There’s a moment at Turin's Teatro Regio when I have to pinch myself. It’s revealed that we’re about to have dinner on the stage of the 285-year-old theatre. Originally built in the 18th century and restored in the 1970s by architect Carlo Mollino, the space is a masterpiece of Italian modernism and operatic heritage – and, for me, something of a coup for scoring such an elusive seat.
I am here with Zegna and Mytheresa, celebrating the Italian house’s latest campaign with actor Mads Mikkelsen, shot in this very theatre. The evening is hosted by Michael Kliger, chief executive of Mytheresa, and Alessandro Sartori, artistic director of Zegna.
As I sit above the orchestra pit, gazing out at a phantom audience, conversation flows easily between guests – actors, directors, style icons, from Dhafer L’Abidine and Daniel Bruhl to Abdulla Al Kaabi and Auro Montanari.
Then, a hush falls. The curtain rises a few metres from our table and suddenly we’re immersed in live performances of arias from La Boheme and La Traviata – a tribute to the theatre’s legacy as the stage for Puccini’s 1896 premiere under Arturo Toscanini.
Mytheresa has always taken a counter-intuitive position in the world of e-commerce. Rather than stock everything, it curates. In an age of mega-warehouses and AI recommendations, this feels almost radical. The platform works closely with the world’s top brands on exclusive capsule collections available only through Mytheresa.
The evening in Turin also marked the launch of one such collaboration: Zegna x Mytheresa Men: The Exclusive Runway Styles. The guest list was a blend of Mytheresa clients, Zegna friends and press – seated together at one long table. The idea is to dissolve hierarchy and create the kind of effortless, cross-world conversation that only happens in a fantastical setting.
“I always imagine they come back and meet friends who maybe had dinner at the Ritz,” says Kliger. “And their friends ask: ‘So what did you do this weekend?’ And they can say: ‘You know what I did? I had dinner in the opera, in Turin, on the stage – the whole thing just for us.”
He continues: “How can we give our clients memories to share again? It needs to be special. It doesn’t need to be super-expensive – that’s not the point. Was there something in the air? That’s what matters.”
And on the night, there was certainly something in the air. As the editor of a lifestyle magazine, I get to see more than my fair share of wonderful things around the world. But even then, a night like this feels special.
After the dinner is over, L'Abidine and myself decide to ditch the transport arranged for us and walk through the city. The air is crisp and it feels like a scene out of a movie walking along the streets with this matinee idol in our tuxedos.
The following morning, we explore the city behind the wheels of restored classic Fiat 500s, another product of Turin, driving from Castello del Valentino to the Ristorante Del Cambio – one of Italy’s oldest and most celebrated dining institutions.
At the outset, each car’s owner stands proudly beside their vehicle, dressed in colour-co-ordinated Zegna knitwear. I make a beeline for the red Abarth. It’s an unforgettable way to see the city – and the smile never leaves my face, despite the rain and rock-hard suspension.
“We serve a very elite crowd,” Kliger says as we recap the previous night’s events. “Last night was an amazing example – dinner in a privatised opera house, singers three metres away. I always tell my team: We’re successful if our clients go back with two or three stories to tell.'”
It is, quite literally, an experience money can’t buy. You can’t simply decide to dine on the stage of the Teatro Regio. In a time when so much of our consumption is driven by algorithms, it’s reassuring to know that somewhere, someone is still crafting experiences designed to be remembered. I’ve certainly come back home with a couple of stories to tell.
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Valladolid v Osasuna (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Valencia v Athletic Bilbao (5pm), Getafe v Sevilla (7.15pm), Huesca v Alaves (9.30pm), Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Real Sociedad v Eibar (5pm), Real Betis v Villarreal (7.15pm), Elche v Granada (9.30pm), Barcelona v Levante (midnight)
Monday Celta Vigo v Cadiz (midnight)
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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