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Catherine Zeta-Jones sports Karen Wazen shades in New York

Catherine Zeta-Jones sports Karen Wazen shades in New York
She opted for the Lily shades, a bold, oversized cat-eye design in glossy black acetate with dark lenses and gold logo detailing on the temples.(Getty Images)
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Catherine Zeta-Jones sports Karen Wazen shades in New York

Catherine Zeta-Jones sports Karen Wazen shades in New York

DUBAI: Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones was spotted this week in New York wearing sunglasses from Dubai-based eyewear label By Karen Wazen, founded by the Lebanese influencer.

The actress was in New York to promote season two of Netflix’s hit series “Wednesday” on “Good Morning America.”

She opted for the Lily shades, a bold, oversized cat-eye design in glossy black acetate with dark lenses and gold logo detailing on the temples.




The actress was in New York to promote season two of Netflix’s hit series “Wednesday” on “Good Morning America.” (Getty Images)

For one appearance, she styled the sunglasses with a fitted black peplum jacket and matching midi skirt, both adorned with vibrant red floral embroidery cascading from the waist and sleeves down the skirt. She completed the look with glossy red pointed-toe stilettos for a pop of color.

Zeta-Jones also incorporated the Karen Wazen shades into another New York look, pairing them with a form-fitting, midi dress featuring a white base, dark burgundy floral patterns and subtle grey streaks. The dress, draped and gathered at the waist, was layered with a classic beige trench coat worn loosely over her shoulders.




Zeta-Jones also incorporated the Karen Wazen shades into another New York look, pairing them with a form-fitting, midi dress. (Instagram)

“Wednesday” follows the teenage years of Wednesday Addams, played by Jenna Ortega, as she attends Nevermore Academy, a boarding school for outcasts with supernatural abilities. While honing her emerging psychic powers, she becomes involved in solving a murder mystery connected to her family’s past.

Zeta-Jones plays Morticia Addams, Wednesday’s glamorous, gothic and fiercely devoted mother. In season two, Morticia takes on a more central role, moving to the Nevermore Academy campus in a philanthropic position and becoming more involved in her daughter’s life, often to Wednesday’s irritation.

Zeta-Jones stars alongside Luis Guzman as Gomez Addams, with new cast additions including Steve Buscemi, Thandiwe Newton and Lady Gaga.

The cast has been actively promoting the new season with appearances and events in the lead-up to its release set for Sept. 3.

For the press tour in London, Ortega championed Arab talent by wearing a head-turning gown from Saudi designer Mohammed Ashi’s label, Ashi Studio. The dress took more than 200 hours of work, the designer said.

“This look began with research into the idea of a second skin, inspired by exotic hides and snake sheds, their scales, faded textures and raw edges,” the designer wrote on Instagram. “We developed custom latex ‘snake skins’ through rare artisanal casting techniques. After sketching the design, the pieces were assembled with a latex specialist, with unfinished edges evoking shed skins.

“Jenna Ortega is wearing a top laid over a corset, paired with a mermaid skirt, the back is laced,” he added.


Kneecap voices support for Palestine during Oslo performance

Kneecap voices support for Palestine during Oslo performance
Updated 1 min 14 sec ago

Kneecap voices support for Palestine during Oslo performance

Kneecap voices support for Palestine during Oslo performance

DUBAI: Irish rap group Kneecap continued to voice their stance on the war in Gaza during their performance in Oslo, Norway, on Friday.

Just before the trio— Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai — took the stage, a message in white text on a black background appeared on a video screen, accusing the Norwegian government of “enabling” the “genocide” against Palestinians through investments in the country’s sovereign wealth fund, referring to it as the “oil pension fund.” 

“Over 80,000 people have been murdered by Israel in 21 months,” the band’s message continued, “Free Palestine.” The message was received with cheers from the audience.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kneecap has supported the Palestinian cause throughout the war in Gaza. The band has been the center of controversy in Britain since last year, when the previous government sought to block an arts grant for the band, citing its anti-British politics. That decision was overturned after the Labour Party won last year’s parliamentary election and Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office.

Last month, the group was banned from entering Hungary for three years over accusations of antisemitism.

They were due to perform at the Sziget Festival on Aug. 11. 

Kneecap said in a statement that their ban was a “further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people.”

At Glastonbury Festival this year, Chara accused Israel of committing war crimes against the Palestinians.

More than 150 Hungarian artists and musicians signed a petition against Kneecap playing at Sziget. 

But festival organizers said that the government’s ban was “both unnecessary and regrettable,” adding the group had “reassured us that their performance would not contravene either Sziget’s values or Hungarian law.”


Celebrity stylist Cedric Haddad launches first online masterclass

Celebrity stylist Cedric Haddad launches first online masterclass
Updated 4 min 21 sec ago

Celebrity stylist Cedric Haddad launches first online masterclass

Celebrity stylist Cedric Haddad launches first online masterclass

DUBAI: Dubai-based Lebanese celebrity stylist Cedric Haddad has unveiled his first online personal styling masterclass, partnering with Maharat to bring his expertise to a wider audience.

Known for dressing some of the Arab world’s biggest stars, Haddad said that the course was designed for “real women navigating real wardrobes” and offered a blend of practicality, personal insight and timeless fashion advice.

“I’ve wanted to create an online masterclass for a while, but I knew it had to be with a team that truly understood me and my vision,” Haddad told Arab News. “When Maharat approached me, I immediately felt a sense of trust. They’re one of the most professional teams I’ve ever worked with … It just felt right. This was the place to do it.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Haddad said that the course was not trend-driven or overly prescriptive, describing it as “straightforward, dynamic, and incredibly easy to follow.” He said it was structured for impact, with each lesson filmed and presented on Maharat’s platform for maximum clarity and accessibility. “It’s fast-paced, informative and designed to deliver real value without unnecessary complexity,” he said.

Haddad said that the course went beyond clothing tips to help participants develop a deeper sense of personal identity through style. “It’s about discovering their fashion personality, where they stand, what resonates with them, and how to reflect their true selves through what they wear,” he said. “Many people don’t realize just how stylish or beautiful they already are. This is a journey of self-discovery through fashion.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Addressing common styling challenges was a key focus, he said, debunking popular fashion misconceptions and offering simple, high-impact tweaks to transform a look. “Sometimes, changing one detail can completely transform an outfit,” he said. The masterclass also teaches women how to make the most of what they already own — reimagining wardrobe staples, mixing and matching creatively, and crafting new outfits without the need for constant shopping, he said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Known for his preference for “simplicity and timeless elegance,” Haddad has styled many celebrities but said he dreamed of working with modern royals and international style icons.

“Whenever I work with a celebrity, my goal is for them to look back at a photo years later and still love what they wore, he said.” “I would love to bring that same approach to women like Queen Rania or Kate Middleton.”


Royal Albert Hall apologizes after couple refused entry over Palestine lapel pin

Royal Albert Hall apologizes after couple refused entry over Palestine lapel pin
Updated 08 August 2025

Royal Albert Hall apologizes after couple refused entry over Palestine lapel pin

Royal Albert Hall apologizes after couple refused entry over Palestine lapel pin
  • Roger Cauthery, 81: ‘We felt extremely upset, not to say humiliated, by their behaviour towards us’
  • Cost of refunded tickets will be donated to charity Medical Aid for Palestinians

LONDON: The head of London’s Royal Albert Hall has apologized to a couple who were denied entry to a concert because of the husband’s Palestinian lapel pin, .

Roger Cauthery, 81, and his wife Angele then stood in the foyer for 15 minutes before a supervisor — who overruled the earlier decision — arrived.

Cauthery said: “We felt extremely upset, not to say humiliated, by their behaviour towards us. I’m a middle-class ex-public school boy brought up to believe that Brits are decent and law abiding and that one can live one’s life freely.

“I was merely showing solidarity with the Palestinian people and expressing my support for what I believe, and the UN believes, is a legitimate state.

“My wife and I feel strongly that Palestine should be recognised as a state and indeed it seems that our government is finally about to do so.

“I have lived in London all my adult life and am very proud of the diversity of my city. It is tragic that this small pin badge should be seen as a threat to the Royal Albert Hall which surely should be one of the symbols of our democracy.

“The result of this incident was that we were too distressed to enjoy the concert and left at the interval.”

James Ainscough, CEO of the RAH, apologized to the couple after being contacted by The Guardian. The decision to prevent their entry “isn’t in line with our policy and was a mistake,” he said.

“As well as writing to apologise for an experience that was understandably upsetting and humiliating, we have offered a full refund and an invitation to return to the hall as our guests, so we can give the couple the warm welcome that was sadly lacking on Friday,” he added. “We have also spoken to our contractor to ensure that a similar situation doesn’t arise again.”

