The death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since October 2023 has mounted to 2,865, with injuries up to 13,047, according to the latest report released by Nasser Yassin, Caretaker Environment Minister and Coordinator of the Government's Emergency Committee, on Thursday.
The dead included 178 medical staff and first-aid personnel, said the report.
The Lebanese government has set up 1,130 refugee centers to accommodate the displaced, of which 948 are at capacity. Currently, there are 189,174 displaced people staying in official refugee centers.
According to information obtained on Oct 31, Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas of the Baalbek region, eastern Lebanon, have killed seven people and wounded 14 others.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday that after an air raid siren sounded in Metula of northern Israel at noon that day, the Israeli army detected two shells fired from Lebanon into the country.
According to the local media reports in Israel, the attack has killed five people, including one Israeli and four foreign workers.
U.S. presidential envoy Amos Hochstein and National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk visited Israel on Thursday.
In a meeting with them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said any ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah must guarantee Israel's security, according to a statement released by the prime minister's office.
On the same day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer also met with the two U.S. officials to discuss the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and the release of Israeli detainees in Gaza.
Lebanese death toll from Israeli attacks climbs to 2,865
Lebanese death toll from Israeli attacks climbs to 2,865
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
