New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Google-owned YouTube is helping Indian creators unlock ‘fandoms’ in three ways — creation, monetisation and community – allowing them new tools to generate revenue directly from dedicated fans, Ishan John Chatterjee, Director-India, YouTube, said on Tuesday.

Speaking to IANS, Chatterjee said features like Super Chat, Super Stickers and Channel Memberships are allowing Indian fans to financially support their favourite creators while deepening their connection.

A decade ago, YouTube FanFest in Mumbai marked a pivotal moment in Indian pop culture, as fans embraced creators with the same fervour reserved for movie or sports stars.

“Today, marking the 10th anniversary of YouTube Fanfest, fandom has evolved into a powerful force shaping trends, communities, and the entertainment industry itself,” said Chatterjee.

A recent survey by Google and SmithGeiger noted that 62 per cent of Gen Z fans agree that they are a part of a fandom that no one they know personally is a part of.

“This diversity means there’s a fandom for everyone, and new communities are constantly emerging,” Chatterjee added.

He said that at YouTube, they offer more creative formats than other platforms to experiment and express yourself — from a 15-second short, to a 15 minute video, a 1.5 hour podcast or even a 15 hour livestream.

“We’re making our tools more intuitive and accessible, enabling fans of all levels to express their passion through creative content. From easy-to-use video editing features such as the Create App to formats like Shorts, we’re lowering the barrier to entry for fan participation and expression,” Chatterjee noted.

The YouTube Partner Programme established the first sustainable pathway for creators to thrive, giving creators more freedom, choice and opportunity to build a business and a community online.

“Besides, ads, subscriptions and our BrandConnect platform for sponsored deals, we give creators tools to leverage the power of community to earn in ways that are fun & engaging for them and their audience,” the senior company executive informed.

From posts and vertical live, multi-language audio and Gen-AI dubbing, the platform said it is giving creators the tools they need to connect with their fans on a deeper level.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) In a bid to make 5G accessible to billions of smartphone users worldwide, including in India, leading chip-maker Qualcomm on Tuesday launched Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 mobile platform to re-define the entry-level mobile experience.

The chip will make 5G accessible to over 600 million Indian smartphone users, offering peak download speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is seven times faster than the LTE platforms typically available in the same price tier.

Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 will be initially adopted by key OEMs, including Xiaomi and its other brands, with the first commercial device expected to be announced before the end of the year, said the chip maker.

The new Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 platform offers gigabit 5G connectivity, robust power efficiency for all-day battery life, and skilled camera capabilities.

Chris Patrick, SVP and general manager of mobile handsets, Qualcomm, said they are immensely proud of the engineering teams for their exceptional work in developing a solution that will significantly enhance mobile experiences for millions of people, not only in India but around the globe.”

According to Savi Soin, Senior Vice President and President, Qualcomm India, access to 5G will be a key factor towards furthering India’s journey of digital transformation and securing its presence as a global player.

“With the 5G rollout in India a su”5G can bridge the digital divide, empowering Indians with crucial tools and services in education, government services, healthcare, and payments more reliably and securely, as well as drive India’s Made in India agenda,” said Soin.

Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 will be initially adopted by India’s leading mobile OEM, Xiaomi and its other brands, with the first commercial device expected to be announced before the end of the year.

“We are excited to be working with Qualcomm Technologies to enable access to gigabit-fast connectivity for users across India” said Muralikrishnan B, President, Xiaomi India.

Qualcomm has been at the forefront of innovation in India for the past two decades, contributing significantly to advancements in technology, particularly in fields such as 5G and artificial intelligence (AI).

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that as India is headed to become the third largest economy soon, he was confident that the country will emerge as a global player in the sunrise sectors such as semiconductors, electronics manufacturing and green energy.

Addressing the inaugural session of ‘Journey Towards Viksit Bharat: A Post Union Budget 2024-25 Conference’ at the Vigyan Bhavan here, PM Modi said new opportunities are emerging in sunrise sectors and India Inc. must capitalise on them.

“The whole world is looking at India today. India’s policies and ethics and aims and investment is the basis for progress for the whole world,” the Prime Minister remarked.

