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ADMIN

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  7. ADMIN
    Edward Lalrempuia is a renowned freelance fashion consultant and creative director who has worked with the likes of print magazines like Vogue and Bazaar India. Born in Aizwal, Mizoram, Edward cam to Delli first to study Fashion Designing at NIFT Delhi. 

    We caught up with him to understand his career trajectory and get advise for aspiring fashion stylists. 
    1) When did you first know that you wanted to pursue a career in fashion styling?
    I got selected in NIFT Delhi for the Fashion Designing course but I quickly realised that designing was not my thing. I thought I really wasn’t that great and at the same time, I loved the idea of playing with readymade garments. So, I think that’s how I got interested in styling.
    View this post on Instagram
    2) During college, were you torn between other related fields that you could have taken up?

    I wasn’t really torn, the minute I figured out that styling was my calling I worked towards it. Of course, I was in a fashion designing course but I did whatever I could to incorporate styling in my design and I met a lot of people who could give me a chance at styling. Especially, back in 2003 -2004, ‘styling’ was a very new concept, so obviously it took a lot harder on me to get into it but I figured it out that it was it and I worked completely towards my goal and eventually I did get hired at Elle two months after my graduation from NIFT.
    3) Can you talk about the first internship? What was your first job like?
    My first internship was very unexciting. I was a fashion student, so I had to intern under either a designer or an export house. I was very uninterested in it so I didn’t even apply quite early unlike my batchmates, who went and emailed everybody. So, I guess, I got the leftover. I was interning at this export house; I’ve actually forgotten its name; it was in Noida. Luckily the lady there was very nice so she didn’t make me do random stuff. So, you know, our job was mainly to figure out embroideries. I worked on a men's shirt collection and worked on its embroideries there. 
    4) How is editorial styling different from celebrity styling? Which one do you prefer?
    I think it is completely different because we have a whole range of things you can do. With editorial styling, it is your vision, you’re working with a team and there are many things you can do that you can’t do with the celebrities. It is so because when you are styling a celebrity, you have to think about them because most of our girls and boys are very critical about themselves and have a very fixed idea of what they look good in. So, you really have to think about what they could be and what they would be comfortable with. You’re thinking their version but with your aesthetic. Many times when you think that this is going to look amazing on the star, even if they look good, they’re not convinced. So, you really have to go with what they like eventually. In a nutshell, it really about them and not you. And editorial is completely you, what you want to do and what you can make out of it.
    View this post on Instagram
    5) When did you decide that it was time for you to start freelancing?

    Actually, it wasn't like that at all. I had worked at Vogue for 5 years and I just felt that I wasn’t going anywhere and I felt that I needed the extra money. So, I quit Vogue and, since I didn’t have a regular job after that I was forced to do freelancing away. I am grateful that I did because it is such a good thing to freelance. After all, you are doing so many things and you are on your toes. I feel like I’m much more creative than I was when I had a regular job.
    View this post on Instagram
    6) What are the challenges that one typically faces with freelancing?

    That’s a very interesting question. When I quit Vogue I thought that I was a big star and everyone was going to call me and ask me to work with them. But that didn’t happen because of the advertising world you need them to know you. I thought everybody knew me since I was working at Vogue but I was wrong. It took me a lot of time to build that credibility. The production houses and photographers need to know you and, on top of all that you need to be good at your work. It took time for me to built that. So, I think the first thing to do is to build your work, have a website, meet as many people as you can. There nothing wrong with asking them to meet you or showing them your work or emailing them. It is not that easy in the beginning but once people know you, if your work is good then it word of mouth and people start recommending you. But again like I said it is freelancing, it is difficult because you never know when your next job is going to come, which is a bit stressful. So, you have to plan your finances keeping in mind that your money doesn’t come quite quickly. Sometimes it takes 3 months, sometimes 4  or sometimes you might just get paid on the day of the shoot. So, you need to be smart about how you spend your money. You need to make sure that you balance it out every month so that you don’t run out of money. That would be my biggest advise – to plan out your finances every month so that even if it is a low month, you have enough money to sustain yourself.
    View this post on Instagram
    7) What advise would you give to someone who wants to be a stylist and someone who just started freelancing?

