Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 66,288

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 66,288, with 169,165 others injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted on October 7, 2023, Gaza's health authorities said in a statement on Friday.

Israeli military operations in Gaza over the past 24 hours have killed 63 Palestinians and injured 227 others, the health authorities said in the statement.

Since Israel resumed full-scale military operations in Gaza on March 18 this year, following a brief ceasefire, 13,420 Palestinians have been killed and 57,124 injured, the authorities said.

The Fifth Global Media Innovation Forum was held in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Wednesday, gathering hundreds of attendees to discuss key issues facing the media industry, including the profound impact of artificial intelligence.

Jointly hosted by the China Media Group (CMG) and the Chongqing Municipal People's Government, the forum was themed "Upholding and Reshaping: The Media's Mission in the Intelligent Era" and brought together around 300 representatives from government agencies, international organizations, media outlets, think tanks, and multinational companies. Participants noted that, guided by the spirit of Chinese President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter to the first Global Media Innovation Forum in 2022, the event has since become an important platform for media organizations worldwide to deepen exchanges, share experiences, and promote mutual learning.

Speakers highlighted how a new wave of technological and industrial transformations, led primarily by artificial intelligence (AI), is reshaping production, lifestyles, education, and working practices.

China's "AI Plus" initiative -- which aims to promote the extensive and in-depth integration of AI across various fields -- has hailed for creating new opportunities and expanding the scope for cooperation between China and the rest of the world.

Attendees emphasized that AI is exerting a profound impact on the media landscape and public opinion ecosystem. They called for greater application of AI in journalism, cultural communication, and public services to accelerate the media transformation and push innovation.

Participants also stressed the importance of promoting the common values of humanity, building international consensus on global AI governance, and ensuring that digital and intelligent technologies remain people-centered and serve the public good.

They further advocated implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, which was proposed by President Xi, by creating more online platforms for cultural exchanges and mutual learning to strengthen people-to-people connectivity.