YouTube shorts eyes TikTok competition with 3.5 billion daily views in India
- The new format is seen as a way for Google to compete with Gen Z-favorite TikTok, which currently has 700 million users worldwide.
AFP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 27, 2021 05:21 AM IST
YouTube Shorts -- the video-sharing website's quick clips meant to compete with TikTok -- are racking up 3.5 billion views a day during beta testing in India, the platform's head said Tuesday.
Susan Wojcikci explained the feature in a note laying out her 2021 priorities.
"So far, videos in our new Shorts player - which helps people around the world watch short videos on YouTube - are receiving an impressive 3.5 billion daily views!" she said.
"We're looking forward to expanding Shorts to more markets this year."
YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, unveiled Shorts in mid-September, describing the videos as "a new way to express yourself in 15 seconds or less."
The feature, directly integrated into the existing YouTube interface, is currently only available in India as part of development work.
The new format is seen as a way for Google to compete with Gen Z-favorite TikTok, which currently has 700 million users worldwide.
Former president Donald Trump had threatened to ban TikTok -- owned by Chinese group ByteDance -- from the United States when he accused the company, without formal proof, of spying on behalf of Beijing.
Facebook-owned Instagram responded to TikTok's popularity with their own short video format called Reels last August.
And in November, Snapchat launched Spotlight, a public feed of content produced by users.
Goldman’s consumer chief Ismail Makes shock exit for Walmart
Posted by Prashasti Singh | Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 08:44 PM IST
David Stark, one of his top lieutenants at Goldman will join him, the people said, asking not to be identified as the moves haven’t been announced.
Sovereign gold bond opens for subscription tomorrow. All you need to know
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Mallika Soni
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 07:16 PM IST
The tenor of the bond is for a period of 8 years with an exit option after the 5th year to be exercised on the next interest payment dates.
After the worst start in 30 years, gold losses sheen this February
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Arpan Rai, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 04:22 PM IST
Going by the week-wise depletion, in the first week of February, 24-carat gold became cheaper by ₹1837 and silver lost ₹2303.
Chinese investment in Australia plunges due to souring relation, Covid-19 impact
AFP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 04:04 PM IST
Data from the Australian National University released Sunday showed direct investment plunged to US$800 million last year, from US$2.05 billion in 2019.
‘Not an unmixed blessing’: RBI report amid plan for digital currency
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Mallika Soni
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 03:23 PM IST
Earlier in the week, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said that the central bank plans to launch its own digital currency and the work with respect to the same was in progress.
Nine of top 10 firms lose nearly ₹2.2 lakh crore in market valuation
PTI, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 03:22 PM IST
Reliance Industries (RIL) was the only scrip to post gains in its market valuation among the top 10 valued companies.
Saudi shares drop as US pins Khashoggi murder on crown prince
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 02:29 PM IST
- While President Joe Biden’s administration imposed only modest new sanctions on the kingdom, it’s expected to announce more action on Monday.
India's coal import drops 12 % to 181 million tonnes in January-April period
PTI
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 01:35 PM IST
The company had imported 204.55 MT of coal in April-January period of the previous fiscal year, according to provisional data compiled by mjunction services.
96% people faced drop in earnings during lockdown: Survey
PTI, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 10:27 AM IST
Of the total respondents, 52 per cent were from rural areas and the rest from urban limits.
Women make inroads on Wall Street, but many mountains yet to be moved
AFP, New York
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 08:37 AM IST
- Employment figures demonstrate the mountains that still have to be moved to achieve parity between men and women in the financial services sector.
UK govt to set $7 billion program to help struggling firms
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON FEB 28, 2021 06:01 AM IST
The UK is set to create a 5 billion-pound ($7 billion) grant program to help businesses that have been hard hit by the pandemic.
US Prez Biden urges quick Senate action on huge stimulus package
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AFP
UPDATED ON FEB 27, 2021 11:45 PM IST
The package passed the House just after 2:00 am (0700 GMT) Saturday, in a 219 to 212 vote, with not one Republican vote, and moves next week to the Senate. "I hope it will receive quick action," Biden said in a brief address from the White House.
US SC to look into system that lets corporations like Apple kill patent lawsuits
Bloomberg
UPDATED ON FEB 27, 2021 08:52 PM IST
- In an argument at the intersection of intellectual property and the separation of powers, the justices on Monday will consider a challenge to a congressionally-created board that critics have dubbed a “death squad” because of its tendency to toss out patents.
Warren Buffett says 'never bet against America' in annual letter to shareholders
AP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 08:39 PM IST
“In its brief 232 years of existence, however, there has been no incubator for unleashing human potential like America. Despite some severe interruptions, our country’s economic progress has been breathtaking,” Buffett wrote.
Reliance partners with Google, Facebook for digital payment network bid
Reuters, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 05:12 PM IST
- Facebook and Google are already partnered with Reliance and own stakes in Jio Platforms
