A Chinese model went viral after a video of him modeling in his grandmother's blanket, transforming his life over seven years from a rural boy to a supermodel. Though now a famous model, 27-year-old Lu Xianren from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China still remembers the pivotal moment in his life when he wrapped his grandmother's blanket around himself and modeled in front of his house, a video that went viral worldwide online.

Lu Xianren was born and raised in a small village in Hengzhou. He lived with his grandparents since childhood after his parents traveled to Guangdong province for work. He became fascinated by the fashion world from an early age, inspired by models and their confident walks and runway charm he saw on television. This led the village boy to secretly practice modeling in front of mirrors by himself.

At age 16, he dropped out of school and went to work in Guangdong province, taking various jobs including as a waiter and factory worker. However, after work, he still spent his free time doing what he loved—repurposing materials into clothing, filming modeling videos, and posting them on social media.

"After finishing work late at night, I had a lot of free time, so I did what I loved," Lu Xianren recalled those days.

During Chinese New Year 2019, he decided to quit his job, return to his hometown, and pursue online content creation seriously. Despite lacking money for expensive clothes or fancy runways, the fields, mountains, and village paths became his fashion stage. He used fertilizer sacks, palm leaves, duct tape, and everyday items to create fashion outfits before modeling barefoot in nature.

With his striking face, unique walk, and distinctive style, his videos gradually attracted more attention. On May 20, 2019, running out of creative ideas, he grabbed his grandmother's blanket, wrapped it around himself, and filmed a barefoot modeling video in the sweltering heat—not expecting the clip would go viral overnight, gaining millions of likes and making "Lu Xianren" a household name across the country.

However, fame came with both praise and criticism. Some saw him as having a "high-fashion face" destined for the industry, while others viewed him as merely seeking attention.

"I'm happy when people praise me, and criticism is normal. Since we make a living from the online world, we must accept both the positives and negatives," Lu Xianren said.

His distinctive style opened doors to the global fashion industry, leading to appearances at China International Fashion Week and fashion weeks in Paris, Milan, and London, where he walked alongside world-renowned supermodels. From an unknown young man, he now has tens of millions of social media followers and regularly participates in variety shows and entertainment projects.

Despite his success, Lu Xianren hasn't forgotten his hometown. He often wears traditional Zhuang ethnic clothing while modeling and continues to promote jasmine flowers, a famous product from his hometown, through online media. Credit: hk01 Compiled by Sanook Online News Team

On May 18, 2569 at Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilepreun, alongside private sector representatives and the Zero Corruption working group, issued a statement clarifying the disclosure of a private sector survey on corruption risks in state agencies. They emphasized the survey was conducted using academically recognized methodology aligned with OECD and World Bank standards. The government confirmed its ongoing commitment to combating corruption through comprehensive legal reforms, including modernizing outdated laws, reducing bureaucratic discretion, and digitizing administrative processes.

When asked about reports that the Prime Minister rejected the survey findings and encouraged state agencies to sue the researchers, Pakorn clarified that the PM's initial comments were brief legal observations—that any party claiming damage has the right to pursue court action. He denied accusations of suppressing criticism, stating this was standard tort law principle rather than a directive to prosecute. Pakorn asserted the survey data would serve as a foundation for government agencies to review their operations for transparency and public confidence, and that agencies without issues should proceed normally while communicating with the public.

The government established the Anti-Corruption Coordination Committee via Prime Minister's Order No. 174/2569, with the PM as chairman and Pakorn as co-vice chairman alongside the Justice Minister. The committee includes relevant agency heads, representatives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Thai Industries, Thai Bankers Association, and Thailand Institute of Development Administration to advance anti-corruption efforts.

