iWorld
Big FM marks 15 years as exclusive radio partner for Lalbaughcha Raja
Mumbai: The auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi shines as the grandest celebration of the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is worshipped with great devotion as the symbol of strength, wisdom and good luck. Each year, the festivities commence with the unveiling of the ‘Lalbaughcha Raja,’ marking the beginning of Ganeshotsav in Maharashtra. For the fifteenth consecutive year, BIG FM, one of the leading radio networks in the country, proudly affirms its exclusive radio partnership for the auspicious celebrations of Lalbaughcha Raja. With Union Bank of India as the presenting sponsor and co-powered by Finolex Pipes and Ather, this initiative under the tagline ‘Bajega Band Aur Baaja, BIG FM Phir Karvayega Big Darshan of Lalbagh Cha Raja’, brings the grandeur and devotion of this event closer to millions of listeners.
During the grand 10-day celebrations, BIG FM’s talented RJs will be broadcasting live from Lalbaug, fostering engagement with devotees, organizers, officials, and avid listeners alike. Their presence will serve as a bridge, connecting people from every corner of India to the divine darshan of Lalbaughcha Raja. With digital live coverage directly from the location, the audience will have a front-row seat to the festivities, enriching their experience. Additionally, the excitement will be further amplified with celebrity appearances alongside the RJs, bringing an extra layer of fervour and enthusiasm, making this year’s celebrations even more memorable.
Year after year, the initiative has received an overwhelming response from countless devotees and has been showered with accolades. This year, taking the initiative a notch higher the radio network has a special musical treat in store. BIG FM is set to release an exclusive song, beautifully sung by the exceptionally talented artist, Brijesh Shandilya. This melodious composition will be brought to life by BIG FM RJs – RJ Vrajesh, RJ Rani, RJ Abhilash, and RJ Dilip, adding an enchanting rhythm to the celebrations.
BIG FM COO Sunil Kumaran said, “Lalbaughcha Raja holds a special place in the hearts of Mumbaikars and our longstanding partnership exemplifies our commitment to bringing this divine experience closer to every home. Now, in our 15th year of this initiative, we are thrilled to continue to personalize the sacred experience for our listeners and devotees. With various on-ground, digital and on-air activities planned, we aim to unite hearts of all devotees and create a memorable celebration that reflects the essence of Lalbaughcha Raja.”
The radio network will provide live coverage of the Visarjan, providing listeners with real-time updates through a helicopter ride. The live event aims at spreading goodwill, cheer, and uniting well-wishers nationwide with Bappa. The initiative is being extensively promoted through on-air, digital, social media elements and on-ground activations.
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.