    My advice to upcoming stylists is to work hard. I think there nothing else that matters apart from working hard and at the same time also working smart. And most importantly, please don’t have any ego because you are learning and you are a junior. Unless your boss is difficult, just do it. You will learn a lot of things and it is good to be open to people you are meeting because when you’re shooting you meet so many people and you never know when your big moment is going to come. So, be open to meeting people maybe they have something for you, that’s how you build your portfolio. I’d suggest, start small don’t think so big. I always say that if your work is good, people will find you. It might take a little longer, it doesn’t happen in one day. Freelancing, as I said, it is hard so if you can manage your finance agent and manager it is much better because they can negotiate for you and you don’t have to deal with all the issues.
    The first thing would be to assist somebody as a stylist. I, unfortunately, didn’t assist anybody when I started out. I got lucky in a way but I also feel slightly unfortunate because I didn’t know the tricks. I had to learn everything myself which took me a little longer as compared to someone who knows the ticks. Hence, it is both ways, if you can manage to assist, I think there’s nothing better.
    View this post on Instagram8. What’s the one tip you would give to people for negotiating money as a freelancer?
    My tip or at least what I do is, whenever somebody calls me for a shoot and they ask me what my fee is. I ask them first about their budget and then I figure out if it is too low or too high. If it is higher than my quote then it is amazing but usually, it never happens. So, you first ask their budget and then work around it. If you feel it is too less then you decline it. I feel that sometimes when you quote before you might scare that production house and no fee can be the same for any job. Budgets keep on fluctuating, so you have to figure your cost accordingly. But I think knowing your budget will also give you an idea of how much you can charge.
    View this post on Instagram
    9. As someone who wants to switch careers and enter the field of styling, what’s the first step that they should take?
    My advice would be to do your research. Ask questions like, what do you want to do? What kind of styling do you want to do? What are the different aspects of styling? Do you like personal styling or magazine styling or celebrity styling? So, you need to think about what you want to do and then after that do your research on who you want to work with. Find out about people, get their email ids. Send them an email, message them but just don’t stalk them. After all this, hopefully, you’ll get the call /message that you’re hired. I’d suggest you start small/low and work as an assistant to work your way up.
    View this post on Instagram
    10. What do you think is the future of fashion magazines in India?

    Honestly, I don’t know. Even before the COVID-19 things were kind of bleak. Print media was not really what it used to be because of rapid digitalisation and social media. And now with the lockdown and the coronavirus, it has become worse. As you know, for print magazines their major way of making money is advertisements and now there’s hardly any place for advertising in the print media. With everything getting digitalized, let’s just hope the print media doesn’t die a horrible death.

    View the full article
  8. ADMIN
    Widely-known conscious label founder Anmol Sharma founded Dhātu with principles that pushed the ideas of minimal aesthetics and a utilitarian design approach.  
    With over a decade of experience in the fashion industry, Anmol pushes his homegrown label Dhātu to spearhead the evolution of sustainable fashion in India. With being environmentally conscious as the primary goal, Dhātu also accounts for the artisans and craftsmanship that factor in the production of fabrics that help in the making of Dhātu's end product. 
    For this year's first-ever digital showcase of the Lakmé Fashion Week, we spoke to Dhātu to better understand their label's sustainable ideology.  
    1. Can you talk about your collection this year and the inspiration behind it?We believe that it's important to dress sharp and look dapper but doing so shouldn't come at the cost of an entire planet. Fashion seems to be old-fashioned; bending down to popular culture is neither creative nor forward in my opinion.
    At Dhātu studio our idea is to consume less and create uncompromised design value and awareness. The idea behind, 'Dress to Reform', is to produce with a purpose. 
    For example, sourcing fabric from handloom weavers help support the traditional Indian culture and provenance, practical utilitarian styling combined with natural fabrics keeps the wearer at ease, and at the end of life, these materials are recyclable, compost friendly, and biodegradable. Quite simply taking from the earth and putting it back there. 

    The design inspiration for the collection comes from the works of modern architect Le Corbusier. We have also incorporated authentic RnD based design details in the lineup, for example, the anti-flip pocket for eyewear, a tailor-made safe pocket that prevents items from flipping out. 

    Another innovation is the anti-split button plackets in the shirt that makes sure not to split open the gaps between buttons, depending on one's anatomy. 
    The GenNext collection is about possibilities, solutions, and a way of life. I have taken into account the entire lifecycle of the product, starting from the fabric development stage to the end of use, designing, producing, consuming, and living better. The final products are practical and quality based for longevity. 
    The light occasion wear or Indian wear styles are timeless, a result of more muted down aesthetics combined with statement Indo-Japanese styling making them commercially viable and easy to pull off by almost any age group. Few details include the samurai sword placket, side hanging loops, and layered composition to add a little dynamism and drape. 

    It gives me immense pleasure to be able to explore my thoughts and create value out of it. My first encounter with a handloom artisan cluster was back in NIFT days when we were sent on a cluster program at Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh for 14 days. Here we worked with the weavers in their homes and watched the magnificent creations come to life with every movement of the loom. 
    I was quite intrigued by the whole atmosphere and simplicity of making fabric with hands without the use of any electricity. What a great tradition, truly avant-garde; zero impact on the environment and a creative way of life. It was then I made up my mind to work with these artisans. 
    Our core fabrics have socio-cultural relevance as well, this includes: 
    1. Ahimsa silk: Live and let live.
    Otherwise known as the peace silk, the fibre is extracted after the silkworm has left the cocoon and no killing of the being is involved, unlike the traditional silk where the cocoons are thrown in boiling water to maintain the fibre length. 
    This time, we have worked with a cluster in Bhagalpur developing the Ahimsa silk brocades. 
    2. Natural Indigo Dyed Handloom Denims: Never give up.
    A weaving cluster of over 200+ looms in Tamil Nadu was hit by the low demand for their indigenous Kunbisarees, rendering them out of business. The weavers put their skills to use and the looms started generating cotton denim. 
    Being one of the most widely used fabrics in the fashion industry, denim has the potential to provide enough work to the otherwise vanishing hand weaving clusters. 
    While denim is in huge demand, their lycra mixed denim produces heat and discomfort in the humid months in India. Our pure cotton handmade denim is breathable and much more suitable. 
    3. Pure Hemp: Simply a magical fabric.
    This is a natural fibre with a relatively fast cultivation period. Hemp fabric has many beneficial properties like anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic, mold repellent, has high tensile strength and is greatly breathable making it an obvious choice for menswear.
    We now do not use any fabric that is produced by harming the environment, for example, Polyester & Nylon (synthetics) being produced from crude oil or MMCs such as Viscose & Modal produced from the trees, leading to deforestation. 
    While most customers do not get into the detail of fabric production; as a designer, it is our responsibility to give them the right options.  
    View this post on Instagram2. COVID-19 has impacted everything this year, Has your collection altered in response to the pandemic?We are a 'Purpose-Driven Label' and it is important to capture the zeitgeist. 
    Usability and comfort is a top priority and since the design process took place during the lockdown, I tried to incorporate protective details to the classic silhouettes, getting them ready for the post-lockdown world. These include:
    Natural Indigo Dyed Handloom Denim Anorak
    This comes with a convertible mask-inspired neckline, an inbuilt adjustable nose bridge, and a drawstring on the top edge of the collar help to achieve a close facial fit. 
    The zipper top end is finished with a beard protector placket. The technical anoraks have a multifunctional patch pocket in the front, which I thought was a great place to store the used facemask in order to minimize the chances of contamination.
    Hemp Jumpsuit
    To program it for the post-lockdown world, we made a few tweaks to this one.
    It was important that the garment is comfortable for longer use, we added an adjustable waistline, gusseted knee panel, and flying yoke for air intake as well. The style comes with a dedicated pocket for securing the mask separately.
    Hooded Shirts and Poncho.
    The idea behind the hooded zip-up shirts and poncho is to cover the head and ears on the go. The shirt has a zipper closure to completely seal the front and this is finished with a beard protector for men with facial hair. 
    View this post on Instagram3. What precautions have you taken for the show? What was the process of organising it and dealing with COVID-19 restrictions?The LFW team has been supportive throughout the process and most of the work was conducted from home via video chats and phone calls. In the eventual live stream, we saw people wearing protective coveralls and masks and it looked like a scene from some sci-fi movie.
    At our end, we have followed all the necessary mandates for safety. The studio main gate is equipped with a sanitisation spray, our guard takes the temperature before entry, all the personals at the studio have undergone the COVID-19 test. Every individual has been provided with a set of Dhātu triple-layer fabric masks and we follow the necessary social distancing as much as possible. 
    At times I am wearing masks while being in my design room alone as it has become a part of the attire and one tends to forget that it's on.
    I totally understand the question that do we need fashion in these pandemic times? To go a little further, I have asked myself do we even need fashion at all?
    Let us not forget that fashion is also a business just like any other; there are millions of people involved in the processes. It could be a thread vendor, a weaver, a daily wage piece-rate tailor people like you and me. We need to keep the cycle running as for many it is a matter of livelihood, let's proceed consciously, for now, the speed does not matter but the momentum does.
    View this post on Instagram4. What difficulties did you face while organising this year's show?There are many challenges, starting from low oxygen intake due to wearing the mask to maintaining social distancing at the workplace. Sourcing materials from outside is a task, as everything has to be sanitised before it enters the premises, including the manpower. All the work processes are happening at a minimum pace and the body gets tired much faster due to all the added mandates.
    Food is a big problem as we cannot order as frequently from outside and I have to cook my meals every day. I now have a set of outdoor clothing and footwear, which has to be carefully stored and washed after use. So, yes, performing even the smallest task these days has become an uphill experience.
    However, to go and get milk every day is also challenging now, as one has to change into outdoor clothes comeback change again, and wash all the packets before using them. The pandemic treats everything and everyone as the same.
