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Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Alexis Bledel returns in jaw-dropping Handmaid's Tale series finale
In a surprise that left audiences both shocked and tearful, Alexis Bledel had a strong comeback to The Handmaid's Tale in the series finale, serving as a full-circle experience for one of TV's most adored characters. The 43-year-old star, who played Emily Malek (née Ofglen), came back to Gilead on the May 27 finale after leaving the Hulu show before season 5. Her surprise return provided much-needed closure to her character's storyline and a poignant reunion with Elisabeth Moss's June Osborne. It was the right thing to do to close the chapter on Emily's story and give the audience a feeling of completion," Bledel explained to The Hollywood Reporter. "Bruce [Miller] assembled such a generous and talented team, and so many of the original crew members were still with us in season six. The production is like a well-oiled machine — everybody brings their A-game. Bledel, Emmy winner for her chilling acting as Emily, replied it was an "immediate yes" when she was approached to return for the series finale — a feeling that was shared by Moss, 42, who was an early proponent of the idea. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You will never turn off your computer again. Undo "I told [Miller] back then, 'You see now that you've shared that with me, we have to do it?'" Moss explained. "And she wanted to do it all along. She didn't require convincing whatsoever. My first scripted scene on day one was with Alexis. So it was important to get to work with her once again." In the season finale, Emily's backstory is revealed as she informs that she had been secretly collaborating with the rebellion against Gilead during her time away from the show. She also informs that, with the assistance of a sympathetic Commander, she was able to maintain contact with her wife Sylvia (played by Clea DuVall) and their child — a moment of ultimate reward for fans who had been cheering for her character's family reunion for so long. Bledel's return lent emotional depth to the conclusion of The Handmaid's Tale, which has been praised for its consideration of resistance, identity, and survival in a dystopian society. Her return contributed not just a sense of narrative resolution, but also an acknowledgement of the lasting influence of her character. Now that the series has wrapped, Emily's return is one of the most bittersweet and fulfilling surprises in the history of the show — a last, optimistic nod to strength and those bonds which remain even in the bleakest of situations.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
After the Cybertruck, Elon Musk's latest headache is Tesla's robotaxi; here's where the obstacle is coming from
Tesla's much-hyped robotaxi launch is finally around the corner as it hopes to roll out the vehicles in June 2025 but it has not been a smooth journey for Tesla CEO Elon Musk. #Operation Sindoor The damage done at Pak bases as India strikes to avenge Pahalgam Why Pakistan pleaded to end hostilities Kashmir's Pahalgam sparks Karachi's nightmare Tesla's Robotaxi's Road Has Been Bumpy Though, Musk had boasted for years about self-driving cars and promised the company would deliver, however, he already pushed back its launch date, which he has justified by saying that it was necessary to allow engineers more time to develop the technology, according to The Street. Waymo Races Ahead Meanwhile, the EV maker's rivals in the United States and China have already introduced self-driving technology into their vehicles, as per the report. This has led some experts to speculate that the automaker is already falling behind in the driverless race, according to The Street. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You will never turn off your computer again. Undo Tesla's competitor Waymo partnered with Uber to successfully launch self-driving vehicles on the road and has established itself as an early leader in the space, as per the report. Autopilot Issues and Federal Scrutiny However, that's not the only roadblock the company is facing. According to The Street report, the autopilot software behind its self-driving push has allegedly caused many on-road incidents that have led to federal investigations. Live Events Experts have also pointed out that the robotaxis would not be fully self-driving, because they will be assisted by a remote human operator, reported The Street. Tesla's Trademark Hurdle While, Musk and Tesla are running into a new hurdle, this time from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as the company's attempt to trademark the name "Robotaxi" is being met with resistance, as the agency argued that the name is too generic to be eligible for legal protection, according to The Street. But that's not the only name headache for Tesla. In an April 23 filing, the company announced that its bid to trademark the name "Cybercab" has been suspended too, because other companies have been attempting to register similar names, including CyberLandr, a company that sells Cybertruck accessories, reported The Street. On May 6, the USPTO published what's known as a "nonfinal office action" for the Robotaxi trademark. That's essentially an official letter from a trademark examiner setting out the issues that must be addressed before the application can proceed, as per The Street. Tesla has three months to reply with more evidence or argument, or else the application will be rejected, according to the report. FAQs When is Tesla's robotaxi supposed to launch? June 2025 is the target date for the rollout of robotaxi. Will the robotaxis be fully self-driving? No. It will need remote human assistance.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farooq Abdullah points to local role in Pahalgam attack
Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has said that attacks like the one in Pahalgam cannot occur without local support. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Code of war: India and Pakistan take their battle to the (web)front Forex reserves show a pauperised Pakistan, a prospering India Pakistan conducts training launch of surface-to surface ballistic missile Speaking to reporters, Abdullah expressed doubts that such a well-coordinated assault-like the April 22 attack that killed 25 tourists and one local-could have happened without some form of assistance from within Kashmir. "I don't think these (incidents) can happen without someone supporting them. They came from there-but how did they manage it?" he asked. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted. Undo Recalling his time as chief minister in 1999, Abdullah said he had opposed the release of Maulana Masood Azhar, who later founded the Jaish-e-Mohammed. "He had made inroads here. And how do we know he didn't have a hand in this attack?" he added. Following the Pahalgam attack , over 2,000 people across the Valley have been detained, summoned or questioned. At least 75 have been booked under the Public Safety Act. Live Events Responding to criticism over his comments on local involvement, Abdullah asked, "Who started all this in 1989? Who went across for training? Who drove out the Pandits?" "I have never supported terrorists. I was never Pakistani, I am not now, and I will never be," he said. Calling Jammu & Kashmir an integral part of India and "the crown of the nation," Abdullah said, "We have Amarnathji here-he will protect this land." Abdullah vowed that the Pahalgam attack would not go unanswered. "They (Pakistan) will be shaken. Their cup has overflowed. We will not back down-it is essential to root this out completely. That will bring peace to the souls lost in Pahalgam." He added that Pakistan has never won with such tactics and will not succeed in the future either. "These sacrifices will not go in vain. These killers of humanity call themselves Muslims-they are not. They are the children of Satan." Abdullah also touched on the Indus Water Treaty , saying the people of J&K were never consulted. "We suffered the most. We couldn't use a single drop for hydroelectricity or even draw a bucket of water. I appeal to the Government of India to allow the people of Jammu to use that water."
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Zepto founders tap Edelweiss, others for Rs 1,500 crore structured debt to boost Indian ownership
Zepto founders Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra are in advanced talks with Edelweiss Alternative Asset , domestic family offices and smaller credit funds for around Rs 1,500 crore (more than $175 million) structured debt , people familiar with the matter told ET. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India stares at a 'water bomb' threat as it freezes Indus Treaty India readies short, mid & long-term Indus River plans Shehbaz Sharif calls India's stand "worn-out narrative" The deal is aimed at acquiring shares from existing foreign investors to help the quick commerce startup consolidate domestic ownership ahead of its planned initial public offering ( IPO ), they said. Edelweiss has submitted a binding bid, they said, adding that the loan carries a minimum interest rate of 16%, with an equity-linked upside that could enhance total returns to about 18%. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted. Undo People aware of deal details said it is being executed at a valuation of nearly $5 billion, the same as when Zepto raised equity financing last year. The transaction, with a tenure of three years, is expected to close by July and will see Edelweiss underwriting the bulk of the loan. 'Edelweiss has given a binding term sheet and will anchor the raise by committing half of the amount,' said a person with knowledge of the matter. 'The remaining Rs 750 crore is being raised from family offices and smaller credit funds, who are expected to come in on the same terms.' Live Events Domestic shareholding may be 30% Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories They may end up generating an 18% return based on the valuation of the company during the IPO, the person added. An Edelweiss spokesperson declined to comment. Zepto didn't respond to queries. The promoter-level acquisition financing will help the Zepto founders increase their stake in the company to around 20%, from the current 18%, said another person aware of the matter. Zepto's domestic shareholding will likely increase to more than 30% once the deal is finalised, said a person familiar with the development. Its biggest backers include Nexus Venture Partners, Y Combinator and General Catalyst, among others. Ownership threshold The founders are undertaking the move to comply with foreign direct investment (FDI) regulations that govern online retail and meet the Indian ownership threshold, which could be crucial for regulatory clearances and IPO eligibility. India's FDI rules allow 100% foreign investment in online marketplace models, but ban FDI in inventory-led ecommerce. Only Indian Owned and Controlled Companies (IOCCs) can legally operate inventory-led models. To qualify as an IOCC, a company must have more than 50% Indian