🌏 A One-Man Protest Against Xi Jinping Sparks A Movement, Iranian Woman Rock Climber Competes Without A Hijab, And More

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Posters protesting against Chinese president Xi Jinping, who was confirmed for a third five-year term, have been popping up around the world, inspired by a man who held a rare one-man protest against Xi on a bridge in Beijing, China.

On the afternoon of Thursday Oct. 13, the man, reportedly dressed as a construction worker, unfurled two protest banners on the Sitong Bridge in Beijing’s Haidian District, while black smoke billowed up from a fire on the bridge.

The banners read: “No COVID tests, but life. No Cultural Revolution, but reform. No lockdowns, but freedom. No rulers but elections. No lies, but dignity. No slaves, but citizens” and “Students, workers, strike. Depose the dictator and national traitor Xi Jinping.”

The banners were taken down by authorities not long after they were unfurled, an eyewitness told AFP.

The man was then reportedly detained.

The protest quickly went viral on Chinese social media, with the man becoming known as “Bridge Man”, a reference to Tank Man, the lone protester facing down tanks in the famous Tianamen Square photo.

However, posts were swiftly censored, with keywords such as “Sitong Bridge”, “Haidian” and “Beijing protester” blocked.

Bridge Man’s protest has inspired a movement around the world, as well as inside China, with students and activists printing posters with the slogans and pasting them across campuses and public places.

The demonstration came three days ahead of the start of the week-long Chinese Communist Party Congress, where Xi was confirmed for a third five-year term on Oct. 23, thus making him the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong.

During his opening speech, Xi said China was striving towards “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan – which China claims as its territory – but would not rule out the use of force.

Also Happening Around The World

🇬🇧 After 45 days, the UK’s prime minister, Liz Truss, has announced her resignation after her policies led to an economic and political crisis.

🇬🇧 Also in the UK, an unrefrigerated iceberg lettuce has become a huge meme for outlasting Truss, who has become the shortest serving prime minister in the UK’s history.

🇰🇷 BTS’ management company has officially confirmed that the K-pop superstars will serve in South Korea’s mandatory military service, starting with Jin, the oldest member.

🇪🇸 Did you know there’s a festival in Spain where people cover each other in black grease to reenact a 15th century feud between two villages?

An Iranian woman rock climber has been welcomed by massive crowds upon returning to Tehran after she competed without a headscarf at a tournament in South Korea on Sunday Oct. 16.

Concerns had been raised after friends of 33-year-old Elnaz Rekabi reported they were unable to reach the athlete on Monday after her competition, according to BBC Persian.

Iranian women athletes are required to wear a covering on their heads and modest clothes when representing Iran in international competitions.

Video footage of Rekabi climbing without a veil had gone viral on social media, with people calling her “brave” and a “hero” for defying the country’s mandatory hijab law, which has come into the spotlight in recent weeks following protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.

On Tuesday, Rekabi reemerged, issuing a statement on Instagram and reassuring everyone she was flying back home with her team.

In her statement, Rekabi said her hijab had “unintentionally become problematic” due to the the timing and unpredicted call for her to climb, according to Reuters.

The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) said it has reached out to Rekabi and will monitor the situation as athletes’ safety is “paramount” to the organization.

More Women You Should Know About

🇮🇷 An Iranian schoolgirl was reportedly beaten to death in the classroom by security forces for refusing to sing a pro-regime anthem.

🇮🇷 A video showing Iranian security forces sexually assaulting a woman protester while trying to arrest her has gone viral, causing fury on social media.

Australian firefighters have posed for their popular annual charity calendar's 30th edition, and the photos are too hot to handle.

Since the start of the project 30 years ago in 1993, the calendar project has raised more than 3.2 million dollars and helped support a range of Australian and international charities from animal conservation to medical research.

Every year, new versions are released, but a total of six editions were produced this year for the 30th anniversary, with an all-new denim edition.

Four of the editions feature firefighters posing with a range of animals such as horses, dogs, cats and a variety of wildlife animals from local refuges that the organization supports.

Selecting the firefighters featured in the calendar is a rigorous process, the director of the project, David Rogers told Almost.

Firefighters all over Australia sending in photos, but only 20 are selected.

“To be considered for the photoshoot the firefighters have to be fit, photogenic and most importantly understand the importance of the charities we support,” Rogers said.

More Good News For Your Week

🇨🇭For more than 20 years, people in an area in Switzerland have been digging ponds as part of conservation efforts to increase the population of endangered frogs, and it has finally yielded positive results, according to a new research study.

🇦🇷 More than 150 pizza chefs competed for the title of the “Great Argentine Champion” at the 10th Argentine Pizza and Empanada Championships in Buenos Aires earlier in June.

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