"ReMIX · Yesterday's Future, Invent Tomorrow!" sponsored by CCIDA participates in Maison&Objet Paris in France

Sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the "ReMIX · Yesterday's Future, Invent Tomorrow!" Exhibition and Product Launch held its opening ceremony at Maison&Objet Paris (M&O) in France on January 16 (Paris time). The exhibition brings together over 90 creative and collaborative products from nearly 40 brands and design teams, highlighting Hong Kong's creative force on the global stage.

The exhibition brings together over 90 creative and collaborative products from nearly 40 brands and design teams, highlighting Hong Kong's creative force on the global stage. Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Miss Drew Lai, remarked that CCIDA is committed to driving the development of Hong Kong's creative industries and strengthening the city's role as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Through its strategic partnership with M&O and support for projects such as ReMIX, CCIDA not only brings in global design excellence to Hong Kong but also enables local designers to go global and showcase their work on the international stage, thereby cultivating collaboration and business opportunities.

The Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Miss Drew Lai, speaking at the opening ceremony. Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Another CCIDA-sponsored intellectual property (IP) project, "Luminance by Simon Yam", is also showcased at M&O. Through "Luminance by Simon Yam", CCIDA provides a stage where five emerging Hong Kong fashion designers reimagine art pieces by veteran actor Simon Yam into stylish fashion and lifestyle items, presenting a "wearable art" exhibition that promotes cross-sectoral cultural IP creation and synergy.

Photo shows (from left) Deputy Representative of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels Mr Kasper Ng; the President of Industrial Designers Society of Hong Kong, Mr Ball Cheung; the Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Miss Drew Lai; the Exhibition Director of M&O, Mr Guillaume Prot; and the Partnerships & Special Events Director of M&O and Paris Design Week, Mr Franck Millot; attending the opening ceremony. Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Organised by the Industrial Designers Society of Hong Kong, ReMIX is a creative business partnership programme now in its fourth edition. It aims to promote collaboration between Hong Kong designers and brands, drive market recognition of creative services, products and industrial design, and support the sustainable development of the industry. Following its showcases in Bangkok in 2023 and 2024, and Shenzhen in 2025, this edition of ReMIX goes beyond Asia and makes its debut at M&O in Paris. "Luminance by Simon Yam" is organised by the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association and debuted in Hong Kong in October 2025. M&O runs from January 15 until 19.

An intellectual property project sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, "Luminance by Simon Yam", showcased at Maison&Objet Paris in France from January 15 to 19 (Paris time). Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

For more information on ReMIX, please visit http://remix.idshk.org/en-us and http://www.maison-objet.com/en/paris/exhibitors/remix-by-idshk-gift-play. For more information on "Luminance by Simon Yam", please visit http://www.luminancebysimonyam.com.hk and http://www.maison-objet.com/en/paris/exhibitors/luminance-by-simon-yam-signature.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) — Former Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, an ex-police commissioner who investigated the 1982 killings of more than a dozen political opponents that deeply scarred the South American country, has died. He was 67.

Santokhi, who was also known as "Chan,” led the country as president from 2020 to 2025, and previously served as minister of justice and police from 2005 to 2010.

Suriname President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons confirmed Santokhi’s death in a statement on social media, writing that “his years of service in various public functions will be remembered.”

The cause of death was not immediately known.

Rob Jetten, the prime minister of the Netherlands, wrote on X that he was “grieved and shocked by the sudden passing” of Santokhi: “As president, and in his other roles, he meant a great deal to Suriname. He also tirelessly worked to strengthen the ties between the Netherlands and Suriname.”

Suriname is a former Dutch colony.

Also mourning Santokhi's death was Caricom, a Caribbean trade bloc that saw him as chairman from July to December 2022: “The community has lost a dedicated regionalist.”

Irfaan Ali, president of neighboring Guyana, described Santokhi as a “man of quiet strength” who served his people and country “with dedication and conviction.”

“The region has lost a fine statesman, one who carried the mantle of leadership with grace and humility,” he wrote on X.

Santokhi took over a bankrupt Suriname from his predecessor, former dictator Desi Bouterse, and led the country to economic stability, partly supported by an International Monetary Fund program. However, austere measures implemented to comply with the program translated into big sacrifices for the Surinamese people, including the phasing out of fuel, water and electricity subsidies.

In February 2023, hundreds of demonstrators stormed Suriname’s Parliament to protest high fuel and electricity prices as they demanded Santokhi’s resignation.

Voters denied Santokhi a second term following the May 2025 general election.

Earlier, as minister of justice and police, Santokhi cracked down on drug trafficking and other crimes, earning him the nickname “The Sheriff.”

Before entering politics, Santokhi was a police commissioner, leading the investigation into the so-called “December killings,” in which 15 political opponents of the military regime led by Bouterse were shot and killed in December 1982.

Bouterse faced a criminal trial that began in 2007, a quarter-century after the killings took place. He was eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted twice in the killings but remained a fugitive up until his death in late 2024.

Bouterse had accepted “political responsibility” for the killings but always denied he was present for them.

Even before the trial began, Bouterse accused Santokhi of wanting to imprison and kill him. The two were fierce political opponents.

Santokhi’s success as a police officer and later as a minister paved the way for him to claim the chairmanship of the Progressive Reform Party in 2011 following the resignation of then-chairman Ramdien Sardjoe.

FILE - Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi speaks during a plenary session at the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Nov. 12, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)