ownership and control. On April 19, the board of Eternal, listed parent of food and grocery delivery company Zomato, approved a proposal to cap foreign ownership in the firm at 49.5%, it told stock exchanges. The move was aimed at providing 'greater operational flexibility' to quick commerce unit Blinkit by allowing it to hold inventory, rather than operate solely as a marketplace, as required under India's foreign investment rules. The Zepto deal 'is classic promoter financing—a high-yield debt deal with embedded equity upside,' said one of the people cited above. But securing by a pledge of promoter equity is a rare instance for Indian new-age tech firms, especially with a high cash burn, the people said. Previously, edtech startup Byju's, online pharmacy PharmEasy and budget hotel chain Oyo have all resorted to loans because equity funding was difficult to snag, especially at steep valuations. Byju's has defaulted and is bankrupt , while PharmEasy's valuation was cut by more than 90% last year. Zepto received National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approval on January 9 to merge its Singapore-based parent Kiranakart with Indian entity Kiranakart Technologies, streamlining its structure. In order to align with its consumer brand, Kiranakart Technologies has been renamed Zepto Pvt Ltd, show regulatory filings. The restructuring comes amid a broader wave of reverse flips by Indian startups seeking to tap domestic capital markets. Also Read: Byju's and the debt trap haunting Indian tech startups Secondary sale Separately, Zepto is also closing a $250-million secondary transaction that will see participation from private equity firms including Motilal Oswal Financial Services, as reported first by Bloomberg. This secondary sale is designed to further increase Indian ownership and clean up the company's cap table ahead of its public listing, another person familiar with the development said. Palicha, Vohra and the employee stock ownership (Esop) pool together currently hold around 28% of Zepto, according to people in the know. The company aims to add another 8-10% of Indian shareholding through these transactions before the IPO paperwork is filed. The push for higher Indian ownership also comes at a time when Zepto and its rivals are facing heightened scrutiny over operational models and profitability metrics in the quick commerce space. In a recent LinkedIn post, Palicha said Zepto is nearing $4 billion in annualised gross order value (GOV), posting around 300% year-on-year growth and about 30% sequential growth since January. He also pointed to a 50% reduction in ebitda losses (excluding Esop costs) and operating cash flow burn over the past three months, with a target to achieve break even on both fronts soon. Blinkit had an annualised GOV of $3.6 billion in the quarter ended December 31, 2024. Swiggy Instamart posted an annualised gross sale run rate of $1.8 billion in the same quarter. The buzzy quick-commerce industry is seeing cash-burn levels rise sharply in the backdrop of hectic growth. According to an ET report on February 15 , the sector's monthly burn had surged to Rs 1,300-1,500 crore, led by intensified competition among Zepto, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart. Eternal founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal had told ET in an interview that for its quick commerce unit Blinkit, 'It's about making sure the discipline of execution stays intact in the team. Our burn rate is 2-3% of the sector, while our category share would be 40-45%.'
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IT grapples with 20%+ drop in deal pricing on macro, AI impact
India's top software services exporters are facing a more than 20% drop in final client rates so far this year as elevated caution, tariff-led inflationary pressures and economic uncertainties dent pricing of IT projects, multiple analysts told ET. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India stares at a 'water bomb' threat as it freezes Indus Treaty India readies short, mid & long-term Indus River plans Shehbaz Sharif calls India's stand "worn-out narrative" This scenario is expected to sustain leading IT firms to sharpen focus on cost efficiencies and vendor consolidation amid continued slowdown in technology spends by most corporate clients, the analysts said. "We are seeing pricing drops as high as 20% in some competitive situations. It is impacting all major providers who are hustling very hard to renew business and get deals over the line at very favourable rates," said Phil Fersht, founder and chief analyst at advisory firm HFS Group. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted. Undo Most experts believe that new pricing models are being proposed as most clients and software services exporters are negotiating hard on existing renewal of projects not just due to the changing business environment but alongside the impact of artificial intelligence (AI)-led efficiencies and productivity gains. Since the Trump administration took charge in January, there was an expected uptick in spending on software development from businesses in key markets of the US and Europe. However, the seesaw of tariff announcements delayed or paused decision making on existing and new projects, as corporates and consumers tightened spending fearing high-cost pressures. Live Events After Covid's strong growth period, the over-$280 billion technology services outsourcing industry has seen projects tilt towards cost takeout and vendor consolidation. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories
