Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny weather and clear skies for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The city’s first theatre was established in 1900. It was called the Electric Theatre and was set up by Warwick Major and Reginald Eyre. It was later taken over by the government after a two-year run.
🧑🏫 Gearing up for board exams
Exam festivals hope to prepare students and ease anxieties as board exams approach.
What’s it about? Government schools are looking at innovative ways to help prepare students and ease their stress for the upcoming board exams. More than 2,000 students from the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Ashok Nagar attended an exam festival. Actor Dhamu had a motivating session with jokes, and teachers offered them tips.
- The school organised lunch for the students, and they watched the annual cultural programmes in the evening. Many schools have also offered breakfast and snacks to students attending special classes.
- The schools are focussing on maths and commerce in these special classes. They’re also using course material prepared by subject experts.
Who said what? R Thamilarasi, the headmistress of the school in Ashok Nagar, said a day-long programme was arranged for them to help ease their anxieties. Another headmistress said special classes see 100% attendance due to the snacks being arranged by teachers.
🏖️ Satellite Beach on Marina Loop Road
The Corporation is looking to intensify its cleaning operations at Chennai beaches.
What’s it about? South of the area normally defined as Marina Beach, a satellite beach has come up. The expanse of coastal area along the Marina Loop Road occupies a part of Nochi Kuppam and Domming Kuppam. It didn’t receive the same attention before, but now the Corporation has laid out its plans to clean the beach.
- On the northern limits, there are fishing boats and nets for Nochi Kuppam residents. The stretch between two busy fishing settlements was previously strewn with debris and trash.
- Regular cleaning of the beach in this area began three months ago. Independent engineers are tasked with monitoring the day-to-day clean-up activities.
Encroachments: One Corporation official said they’re being careful to ensure there aren’t any encroachments on the satellite beach like pushcarts and cars. Sometimes they roll off the road.
🍫 Chocolate tasting ambitions
A chocolate-tasting event could open the doors for chocoholics in the city.
What’s it about? City-based L Nitin Chordia, India’s first certified chocolate taster, organised a chocolate-tasting event with the top 20 of the bean-to-bar International Chocolate Awards. A panel of renowned chocolate tasters judged the curations. The event could pave the way for similar events in the future.
- The chocolates were crafted to hit the right tones of cacao. They used 100% cacao with added contrasting ingredients like lemon and jaggery.
- 3 of the 20 chocolates were from India – Chitram from Coimbatore, Anuttama from Mangaluru, and Paul and Mike from Ernakulam.
Who said what? Martin Christy, the founder of the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting UK, said he wanted to form a community where people could come together to appreciate chocolates like wine. Nitin, the founder of Cocoshala, said he’s looking to organise more such events and later open an institute when chocolate tasting goes mainstream.
📱 Power bill fraudsters
There’s been an uptick in power bill fraud with several complaints about phishing messages.
What’s it about? Fraudsters took a break once several initiatives were implemented to educate the public not to fall prey to them. However, they’re now back with consumers complaining on social media about scam messages. The Cybercrime police have already arrested some and continue receiving weekly complaints.
- Their methodology has stayed the same. Consumers get an SMS saying their power will be cut since their latest payment wasn’t updated. Some consumers panic and call the number posted on the message.
- They’re asked to make a ₹1 payment. If they do, the phishers get access to their bank information and siphon money. TANGEDCO has a warning message on its website stating they don’t send such messages.
Official’s response: While police still get complaints, they say it has reduced as consumers become more aware. Earlier this year, the cybercrime division of the Chennai Police arrested two Haryana men for duping a man of ₹3.3 lakh. Officials said they received information on their handlers.
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- I see movies on the weekend or soon after their releases.
- I see the movies once they come to an OTT platform.
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🗞️ In other news…
- Tamil Talkies and how they engaged in the liberation fight against censorship and wartime scarcity in the early 1900s.
- Dredging at the mouth of the Cooum is being done to control the mosquito menace.
- The Corporation will have special drives to clean up garbage corner hotspots in the city.
- The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has more than 6,000 cases pending due to a staff shortage.
- CM MK Stalin said the government would look into the demand for higher FSI for buildings along narrow roads.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!