    On the other hand, working from home and interacting on video chats is a convenient way to proceed with work. This time we did not have to travel with all our garments to Mumbai and stay at hotels for the duration, it would have been a great experience though; but hats off to LFW team for all the efforts, bravo!
    As for me, I am sitting alone in my dining room taking this interview while the 5 days of fashion are in progress, it is indeed one of kind fashion week.
    View this post on Instagram5. In the last 6 months, there has been growing debate about luxury face masks, however, considering it is a crucial part of the 'new normal', what was the idea behind the conceptualisation of your line of masks?This is a great question, I have been in a great dilemma regarding this subject. This is an ongoing pandemic scenario and masks must be designed and treated as functional pieces. It is unacceptable to not get into details regarding safety levels of different materials and the correct design composition requirement for efficacy.
    Looking at the worldwide scenario and the increase in the number of cases here, I went into lockdown on 21st March, three days before the official announcement. 
    View this post on InstagramDuring the lockdown period, I spent most of the time researching the efficacy of the homemade fabric masks, as it was clear that we all would need it once the lockdown opens, but who is gonna make it, and will it be available to all in time? The idea was to provide a reusable mask to essential service personnel that were on the field, which included my brother who works in a bank.
    After my in-depth research on the subject, which included countless hours on the Internet and discussions with our European buyers who provided me with official European research as well and the standards used there, subsequently, on 15th April we got the work permit from the Haryana government and were allotted passes to go out and work at our facility. 
    A small team of volunteers started the RnD process in the studio. Depending on the fabric construction and count, only three out of the countless fabrics available in-house were found satisfactory to be used for making a fabric mask.
    We studied all the available designs of the masks and finalized 11 designs. These were further put to test by simply using them and noting down the experience within each. The top six ergonomic specs are available on our website along with brief research put in an easy to understand language. 
    Throughout this time, I have published my research in public interest via many articles on the use and efficacy of fabric masks as well. The Dhātu masks are functional and were made to serve a purpose, we have never promoted them. It is quite evident through our pricing and the use of only one set of selected fabrics, there are no colour options and no drama, simply purpose-driven designs. 
    6. How do you think the industry as a whole is dealing with the issue of sustainable and 'eco-friendly' fashion, especially this year when there is a growing use of plastic this year?Sustainability is not an issue, it’s a choice, a way of life. It is about awareness and responsibility. The entire fashion cycle begins at the design stage, the design team is the one deciding on the product range and materials to be sourced.
    The design development stage is a great place to initiate the change, as creatives we must take thoughtful decisions in the first place. How could someone direct an entire organisation to use modal fabric knowing it is generally sourced from endangered forests or how could one use the skin of endangered animals and call it exotic, this is outrageous, this is so old fashioned.
    Upon realising that I need to be part of the solution, the road was unidirectional. I quit all that I was doing, so far, press the reboot button, and started preparing myself mentally and physically to take on the challenge.
    In the process, I devoted myself to focused research on sustainable fashion and was amazed to see the various initiatives worldwide. To keep a track of content claims in the sourcing and development stage is the biggest challenge. 
    For example, while sourcing for biodegradable plastic bags, we collected samples from various vendors, claiming their product was indeed bio-plastic. I was not convinced with the samples and decided to bury them in the ground. After 45 days when we took these out, quite evidently there were no signs of degradation.
    By the time an idea reaches the product stage it had gone through many operators and every time there is a possibility of adulteration. Fast fashion promises business owners and vendors financial prosperity at all costs and this acceptance has blinded many. Sustainability is treated as a buzz word especially at the operational level and many times, overlooked over urgency and pressure of deadlines. It can be very easily used as paint to cover the real picture beneath.
    The much-needed change in the thought process has already begun for many, it will take time to implement it throughout the supply chain. The positive note is that many upcoming labels are heading in this direction. Every step counts, no one can be 100% sustainable in one go and that's okay. 
    A whole lot depends on the customers too; they need to be educated regarding the ongoing problems due to the fashion industry and must be presented with alternatives. Fashion organisations make their collections based on the sales pattern of the last one and if people make informed decisions while buying, the companies will have to bend down to the new improved sustainable demands.
    7. Do you think menswear has evolved in the last couple of years? Are they(your clientele) open to experimenting more than before?Evolution in menswear is still a story that needs attention. There is a niche that is open to experimenting but I think that's about it. In our experience, most of the men are closed-minded when it comes to fashion decisions and end up at the gates of western labels for branded badges. 
    It needs a developed perception and confidence to have a set of ideologies, unfortunately, not many are there yet.
    View this post on InstagramLFW showcase is my attempt to go loud and limitless and hope Dhātu going public for the very first time creates impact and awareness. We are in search of Dhātumen, the one who walks the conscious path.

