Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" hit Malaysian movie screens at Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, on Saturday.
The event drew more than 1,000 attendees, including cultural and media representatives from Malaysia and China, as well as local fans.
Joyce Lee, managing director of Singapore-based film distributor Encore Films, said the film's soaring social media buzz and the passion of local audience bolstered her confidence in the film's market potential in Malaysia.
"I think the response today is unprecedented. As you can see, all major media outlets are here, including both TV and radio stations. I myself am very confident that the movie will have a high number of screenings," Lee said.
"The story is very, very good. People who want to watch the film must come and watch. The pictures and the story are so cool, completely cool," said a moviegoer.
As a sequel to the 2019 animated hit "Ne Zha", the latest installment in this rebellious deity's saga has captivated audiences worldwide. The film is now the highest-grossing animated film of all time globally and the seventh most lucrative film ever.
Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" hits Malaysian screens
Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" hits Malaysian screens
Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" hits Malaysian screens
Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Italy and Greece on Saturday to protest against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, with protesters in Rome, Milan and Athens condemning Washington's actions and calling for respect for Venezuelan sovereignty.
In Rome, more than 1,000 demonstrators marched toward the area near the U.S. Embassy, calling on Washington to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Police blocked roads around the embassy to prevent protesters from approaching the building, but demonstrators continued to denounce U.S. actions.
"First of all, we oppose U.S. imperialist aggression. This kind of behavior is shameful. The U.S. is attacking a sovereign country, and as [U.S. President Donald] Trump himself has said, this is for oil interests," said protester Giovanni Barbera.
Saturday's rally marked the second large-scale protest in Rome this month against U.S. military operations in Venezuela, following an earlier one on on Jan 3.
Participants included members of multiple political parties, labor unions and social organizations. The protesters held banners reading "Stop imperialist interference" and "Free Maduro," urging the international community to respect Venezuela's sovereignty and the will of its people, and condemning the U.S. for violating international law.
"We are protesting the way the U.S. handles international politics. Since the events of January 3, we have seen violations of international law, and we are very concerned about how the global situation is developing," said protester Stefano De Angelis.
Organizers said solidarity rallies in support of Venezuela were held in 30 Italian cities on the same day.
Meanwhile, similar protests were also staged in Greece. About 200 people gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens, voicing support for Venezuela and opposition to U.S. military actions.
"We oppose U.S. imperialism and its attack on Venezuela. At the same time, the U.S. is also threatening Cuba, Mexico and Greenland. We must stand up against this behavior," said Greek protester Argiro Sirmakezi.
Protesters rally in Italy, Greece against U.S. military operation in Venezuela
