Latest news with #OurTimes
Geek Girl Authority
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
New TV Shows This Week (June 8 - 14)
Welcome to another edition of New TV Shows. This week, a father-daughter spy duo returns to Netflix. Mexican singer Lucero stars in Our Times , Nick Mohammed joins two Hollywood stars in a Prime Video movie and the continuation of To Barcelona, With Love comes to Hallmark Channel. Some exciting series, including one about journalists and exposure, are premiering this week. Get ready because things are about to get good. Here's what's new on TV for June 8-14. NEW ON TV, JUNE 8-14 June 10 – The Kollective After a plane crash, a group of young citizen journalists known as The Kollective get together to uncover what truly happened. The group believes the crash wasn't an accident, so they decide to investigate and discover a global conspiracy that includes government corruption. Hulu's newest series, The Kollective , stars Natascha McElhone, Celine Buckens, Felix Mayr, Grégory Montel, Karel Roden, Cassiopée Mayance, Martha Canga Antonio and Ralph Amoussou. The Kollective premieres Tuesday, June 10 at Midnight/11c on Hulu. RELATED: The Premise and How Star Trek Fans Created Fanfic as We Know It June 11 – Our Times Mexican singer Lucero stars in Netflix's newest Spanish-speaking movie, Our Times . The film tells the story of two physicists who, in 1966, discover time-travel and land in 2025. While Nora is happy because she can thrive in a world that celebrates women, Héctor can't find himself in this new reality. Now, Nora must decide if she goes back in time with the man she loves or stays in a time that empowers her. Our Times premieres Wednesday, June 11 at 3/2 am on Netflix. June 12 – Deep Cover Prime Video is releasing a new movie that includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed. The film, written by Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow and Ben Ashenden, follows three improv actors who are asked to go undercover in London's criminal underworld. Can they complete the task? Deep Cover premieres Thursday, June 12 at 3/2 am on Prime Video. RELATED: On Location: Es Saadi Marrakesh Resort on The Night Manager Season 1 June 12 – FUBAR Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monica Barbaro are back for FUBAR Season 2. After the ending of Season 1, Luke and his team will have to figure out who the rat is among them since their identities have been exposed. The cast still includes Travis Van Winkle, Fortune Feimster, Milan Carter, Scott Thompson, Fabiana Udenio, Andy Buckley, Jay Baruchel, Adam Pally, Tom Arnold, Aparna Brielle and Barbara Eve Harris. FUBAR Season 2 premieres Thursday, June 12 at 3/2 am on Netflix. June 13 – Echo Valley Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney star in Apple TV+'s newest film, Echo Valley . The movie tells the story of a mother and daughter with a complicated relationship. Things get more tense when Claire shows up at her mother's house covered in someone else's blood. As a mother, Kate pushes the limits to find out how far one can go to protect their child. Echo Valley premieres Friday, June 13 on Apple TV+. RELATED: Stranger Things : Netflix Announces Premiere Dates for Epic Final Season June 14 – To Barcelona, Forever If you enjoyed Hallmark's To Barcelona, With Love , you are bound to love its sequel, To Barcelona, Forever . This new film finds Anna traveling back to Barcelona to celebrate Erica and Nico's engagement. That is where she meets a farmer and ends up in a complicated engagement herself to save his family legacy. Alison Sweeney and Ashley Williams return for this movie. To Barcelona, Forever premieres Saturday, June 14 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel. Check back next week for What's New on TV for June 15-21. Natasha Romanoff vs. Yelena Belova: The Value of Well-Written Women Characters By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature who works in PR. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). You can find her work published on Tell-Tale TV, Eulalie Magazine, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.
