Pakistan, China and Russia hold informal talks on Afghanistan in Doha
Special envoys from Pakistan, China and Russia held an informal meeting in the Qatari capital on Monday to discuss regional cooperation on Afghanistan...
YouTube has introduced a new subscription tier, Premium Lite, which offers an ad-free viewing experience on most videos for $8 per month in the United States, according to company sources.
The new plan, currently rolling out in the U.S., is designed for users who prefer uninterrupted streaming without the added features of the full YouTube Premium package.
Under Premium Lite, viewers will be able to enjoy content such as podcasts, gaming, fashion, beauty, and news without ads. However, music content is treated differently; ads will continue to appear on music and music videos, as well as on YouTube Shorts, because YouTube Music is included only with the full Premium service. Additionally, features like downloads and background play will not be available to Premium Lite subscribers, and users may still encounter ads while browsing and searching on the platform.
"We’ve heard from our users that many want an ad-free, uninterrupted streaming experience without needing the full music service," said YouTube’s chief product officer, Johanna Voolich, in a video announcement. "Premium Lite gives those viewers more choice, while also unlocking a new revenue stream for our creators."
The rollout of Premium Lite marks an expansion of YouTube’s efforts to offer more flexible subscription options. The service is part of a pilot program that began testing lower-cost subscriptions in several markets last October 2024. In those trials, YouTube provided most content without ads, except for certain categories like music content and Shorts, where non-interruptive ads were shown.
Subscribers in YouTube’s pilot markets in Australia, Germany, and Thailand will also gain access to Premium Lite in the coming weeks, with plans to expand the tier to additional countries later this year. The platform has indicated that it will continue to explore new ways to enhance the subscription experience for its users.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign as political and economic tensions mount.
Over the past year, 162 asteroids flew closer to Earth than the Moon. NASA and ESA warn only 40% of dangerous objects have been identified, with one asteroid posing a small risk of hitting the Moon in 2032.
A Chinese firm has launched what it claims is the country’s first 24/7 intelligent laser weeding robot, aiming to phase out chemical herbicides and cut agricultural pollution at its source.
Set on top of Chile’s Cerro Pachón mountain, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will soon embark on a ten-year survey, using cutting-edge technology to uncover new secrets of the universe.
Scientists at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences have identified a genetic 'dimmer switch' that controls how genes turn on and off during embryo formation, offering insights for future therapies.
Japan has launched its H2A rocket for the final time, marking a shift to its next-generation H3 programme.
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