Chinese puppet show staged in Chile in celebration of Year of Horse

Chinese performers presented a captivating puppet show in the coastal Chilean city of Vina del Mar, as part of the celebrations for the upcoming Chinese Year of the Horse.

Titled "the Charm of the Oriental Puppet," the show was presented on Tuesday by the renowned Rugao Puppet Art Troupe, whose purpose is to preserve and promote one of the oldest and most representative performing arts of China's cultural tradition.

Through music, movement and visual storytelling, the performances recreated a journey that transcend time and space through classic stories, scenes from Chinese opera and pieces full of humor and poetry. The high artistic standard left a strong impression on the audience.

"It was really amazing and wonderful. The rich and splendid performances were truly eye-opening. It was really special," said Lucila Gomez, a spectator.

Vanessa Grondona, director of the Municipal Theater of Vina del Mar, noted the overwhelming enthusiasm from the audience.

"Our theater was completely packed today, with some people even unable to get in. A full house is a testament to the audience's strong interest in Chinese culture," said Grondana.

The event also featured a promotional video for China Media Group (CMG)'s upcoming 2026 Spring Festival Gala, which has sparked anticipation for the cultural spectacle.

"Through today's Spring Festival Gala promotional video, we witnessed the fusion of traditional and modern culture, making Chinese culture more accessible to the people of Chile," said Roberto Lafontaine, director of the Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation Foundation.

Chinese puppet show staged in Chile in celebration of Year of Horse

Chinese puppet show staged in Chile in celebration of Year of Horse

Chinese puppet show staged in Chile in celebration of Year of Horse

Chinese puppet show staged in Chile in celebration of Year of Horse

One person was killed and two others were injured on Saturday in an Israeli drone strike targeting the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon, Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health said.

The ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said in a statement that the strike hit the Farah Amusement Park junction in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, leaving one person dead and two others wounded.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said the attack was carried out by an Israeli drone.

The strike came a day after Lebanon and Israel signed a U.S.-brokered framework agreement in Washington aimed at achieving lasting peace and security and laying the groundwork for a broader peace process. Despite the agreement, Israeli strikes and military operations have continued in southern Lebanon.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 4,246 people and injured 12,190 others since March 2, according to the Public Health Emergency Operations Center.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the Israeli military to prepare for an extended stay in the "security zone" in southern Lebanon.

He stressed that Israel is not withdrawing from Lebanon and is maintaining the "security zone" in southern Lebanon, "free of residents and terrorist infrastructure," while preserving the military's freedom of action to thwart threats.

Katz noted that the important principle stipulated in the agreement is that there will be no Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as long as Hezbollah is not disarmed.

He also warned that if Iran attempts to attack Israel to prevent the implementation of the agreement, Israel would respond with great force and "illustrate the power gaps that exist between us."

1 killed, 2 injured in Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon