TOURISTS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO VISIT BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES ALONG INDO-CHINA BORDER.

BY REPORTER 21

PUBLISHED 13/10/2021 AT GMT+3

Tourists will soon be able to visit beautiful villages along Indo-China border.

Tourists will soon be able to visit beautiful villages along Indo-China border.

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The Union government has announced plans to open the villages along the Chinese border for tourists under the Vibrant Village programme. With regard to this, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held a meeting with public representatives of such villages from a number of states, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, the Union Territory of Ladakh, and Arunachal Pradesh.

As per the revised Border Areas Development Plan (BADP), there are around 198 villages within the 242 km border of Himachal Pradesh with China. To start with, those villages will be taken up on priority that are situated within a 10 km distance from the last border village.

Reports have it that the last village on the border will be spotted from where an arch will be drawn to select villages that fall within the 10 km distance for development, and setting up of all necessary facilities. This will in turn help to integrate the border villages and also check the migration of tribal people.

Chitkul, Chango, and Namgia are some of the villages that are situated closest to the international border. And there are nine passes (seven in Kinnaur, two in Lahaul and Spiti) along the international boundary between India and China.

Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh said that the detailed project reports (DPRs) for the development of border villages are being prepared under the Vibrant Villages Programme to avail the benefits of the scheme in the next financial year (2022-23). He further added that talks have been held with the Secretary Border Management and the Deputy Commissioners of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts have been sensitized.

Under the BADP, the selected villages will be provided livelihood and all things required to fill the critical gaps with focus on developing tourist sites, strengthening communication, accessible road connectivity, and other facilities.

LOOK OF THE WEEK: BLACKPINK HEADLINE COACHELLA IN KOREAN HANBOKS

BY REPORTER 12

PUBLISHED 10/05/2023 AT GMT+3

Bringing the second day of this year's Coachella to a close, K-Pop girl group Blackpink made history Saturday night when they became the first Asian act to ever headline the festival.

Bringing the second day of this year's Coachella to a close, K-Pop girl group Blackpink made history Saturday night when they became the first Asian act to ever headline the festival. To a crowd of, reportedly, over 125,000 people, Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé used the ground-breaking moment to pay homage to Korean heritage by arriving onstage in hanboks: a traditional type of dress.

While the garments were shrugged off a few seconds into their opening track, "Pink Venom," revealing each member's custom black and pink Dolce and Gabbana outfit, fans across the world had already received the message. Screenshots of the moment quickly spread among Blackpink superfans, otherwise known as Blinks. "The way they stepped onto the biggest western stage in hanboks ... literally proved their place at the top of the industry," tweeted one Blink. "Blackpink really are in a league of their own."

Another called the group "Korea's cultural delegation" on Instagram, in reference to not only the hanboks but other visual cues incorporated into their show, such as one of the stage backdrops featuring an angular tiled roof reminiscent of traditional Korean architecture.

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In recent years, Blackpink have enjoyed a meteoric rise to global fame. According to Guinness World Records, they are currently the most streamed female group on Spotify, and have the most-viewed music YouTube channel. Last year, they were the first female K-Pop group to reach number 1 in the UK and US album charts, and in 2020 their track "How You Like That" became the most viewed video on YouTube in 24 hours. (The group also wore modernized hanboks, designed by Kim Danha, in one of the music video's scenes.) Their landmark set over the weekend was in fact a follow-up to another milestone: In 2019, they became the first female K-Pop group to ever play at Coachella or any other US festival.

From the iconic Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra worn by Madonna for her 1990 Blond Ambition tour to Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell's Union Jack mini dress, the right stage costume can live on forever in public memory. Particularly when worn at a career-defining moment. During another watershed Coachella performance — Beyonce's 2018 headline set — the singer's custom Balmain collegiate-style yellow hoodie was a joyful nod to Black culture, specifically historically Black colleagues and universities.

The group's four black hanboks were custom created by South Korean pattern design brand OUWR and traditional Korean dressmakers Kumdanje. Inspired by the Cheol-lik silhouette, each garment was hand-embroidered with metallic traditional Korean motifs, including dan-cheong patterns and peonies (a symbol of royalty in Korea). "It was our pleasure and such an honor to be able to show the beautiful values of Korea and Hanbok together," the designers wrote in a combined Instagram post. "Blackpink showed the beauty of Korea and dazzled the world."

EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE THEME, HOSTS AND GUESTS

BY REPORTER 12

PUBLISHED 10/05/2023 AT GMT+3

The Met Gala is fast approaching. Tonight's event is a mainstay on the calendars of celebrities, fashion's elite and New York high society, the extravagant event.

The Met Gala is fast approaching. Tonight's event is a mainstay on the calendars of celebrities, fashion's elite and New York high society, the extravagant event. Officially called the Costume Institute Benefit, it takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the first Monday in May, with guests dressed in keeping with the gala's theme (or ignoring it altogether).

This year, the dress code is "In honor of Karl," a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld, the late fashion juggernaut with an indelible influence but controversial reputation. All eyes will be on the red carpet to see how guests interpret Lagerfeld's complicated legacy — as well as if his beloved tortie cat, Choupette, will strut up the museum's front steps.

Co-chairing this year's event are actors Michaela Coel and Penélope Cruz, tennis giant Roger Federer, singer Dua Lipa and, as always, Vogue's editorial director Anna Wintour.

Lagerfeld's career will also be explored in the Costume Institute's spring exhibition "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," opening to the public the following day.

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A long legacy

Serving as creative director of the storied French fashion house Chanel from 1983 until his death in February 2019, as well as the luxury Italian house Fendi from 1965, the German fashion designer loomed tall within the fashion industry. He left his mark on Chloé, Patou and Balmain as well over the course of his long career, working with each fashion house in different capacities (in addition to his own eponymous label), and has influenced countless others.

His final Fendi collection was shown at Milan Fashion Week just days after his death, with models including Gigi and Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber walking the runway. The following month, Cruz made her runway debut at his final Chanel presentation.