    View the full article
  9. ADMIN
    It’s been more than four months since big waves hit the Hindi film industry over actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s sudden death by suicide. While a million conspiracy theories surfaced and a hundred narratives made headlines, the final verdict, the ultimate truth still seems to evade his hopeful fans.
    © BCCL
    However, as things went on to get murkier and a pandora’s box seemed to have given way, CBI investigation revealed a drug case angle linked to SSR's death which had the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) pull up their socks and take a deep dive into what is now being seen as Bollywood celebrities’ involvement with a drug cartel.
    © Twitter/AmirReport
    In keeping with the said drug case and after interrogating a number of Bollywood actors including Deepika Padukone, NCB has now summoned Deepika’s manager Karishma Prakash for further investigation in the case. However, there is more to it than meets the eye, because Karishma’s residence has already been raided by NCB and contraband has been seized.

    So here’s everything we know about this latest development so far.
    1. Deepika’s manager Karishma’s name had cropped up while the NCB interrogated one of the peddlers who was arrested by the organisation in relation to the case trying to bust drug networks around Bollywood.
    © Twitter/MumbaiMirror
    2. Karishma was then summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau. However, she is reportedly untraceable, and a notice has been pasted on the door of her residence by NCB officials. “We have called her for questioning tomorrow to NCB, however, her phone has been switched off and we do not know where she is,” an official had claimed.

    3. However, as per an Indian Express report, based on the information shared by the arrested peddler, the NCB decided to raid Karishma’s house in Versova on Tuesday.
    © Twitter/nd24_news
    4. Reports also state that NCB officials found 1.7 grams of charas and at least two bottles of cannabis (CBD) oil during the raid.

    5. It is also being said that Karishma was not present at the time of the raid, and the search was carried out in the presence of her acquaintances. 
    © Twitter/ANI
    6. Apparently, Karishma has been found to have violated sections of the NDPS Act, but the decision to add her name to the FIR will only be taken after hearing her side of the story.

    We shall see how things unfold for Karishma in the near future.

    View the full article
  10. ADMIN
    2020 has been the worst year in the history of our generation and seems like it's only getting worse. Lipi Singh, the superintendent of police (SP) of Munger, Bihar is in the news for her role in the shooting that occurred at a Durga Puja immersion.
    During Durga puja immersion, some anti-social elements restored to stone pelting which injured 20 policemen after this someone from the crowd fired leading to one death. Situation under control: Lipi Singh, SP Munger pic.twitter.com/gWjBxofjdw
    — ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2020
    What Happened In Munger?Singh has been the target of people’s hatred on Twitter for allegedly opening lathi charge and fire upon Hindu devotees that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old boy and left several people injured. The picture of the 18-year-old has been virally circulated online and it has made people very angry. They are comparing her to General Dyer, the British officer who was responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, for her ruthless attitude.
    Who Is Lipi Singh?1. Lipi Singh is the daughter of retired IAS officer Ramchandra Prasad Singh. Currently, he is serving as a Janata Dal (United) leader.
    2. Lipi became the first female police officer in Bihar’s Barh district.
    3. She is appreciated for her approach to crimes in the state. She is known for her contribution to the recovery of an automatic rifle and grenades from MLA Anant Singh’s house in 2019.
    4. Earlier, people called her ‘Lady Singham’ but after the Munger incident, she is being addressed as Lipi Singh Dyer.
    She has been suspended but people aren’t happy and are demanding much stricter action against her.
    Munger SP Lipi Singh suspended.
    — Suresh Nakhua (सुरेश नाखुआ) (@SureshNakhua) October 28, 2020
    How People Reacted To Her Suspension?People want her to be arrested for not following protocols which resulted in the massacre. Here are the reactions:
    According to me, Lipi Singh should be dismissed from servic Poor Hindus get only to increase their medal @nto1927 @SushilModi @officecmbihar @AmitShahOffice @AmitShah @AggrawalAman #LipiSinghDyer #lipisunghdismissed #MUNGERMASSACRE #MungerKillings #MungerTruth https://t.co/G0r3qTsnid
    — Amit Kumar↗️ (@amitkumarid) October 28, 2020Not mere suspension .
    Speedy trial and death penality for #LipiSinghDyer pic.twitter.com/vdXiufe9sW
    — Right Wing Boy (@Opinion_Unsaid) October 28, 2020#LipiSinghDyer
    Lipi singh "the butcher of munger"....
    — PROFESSOR (@PROFESS41480476) October 28, 2020Arrest her ....she crosses the limit of cruelty ........towards hindus..#LipiSinghDyer
    — Shubham Verma (@Shubham12698292) October 28, 2020This picture will haunt and make me weep for days. A dear H died merely for praying to his Gods.

    This fraud republic lusts for the blood of Hindus and IAS IPS are the most treacherous of the lot. #LipiSinghDyer we’ll pray that the worst fate is bestowed upon you. pic.twitter.com/pBsToAZovm
    — Priyanshu soni (@ImPriyanshuSoni) October 28, 2020Why the hell media is referring this coward , Killer Lipi Singh as Lady Singham , She is just a Blot on Indian Police Service , She should be booked under 302 and should be Terminated From the service #Bihar #मुंगेर_नरसंहार #LipiSinghDyer pic.twitter.com/OPd5ZZ2gf4
    — Ankit Mishra 🇮🇳 (@Ankitt_tt) October 28, 2020However, according to Munger police, the fire was opened by someone from the crowd and not by them. Do you agree with people’s opinions on this? Let us know in the comments section below.

    View the full article
  11. ADMIN
    After being stuck inside our homes for what feels like forever, literally, every single person is craving a change in scenery and an Italian town may be the answer to our prayers.
    A picturesque town in Italy with a house that all of us can afford to buy? Sold!
    Reportedly, Salemi, a town in Sicily, Italy is trying to combat depopulation with a genius idea - selling off the abandoned houses for such a bargain that it seems unreal.
    © Visit Sicily
    Yep, the houses are going to be auctioned off for a price as low as €1, or ₹86. Hmm, it honestly seems way too good to be true, but apparently, it is.

