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Washington Post layoff: Ishaan Tharoor, Pranshu Verma among hundreds
WASHINGTON DC: The Washington Post has laid off hundreds of employees in one of the largest job cuts in its history, sharply scaling back its international reporting operation and claiming senior journalists including Ishaan Tharoor, son of Congress MP and author Shashi Tharoor.
Tharoor, who launched and wrote the Post’s widely followed WorldView column in 2017, said on X that he had been laid off along with “most of the International staff”. The column had built nearly half a million subscribers and became a flagship explainer on global affairs.
The cuts also hit India bureau chief in New Delhi Pranshu Verma, underscoring the deep impact on overseas coverage. While management said around 12 foreign bureaus would remain, the newsroom’s international footprint will now narrow with a stronger focus on national security reporting.
The move follows weeks of tension inside the newsroom, with staff repeatedly appealing to owner Jeff Bezos to halt the cuts and protect critical coverage. Anxiety intensified after an internal memo briefly suggested the paper would skip coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Executive editor Matt Murray described the layoffs as a “strategic reset” in an internal address, citing intense competition and difficulties in retaining paying readers. The restructuring includes ending the current sports desk, suspending the Post Reports podcast, cutting the books desk and reorganising local coverage, while politics and government reporting will become the newsroom’s largest focus.
Laid-off employees will remain on payroll until April 10 and receive six months of health insurance.
Former executive editor Martin Baron called the decision “one of the darkest days” in the newspaper’s history, warning that the Post’s global ambitions had been severely diminished.
The Washington Post Guild said the cuts were avoidable and accused Bezos of hollowing out the newsroom, announcing a protest outside the paper’s Washington DC headquarters. The layoffs coincided with Amazon, founded by Bezos, announcing more than 16,000 job cuts worldwide, adding to scrutiny of his stewardship.
MAM
L’Atelier 1664 returns to Lakmé Fashion Week with Abraham & Thakore
Design platform showcases ‘The Sari’torial’ blending tailoring and drapes.
MUMBAI: When couture meets craft, even a sari can learn a few new tricks. L’Atelier 1664 is returning to Lakmé Fashion Week 2026 in Mumbai, continuing its design led partnership with one of India’s most influential fashion platforms. The cultural platform will once again spotlight the intersection of fashion, craftsmanship and contemporary lifestyle, this time through a special runway collaboration with design house Abraham & Thakore.
Titled “The Sari’torial,” the curated showcase reimagines the sari through a conversation between structured tailoring and fluid draping. Drawing inspiration from the relaxed elegance of French style and the rich heritage of Indian textiles, the collection explores everyday silhouettes refined with signature fabrics, subtle detailing and a restrained colour palette highlighted by L’Atelier 1664’s distinctive house blue.
The collaboration marks a continuation of L’Atelier 1664’s presence at Lakmé Fashion Week after its debut association last year, reinforcing the platform’s growing engagement with India’s creative and fashion ecosystem.
Beyond the runway, the brand will also host its signature lounge at the fashion week venue, creating an immersive experiential space designed to bring together design, culture and contemporary lifestyle in one setting.
Carlsberg India vice president for marketing Partha Sarathi Jha said the association reflects the brand’s interest in supporting creative expression. “Lakmé Fashion Week is one of the most important platforms for fashion and creative expression in India. Through L’Atelier 1664, we aim to celebrate this intersection of culture, design and contemporary lifestyle. We are excited to continue our association with Lakmé Fashion Week and collaborate with Abraham & Thakore to bring this vision to life on the runway,” he said.
Designers David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore added that the collection explores a cross cultural design dialogue. “With Sari’torial, we wanted to explore a conversation between French ease and Indian craftsmanship. Our collaboration with L’Atelier 1664 blends a relaxed French sensibility with the richness of Indian textiles, reinterpreting traditional crafts through a modern lens,” they said.
L’Atelier 1664 is part of the portfolio of Carlsberg Group, the Denmark headquartered beverages company whose Indian arm has operated in the country since 2007. Today, Carlsberg India runs 14 breweries across the country, including eight company owned facilities and six contract manufacturers, supporting a portfolio that includes brands such as Carlsberg Smooth, Carlsberg Elephant, Tuborg Green, Tuborg Strong, Tuborg Ice Draft, Tuborg Classic and 1664 Blanc.
Through its continued presence at Lakmé Fashion Week, L’Atelier 1664 is positioning itself not just as a sponsor but as a cultural platform connecting fashion, design and lifestyle conversations in India’s evolving creative landscape.