The cost of the refunded tickets will be donated by Cauthery to the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Ainscough hailed the move as “laudable,” while Cauthery said he is “very grateful” for the RAH’s response to the incident.

In his letter to the couple, Ainscough said: “Music has an enduring power to bring people together, and we want the hall to offer a warm welcome to all who come to enjoy our concerts. It is very sad to think that your experience with us on Friday was the very opposite of that.

“I do hope you will consider returning to the hall in the near future so we have an opportunity to give you the warm welcome you should expect.”


Brian Eno, Damon Albarn and more headline benefit concert for Palestine in London

Brian Eno, Damon Albarn and more headline benefit concert for Palestine in London
Updated 08 August 2025

Brian Eno, Damon Albarn and more headline benefit concert for Palestine in London

Brian Eno, Damon Albarn and more headline benefit concert for Palestine in London

DUBAI: Brian Eno, Damon Albarn, Obongjayar, Jamie xx and more are among the top artists set to perform at one of the largest benefit concerts for Palestine since the escalation of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. 

The event, curated by British musician and songwriter Eno, will take place at Wembley Arena in London on Sept. 17.

Titled “Together for Palestine,” the concert unites British and Palestinian musicians at the 12,500-capacity venue to raise funds for Choose Love, a UK charity working with 23 organizations in Gaza to provide food, medical supplies and other forms of aid.

Palestinian musicians Adnan Joubran, Faraj Suleiman and Nai Barghouti will also perform, with additional special appearances by Rina Sawayama, PinkPantheress and Riz Ahmed.

“In the face of the horrors of Gaza, silence becomes complicity,” Eno, a long-time advocate for Palestine, said in a statement. “Artists have always helped societies to point out injustice and imagine better futures. That’s why this concert matters. It’s time for us to come together — not just to raise our voices, but to reaffirm our shared humanity.” 


‘Untamed’ — Strong performances lift this stunningly scenic thriller above the crowd

‘Untamed’ — Strong performances lift this stunningly scenic thriller above the crowd
Updated 08 August 2025

‘Untamed’ — Strong performances lift this stunningly scenic thriller above the crowd

‘Untamed’ — Strong performances lift this stunningly scenic thriller above the crowd

DUBAI: Another week, another Netflix murder-mystery. And yes, its star Kyle Turner (a suitably stony-faced Eric Bana) is a maverick cop (OK, not a cop, but a National Park Service Investigative Services Branch special agent) with an alcohol problem and limited interpersonal skills grudgingly working with rookie park ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago, giving what should be a breakout performance) to solve a murder. A murder that turns out to have links to past events that Turner would rather didn’t come to light. So far, so pretty-sure-I’ve-seen-this-all-before.

But “Untamed” has plenty under its trope-y façade to deserve your attention. First off, there’s the astonishingly beautiful scenery — a constant joy throughout. The show is set in California’s Yosemite National Park, but was shot in British Columbia, Canada (with some shots of Yosemite included). As in several of the best Nordic thrillers, the landscape is as central to the show as any of its characters — as one of the latter points out, it’s easy to forget that civilization and laws exist in the midst of all that wilderness.

Secondly, the cast — almost without exception — are pitch-perfect. Bana avoids the pitfalls of a role that could’ve easily turned into a surly-tough-guy-by-numbers performance, imbuing Turner with an empathy and insightfulness that draws you in. Santiago, similarly, eschews the temptation to make Vasquez a goofy, one-dimensional sidekick, sparking off Bana’s flintiness impressively and showing plenty of steeliness of her own. Sam Neill is typically solid as chief park ranger Paul Souter, Turner’s friend and mentor and Vasquez’s boss. Rosemarie DeWitt is excellent as Turner’s ex-wife Jill Bodwin, a teacher-turned-realtor struggling with the same grief responsible for Turner’s drinking issues. Their marriage may be over, but there’s clearly still an unbreakable bond between them.

And third, the plot twists actually work. Or, at least, some of them do; certainly more than most in the genre. Turner — though clearly a gifted detective — allows his hunches to lead him (and the audience) down a few blind alleys before the whole truth comes out. And creators Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith (Mark’s daughter) make sure there are consequences to his errors, giving his choices a feeling of jeopardy often lacking in crime dramas.

“Untamed” isn’t quite must-see television, but it is an accomplished, confident and engaging thriller that will keep you hooked throughout its six episodes.