    The story behind the population of town going down so much goes back to the 68s, Due to a tragic earthquake back in 1968 in Sicily's Belice Valley, the town so as much as 4,000 residents fleeing.
    © Wikimedia
    The town's mayor, Domenico Venuti, is hoping this new scheme will help rebuild the town and breathe some life back into it.

    While speaking to CNN Travel, he said, "All buildings belong to the city council, which speeds up the sale and reduces red tape. Before launching the scheme we first had to recover the old parts of Salemi where the houses are located, upgrading infrastructures and services from roads to electric grids and sewage pipes. Now the town is ready for the next step."
    © Salemi
    Of course, there's a little catch. Due to the pandemic, buyers aren't required to be physically present in Salemi. They will, however, need to submit a detailed restyling plan. Those planning on converting properties into a business will receive extra points and tax credits.

    Another requirement is a deposit of €3,000, or about ₹2.6 lakhs, which will be returned if the renovation is complete within three years. Still not a bad deal at all.
    © Salemi
    When the project actually goes live, people who are interested can download application forms on the city council’s institutional website. 


    View the full article
  12. ADMIN
    In what has turned out to be one of the most exciting seasons, the thirteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is now reaching the end of the league stage. With only four spots up for grabs, the fight for the Playoffs has been intense.
    As the likes of Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) continue to lead the table, as many four teams are in the fray for squeezing their way into the Playoffs. Amid those four teams, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) gave their Playoffs chances a major boost after handing an 88-run defeat to Delhi in Dubai.
    © Twitter/@IPL
    A 107-run opening partnership between skipper David Warner (66) and Wriddhiman Saha (87) gave Hyderabad a cracking start, while Manish Pandey (44*) provided the final flourish that saw the 'Orange brigade' posting a mammoth total of 219 runs. 

    In reply, Delhi succumbed to an ever-increasing asking rate as Rashid Khan (3-7) recorded the best bowling figures of the season.

    While the victory saw Hyderabad securing two crucial points, it further made captain Warner's 34th birthday sweeter. With the morale in the SRH camp high, the Hyderabad players were seen engrossed in a wild cake celebration. 
    A video of the entire episode was shared by SRH on Twitter where the players, including Warner, were seen battling it out in a cake fight.
    Watch what happened in the dressing room after our crucial game last night 🧡

    Don't miss the cake rituals too, #OrangeArmy #SRHvDC #KeepRising #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/3802fTzpjr
    — SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) October 28, 2020
    The video shows the Hyderabad captain getting cake smeared on his face by his teammates. In a bid to get back at them, Warner was seen chasing them and throwing cake in their direction. Such was Warner's menace that he didn't even spare their bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan.
    With five wins in 12 matches, Hyderabad are currently placed at the sixth spot in the points table with 10 points to their name. 
    After cutting a sorry figure for Delhi, Warner-led Hyderabad's next test will be against Bangalore on 31st October before the crucial clash against Mumbai on 3rd November.

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  21. ADMIN
    After months of pressure, media scrutiny and growing resentment, Barcelona's 40th and arguably most disliked president Josep Maria Bartomeu announced his resignation alongside his board of directors to the sheer jubilation of fans. For someone who rose to power after Sandro Rosell's resignation amid the Neymar transfer saga, Bartomeu's fall was quite similar as had a falling out with club's biggest star Messi.

    © Reuters
    If the fall-out with the club's biggest star wasn't enough, the fact that Barcelona's finances were in a bad shape further dented Bartomeu's reputation. Big spending, instigated by panic, on salaries and transfer fees added to Barcelona's woes and the pandemic cutting football profits ensured the club, that had extremely high revenues over the years, simply ran out of money.

    Tired, embarrassed and frustrated by Bartomeu's disgraceful reign, Barcelona members triggered a vote of no confidence that was set to take place in coming weeks. But, rather getting the collective boot in the high-priority meeting, Bartomeu decided to kick himself out of the position he has undeniably used for his own benefit over the years.
    Today I have announced my resignation and that of the rest of the FC Barcelona Board of Directors. Here I explain my reasons and briefly look back at these years in charge.
    I am proud to have served the club. Visca el Barça i visca Catalunya! https://t.co/McHLos0f9y
    — Josep Maria Bartomeu (@jmbartomeu) October 27, 2020
    "The easiest thing after the Champions (League defeat) was to resign, but one had to take decisions amid an unprecedented global crisis. Who would have ensured that Messi stayed? Who would have hired a new coach?" Bartomeu, in an apparent attempt to win back fans, said during his televised speech.


