Anti-lockdown protesters in police clashes
Xi quit calls over China’s zero Covid strategy
ANTI-lockdown protesters demanded a change in government as they clashed with police in China yesterday.
Demonstrators in Shanghai shouting “We don’t want PCR tests, we want freedom!” were dispersed by officers who beat and pepper-sprayed them.
But more took to the streets in the city and across the country where protests are rare under the tough Chinese Communist Party rule of President Xi Jinping.
Fury erupted after at least 10 died in a fire in a block of flats in Urumqi, in north west Xinjiang, where many believe rescue was hampered by Covid lockdown measures.
Hundreds gathered on a street in Shanghai named after the city, chanting: “Xi Jinping! Step down!
CCP! Step down!” Six protesters were said to have been forcibly taken away by police.
One rebel said: “Everyone thinks Chinese people are afraid to come out and protest. But everyone was very brave.”
China’s “zero Covid” strategy has confined people to their homes for weeks at a time for three years since the outbreak. Demonstrations have taken place at 50 universities across China, according to crowdsourced information posted on social media.
Videos showing protesters tussling with police were said to have been filmed in at least seven cities across the country.
Antonio Banderas has been pondering on the legend of Zorro, and a potential replacement for the mask-wearing vigilante. Asked whether he would like to pass the famous disguise on, he told Comic Book: “Yes, I would consider that possibility, why not? If they called me to do Zorro, I would do what Anthony Hopkins did for me, which is to pass the torch.”
He then went on to suggest Tom Holland as a potential replacement, and explained: “I did Uncharted with him, and he’s so energetic and fun, and he’s got this spark too. Why not?”
Tom; Over to you. How are your sword skills these days?
Catherine Zeta-Jones has been speaking about being married to Michael Douglas for a looong time, but not necessarily in the best of analogies.
She said: “I’ve been waking up to Mike for nearly 25 years. I love being married but it’s a crazy thing when you really think about it. ‘Will you marry me?’ ‘Sure!’
She added: “But then you think about the Chanel purse you spent a fortune on, and actually I don’t really like it any more – I’ll put it up for resale.” So is Michael the Chanel purse or…?
Stars of the new TV show, Willow – a sequel to the 1988 film featuring Warwick Davis – said that everything was kept faithful to the medievalfantasy era it was set in.
Dempsey Bryk, who plays Prince Arik in the new Disney+ series, out November 30, said that the costume designers even avoided using zips, which led to little accidents.
“They were so ridiculously beautiful to behold,” he said. “But sometimes it was difficult to pee in. They didn’t use zippers so they could be authentic so they used lace ties.” And probably required a two-minute warning for loo breaks, too…
It’s almost 20 years on, and there’s still one event in his career that haunts Hugh Grant, waking him in the early hours with the night sweats. Yep, that dancing scene from Love Actually.
In an interview with ABC News, Hugh said: “There’s many people — and I agree with them — who think it’s the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid.”