Queen Elizabeth II dies — follow the latest news as the world mourns
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has paused producing new episodes of her Archetypes podcast series after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, an alert on her platform said.
Earlier on Monday, her husband Prince Harry paid tribute to the late queen, whom he called his “guiding compass”.
The prince also recounted cherished childhood memories of Queen Elizabeth and her late husband Prince Philip.
“Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings … You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over,” Prince Harry wrote.
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Britain's William, Prince of Wales, second left, his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, left, along with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, look at floral tributes as they walk outside Windsor Castle. Reuters -

Left to right: The Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle. AFP -

The royals meet people outside Windsor Castle. AP -

Walking together outside Windsor Castle. Reuters -

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are staying at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate, just a stone's throw from Prince William and his wife Kate's new home, Adelaide Cottage. PA -

The royals speak and shake hands with different sides of the cheering crowds. AP -

A pause to look at floral tributes laid by members of the public on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle. AFP -

Prince Harry points at a floral tribute. Reuters -

In his first speech as king on Friday, Charles, 73, spoke of his love for his second son and daughter-in-law. AP -

The two couples had last been seen together at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2020. Reuters
In his first public statement since the queen's death, Prince Harry said that the UK must now honour King Charles III, his father.
Prince Harry and Meghan became increasingly alienated from his family after stepping down from royal duties in 2020.
The couple were coincidentally in the country attending charity events when the queen died. They unexpectedly appeared with Prince William and his wife Kate for a walkabout near Windsor Castle on Saturday.
A royal source told Reuters that the moment demonstrated an important show of unity between the brothers.
The Duchess of Sussex's podcast has so far featured singer Mariah Carey and tennis player Serena Williams as guests.
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A tribute altar for Queen Elizabeth II in Green Park in London. AFP -

Ann Doran, 6, looks at floral tributes left in Green Park. Reuters -

Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, look at floral tributes on the Sandringham Estate. AFP -

A drawing of the queen and her husband Prince Philip among flowers outside Windsor Castle. AFP -

Members of the public view floral tributes in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace. PA -

People queue on a bridge over the river Thames to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth in London. Reuters -

A member of the public lights a candle at Windsor Parish Church. AFP -

Residents of the Lawn care home in Alton, Hampshire, decorate an area with photographs of Queen Elizabeth, bunting and their own flower arrangements. PA -

Lloyd's of London chief John Neal delivers remarks honouring the life of Queen Elizabeth during a remembrance ceremony in the atrium of the company's offices in London. Getty Images -

Joyce Buckley, a sponge decorator at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, paints a commemorative mug. PA -

A royalist standing in front of Buckingham Palace. AFP -

Tributes to Queen Elizabeth are viewed at St James's Park in London. Reuters -

Crowds gather outside St. Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile as the queen's coffin passes in Edinburgh. Bloomberg -

Chelsea Pensioners attend a Drumhead service of remembrance, with readings and prayers, in London. Getty Images -

An image of Queen Elizabeth at Green Park Tube station. Reuters -

Vanessa, Anne and Grace, from left to right, wait opposite the Palace of Westminster to be first in line bidding farewell to Queen Elizabeth in London. AP -

A young girl holds Paddington Bear and Corgi stuffed toys while waiting to watch the procession of Queen Elizabeth's coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -

Well-wishers outside Windsor Castle. Getty Images -

Lloyd Smith paints a portrait of Queen Elizabeth in London. AFP -

A child lays flowers outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. AP -

A family leaves flowers outside Buckingham Palace. EPA -

Flowers and tributes, including sunflowers and a Paddington Bear, are left for Queen Elizabeth at the Green Park memorial in London. AP -

People start to camp on The Mall ahead of Queen Elizabeth's coffin being taken from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon by procession on a Gun Carriage to the Palace of Westminster. PA -

Flowers left in St James's Park, London. PA -

A man with his dog arrive early as they wait to view the cortege carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh. Getty Images -

Members of the public gather on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. PA -

Crowds watch as the hearse continues its journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse from Balmoral. PA -

The hearse passing over Queensferry Crossing on its way to Edinburgh. PA -

Flowers left at the Sandringham Estate, one of the queen's residences. EPA -

A Paddington Bear teapot at the Sandringham Estate. EPA -

Flowers left at the gates of the Sandringham Estate. EPA -

Flowers, cards and messages left in St James's Park in London. EPA -

People lay flowers at Buckingham Palace in London. Reuters
Reuters contributed to this report
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
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
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
- Life in the royal residences with Sheikha Osha bint Nahayan
- Sheikha Mahra and Sheikha Sabha recall their time spent in Al Hosn
- A place where problems were solved
- How the fort's rise tracked Abu Dhabi's development
- Meet Frauke Heard-Bey - the fort's historian for 30 years
- In Pictures: Story of a fort
ICC men's cricketer of the year
2004 - Rahul Dravid (IND) ; 2005 - Jacques Kallis (SA) and Andrew Flintoff (ENG); 2006 - Ricky Ponting (AUS); 2007 - Ricky Ponting; 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 2009 - Mitchell Johnson (AUS); 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND); 2011 - Jonathan Trott (ENG); 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 2013 - Michael Clarke (AUS); 2014 - Mitchell Johnson; 2015 - Steve Smith (AUS); 2016 - Ravichandran Ashwin (IND); 2017 - Virat Kohli (IND); 2018 - Virat Kohli; 2019 - Ben Stokes (ENG); 2021 - Shaheen Afridi
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Habtoor interview
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Need to know
Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.
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Sonchiriya
Director: Abhishek Chaubey
Producer: RSVP Movies, Azure Entertainment
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Bhumi Pednekar, Ranvir Shorey
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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Torque: 650Nm
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Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
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While you're here
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'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
SPECS
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
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Britain's travel restrictions
- A negative test 2 days before flying
- Complete passenger locator form
- Book a post-arrival PCR test
- Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
- 11 countries on red list quarantine