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  22. ADMIN
    It's great to get creative when naming your restaurant because well, everyone appreciates a pun and it makes it stand out. But, how far is too far?
    After seeing countless plays on PornHub, from using wordplay on the name or simply taking a similar logo, a new restaurant is being noticed by people online and its hilarity lies in its simplicity.
    © Facebook/Eat Cock
    A restaurant in Hyderabad may be pushing it too far with their extremely NSFW name but at least it's making them stand out. I don't know if it helped increase the business or not.
    © Facebook/Eat Cock
    Yep, eating at a restaurant called 'Eat Cock' doesn't sound that appetizing to me, but to each their own I guess. 

    The really out-there restaurant name was spotted by someone on Reddit and after sharing the picture, people can't help but guess if it was a complete accident or actually intentional. At this point, I don't know what option is better, though.
    © Facebook/Eat Cock
    On second thought, looking at the logo, it definitely has to be intentional. I mean, you can't get more phallic than this.

    Spotted in Hyderabad from r/indiaThe general consensus is - they knew, for sure.
    © Reddit
    Is it just me or is it getting too much?
    © Reddit
    Uhh.
    © Reddit
    The logo will haunt us for a long time.
    © Reddit
    Oh no.
    © Reddit

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  23. ADMIN
    Watch Dogs: Legion seemed like an ambitious project when I first saw its preview at E3 last year. However, I remained quite sceptical. A game of this scale is something that has never been achieved before where you can play as literally anyone from the world. Ubisoft challenged the status quo of non-playable characters by making them well— playable. While I felt this project was quite ambitious, it does come at a cost which we will detail later in the review. I got to experience the game set in a futuristic London and played through the entire game for this review. I will be talking about the story, the gameplay, performance and what I think about the game as a whole. Here’s MensXP’s review of Watch Dogs: Legion. 
    Story and Features  © Ubisoft
    The game starts with a mission where you play as a 'DedSec' operative loosely based on James Bond who infiltrates the British parliament and tries to save it from a Guy Fawkes-esque attack. The parliament has been rigged with explosives and as a member of DedSec, it’s your job to foil the plan. After you successfully defuse the bombs you realise that the terrorist attack was part of a bigger plot with multiple bombs going off across the city. It turns out you’ve been framed by a hacker and terrorist group called ‘Zero Day’. Soon after the bombings, you’re hunted by Albion, a private military organisation hired by the British Government. In the process, resistance organisation DedSec is wiped out by Albion in a purge where its leader 'Sabine Brandt' escapes narrowly. 

    © Ubisoft
    The game then lets you choose one new character from multiple recruits and your first task is to regroup with other surviving DedSec members. The group barely has any members left and it is your job to recruit new operators so that you can build DedSec back up and solve the ‘Zero Day’ mystery to clear its name. 

    © Ubisoft
    At this point, the game introduces you to its ambitious new recruiting system where you can literally recruit anyone from the street. As a hacker, you can simply press the 'L1' button to know more about each character and you can get to know details such as their abilities, gadgets and weapons proficiency. Not every character has the same abilities where some might be better with gadgets, while others might be faster at hacking.

    © Ubisoft
    Each character comes with their advantages and disadvantages where one character would come with a silenced weapon but will lack the skill to hack faster or from a great distance. Similarly, characters that are great at hacking might not be particularly good at hand-to-hand combat or using weapons. No character is similar to the other in terms of passive abilities, however since this system has been implemented at such a large scale, there were plenty of sacrifices made. 

    For starters, there’s no real incentive to recruit several operatives as in our gameplay we completed the game with just six operators. However, our biggest complaint from this system was the lack of character development for new recruits. It was bound to happen simply due to the sheer scale of the concept, however it still doesn’t excuse the limited character development in this game. 
    I would have preferred a pool of 25-50 unique NPCs in the game rather than just generic characters you can recruit from the world. For example, no matter who you try to recruit, the cutscene is going to be more or less the same. Recruits lack any backstories and their dialogue did not carry any weight for me to care enough about them. Every character recruitment process would go something like this:
    Recruit: “Are you with DedSec? If you do this for me, I’ll join up.”
    You: “Sure, let me see what we can do”
    You then would have to do a short side mission usually involving infiltrating a building and getting what the recruit needs. Sure we would get some background information about the character you’re about to recruit from our AI partner ‘Bagley’ but it wasn’t consequential to the overall narrative.  
    If the game implemented a pool of recruits that were memorable, had great backstories and well-acted cut-scenes, I would have cared far more about them than I did. This is because the game implements a permanent death system where if your operative dies, you cannot play with the same character again. You can turn off this feature from the settings of course, however if your character does die in the game, he/she is just “injured” instead and is unplayable for an hour. 
    The reason why I’m complaining about the recruits is simply because their individual stories would have added more to the overall narrative by a whole lot. It would have added more weight to the permadeath system because it would have made me care more about my recruits. Since they can be easily replaced, I didn’t bother recruiting more than I needed to complete the game. 
    © Ubisoft
    Speaking of the story, Watch Dogs: Legion’s narrative is a single-player experience full of missions, side quests and other activities to do in the game. However, the overall narrative of the game was quite predictable and did not match the tone of the game. The story is about evil authoritarian organisations like Albion run by 'Nigel Cass’ and corrupt criminal groups like 'Clan Kelly' led by gang leader ‘Mary Kelly’ who use their unmatched power to control the city of London. 