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First Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Explained: The big Taiwan scandal involving celebrities who evaded mandatory military draft
Several entertainers in Taiwan have been accused of dodging the mandatory military conscription. Eleven big names, such as Nine Chen and William Liao, were thrown into the spotlight after police conducted raids last week. This comes amid growing fears of a Chinese invasion read more Soldiers stand guard as the Taiwan military demonstrates combat readiness ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays in an annual exercise in Taichung, Taiwan January 8, 2025. File Photo/Reuters Taiwan is witnessing a big scandal involving its celebrities. Authorities in the self-ruled island have questioned nearly a dozen artists who evaded the mandatory military service. The names of celebrities, such as Nine Chen and William Liao, have come to light. This comes as military conscription remains a divisive subject in Taiwan, which is facing growing threats from China. Let's take a closer look. Celebrities under scanner for dodging military service At least 11 celebrities were detained in Taiwan after police raids last week, as part of a wider investigation into an alleged criminal syndicate helping men to avoid the compulsory military draft, as per a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report. Singers Nine Chen and Daniel Chen, Choc7 band drummer Jushe Lee, William Liao from the former boy band Lollipop, and comedian Daikon Huang Liang Jun were among those detained by the police. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Li Chuan, Ah Hu, Chen Xinwei, and Xiao Xiong were also among the celebrities reported to have paid to get fake medical certificates to skip military duties. The Taiwan police launched the probe after 33-year-old actor Darren Wang was arrested in February for evading mandatory military duties. Wang, who rose to fame with the 2015 teen rom-com Our Times, was found to have used a false medical certificate to try to get a military service exemption. He was later ordered to complete a year's military service and sent to an army camp on March 13. Liao from Lollipop shared an image of himself at a police station, saying that he was 'cooperating voluntarily'. Shen Che-fang, the director general of the Department of Conscription Administration, said on May 15 that the probe revealed that 11 entertainers were among the 120 people accused of dodging conscription. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He warned of court action against those who break the law, but added that any suspects aged over 36 would not be called back for service. Thirty-six is the age limit for conscription in Taiwan . Shen said he advised the island's national defence ministry to strengthen the standards for physical classification and make regulations stricter. How much did celebrities spend? Taiwanese artists are reported to have spent thousands of dollars on forged medical documents to dodge mandatory military duties. As per local media reports, Jushe Lee likely paid a syndicate NT$250,000 (Rs 7.12 lakh) to evade military service by showing a cardiovascular disease medical record with abnormal blood pressure (BP). He was released on bail for NT$150,000 (Rs 4.27 lakh). Comedian Daikon Huang Liang Jun is suspected of having shelled out over NT$300,000 (Rs 8.54 lakh) to show a fake high BP. The syndicate allegedly used someone with high blood pressure to produce the fake results, reported SCMP. Singer Nine Chen is believed to have paid about NT$300,000 for fake medical documents to get an exemption from military service. Taiwan's mandatory military service Taiwan makes it mandatory for all willing and able-bodied men to undergo compulsory military service for one year. They can serve in the military between the ages of 18 and 36. However, some deferments can be granted in certain cases. Initially, the period for compulsory military service was two to three years. This was reduced to just four months in 2017. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In December 2022, the government of the then Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen raised it back to one year. This came amid increased military, diplomatic and trade pressure from China. China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a part of its territory that is to be reunified. However, the island does not agree. Taiwan is separated from China by the Taiwan Strait. Taipei has ramped up efforts to boost the island's defence since Beijing raised military pressure in the strait. Despite the fears of a Chinese invasion, compulsory conscription is highly unpopular among the youth in Taiwan. Its armed forces have historically struggled to get sufficient volunteer recruits. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Our Times OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Lucero and Benny Ibarra's Mexican rom-com film online
Our Times OTT Release Date: Fans of Mexican cinema have a date to mark on their calendars: June 11, 2025. That's when Our Times, also known as Nuestros Tiempos, will premiere on Netflix. The film stars renowned actors Lucero and Benny Ibarra, bringing a blend of science fiction and romance to the streaming platform. Here's all that we know about the movie! What is Our Times all about? Our Times tells the story of Nora and Héctor, a married couple and scientists who discover a way to time travel from 1966 to 2025. As they navigate the challenges of a new era, their relationship is tested in unforeseen ways. While Nora adapts quickly to the modern world, Héctor finds himself struggling, raising questions about the cost of their scientific breakthrough. This romantic sci-fi comedy marks Lucero's return to film after a hiatus since 2004's Zapata: El sueño del Héroe. Directed by Chava Cartas, known for films like MexZombies and Mirreyes contra Godínez, Our Times also features a supporting cast that includes Renata Vaca, Ofelia Medina, and Claudia Lobo. The film is rated TV-14, making it suitable for viewers aged 14 and above and features a screenplay by Angélica Gudiño and Juan Carlos Garzón. What's more Mexican on Netflix? Netflix offers a variety of Mexican content, including shows like Snakes and Ladders and I Am Not Mendoza, as well as movies like Bad Influence and Exterritorial. You can also find reality TV series like Made in Mexico on the platform. Additionally, Netflix has invested heavily in producing original Mexican content, with plans to spend $1 billion on production in Mexico this year. Are you excited about Our Times, aka Nuestros Tiempos? Drop your thoughts @indiatimes.
