iWorld
Amazon Prime Video inks exclusive deal with Zakir Khan
KOLKATA: Amazon Prime Video today announced an exclusive deal with one of India’s most popular comedians, Zakir Khan (Haq Se Single, Kaksha Gyarvi, Chacha Vidhayak Hai Humare). The association sees Prime Video become the exclusive home to three upcoming highly anticipated Amazon Funnies by Zakir Khan, all produced by Only Much Louder (OML), as well as an all-new season of Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare. The exclusive collaboration with Prime Video follows a series of highly successful shows on the service, including Amazon Funnies Haq Se Single and Kakshya Gyarvi, a successful debut season of Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare, as well as his stint as a judge on Amazon Original Series Comicstaan Season 2.
“There’s been an overwhelming response to Amazon Prime Video’s wide and diverse comedy offering, and we’re excited to keep the laughs coming with today’s announcement,” said Vijay Subramaniam, Director and Head, Content, Amazon Prime Video, India. “Prime Video customers will soon have exclusive access to the latest entertainment from one of the country’s most-loved comedians, including three Amazon Funnies. Zakir Khan has starred in a number of hugely popular comedy properties available on Prime Video and we can’t wait for Prime members to see what’s next, starting with the new season of Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare.”
“Today’s deal announcement marks Amazon Prime Video and Zakir’s long term commitment to comedy ,'' Only Much Louder COO Dhruv Sheth said. “Prime Video has been an incredible destination for comedy, from sit-coms to stand-up specials. We’re happy to further strengthen that association now that Prime Video is the exclusive home for all the latest entertainment from Zakir.”
“It is humbling to receive so much love from viewers across the world,” said Zakir Khan. “My association with Amazon Prime Video has only grown stronger since the release of Haq Se Single, my first Stand-Up special on the service. I am really excited to further deepen our association and expand the reach of Indian comedy right around the globe and reach over 200 countries with my next few specials.”
iWorld
Meta plans 8,000 layoffs in new AI-led restructuring wave
First phase from May 20 may cut 10 per cent workforce amid AI pivot.
MUMBAI: At Meta, the future may be artificial but the cuts are very real. The social media giant is reportedly preparing a fresh round of layoffs, with an initial wave expected to impact around 8,000 employees as it doubles down on its artificial intelligence ambitions. According to a Reuters report, the first phase of job cuts is slated to begin on May 20, targeting roughly 10 per cent of Meta’s global workforce. With nearly 79,000 employees on its rolls as of December 31, the move marks one of the company’s most significant workforce reductions in recent years.
And this may only be the beginning. Sources indicate that additional layoffs are being planned for the second half of the year, although the scale and timing remain fluid, likely to be shaped by how Meta’s AI capabilities evolve in the coming months. Earlier reports had suggested that total cuts in 2026 could reach 20 per cent or more of its workforce.
The restructuring comes as chief executive Mark Zuckerberg continues to steer the company towards an AI-first operating model, committing hundreds of billions of dollars to the transition. Internally, this shift is already visible: teams within Reality Labs have been reorganised, engineers have been moved into a newly formed Applied AI unit, and a Meta Small Business division has been created to align with broader structural changes.
The trend is hardly isolated. Across the tech sector, companies are trimming headcount while investing aggressively in automation. Amazon, for instance, has reportedly cut around 30,000 corporate roles nearly 10 per cent of its white-collar workforce citing efficiency gains driven by AI. Data from Layoffs.fyi shows over 73,000 tech employees have already lost jobs this year, compared with 153,000 in all of 2024.
For Meta, the move echoes its earlier “year of efficiency” in 2022–23, when about 21,000 roles were eliminated amid slowing growth and market pressures. This time, however, the backdrop is different. The company is financially stronger, generating over $200 billion in revenue and $60 billion in profit last year, with shares up 3.68 per cent year-to-date though still below last summer’s peak.
That contrast underlines the shift underway. These layoffs are less about survival and more about reinvention. As Meta restructures itself around AI from autonomous coding agents to advanced machine learning systems, the question is no longer whether the company will change, but how many roles will be left unchanged when it does.