PM Modi said that despite global headwinds, India is the only ‘high growth, low inflation’ country in the world in contrast to the “low growth, high inflation” other countries. India’s fiscal prudence is a role model for the world,” he added.

“The world today wants to invest in India, and world leaders are positive about India. This is a golden chance for Indian industry and we must not lose this opportunity,” he told the captains of Indian industry.

“I sincerely believe that industry will help make India a global player in sunrise sectors. A confident India will become a global player,” the Prime Minister said.

“The wealth creators are the driving force for India’s growth story,” he remarked.

Prime Minister Modi pointed out that the last Budget presented by the Manmohan Singh government in 2014 was only Rs 16 lakh crore. Ten years later, the Union Budget 2024 presented by us a few days ago is Rs 48 lakh crore, which is three times the amount.

The Prime Minister said that Budget 2024-25 would strengthen the momentum towards achieving Viksit Bharat.

He pointed out that the Budget would give further impetus to the manufacturing sector with schemes such as the industrial parks being created in 100 big cities with plug-and-play facilities for setting up industries. These parks will emerge as the industrial hubs nationwide powering the country to Viksit Barat.

He also pointed out that MSMEs, which are large creators of jobs, would get a big boost from the budget which had made it easier for them to get working capital and credit loans. Taxes for these small units had also been reduced, he added.

He also said that the country was embarking on a green energy roadmap which includes green hydrogen projects, electric vehicles and nuclear energy. Industry will benefit from our steps on small nuclear reactors, he added.

The Prime Minister said that the government was according high priority to critical minerals and very soon the first phase of bidding for offshore mining blocks would start.

He also said that the PM’s package in the budget was a holistic and comprehensive strategy that would benefit more than 4 crore youth in the country and create a skilled workforce that will be in demand both in India and abroad.

“The budget is focused on skill development, employment keeping in mind industry 4.0,” the PM said.

He highlighted the incentives being offered to the industry under the internship scheme as he urged India Inc. to march shoulder to shoulder with the government towards achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat.

–IANS

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Tashkent, July 30 (IANS) The Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the State Committee for Tourism, has prepared a draft resolution on the development of tourism in Uzbekistan, the agency press service reported.

According to the document, by 2025, new types of tourism can be developed in Uzbekistan, Xinhua news agency reported.

Geological tourism will offer visitors tours of mines and inactive geological and industrial sites. Industrial and scientific tourism will include visits to the production areas of mining and metallurgical complexes.

In addition, tourists interested in military themes will have the opportunity to visit military training grounds. They will also be provided with paid services for shooting in military zones.

“The successful implementation of the proposed changes, including the creation of new tourist routes, the introduction of modern information and navigation systems, and the improvement of infrastructure will contribute to increasing the flow of tourists to our country and developing its economy,” the statement said.

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) Amid growing demand from the manufacturing sector, warehouse transactions across eight primary markets in India were recorded at 23 million square feet in the first half this year, a report showed on Tuesday.

Almost 55 per cent of these transactions occurred in ‘Grade A’ spaces, led by Mumbai which accounted for 20 per cent of the total warehousing volume, according to the report by Knight Frank India.

“Demand from the manufacturing sector has compensated for the lull in e-commerce and helped broad base the market’s occupier profile,” said Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India.

While the availability of viable land for warehousing development remains a challenge, high institutional interest in this space should enable development of high-quality supply, he added.

Delhi-NCR was the second most prolific market, representing 17 per cent of the total warehousing area transacted during the period, with third-party logistics and manufacturing sectors driving volumes.

Pune was the most expensive warehousing rental market, with average rent at Rs 26 per sq ft a month.

It was followed by Kolkata with a rental rate of Rs 23.8 per sq ft monthly and Mumbai at Rs 23.6 per sq ft a month.

Pune and Chennai showcased a 4 per cent increment in rentals, followed by NCR and Kolkata at 3 per cent YoY growth, said the report.

“India’s robust fiscal position and resilient economy are well-positioned to sustain and enhance the warehousing market’s stability and growth potential for the remainder of fiscal year 2024,” said Baijal.

The country has benefited from the sustained move towards decentralisation of manufacturing capacity with global manufacturing giants such as Apple, Samsung, Foxconn and TSMC expanding their manufacturing base in the country.

–IANS

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