New York Times
02-04-2025
- Science
- New York Times
This Is Your Brain on Cults. You Probably Have Many Questions.
On the television drama 'Severance,' a sleek dystopian mood piece patently designed for Our Times, employees of a nebulous corporation volunteer to have their home and office selves psychically partitioned. A brain implant allows 'outies' to go on with the business of being a person in the world, blissfully ignorant of the classified work their 'innies' do in a bland, windowless facility five days a week, and vice versa. In the actual, unsevered universe we still live in, dissociation is not yet an elective outpatient surgery and mind control retains its status as a societal boogeyman, the stuff of Manchurian candidates and prison camps, death cults and Kool-Aid. That consciousness can be so pliable and vulnerable, so susceptible to outside forces as to turn itself against logic or values, is a proven bug in the human operating system. The hows and whys of it remain less understood, despite decades of anecdotal evidence and exploration. Not that a legion of medical professionals, research scientists and salacious limited streaming series haven't tried. The subject has also spurred a robust literary genre, to which two engaging if imperfect entries can now be added: 'The Instability of Truth,' by the Harvard historian of science Rebecca Lemov, and 'Blazing Eye Sees All,' by Leah Sottile, a podcaster and freelance journalist for outlets including Rolling Stone and The New York Times Magazine. Taken together, the books have a bit of a Goldilocks problem: Lemov's is thoughtful, well supported and perhaps unavoidably academic. Sottile's is easily the more accessible effort, full of wild anecdotes about lost continents and blue-skinned gurus; it can also be heedlessly loosey-goosey, light on corroborating facts and critical distance from its troubled subjects. 'The Instability of Truth' is set up not unlike a syllabus, beginning with American P.O.W.s in the Korean War and moving through notable case studies like Patty Hearst, the C.I.A.'s MK-ULTRA program, Facebook-feed algorithms and the rise of so-called crypto cults. A recurrent theme is public shame: The war veterans who converted to Communism were dubbed weak, amoral and unpatriotic; headlines positioned Hearst as a rich girl dabbling in radical chic, playacting revolution for kicks. That many of the P.O.W.s were beaten and starved and then fed a careful, relentless regimen of propaganda and coercive persuasion, or that Hearst was locked in a closet for 59 days and repeatedly raped, often did not rate mention in the accounts of their offenses. The consensus seemed to be that they had been given autonomy over their own minds and bodies, and failed miserably. To be fair, Lemov points out, the public and even dedicated specialists initially lacked the vocabulary that might have softened those judgments. Trauma as a causal root was still years away from mainstream currency, and deprogramming efforts proved both medically and legally murky, full of their share of pitfalls and charlatans. Though she offers vivid snapshots of individual cases and often interjects her own experiences in chatty, personable ways, Lemov's detailed analyses can read as somewhat weedy and dense for a layperson. Sottile, in contrast, wastes little time dangling the sensational Smurf-tinted bait in 'Blazing Eye Sees All': a Kansas-born mother of three and former McDonald's manager named Amy Carlson who came to call herself Mother God. Carlson claimed to be a 27,000-year-old refugee from the apocryphal land of Lemuria, subsequently reincarnated as Jesus, Cleopatra, Joan of Arc and Marilyn Monroe (among others) on her path to set humanity free. She also drank so much colloidal silver — a popular New Age cure-all — that her skin took on the dusky hue of an unrinsed blueberry. Mother God's belief system was an often incomprehensible mishmash of self-aggrandizing fantasy, conspiracy and light antisemitism; still, it spoke to an increasingly large audience of seekers and lost souls who were promised that her glorious ascent to a fifth dimension was imminent. (Viewers of the 2023 HBO docuseries 'Love Has Won' may know exactly how soon.) As Sottile recounts it, Carlson's story was part of a long lineage — or more of a matrilineage, from the proto-spiritualist Fox sisters, who in the mid-1800s used snaps and séances to reach the other side, to 20th-century mediums like the former prom queen J.Z. Knight, who channeled