Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 34 ℃ | Low: 25 ℃ | Mostly sunny and clear for the day.
🧐 Did you know? Independent India’s first international trade fair was held in 1968 in West Madras, now called Anna Nagar.
🏏 Sought-after coach from Chennai
Cricket coach Stephen Vincent helps nurture cricketing talents at a Dubai academy.
Who is he? Vincent was initially associated with Chennai’s St Patrick’s and St Michael schools. He later became a coach at the MAC Spin Foundation. His playing experience includes captaining his school team, playing for the Indian Railways and in the TNCA I Division. He then became head coach of Robin Singh’s cricket academy in the UAE.
- There’s a demand for Indian coaches in Dubai as the sport has gained popularity. Vincent is now the head coach of the Dunes Cricket Academy which coaches boys and girls in the 6-19 age group.
- He has worked with the likes of Shahbaz Nadeem and Varun Chakravarthy. Some of his students are sent to former Indian player B Arun’s academy in Hyderabad and Chennai.
Coaching mantra: Vincent’s coaching mantra is to keep it simple, work on technique, and improve skill sets with an emphasis on fielding and fitness.
🚚 Testing EV trucks
A new collaborative initiative will begin testing Electric Vehicle trucks along the Chennai-Bengaluru highway corridor.
What’s it about? The Climate Pledge and C40 Cities announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration project in India to test EV trucks along the 350-km Chennai-Bengaluru highway corridor. The project is part of Laneshift, a zero-emission freight campaign launched by the Pledge and C40 cities last year.
- The trucks will transport commercial loads to analyse the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of EV trucks for long-haul transportation. The stakeholders include Amazon, Ashok Leyland, BillionE, and ChargeZone.
- BillionE will run 20 heavy-duty Ashok Leyland EV trucks of various payloads for six months on NH48, which connects Chennai and Bengaluru.
Long-term goals: The project is the first step in the development of a network of connected EV freight highways across India. Electrifying the trucking sector is crucial to reduce emissions and keep the country on track to achieve net zero by 2070.
🐕 Advancing veterinary care
A regional conference for the veterinary ecosystem in Chennai highlights the growing need for innovation.
What’s it about? The Continued Professional Development Program on Companion Animal Practice was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. 800 veterinary clinicians and students gathered to elevate and highlight expertise in small animal paediatrics, medicine, and oncology.
- Royal Canin, a pioneer in the ‘health through nutrition’ initiative for cats and dogs created awareness about the importance of paediatric protocols. It also shared specialised growth charts for puppies and kittens.
- The event featured knowledge sessions and interactive quizzes to enhance practical understanding of veterinary care principles.
Outcome: The conference was a significant step in strengthening veterinary expertise and the ecosystem in India. The educational tools discussed will help providers make informed decisions in paediatric care.
🚢 The Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor
The new shipping route will help reshape regional and global trade networks.
What’s it about? In a groundbreaking move, India has begun operations on the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor which links Chennai with Vladivostok, Russia. The new route is part of India’s commitment to enhance trade links with Russia and integrate deeper into the global trading system.
- The route spans 5,600 nautical miles and traverses the Sea of Japan, the South China Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
- Compared to existing routes, this one greatly reduces transit times, cuts shipping costs, and ensures a reliable supply chain during periods of global uncertainty.
Facilitating trade: The corridor is already facilitating two-way trade. India imports petroleum and LNG from Russia and exports textiles, engineering goods, and machine parts.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you prefer watching team or individual sports?
- I prefer watching team sports.
- I prefer watching individual sports.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s the most unusual or surprising thing you’ve ever eaten?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The faculty of SRIHER organised a walkathon on Besant Nagar Beach to raise awareness for rehabilitation.
- The Science Festival 2024 attracted over 3,000 participants to inspire young minds about STEM.
- Pickleball has gained popularity in the city for those looking for fitness or fun.
- The Pallikaranai marshland now teems with over 10,000 birds with new species of ducks.
- The Chennai Corporation’s “no scalpel vasectomy” initiative has raised concerns despite falling fertility rates.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have used a public toilet: 55.6% 🏆
- I’ve never used a public toilet: 44.4%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your favourite type of coffee?
Suchi: “Just black coffee.”
Shiva: “Filter coffee”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!