was in effect for roughly an hour. It was issued shortly after the temblor struck and covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California’s Monterey Bay north into Oregon. “It was a strong quake, our building shook, we’re fine but I have a mess to clean up right now,” said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store packed with food, wares and souvenirs that is a main attraction in Ferndale. “We lost a lot of stuff. It’s probably worse than two years ago. I have to go, I have to try and salvage something for the holidays because it’s going to be a tough year,” Kreitzer said before hanging up. The region — known for its redwood forests, scenic mountains and the three-county Emerald Triangle’s legendary marijuana crop — was struck by a 6.4 magnitude quake in 2022 that left thousands of people without power and water. The northwest corner of California is the most seismically active part of the state since it’s where three tectonic plates meet, seismologist Lucy Jones said on the social media platform BlueSky. Shortly after the quake, phones in Northern California buzzed with the tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.” South of San Francisco in Santa Cruz, authorities cleared the main beach, taping off entrances with police tape. Numerous cities urged people to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution, including Eureka. “I thought my axles had fallen apart,” said Valerie Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor representing Crescent City, a town of fewer than 6,000 about 66 miles (106 km) north of Eureka. “That’s what I was feeling ... ‘My axles are broken now.’ I did not realize it was an earthquake.” Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has signed off on a state of emergency declaration to quickly move state resources to impacted areas along the coast. State officials were concerned about damages in the northern part of the state, Newsom said. Crews in Eureka, the biggest city in the region, were assessing if there was any major damage from the quake, Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel said. Bergel, who works as a resource aid at a middle school, said lights were swaying and everyone got under desks. “The kids were so great and terrified. It seemed to go back and forth for quite a long time,” she said. Some children asked, “Can I call my mom?" The students were later sent home. In nearby Arcata, students and faculty were urged to shelter in place at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The campus in was not in the tsunami hazard zone and after inspections, “all utilities and building systems are normal and operational,” the university said in a statement. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said residents experienced some cracks in their homes’ foundations, as well as broken glass and windows, but nothing severe. There also have been no major infrastructure problems, building collapses or roadway issues, and no major injuries or deaths have been reported, he said. Honsal said he was in his office in the 75-year-old courthouse in downtown Eureka when he felt the quake. “We’re used to it. It is known as ‘earthquake country’ up here,” he said. “It wasn’t a sharp jolt. It was a slow roller, but significant.” Michael Luna, owner of a Grocery Outlet in Eureka, said that besides a few items falling off shelves, the store on Commercial Street was unscathed by the earthquake. “We didn’t have any issues but a couple of deodorants fall off.... I think the way the earthquake rumbled this time, it was a good thing for our store because the last earthquake was a huge mess," he said. They evacuated customers and closed their doors temporarily until officials lifted the tsunami warning, he said, rushing off the phone to attend to a growing line of customers at check-out. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and the San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated. Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator for the Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, said the computer models indicated that this was the type of earthquake that was unlikely to cause a tsunami and gauges that monitor waves then confirmed it, so forecasters canceled the warning. This quake was a strike-slip type of temblor that shifts more horizontally and is less prone to cause tsunamis, unlike the more vertical types, said National Weather Service tsunami program manager Corina Allen in Washington state. The California Geological Survey says the state’s shores have been struck by more than 150 tsunamis since 1800, and while most were minor, some have been destructive and deadly. On March 28, 1964, a tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake in Alaska smashed into Crescent City hours later. Much of the business district was leveled and a dozen people were killed. More recently, a tsunami from a 2011 earthquake in Japan caused about $100 million in damages along the California coast, much of it in Crescent City. Dazio reported from Los Angeles. AP writers Chris Weber and Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles; Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California; Sophie Austin and Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California and Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report.

Man quizzed over Kyran mystery told pals he had ‘nothing to do’ with boy’s death as cops ramp up pressure in body searchHas your delivery been affected by Storm Darragh inflicted Port issues?SAN DIEGO , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sempra (NYSE: SRE) (BMV: SRE) today announced it has been recognized by Newsweek as one of "America's Most Responsible Companies" for 2025, earning this distinction for the sixth consecutive year. The annual list ranks companies based on their commitment to corporate responsibility in the areas of corporate governance and responsible social and environmental practices. Sempra has been included since the list's inception. "At Sempra, we believe our responsible business practices improve the value of our franchise. By strengthening governance and risk management and improving the safety and resiliency of our business operations, it allows us to better meet the needs and expectations of our customers, while also adding scale to our business," said Lisa Larroque Alexander , senior vice president of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer for Sempra. "We will continue to approach global energy challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset, steadfast optimism and confidence in our vision of delivering energy with purpose." Newsweek's recognition of Sempra as one of "America's Most Responsible Companies" is based on publicly available key performance indicators derived from the company's Corporate Sustainability Report and an independent survey that asked U.S. citizens about their perception of Sempra's commitment to corporate social responsibility. Details of Sempra's approach to responsible stakeholder engagement and corporate governance can be found in the company's most recent Corporate Sustainability Report, which is available here . In addition to being recognized on Newsweek's America's Most Responsible Companies list, Sempra is included in the FTSE4Good Index and JUST 100 list, has been named one of TIME Magazine's World's Best Companies and one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies , and earned a perfect score on the CPA-Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability , among other accolades. About Sempra Sempra (NYSE: SRE ) is a leading North American energy infrastructure company focused on delivering energy to nearly 40 million consumers. As owner of one of the largest energy networks on the continent, Sempra is electrifying and improving the energy resilience of some of the world's most significant economic markets, including California , Texas , Mexico and global energy markets. The company is recognized as a leader in sustainable business practices and for its high-performance culture focused on safety and operational excellence, as demonstrated by Sempra's inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America and in The Wall Street Journal's Best Managed Companies. More information about Sempra is available at sempra.com and on social media @Sempra . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sempra-named-among-newsweeks-most-responsible-companies-302324298.html SOURCE Sempra