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

Iran on Monday publicly rejected a core U.S. demand to cease all uranium enrichment, while projecting a dual-track strategy of guarded diplomatic engagement and reinforced military preparedness.

The moves came as the indirect Iran-US talks in Oman's Muscat last week yielded no breakthrough and regional tensions continued to simmer.

On Monday, Mohammad Eslami, president of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said that while Iran could consider diluting its 60-percent enriched uranium, it would only do so if all international sanctions were first lifted.

Eslami also dismissed past proposals to ship the material abroad for safekeeping.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi echoed this line on Monday, reaffirming Tehran's strategy of engaging in talks while refusing to concede on what Iran views as sovereign rights.

Pezeshkian and Araghchi have described the Muscat talks as a "good start" but warned that diplomacy must be based on "respect, not coercion."

In a televised speech on Monday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei urged Iranians to show unity and "disappoint the enemy" ahead of the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, amid rising tensions with the United States.

Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, is set to lead a delegation to visit mediator Oman on Tuesday.

Simultaneously, Iran has signaled a shift toward greater military opacity. Iran's state news agency IRNA said in a report on Sunday that the Defense Ministry has halted all public displays of new weaponry "for security reasons and to safeguard the principle of surprise," a move widely interpreted as preparing for potential conflict.

Positions from the United States and Israel have appeared equally firm. A report on Sunday by Israel's Channel 15 said the United States had privately messaged Iran, seeking Iran's "concessions" in the next round of talks, and expecting "serious and meaningful content."

On Monday, The Jerusalem Post, citing Israeli defense officials, reported that Israel has warned the U.S. it "will strike alone" if Iran crosses its "red lines" on ballistic missiles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Sunday that he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb 11 in Washington, and will discuss the U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Netanyahu is expected to demand that the U.S. promote the transfer of Iran's enriched uranium out of the country and restrict Iran's ballistic missile capabilities.

Iran rejects zero enrichment, projects dual-track posture amid stalled talks with U.S.