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World’s best knights to descend in Dubai for Global Chess League

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Hou Yifan, left, and Magnus Carlsen are among a stellar field for the inaugural Global Chess League.

The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL) have announced the complete list of players for the upcoming inaugural edition, to be held at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club from June 21 to July 2.

The GCL, in association with the Dubai Sports Council, will feature reigning world champion Ding Liren, the top-ranked chess player and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, and four-time women’s world champion Hou Yifan, among others.

Grandmaster Liren, said: “Global Chess League appeared to be a fantastic opportunity from the moment I heard about it. Not only is it an interesting format, but also, as an Icon player, I get to contribute to an exciting concept that will change the face of the chess world for years to come. Further, knowing that GCL will see participation from players worldwide, it will be a strong field, and I look forward to meeting all the players.”

A five-time world champion, and the reigning four-time rapid chess world champion, Carlsen’s peak Fide rating has been the highest in chess history. “Chess is played by many people worldwide, but it needs to catch up to other major sports as a spectator sport, and I am optimistic that GCL will contribute significantly to this.”

All teams will compete in a one-of-a-kind joint team format at GCL, with each team consisting of six players with a minimum of two women chess players per team. Besides Liren and Carlsen, four former world champions will add to the thrilling level of competition – 2021 rapid world champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov, 2008 blitz world winner Leinier Domínguez, three-time blitz world champion Alexander Grischuk, and Daniil Dubov (2018, rapid).

The league will also feature top female superstars, including Grandmaster (GM) Hou Yifan, the second highest-rated female player of all time. She was the youngest female player ever to qualify for the title of grandmaster at the age of 14.

There will be six teams with each accorded an icon player and two women players in the mixed-team GCL. The full list of icon players is yet to be finalised.

Yifan will be accompanied by WGMs Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Kateryna Lagno, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tan Zhongyi, Nana Dzagnidze, Bella Khotenashvili, Nino Batsiashvili, Irina Krush, International Master Polina Shuvalova, and 2018 European women’s champion in rapid chess, Elisabeth Paehtz.

Yifan said, “Global Chess League has already sparked widespread interest. GCL is certain to take the game in new directions and open doors, which have never been explored before. Chess fans all over the world are in for a treat.”

Six U21 players will also compete in the GCL, with the trio of Grandmasters, Praggnanandhaa R., Raunak Sadhwani, and Nihal Sarin, leading the pack of prodigies for India. GMs Jonas Buhl Bjerre, Javokhir Sindarov and chess prodigy GM Andrey Esipenko complete the list of players in the category.

ALSO READ: Anand sees ‘new beginning’ in Dubai with GCL

In addition to the players mentioned above, the GCL will feature several other superstars of chess, including Grandmasters Vidit Gujrathi, Gukesh D, Arjun Erigaisi, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Teimour Radjabov, Yi Wei, Yu Yangyi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Richard Rapport, Kirill Shevchenko, Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Salem Salah.

Jagdish Mitra, the GCL board chairman, said, “Apart from being great players, all of them have been ambassadors for the game in their respective countries and worldwide. With them on board, GCL only adds another feather to its cap in becoming a true game changer for the chess ecosystem by introducing a mixed-team format in chess. This is a true testament to our belief in providing equal opportunities to all, regardless of gender.”

 

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Abu Dhabi traffic fine discount: Drivers have 60 days to save 35 per cent

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Motorists in Abu Dhabi are being urged to pay their traffic fines early, and save money while doing so.

Abu Dhabi Police has called on drivers to take advantage of discounts and flexible payment options available through the TAMM app as part of its “Pay Early, Gain Surely” initiative.

The move is designed to make traffic fine payments easier, reduce financial pressure on motorists, and encourage compliance with road safety laws.

Discount on fines

Under the initiative:

  • 35% discount is offered if the fine is paid within the first 60 days from the date of violation (excluding serious offences).
  • 25% discount applies if payment is made after 60 days but within one year of the violation date.

Officials said the initiative also aims to raise awareness about the benefits of early settlement, including avoiding potential increases in fine amounts over time.

Interest-free instalment option

Drivers can also choose to pay their traffic fines in instalments over 12 months through participating banks, without interest.

Authorities say this option helps reduce financial burdens while promoting responsible driving behaviour.

The Traffic and Patrols Directorate noted that the initiative supports broader strategic goals focused on improving service quality, increasing public satisfaction, and strengthening proactive digital services in Abu Dhabi.

Motorists can access and manage their fines directly through the TAMM platform, making the process fully digital and convenient.

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Sharjah rolls out more smart parking yards with more spaces across the city

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Sharjah Municipality has expanded its smart parking network across the emirate, introducing 10 smart parking yards with a total of 2,421 spaces. The move comes as part of the city’s wider smart city strategy and efforts to improve public services amid rapid urban growth and increasing tourism.

The municipality said the expansion is designed to make parking in Sharjah easier for residents and visitors, while improving traffic flow and overall service efficiency.

How Sharjah’s smart parking system works

Unlike regular paid public parking areas, these smart parking yards operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no free parking periods.

The facilities are equipped with AI-powered cameras installed at entry and exit points. These cameras automatically read vehicle number plates, track parking duration, and calculate fees — removing the need for paper tickets or traditional meters.

Motorists don’t need to send SMS payments either.

Parking fees must be paid exclusively through the Sharjah Digital app. Drivers can choose hourly parking (from one to five hours) or opt for daily, weekly, monthly, or annual subscriptions. Subscriptions apply only to the selected smart parking yard.

Once a vehicle exits, the system calculates the total parking time and sends a notification via the app showing the amount due.

More parking spaces coming soon

The municipality confirmed that six additional smart parking yards are currently under development. These will add another 1,457 parking spaces across Sharjah, further expanding organised parking solutions in commercial, residential, and tourist-heavy areas.

Officials say the goal is to address growing demand for parking in Sharjah while maintaining a safer and more structured environment for motorists.

As Sharjah continues to develop, smart parking infrastructure is becoming a key part of the emirate’s digital transformation, making parking faster, automated, and fully app-based.

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Dubai residents will soon be able to book air taxis on Uber app

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Dubai residents may soon be able to book all-electric air taxis directly through the Uber app, as the city prepares to introduce a new urban air mobility service under Uber Air.

The upcoming feature will allow riders to enter their destination as usual. If eligible, an air taxi option will appear alongside standard ride choices. With a single tap, users will be able to book the entire journey, including premium car transfers to and from the vertiport, as well as the flight itself.

How air taxi works

The aircraft is designed to carry up to four passengers and will be operated by a certified commercial pilot.

Key features include:

  • Six tilting propellers enabling vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)
  • Transition into forward flight after lift-off
  • Top speeds of up to 200 miles per hour
  • Range of up to 100 miles on a single charge

The cabin offers comfortable seating and panoramic city views from large windows, positioning the experience as both practical and premium.

Built for urban environments

Designed specifically for city operations, the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft includes multiple layers of safety redundancy.

Its acoustic profile has been engineered to blend into typical urban soundscapes, addressing concerns about noise pollution, a key factor in urban air mobility adoption.

When first passenger flights will take off

Initial passenger flights are expected to begin later this year in Dubai, marking a major milestone in the emirate’s push toward multi-modal and future-forward transportation systems.

The initiative reflects Dubai’s broader ambition to integrate air mobility into everyday commuting, allowing riders to seamlessly transition between ground and air transport within a single booking experience.

If launched as planned, Dubai would become one of the first cities globally to offer commercial air taxi bookings through a mainstream ride-hailing platform.

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