the stentorian spirit of an ancient warrior named Ramtha. Many of these self-styled sages claimed deep connections to 'lost' civilizations and espoused elaborate mythologies that touted specialized diets, supplements, 'angel numbers' and high-vibration colorways. A lot of them also enthusiastically embraced the material perks that their followers' fervent financial support provided, even as they grew increasingly paranoid and isolated from their flocks. More than once, Sottile floats the idea that New Age practices gave women voice and agency in a world where that is hard to find. It's a thought worth exploring, though one that also seems to let some uniquely harmful people off the hook: religious chicanery, the great feminist equalizer! A penchant for elisions and overbroad statements ('No one wants to be a God. Not really,' Sottile asserts at one point, after having spent some 250 pages methodically proving otherwise) also tends to mar an otherwise compelling and colorful read. The entertainment value is evident; the aftertaste is queasy and a little sad. Where both writers find consensus — other than the loony historical footnote of the former first lady Nancy Reagan's outsize fixation on astrology — is the essential humanity of their subjects, many of whom it would be too easy to put at a disparaging distance. On 'Severance,' the show's split characters eventually begin to uncover the more sinister aims of their supposedly benevolent employer, a mega-corporation whose arcane codes and credos hint at its own cultish leanings. The cognitive dissonance of that will surely be resolved, give or take a season, by some canny mix of science and screenwriting. But no one outside a TV show wakes up and says, 'I'd like to lose my mind today.' There are many ways to detach from perceived reality or even basic good sense, whether it's the Manson Family or a peer-to-peer marketing scheme that sells brightly patterned leggings, and not a lot of proven methods to get it back. The brain is a soft black box whose ideologies regularly tip toward extremes: Look no further than the diverse demographics of those who have come to furiously reject vaccines. (Hence the memorable designation of some of the fringier elements of New Age conspiracy as 'pastel QAnon.') Then again, maybe even the most passionate of those true believers will change their minds; it happens all the time.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Taiwanese actor arrested for evading conscription begins military service
Taiwanese actor Darren Wang began his conscription service on Thursday, a month after he was arrested for allegedly evading mandatory military duty. The 33-year-old star began his one-year military service, the Ministry of Interior said, as he joined general alternative service for training at the Chenggong Ling camp in Taichung. He would first undergo 26 days of training before being assigned a designated service unit, Taipei Times reported. During his training, Mr Wang would participate in disaster response exercises, entry-level emergency medical technician training, simulated and live-fire shooting drills, team-building activities such as rock climbing, and physical fitness tests, as well as a 3km run and push-ups, the report said. The actor who shot to fame for his role in romantic comedy-drama Our Times and Suddenly Seventeen was arrested on 18 February for allegedly evading military service and forging military documents. However, he was released on bail for NT$150,000 ($4,583) after questioning. Mr Wang was accused of fabricating illnesses and obtaining fraudulent medical diagnoses to avoid military service, according to local news reports. Taiwan 's Central News Agency said that police seized "relevant evidence" from his home. Taiwan has a long-standing system of mandatory military conscription and all men have to undergo compulsory military training for a year. The law governed under the Act of Military Service System has undergone several reforms in recent years due to geopolitical concerns, declining birth rates, and public sentiment. The duration was raised from four months to one year in 2022 over growing threats from mainland China. Instead of active-duty military service, some men can opt for alternative service in government agencies, public service roles, or specific industries. Taiwan considers itself an independent nation and governs itself, but China views it as a breakaway province that will eventually come under Beijing 's control.
