Babette Wasserman E-type cuff. Courtesy: Babette Wasserman
Babette Wasserman E-type cuff. Courtesy: Babette Wasserman

The Black Book for October 2014



Babette Wasserman cufflinks

The classically trained jewellery designer Babette Wasserman has launched her latest collection, which includes a selection of sleek, pure silver cufflinks with accents of coloured thread intertwined within the design. We love the quirkier pieces, which include bicycle, vintage radio, camera, striped sock and even E-Type Jaguar designs showcasing Wasserman’s more light-hearted, contemporary side. Known for experimenting with a multitude of glittering stones, metals, materials, colours and forms, Wasserman has a loyal celebrity following that includes Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Prince Harry, Cheryl Cole and Kimberley Walsh. Elegant and fresh, the collection combines masculinity with a hint of cheekiness and fun, and is perfect for the modern man. These pieces and more will be available at the Babette Wasserman store in Emirates Towers, Dubai, until the end of this year.

The Dubai Edition scarves by Mia Jafari

The London-based, Iranian-born print designer Mia Jafari marks her UAE debut with The Dubai Edition, a collection of nine limited-edition silk scarves and shawls. The line is the designer’s love letter to this vibrant city, with each scarf presenting Jafari’s own playful celebration of the city’s ever-changing milieu: from the traditional, spiritual and romantic to the cosmopolitan, technological and luxurious. The limited-edition prints are a whimsical interpretation of Eastern landscapes, exploding with kitsch iconography. Jafari’s prints are expertly and ethically produced in the United Kingdom using only the highest-quality silk fabrics and digital-printing techniques.

Made-to-Order by Jimmy Choo

A Made-to-Order service introduced by Jimmy Choo offers customers a tempting suite of signature styles that can be custom-made in myriad colours, textures and finishes. The tradition of made-to-order shoes can be traced back to the company’s roots and has continued quietly as Jimmy Choo has grown from a small London atelier to a global luxury brand. Clients have always requested special fabrications, an exotic material or a unique colour for special events – and the Made-to-Order service is an extension of this process. The creative director, Sandra Choi, has selected her favourite Jimmy Choo silhouettes for inclusion in the Made-to-Order programme – clients can choose from an array of delicate suedes, lustrous satins, sumptuous leathers, glitter, crocodile or exotic snakeskins. For an extra bespoke touch, Made-to-Order customers are offered the chance to personalise the soles of their shoes with monogrammed initials. The service will be available at select Jimmy Choo stores in the UAE: in Dubai from October 15 to 18 at Harvey Nichols in Mall of the Emirates and on October 20 and 21 at The Sofitel in Downtown Dubai, and in Abu Dhabi on October 23 and 24 at The Galleria and October 25 at the Rosewood Hotel.

alane@thenational.ae

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

CREW
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERajesh%20A%20Krishnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETabu%2C%20Kareena%20Kapoor%20Khan%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A