CMG's Mid-Autumn Festival Gala celebrates traditions, honors wartime heroes

China Media Group (CMG)'s much-anticipated Mid-Autumn Festival Gala was aired on Monday, captivating global audience with its poetic and artistic celebrations of the festival, and paying tribute to wartime heroes.

The gala, known as "Qiuwan" in Chinese, was filmed in southwest China's Deyang City in Sichuan Province, home to the 3,000-year-old archaeological site of Sanxingdui, a revolutionary 20th-century find that has unveiled new clues about the brilliance and sophistication of early Chinese civilization. Unfolded in three chapters, the gala incorporated innovative narrative formats, such as outdoor filming and micro-documentaries, to enhance its audiovisual effects.

The opening segment, "Full Moon over the Mountains," weaved together natural landscapes, cultural heritage and lyrical nostalgia in a visually enchanting broadcast.

In the eye-opening performance "Bronze", dancers and humanoid robots shared the stage in an elegant dialogue spanning millennia. Iconic Sanxingdui artifacts, including the sacred bronze tree and towering bronze figure, served as a stunning backdrop, merging the mystique of ancient Shu civilization dating back more than 3,000 years with futuristic technology in a seamless, immersive spectacle.

Themed "My Hometown", the second segment featured about ten performances that conveyed feelings of longing for home, loved ones and family, as well as the self-striving spirit of individuals and a sense of national unity.

One of the highlights was a micro-documentary that authentically narrated the resilience and courage of people in Deyang City in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in 2008.

The third segment, themed "Full Moon in Autumn," not only amazed viewers with more artistic performances, but also marked significant historical anniversaries, including the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 75th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers' (CPV) participation in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.

A micro-documentary told the story of CPV soldier Huang Jiguang, who was born in Deyang City and lost his life on the Korean battlefield 73 years ago.

A medley of songs was presented in Chinese, English, French and Russian to commemorate the 80th anniversary of World War II victory.

The gala concluded with a epilogue symphony named "Bright Moon Over the Ocean."

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a significant traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the night when the moon reaches its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, the day falls on Monday.

During the festival, family members come together, share mooncakes while admiring the moon, and light up lanterns to enjoy the happiness of family reunion.

CMG's Mid-Autumn Festival Gala celebrates traditions, honors wartime heroes

Italian political and social figures have strongly condemned the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, in which the U.S. special forces kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Critics argue that the United States, driven by its desire for Venezuela's oil resources, has violated international law by forcibly interfering in the country's internal affairs, an act that not only infringes on Venezuela's national sovereignty but also threatens peace and stability in Latin America.

"A major power like the United States has repeatedly violated international law. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last. The U.S. action is extremely blatant, extremely shocking. We have become accustomed to it," said Italian MP Riccardo Ricciardi.

"They (the United States) can kidnap, kill, invade, and plunder other countries' resources. By what right? The right of the powerful? The right of gangsters? This is precisely the problem facing the world today. We must build a new international system -- a system in which such actions are no longer permitted and will be held accounted to pay dearly," said Pino Arlacchi, former UN under-secretary-general, who is also an Italian sociologist.

"The incident is an unprecedented international crime, an armed aggression against a sovereign state resulting in over 100 deaths. The forced control of a sitting head of state violates at least 30 international laws, including the UN Charter and other international customary laws," said Fabio Marcelli, an Italian legal expert.

"Donald Trump's objective is not to combat drug trafficking, which is only a pretext. The true U.S. objective is to gain control of Venezuela's resources. The United States does not represent the entire American continent, nor is it the sole protagonist in the global landscape. Ultimately, it is U.S.-led unilateralism challenging multilateralism," said Clara Statello, an Italian journalist.

Italian figures condemn US intervention in Venezuela