Tens of thousands of Yemenis gathered for a mass demonstration in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Friday to protest against continued Israeli attacks on the war-torn Gaza Strip and its "Greater Israel" plan.
The participants in the demonstration raised banners and chanted slogans to express their strong opposition to Israel's mass killings and starvation in the Palestinian enclave, as well as firm refusal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks on annexation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Netanyahu's remarks were made in response to an interview with i24News, which aired on Tuesday, after he was asked if he "feels a connection" to a "vision" of "Greater Israel" and to which he responded "very much", the Times of Israel reported.
"We will never accept Israel's annexation of the Gaza Strip. We will continue the flight against Israel, as well as support Gaza's resistance forces through military operations and mass mobilization," said Abdulrahman Al-Ahnomi, Media Relations Officer of Houthi group.
The Houthi group said that weekly rally against Israel will continue until Israel stops its attacks on Gaza and takes back its remarks on annexation.
Tens of thousands rally in Yemen's capital to protest against Netanyahu's "Greater Israel" plan
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
