iWorld
ZEE5 Global collaborates with the Mayor of London to celebrate ‘Eid in the Square’
Mumbai: ZEE5 Global, the world’s largest streaming platform for South Asian content, is proud to announce its collaboration with the Mayor Of London as the official OTT presenting partner for the ‘Eid In The Square’ event held on 29th April 2023 at the Trafalgar Square. With the event in its 18th year, the annual celebration following Ramadan was bigger than ever, and witnessed one of its best turnouts till date, with thousands present at the venue to celebrate the festival with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
Hailed as one of the biggest community-based events in London, this year it was all about celebrating family, education and innovation. The event saw both London residents and visitors explore the best of Islamic art, history, and culture. On the main stage, a captivating blend of contemporary and traditional performances thrilled visitors, while food stalls from around the world offered an enticing array of culinary delights.
It was all about celebrating the culture and the community and ZEE5 Global didn’t miss the opportunity to add to the experience. Visitors were presented with an array of fun-filled and interactive activities. Exciting games like digital spin the wheel and the cash-grabbing machine entertained the audiences as they stood a chance to win subscriptions and goodies from the brand. Quirky and colorful photo booths made for the perfect opportunity to capture the best moments from the event spent with their friends and families.
ZEE5 global chief business officer Archana Anand said, “We have always believed in providing the finest entertainment that celebrates culture and diversity. As the world’s largest streaming platform for South Asians, we are pleased to have been associated with this initiative that gave us an opportunity to celebrate the festival of Eid along with the community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Mayor for this initiative.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am thrilled that Londoners and visitors of all faiths and none joined together in Trafalgar Square for our annual Eid in the Square festivities. The success of this event once again demonstrates that London’s diversity is our greatest strength, and something to be celebrated at every opportunity as we build a better London for all. It was inspiring to see people of all backgrounds enjoying the food, music, and activities, and embracing the rich traditions of the Muslim community in the heart of our capital following Ramadan. From my family to yours, Eid Mubarak!”
Eid on the Square is a flagship event organized by the Mayor of London to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. The event brings together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate and share the joy of this special occasion. This year, with ZEE5 Global’s partnership and the innumerous exciting attractions that were lined up, the event proved to be a unique and unforgettable experience for all attendees.
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.
