While some relationships grew even stronger after spending 24 hours a day, seven days a week together, plenty of other celebrity romances imploded.
As Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich become the latest A-list casualties of love lost in lockdown, we look back at the couples who couldn’t overcome all that time spent together.
Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich
The US Dancing With The Stars alumna filed for divorce from her Canadian former-NHL player husband on November 3, six months after they announced their separation on May 29.
Suspicions were raised when Hough began quarantining separately from her husband of three years in March – she in California and him in Idaho.
Demi Lovato and Max Ehrich
The romance that went from zero to 60 in under 0.3 seconds fizzled out just as fast as it heated up in September. The relationship between the singer and the Under The Dome actor began in May, and he soon popped the question with a $1 million diamond ring in June.
However in the space of a few months, Lovato went from, “I knew I loved you from the moment I met you” to “quarantine either makes or breaks the deal.”
Armie Hammer and Elizabeth Chambers
The Rebecca actor and his bakery entrepreneur wife called it quits in July after 10 years of marriage. Having quarantined in the Cayman Islands together, along with their two children, the moment lockdown finished, Hammer jetted back to the US alone.
"I don't think I handled it very well," he told GQ. "I think, to be frank, I came very close to completely losing my mind."
Cardi B and Offset
Nearly three years after Cardi and Offset wed, the mum-of-one filed for divorce on September 15. However, according to Page Six, Cardi B has had yet another change of heart and petitioned to dismiss her divorce on Monday, November 2.
"You know how I be arguing with y'all on social media? That's exactly how we are, between me and my man," the WAP rapper told her Instagram followers in October.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock
Singer-turned-talk show host, Clarkson filed for divorce from her husband in June, after almost seven years together. The pair had been quarantining in Montana with their two children, River Rose, 6, and Remington, 4, before Clarkson filed in LA.
She’s been working on new music that she says will address the split.
Sofia Richie and Scott Disick
Breaking up in May after almost three years together, the model and the reality TV star split after Disick’s most recent stint in rehab where he sought treatment for “past traumas”.
Scott, who has three children with his ex Kourtney Kardashian, is said to have moved back in with her to continue quarantining with them.
Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse
The Riverdale co-stars called it quits in March at the start of lockdown, their second split and this time their final one.
"What an incredible experience I had," the former Disney star wrote on his Instagram. "I wish her nothing but the utmost love and happiness." Following the break-up, Sprouse opted to quarantine with his Riverdale co-star, KJ Apa, who plays Archie in the hit show.
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green
After a very public split and reconciliation back in 2015, the couple, who share three sons, confirmed in May that their marriage was over for good. While Fox moved onto a new romance with actor and singer, Machine Gun Kelly, Green insisted, “I will always love her, and I know she will always love me.”
However, the pair recently had an Instagram fall-out after Green posted a photo of their son, Journey, prompting Fox to comment: "I know you love your kids. But I don't know why you can't stop using them to posture via social media."
Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson
Following her split from her actor husband Liam Hemsworth, Cyrus began dating another Australian, this time singer, Cody Simpson.
However, the couple called it quits in August with Cyrus saying of her next relationship: “I’m super into clean eating. I mean, people taking care of themselves. I knew that the place to meet my next partner was not going to be at Burger King.”
Taraji P Henson and Kelvin Hayden
Hidden Figures actress Henson had previously postponed her summer wedding to former NFL player Kelvin Hayden back in April.
But the star revealed in October that the postponement had become a cancellation, and that after two years together, they had called it quits.
Olivier Sarkozy and Mary-Kate Olsen
The businessman half-brother of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his actress-turned-designer wife, Olsen split dramatically back in May. Olsen lodged an emergency divorce petition in New York, which stated: “This is… an emergency because my husband expects me to move out of our home… in the middle of New York City being on pause due to Covid-19.”
However, the plea was rejected as an “emergency” due to the pandemic and she re-filed after restrictions were lifted.
Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari
The couple was holidaying in the Bahamas when the first lockdown came into force. But when the family returned to Nashville, The Hills star filed for divorce from her former NFL quarterback husband of seven years, announcing it on Instagram in April.
Although she called the split a “loving conclusion”, things soon went south, with the mum-of-three claiming in her petition that “he attempted to intimidate” her into a parenting plan she did not agree to.
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Read more:
Singer Demi Lovato steps out in shoes by Jordanian designer Amina Muaddi
From Adele to Miley Cyrus, here are nine artists delaying their albums due to Covid-19
Listen to Kelly Clarkson sing in Arabic thanks to her new single
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Indika
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Bayern: Zirkzee (26'), Goretzka (86')
Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)
Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s
5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1:06.004
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 1:07.100
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713,
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