On May 18, 2569, the Thai Meteorological Department issued alert No. 12 (72/2569) regarding heavy to very heavy rainfall across Thailand and strong winds in the Andaman Sea, with continued impact through May 21, 2569. Upper Thailand will experience heavy rain in parts of the Northern, upper Northeastern, and Central regions, with very heavy rainfall in some areas of the western and eastern coasts of Southern Thailand. Residents should beware of dangers from heavy rainfall accumulation, which may cause flash floods and flash flooding, especially in hillside areas near water channels and low-lying areas. The southwestern monsoon affecting the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand is fairly strong. People should also monitor their health during weather changes. Andaman Sea and Gulf waves are moderately to fairly strong, with the upper Andaman Sea from Phuket northward experiencing 2-3 meter waves, and over 3 meters during thunderstorms. The lower Andaman Sea from Krabi southward and upper Gulf of Thailand will see approximately 2-meter waves, exceeding 2 meters during thunderstorms. Fishermen are advised to navigate cautiously and avoid thunderstorm areas, while small boats in the upper Andaman should remain ashore. Heavy rainfall is expected to increase from May 19-21, 2569, with very heavy rainfall in many areas, particularly on the western side of the country in the Northern, upper Northeastern, Central, Eastern, and western Southern regions, due to the strong southwestern monsoon and a low-pressure system over the coast of upper Vietnam. The public is urged to monitor announcements from the Meteorological Department via www.tmd.go.th, by phone at 0-2399-4012-13 and 1182, available 24 hours daily.

A video clip showcasing an incredibly tiny apartment in Paris, France has instantly gone viral on social media, offering a glimpse into life in surprisingly cramped living quarters. The clip was posted on Instagram by Sebastian Hedberg (@seb_hed), who interviewed a tenant claiming to live in what he calls "Paris's smallest apartment" with a monthly rent of 600 euros, or approximately 22,750 baht.

At the beginning of the video, Sebastian asks about rental prices in Paris. The tenant straightforwardly explains that he lives in the city's tiniest room and pays that rental rate. He mentions the apartment is within walking distance and invites viewers to see it in person.

The tenant revealed he found the place through a popular French secondhand marketplace website and app, which serves as a hub for various types of housing and used goods across the country.

When the two arrive at the building, Sebastian observes it has a genuinely "Parisian" atmosphere. The tenant mentions they should wait to see the view from above and notes that he lives on the 7th floor. However, when asked if there's an elevator, the tenant clearly states there isn't one—residents must climb all 134 stairs. Sebastian jokes that this day will double as a workout.

Upon entering, Sebastian expresses shock, calling it "crazy" as the tenant gives a tour of the tiny room, welcoming him with "Welcome home" while explaining the extremely limited space, with the closet and bathroom in separate areas.

Despite the small interior, the apartment's standout feature is the "balcony" offering a clear view of Paris's cityscape. Sebastian compliments it as the most impressive part of the space.

The tenant says the balcony is his favorite spot and never gets bored, proudly gazing at the view while saying, "We have Paris in the palm of our hands."

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) and Chulalongkorn University are jointly researching and developing navigation innovation to assist visually impaired individuals and promote equal access to public transportation services.

MRTA Governor Kajpol Udoathammabuddhi revealed that the organization prioritizes developing creative innovations and adopting modern technology in its operations to increase efficiency, elevate service quality, and enhance public service standards. The work is carried out through academic collaborations with educational institutions and partner organizations, including Chulalongkorn University.

The academic partnership between MRTA and Chulalongkorn University has resulted in the "MRTA Wayfinder" project, designed to research and develop innovations that promote equal access to public transportation based on Universal Design principles for all people.

The project employs Beacon technology, a small low-energy Bluetooth device (BLE), as an indoor navigation system within BTS stations where conventional systems fall short.

These devices are installed as a network throughout the stations, transmitting low-energy signals that send real-time location data to users' smartphone applications. The data is converted into voice guidance providing specific distance and direction information, allowing users to accurately determine their location and direction in enclosed areas such as platform elevators, ticket purchase floors, retail areas, and station corridors.

Research teams from Chulalongkorn University conducted field surveys and sensor signal measurements within the Bangkok Metro Blue Line system at Samyan Station to gather data for developing the innovation and creating a prototype for future real-world implementation.

The initiative aims to provide convenience and safety for visually impaired travelers, building their confidence in using the service and ensuring that all people have equal access to public transportation.

The MRTA remains committed to improving service quality by incorporating efficient innovations and technology while actively seeking feedback from all user groups to enhance and upgrade the Bangkok Metro system's effectiveness.