    There’s corruption, abuse of power and false flag operations taking place in the city that gets downplayed by the game’s playful and goofy tone of presentation. The subject matter of the game is quite serious but due to the game’s tone, I didn’t feel invested in the overall narrative of the game. Sure there are some nice twists at the end of each main story arc, but none of them were groundbreaking or thought-provoking in my opinion. While the story felt quite generic, Watch Dogs: Legion does make up for it with its gameplay and mechanics. 
    Gameplay Watch Dogs: Legion’s strongest suit is probably the gameplay where you need to use a variety of gadgets, weapons and hacking abilities to clear levels and missions. You can use gadgets for invisibility or hack away the environment to set up shock traps for your enemies around a room. There are multiple ways for you to approach a mission where you can either use stealth or go in all guns blazing. We mostly used stealth tactics to approach missions because if you tried to go in guns blazing, your enemies would then become bullet sponges. You can even climb up on a cargo drone, fly over your enemies and use a bird’s eye view to strategise your infiltration. You can even simply fly straight to the objective in certain cases without even having fired a single bullet from your gun. 
    © Ubisoft
    The game heavily relies on using gadgets such as the ‘spiderbot' which you can use remotely to access hacking points in a building to make your infiltration easier. Using the spiderbot can also be fun as many segments involve platforming. If you plan on going guns blazing, we recommend using a character that has a silenced weapon on them otherwise you will be overwhelmed with enemies and drones that will start hunting you the moment you make any noise. We also recommend equipping the AR invisibility cloak if you plan on going in guns blazing so that you have a slight advantage when combating enemies. 

    © Ubisoft
    Hacking plays a crucial part in the game which can give you an advantage if you know what you are doing. While hacking is quite straightforward in the game where you simply need to click a button, it’s what you can do with the feature that’s more important. We could hack turrets, drones, cars and security systems which we then used against our enemies before even stepping a foot inside a restricted area. You will need to acquire and spend ‘Tech Points’ to upgrade abilities to hack enemy gadgets. These points can be acquired by completing missions or collecting them from random locations. Every ability you upgrade is not bound to a particular character since all of the progress is shared amongst your recruits. You will just need to edit their load-outs according to your preference with gadgets and weapons of your choice. 

    Apart from story and side missions, there isn’t much else to do in the game apart from a few activities. There are some mini-games such as playing “Kick-up”, a football mini-game where you need to co-ordinate between buttons to juggle a ball. These activities are just as boring as they sound and do not deliver that sandbox experience you might be expecting from the game.  
    Other in-game activities include disrupting Albion propaganda, helping civilians escape from Albion officers, and painting walls with DedSec propaganda. There was only one mini-game or side mission that I enjoyed as it involved underground fighting rings. You would get rewarded with new potential recruits and improve your hand-to-hand combat abilities in the process.
    Performance  © Ubisoft
    Ubisoft is known for making great world designs and the city of London looks incredible in the game. I’ve lived in London for more than half a decade and it was quite reassuring to see how accurately the city has been depicted in the game. It is full of real-world locations such as Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, the London Eye, amongst many others. Many of the areas have been crafted keeping each region, its demographics and condition in mind. London looks its best at night when you start noticing all the lights, shopping streets and iconic buildings London is known to have. Ubisoft has truly created an immersive world where one does feel like you’re walking down a street in London. 

    © Ubisoft
    To keep the immersion intact, Watch Dogs: Legion also utilises weather quite accurately. If you’ve never been to London, you need to know that it can rain at any time of the year and sometimes multiple times in a day. London is quite gloomy most of the year which has been well represented in the game. Having said that, there were times when the rain particle density would be higher than usual and impair our vision. It’s a minor glitch in the game that will probably be fixed via a patch soon. 

    © Ubisoft
    While the city looks incredible, we were quite disappointed by every character model in cut-scenes and in-game as well. Faces would look like they’ve been made out of clay and not look realistic enough or believable. Other details such as hair, facial hair and expressions would not look pleasing to the eye in almost every scenario. This is probably because most of the characters you play with are randomly generated and have not been specifically designed as you would expect from a single-player game. The only characters that look realistic are the main antagonists of the game since they are the only ones who have probably been specifically designed. We could see some improvements in this department for the next-gen versions of the game, however that remains to be seen when we get to check out the game on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. 

    The Final VerdictWatch Dogs: Legion utilises an ambitious concept with its new recruiting feature but lacks great execution. The game is held back by its generic character development and lacklustre story, however it makes up for its shortcomings with highly enjoyable gameplay. There’s a lot of fun to be had in the immersive open-world setting of London with a huge potential for the multiplayer mode that could deliver some great co-op experiences. I can see myself spending countless hours in the game only if the upcoming multiplayer mode is executed well and done right.

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