
Homely meals ready at Kochi's new Samriddhi Kitchen
Steaming rice with two types of thoran, sambar, pickle and pappadam on a plantain leaf. Simply scrumptious! Those who like to make the meal 'special' can add a seafood or meat dish.
We are at Samriddhi@Kadavanthra, which was opened on June 9 as an extension of the corporation's successful 'Samriddhi@Kochi' project that seeks to provide quality food at affordable prices.
At `40, anyone who visits the new Samriddhi canteen GCDA headquarters in Kadavanthra can enjoy a homely vegetarian meal. For `30, one can add a fish curry.
The space, which has already become a hit, is ambient with paintings on the walls and soft music. Sandra Joseph, a young professional working at a firm in Kadavanthra, says she has become 'a fan'.
'I love the meals they serve. There are other options, too, such as biryani and Chinese dishes. This place is beneficial for students and common folk,' she says. 'The space is neatly maintained, and the premises are hygienic. The food is tasty and worth the money.'
The menu includes vegetarian meals, fish curry meals, chicken biryani, ghee rice, and varieties of fried rice and noodles — everything at affordable rates. The facility can accommodate about 60 people at a time, and serves at least 400 every afternoon.
The facility, open from 7am to 10pm, also provides breakfast, snacks in the evening, and dinner. 'We see a rush during lunchtime. More people will come to the facility as it gets popular,' says a staffer.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
Flying suitcases packed with Hard Drives to China, taking hundreds of servers on rent and ...: How Chinese AI companies dodge US chip ban
(AI image) In a bid to bypass stringent U.S. restrictions on advanced AI chips, Chinese companies are resorting to innovative workarounds, including processing data abroad. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, in early March, four Chinese engineers traveled from Beijing to Malaysia, each carrying a suitcase with 15 hard drives containing 80 terabytes of data for training an AI model. At a Malaysian data center, the engineers utilized approximately 300 servers equipped with Nvidia's advanced chips to develop the AI model, which they later brought back to China. Smuggling AI hardware Since 2022, the U.S. has tightened export controls on high-end AI chips to China, citing national security concerns. According to WSJ report, these restrictions have limited Chinese firms' access to cutting-edge American technology, prompting them to explore alternatives. Some have substituted domestic chips for American ones, while others have smuggled AI hardware through third countries. However, increased U.S. pressure has made smuggling more challenging, pushing Chinese companies to process data outside China in regions like Southeast Asia and the Middle East. 'This was something we were consistently concerned about,' said Thea Kendler, former head of export controls at the Commerce Department under the Biden administration, referring to Chinese firms' remote access to U.S. AI chips, told WSJ. The process involves layers of intermediaries, obscuring whether U.S. regulations are being violated. The Biden administration proposed country-specific caps on American chip purchases to curb such activities, but the Trump administration scrapped these in May, citing unnecessary regulatory burdens on U.S. companies like Nvidia. Instead, it issued guidance urging firms to prevent their chips from being used to train Chinese AI models. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo How and why China uses countries in Southeast Asia as base In Malaysia, the Chinese company's operation required meticulous planning. Engineers reportedly spent over eight weeks optimizing data sets in China, as transferring large data volumes online could take months. Last July, the company worked through a Singaporean subsidiary but later registered a Malaysian entity to avoid scrutiny after Nvidia and its vendors intensified end-user audits. To evade suspicion at Malaysian customs, the engineers distributed hard drives across four suitcases, a shift from bundling them into one the previous year. They returned to China with several hundred gigabytes of model parameters guiding the AI system's output. Southeast Asia is reported to be emerging as a hub for such activities, with data centers rapidly expanding. Jones Lang LaSalle estimates nearly 2,000 megawatts of data-center capacity in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia -- matching Europe's largest markets. Malaysia's AI chip imports from Taiwan surged to $3.4 billion in March and April, exceeding its 2024 total. Meanwhile, the Middle East is also becoming a destination for Chinese AI developers, with Nvidia recently announcing significant chip sales to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. These maneuvers highlight the challenges of enforcing U.S. export controls as Chinese companies exploit global data centers to access American technology. While Southeast Asian authorities, like Singapore's, are cracking down on transshipments, the region's booming infrastructure continues to attract both Western and Chinese clients, testing the limits of regulatory oversight. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now


The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Indigenous innovation is India's strongest shield: FICCI defence panel leader
