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Pegula and Pliskova power through DDF Tennis Championships knockouts

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World No 3 Jessica Pegula overcame an early scare to defeat qualifier Ana Bogdan by a score of 6-4, 6-3 and go to the quarter-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Bogdan of Romania defeated her top-ranked foe in game two and quickly raced to a 3-1 lead, but Pegula then turned on the jets and won five of the next six games to take the opening set.

Attempting to reach a second successive WTA final after her loss to World No 1 Iga Swiatek in Doha last weekend, Pegula remained on top in the second set, closing the match out in just one hour and 36 minutes to become the first name in the Dubai quarter-finals.

“She came out really intense so I really had to raise my level. I’m just glad I was able to come back in that first set and kept my focus,” said Pegula, whose parents own NFL team Buffalo Bills and NHL outfit Buffalo Sabres.

World No 3 Jessica Pegula is in the quarter-finals.

Madison Keys, a countrywoman of Pegula, kept up her remarkable form by defeating 15th seed Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-1, in just 57 minutes as she attempted to advance to her maiden quarterfinal in Dubai.

With a leg injury, Azarenka appeared to be having trouble moving, but Keys triumphed easily after stunning Caroline Garcia, the fourth seed, in the Round of 32. Keys, a Grand Slam finalist at the US Open, worked really hard to complete the task.

“Obviously not feeling well, but I guess I get to play another match,” said Azarenka. The 27-year-old stated, “I’ll use what I did today and do it again tomorrow. “The only thing you can do in a circumstance like this is concentrate on your own game and make your shots.”

Over on Court One, Karolina Pliskova continued her fine form at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, securing her place in the quarter-finals with a 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 victory over Anhelina Kalinina.

Admitting she feels “relaxed” in Dubai, 2015 runner-up Pliskova followed up her emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over No 6 seed Maria Sakkari in the Round of 32 with another solid performance against the Ukraine’s Kalinina, who dumped out 10th seed Veronika Kudermetova in her opening match.

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UAE fuel prices for June announced: Petrol edges closer to Dh4 a litre

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The UAE announced revised fuel prices for June 2026, with motorists set to pay significantly more for petrol while diesel costs decline compared to the previous month.

The latest adjustment is particularly notable as it marks the country’s first monthly fuel pricing update since formally leaving both OPEC and OPEC+ earlier this year.

Beginning June 1, Super 98 petrol will be priced at Dh3.95 per litre, up from Dh3.66 in May. Special 95 will rise to Dh3.83 per litre from Dh3.55, while E-Plus 91 will increase from Dh3.48 to Dh3.76 per litre.

In contrast, diesel users will benefit from a reduction, with prices falling from Dh4.69 per litre in May to Dh4.33 in June.

The latest increase extends a three-month upward trend in petrol prices, reflecting ongoing volatility in global energy markets and fluctuations in crude oil prices.

Impact on residents

For households across the UAE, fuel price movements remain a key economic indicator, influencing transportation costs, daily commuting expenses and overall household budgets. Rising petrol prices can have a noticeable impact on monthly spending, particularly for residents who rely heavily on private vehicles.

The June pricing announcement comes just weeks after the UAE officially ended its six-decade membership in OPEC and OPEC+, a move that took effect on May 1, 2026.

The revised prices will come into effect from June1, 2026.

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CBSE announces new date for answer sheet verification portal

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed the launch of its online portal for verification, photocopy requests and re-evaluation of answer sheets related to the 2026 board examinations.

The board announced that the Post-Result Activities portal will now go live on June 1 instead of the previously expected schedule.

According to CBSE, the delay is intended to ensure a smoother and more transparent experience for students applying for post-result services following the declaration of board exam results.

In an official statement, the education board said the additional preparation time would help strengthen evaluation protocols and minimise technical issues during the application process.

CBSE added that the revised timeline is aimed at maintaining accuracy and ensuring the system operates efficiently for lakhs of students expected to access the portal for answer book verification and re-evaluation requests.

Students seeking assistance or clarification regarding the process can contact the CBSE Tele-Counselling Helpline or submit queries through the board’s official support email.

The post-result services allow students to apply for answer sheet verification, obtain photocopies of evaluated answer books and request re-evaluation of specific responses after board results are announced.

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Norway Chess 2026: Magnus Carlsen defeats world champion Gukesh in crucial clash

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Round 4 of Norway Chess 2026 produced another dramatic day of elite competition in Oslo, with Magnus Carlsen claiming a crucial victory over reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju in the marquee matchup of the day.

Playing with the black pieces, Carlsen navigated a tense, strategically rich encounter before gradually taking control in the middlegame. Although the position remained balanced for long stretches, mounting pressure and severe time trouble eventually pushed Gukesh into inaccuracies that allowed the Norwegian star to convert his advantage into a full classical win.

The victory marks an important turnaround for Carlsen after a difficult opening phase of the tournament and significantly improves his standing before the home crowd.

Tournament leader Alireza Firouzja was held to a classical draw by Wesley So following a cautious positional battle in which neither player managed to create decisive winning chances. Wesley So later secured victory in the Armageddon tiebreak, earning the additional points.

In another closely fought encounter, Vincent Keymer and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu shared the points after a balanced contest featuring opportunities for both players. Praggnanandhaa later triumphed in Armageddon to collect the bonus points.

Despite the Armageddon loss, Firouzja remains at the top of the standings after four rounds, while Carlsen’s classical victory has reignited his challenge near the top of the leaderboard.

The women’s section of the tournament also delivered another intense round, with all three classical games ending in draws before being decided in Armageddon playoffs.

Humpy Koneru and Zhu Jiner fought a tense encounter that remained level throughout, before Zhu Jiner emerged victorious in the Armageddon decider.

Defending women’s world champion Ju Wenjun managed to hold a difficult position against tournament leader Bibisara Assaubayeva in classical play. Assaubayeva later won the Armageddon game to strengthen her lead in the standings.

Meanwhile, Divya Deshmukh pushed strongly for victory against Anna Muzychuk during a complex middlegame battle, but Muzychuk defended resiliently before going on to win the Armageddon tiebreak.

After four rounds, Assaubayeva continues to lead Norway Chess Women, with Muzychuk, Divya and Zhu Jiner remaining firmly in contention as the tournament heads deeper into its decisive stages.

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