Syria's chief of defense authorities said on Tuesday that he had met with the commander of Kurdish-led forces Mazloum Abdi in Damascus and agreed to an immediate ceasefire across all fronts in northern and northeastern Syria.
The meeting came following a recent spate of clashes between troops loyal to the Syrian interim authorities and Kurdish-led troops which control large areas of northern and eastern Syria.
In a brief statement, Marhaf Abu Qasra, chief of defense authorities, said that the meeting resulted in "a comprehensive ceasefire covering all axes and deployment points in northern and northeastern Syria, to be implemented immediately."
At the end of last year, Syria witnessed a dramatic shift in its political situation. Armed forces led by Ahmad al-Shara announced the "liberation of Damascus and the overthrow of the Assad regime," and subsequently formed an interim administration.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), now control vast territories in northern and eastern Syria.
In March this year, the SDF signed an agreement with the Syrian interim authorities to integrate into state institutions. However, the implementation of the agreement has faced difficulties with armed clashes between the two factions in several provinces including Aleppo.
Syrian authorities, Kurdish forces agree on immediate ceasefire after Aleppo clashes
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