Operation Sindoor proved indigenous innovation is India's strongest shield, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) National Defence and Homeland Security Committee Co-Chair Ashok Atluri said on Friday. 'Homegrown drones, equipped with inbuilt detectors, jammers and radars, successfully neutralised Chinese drone threats without a single imported component,' Mr. Atluri said, addressing MSME Xcelerate 2025, organised by the FICCI. He said that research and development is not a luxury but a necessity for companies, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). 'While day-to-day operations may feel all-consuming, ignoring R&D risks irrelevance. Identifying the right area and committing focus can lead to transformative breakthroughs. India must innovate for the world, not just for local markets... funding is no longer a barrier,' he said. FICCI in a release said that the event with 'Innovation, Technology, Sustainability' as its theme sought to empower MSMEs by connecting them with emerging technologies, sustainable practices, and smart financial strategies. National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) Zonal Head and General Manager V. Suresh Babu said NSIC is a key enabler for MSMEs across India, helping them market their products to government departments and public sector units. As an NSIC-registered member, MSMEs enjoy several benefits, including exemption from tender fees and security deposits, making it easier to participate in government tenders. Chairman of FICCI Telangana Defence and Aerospace Committee P. Radhakishore said that while the government of India has taken commendable steps to support MSMEs through regulatory reforms, compliance ease, and sustainability-focused schemes, support at the State level remains limited despite MSMEs being vital contributors to GDP and employment. FICCI Telangana State Council Chairman V.V. Rama Raju and Executive Committee member Deepti Gaddam spoke.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Buffett's BYD bet outshines Tesla slump, Berkshire's China play defies EV price war and hype, value over volatility drives EV future
Warren Buffett's calculated, long-horizon investment in China's BYD is proving to be one of his most consequential bets in the electric vehicle (EV) industry — not just in terms of returns, but in how clearly it contrasts with his conscious avoidance of Elon Musk's Tesla. While Tesla grapples with a global slowdown, Buffett's BYD stake is becoming a case study in value investing outlasting market hype. Back in 2008, Berkshire Hathaway stunned markets with its $230 million investment for a 9.9% stake in BYD. More than 15 years later, even after trimming its holdings below 5% in 2024, Berkshire's position is now worth between $6 billion and $8 billion. The gradual reduction is widely viewed as profit-booking, not a retreat — the underlying message is clear: Buffett was right early, and he's still winning. BYD races ahead of Tesla In March 2025, BYD surpassed Tesla in quarterly automotive revenue for the first time, signaling a deep shift in EV industry leadership. BYD sold 1.76 million battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2024, nearly matching Tesla's 1.79 million, and far outpaced its rival in total new energy vehicle (NEV) sales — including plug-in hybrids — reaching 4.27 million units, according to an ET report. In Europe, BYD edged past Tesla in April 2025 BEV sales for the first time, according to JATO Dynamics, buoyed by strong demand for practical, cost-efficient models built around its proprietary Blade Battery technology. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo BYD's approach to vertical integration and low-price offerings like the Seagull and Dolphin has helped it maintain margins in a brutal price war. Tesla, meanwhile, reported a 13% year-on-year drop in Q1 2025 deliveries — the first full-year decline came in 2024. The company is struggling with factory delays, increasing competition from Chinese rivals, and growing discomfort with Elon Musk's political controversies, which have sparked consumer backlash in key markets. The EV price war and Buffett's prudence The EV price war, triggered by Tesla's early 2023 price cuts, turned into an all-out battle. Chinese automakers — BYD foremost among them — slashed prices, sacrificing margin for market share. Unlike Tesla, BYD had a cost advantage: its in-house battery production and localized supply chains made it more resilient. Tesla's margin erosion has been sharpest in Europe and China. Observers say Musk's increasingly political public persona has hurt the brand's appeal, particularly among environmentally conscious consumers and those wary of executive overreach. Buffett's decision not to invest in Tesla aligns with his time-tested principles. At Berkshire's 2024 annual meeting, he credited the late Charlie Munger with championing BYD: 'Charlie twice pounded the table and said, 'Buy BYD.' He was right — big time.' Buffett has always been wary of the automotive sector's capital intensity and cyclicality. Tesla's high volatility, lack of steady cash flows, and dependence on market sentiment do not meet Buffett's threshold for a durable competitive moat. Global strategy: Tesla contracts, BYD expands While Tesla has largely focused on the US and Europe, BYD is aggressively expanding into Latin America, Southeast Asia, and parts of Europe through local partnerships and manufacturing bases. This allows the Chinese automaker to avoid tariffs and offer price-sensitive models in developing markets. Even as subsidies taper in China and US tax incentives become harder to access, BYD's cost structure allows it to remain competitive in segments where Tesla's premium branding is less effective. BYD is now better positioned to ride the next wave of global EV adoption — especially in the mass-market space. Buffett's early conviction in BYD also complements his broader green energy strategy. Berkshire Hathaway Energy has committed billions to renewable infrastructure, creating a portfolio that spans solar, wind, and grid assets. The BYD investment adds depth to this long-term bet on a low-carbon economy. As Buffett once said, 'We only swing at pitches we like.' He didn't miss Tesla — he chose a better pitch. In a sector now saturated with hype, BYD stands as a testament to the power of patient capital, and Buffett's legacy in the EV revolution looks more prescient than ever. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now