April 6, 2026 - Page 2 of 2

FIDE Candidates: Vaishali climbs to second with win over Zhongyi; Divya settles for draw

April 6, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Grandmaster R Vaishali secured a crucial victory to reach four points out of seven, defeating China’s Tan Zhongyi in a game that appeared headed for a draw until the middlegame in Round 7 of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026.

The win pushed Vaishali to second place in the standings, just behind leader Ukrainian chess grandmaster Anna Muzychuk.

The turning point came after a sequence of errors by Zhongyi around moves 36 to 38. She weakened her position by advancing pawns on the flank instead of consolidating her king. Vaishali capitalised with a decisive rook move that won a pawn and opened lines towards the king.

Zhongyi then exposed her king further, allowing Vaishali to coordinate her pieces effectively and convert the advantage. Zhongyi eventually resigned, according to fide.com.

In another game, Divya Deshmukh had to settle for a draw against three-time World Blitz champion Kateryna Lagno of Russia. Divya had built a strong position earlier, gaining a clear edge in a rook endgame with better central control and pawn structure.

However, she allowed the advantage to slip after repeating rook checks, which gave Lagno time to stabilise. Divya also missed a key opportunity to create a pawn break. In the final phase, although she pushed her king forward, Lagno activated her rook and held the position with a solid defensive setup.

Muzychuk maintained her lead with 4.5 points after drawing against Bibisara Assaubayeva. Zhu Jiner also played out a draw with Aleksandra Goryachkina.

In the open section, R Praggnanandhaa played out a threefold-repetition draw against Fabiano Caruana after pushing for a win.

Meanwhile, Hikaru Nakamura, who has faced a tough tournament, drew his game against Matthias Bluebaum. Anish Giri also held Javokhir Sindarov to a draw, ending Sindarov’s winning streak.

India sends relief aid to Afghanistan after floods and earthquake

April 6, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: India has delivered humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan following recent floods and an earthquake that have caused widespread hardship.

The relief material includes kitchen sets, hygiene kits, plastic sheets, tarpaulins, and sleeping bags. The assistance aims to support affected communities facing urgent needs in the aftermath of the disasters.

In a post on X, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said India extended support in response to the crisis. He stated that India stood in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and remained committed to providing humanitarian assistance during this challenging period.

The aid delivery reflects India’s continued efforts to assist neighbouring countries during natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies.

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan on April 3, leaving at least 12 people dead in areas around Kabul. The tremor originated at a depth of 150 km and was strong enough to be felt beyond Afghanistan’s borders. Residents across the Delhi-NCR region experienced the impact, while parts of north India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Haryana, also reported noticeable tremors.

India’s major ports surpass cargo target in FY 2025-26

April 6, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Major ports under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways handled 915.17 Million Tonnes (MT) of cargo in FY 2025-26, exceeding the annual target of 904 MT. The performance marked a year-on-year growth of 7.06% and reflected steady recovery and improved efficiency in the maritime sector.

The milestone highlighted the impact of reforms and investments aimed at modernising port infrastructure, improving logistics, and strengthening India’s position under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, according to an official statement.

Commenting on the data, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the record cargo handling demonstrated the government’s commitment to strengthening the maritime sector.

He stated that, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the government focused on building world-class port infrastructure, improving efficiency, and enabling seamless logistics to support economic growth. He added that the achievement reinforced India’s goal of becoming a global maritime powerhouse.

Among the ports, Deendayal Port Authority emerged as the top performer with 160.11 MT of cargo, followed by Paradip Port Authority at 156.45 MT and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority at 102.01 MT. Other major contributors included Visakhapatnam Port Authority, Mumbai Port Authority, Chennai Port Authority, and New Mangalore Port Authority.

In terms of growth rate, Mormugao Port Authority recorded the highest increase at 15.91%. Kolkata Dock System followed with 14.28% growth, while Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority registered a 10.74% rise.

The ministry attributed the growth to capacity expansion, modernisation of infrastructure, improved multimodal connectivity, and adoption of digital and smart port initiatives. Increased handling of key commodities such as coal, crude oil, containers, fertilisers, and petroleum products also supported the rise in cargo volumes.

The strong performance in FY 2025-26 reflected rising trade confidence and effective policy measures to enhance efficiency and capacity utilisation. With continued investments and policy support, major ports are expected to sustain growth and contribute further to India’s trade and economic expansion.

‘Odia Paksha’ Heritage Marathon flags off from Mukteswar Temple

April 6, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: The Department of Sports and Youth Services has organised a mega Heritage Marathon on the fifth day of the ‘Odia Paksha’ celebrations in the historic Ekamra Kshetra of Bhubaneswar.

The run began at 5:30 AM from Mukteswar Temple, a landmark of Odishan architecture. The route highlighted the city’s cultural heritage as participants moved past Rameswar Temple, Vivekananda Marg, Utkal Kanika Galleria Mall, Lewis Road, BJB College, and Rabi Talkies Square. The marathon concluded at Rajarani Temple.

More than a thousand participants joined the run. The group included athletes, youth, Divyangjan, and residents.

Participants took a collective pledge to protect and promote Odisha’s heritage and monuments.

The organisers felicitated the winners and awarded medals. The Department also distributed medals to all participants to recognise their involvement.

Babu Singh, MLA of Ekamra, attended the event as the chief guest. He said the marathon aimed to connect the younger generation with their roots.

He stated that ancient temples and monuments represent Odia identity, and their preservation remains a moral responsibility. He also expressed gratitude to Mohan Charan Majhi and Suryabanshi Suraj for leading the initiative.

Senior officials from the department attended the event. Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia was present along with Additional Secretaries Ashok Kumar Panda and Bijay Kumar Swain. Olympian Anuradha Biswal and Odia film actress Sivani Sangita also attended the programme.