CMG Spring Festival Gala promo screened in UAE, Myanmar

Vibrant events celebrating Chinese traditions were launched in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Myanmar, highlighting China's effort to share Spring Festival traditions and deepen cultural exchanges with the two countries while featuring promotions for China Media Group (CMG)'s Spring Festival Gala.

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, falls on Feb 17 this year and marks the start of the Year of the Horse.

In Abu Dhabi, a lively celebration was held on Friday evening, drawing crowds who lingered to watch. Chinese artists captivated the audience with musical performances featuring traditional Chinese instruments such as the guzheng, erhu and pipa.

On-site screenings of the CMG Spring Festival Gala promo also drew enthusiastic audiences, who shared their excitement in interviews with the CMG.

"I watch the CCTV gala of the Chinese festival (CMG Spring Festival Gala) every year with my family. I wish everybody a happy new year," said Shi Shuyao, a Chinese-Lebanese attendee.

"It's really impressive and I can feel the energy of the dancers, of the musicals, and everything. Someday if I go to China, I want to experience the festival in China," said Berat Kar, local resident.

While in Myanmar, the Chinese embassy hosted a two-day festive event at the National Theater in Yangon on Thursday and Friday, gathering over 2,000 guests including Myanmar governmental officials, foreign envoys, overseas Chinese, and friends from all walks of life.

During the event, the venue's plaza turned into a bustling Chinese cultural fair, with booths offering traditional Chinese foods, handicrafts, customs, and interactive experiences such as horse drawing.

The CMG Spring Festival Gala promotional video was also screened in the theater.

Watching the Spring Festival Gala on television is a cherished part of the celebrations in hundreds of millions of Chinese homes.

The gala, since first being broadcast in 1983, has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program on the planet.

CMG Spring Festival Gala promo screened in UAE, Myanmar

U.S. stocks ended lower on Tuesday as climbing U.S. Treasury yields continued to weigh on investor sentiment.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 322.24 points, or 0.65 percent, to 49,363.88. The The Standard and Poor's 500 sank 49.44 points, or 0.67 percent, to 7,353.61, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index shed 220.03 points, or 0.84 percent, to close at 25,870.71.

A primary source of downward pressure came from the fixed-income market. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note climbed back above 4.6 percent, while the 30-year Treasury yield nearly touched 5.2 percent, marking its highest level in nearly 19 years.

The high-yield environment acted as a drag on high-valuation growth sectors, which are particularly sensitive to elevated interest rates. Six of the 11 primary The Standard and Poor's 500 sectors closed in negative territory, with materials and communication services leading the declines by dropping 2.27 percent and 1.58 percent, respectively. In contrast, the healthcare sector gained 1.09 percent and the energy sector advanced 1.03 percent.

Market participants are also focusing on Wednesday's upcoming after-hours earnings release from Nvidia.

U.S. stocks close lower amid rising yields