2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala completes second rehearsal

The second rehearsal for the 2025 Spring Festival Gala of China Media Group (CMG) was wrapped up on Friday, with performance quality improving continuously and the gala's overall organization more refined.

The gala, also known as "Chunwan" in Chinese, has been regarded as a major cultural symbol for the traditional Lunar New Year celebrations in China. It has been broadcast live annually since 1983, and will be aired on Jan 28 this year, the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The stage design of this year's gala takes inspiration from the traditional Chinese ornament Ruyi, a symbol of good luck and fortune. It links the main stage with the audience area to enhance the immersive and interactive experience.

This year, the gala will be accessible for visually impaired and hearing-impaired audiences for the first time, along with real-time program interpretation and detailed background information explanations to better service these special audiences.

During the rehearsal, the second group of guests from the "Spring Festival Gala Awaits You" campaign, were invited to watch the performances on site.

"Watching the gala rehearsal on the spot provides us an immersive experience created by the performance and allows us to feel the enthusiasm of the audience up close. Very lively, and there's a real festive feel," said Shi Haifeng, one of the invited audience.

"The gala programs highlight the vibrant spirit of the elderly, and I really enjoy it. I believe our senior citizens will find happiness and contentment. Through this rehearsal, I hope to bring the festive joy back home to inspire other elderly people to enjoy themselves," said Yang Fang, another invited guest.

On Dec 4, 2024, the UNESCO inscribed Spring Festival -- the social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year -- on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking a global recognition of this vibrant celebration and cherished cultural tradition.

The 2025 gala is the first one since the Spring Festival's successful inclusion.

2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala completes second rehearsal

2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala completes second rehearsal

2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala completes second rehearsal

2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala completes second rehearsal

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that it struck multiple missile production and storage sites across Iran from Thursday night into early Friday morning.

According to the IDF, its strikes hit facilities producing ballistic missiles and other weapons in the Iranian capital Tehran, as well as missile launchers and storage facilities in western Iran.

The IDF also said that it struck Iran's primary military naval site for the production of missiles and sea mines in central Iran.

The site, located in the city of Yazd and targeted by the Israeli Air Force, was used for the planning, development, assembly and storage of advanced missiles intended for launch from surface vessels, submarines and helicopters against both mobile and stationary maritime targets, the IDF said in a statement.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said on social media on Friday that a residential area in Tehran was hit by airstrikes. Search and rescue operations are underway.

Also on Friday, a security official in the central province of Qom said that the U.S. and Israeli attacks in the Pardisan area in the early hours of the day have resulted in 15 deaths and 10 injuries.

The death toll could rise further as the search and rescue operations are still underway, said the official.

Israel claims strikes on Iran's missile production, storage sites while Iran reports more casualties