Latest news with #overseas
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Outrage in China after reports exploitative images of Chinese women shared in Telegram groups
By Laurie Chen BEIJING (Reuters) -Sexually exploitative images of Chinese women were shared in encrypted Telegram chat groups with hundreds of thousands of users, Chinese media reported, triggering widespread outrage online. A Chinese-language Telegram chat group named "MaskPark tree hole forum" shared images of women secretly taken or filmed in locations, including public toilets, with more than 100,000 anonymous users in China and overseas, said Chinese state-run newspaper Southern Daily, which first reported the chat groups' existence last week. Some users posted private images of their current or ex-girlfriends and female family members, the report said, and that some footage of women secretly filmed using pinhole cameras in public spaces was being sold in the chat groups. Hashtags related to the issue on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo gained more than 270 million views on Tuesday. "It's truly frightening how secret filming has infiltrated everyday life," read one comment. China has strict obscenity laws and regularly scrubs content deemed pornographic from its heavily-controlled domestic internet, so the scale of the image sharing has shocked many in China. People must use VPN software to access Telegram, which is blocked in China. Other Telegram sub-forums targeting Chinese-speaking users with pornographic content had as many as 900,000 members, the Southern Daily said. "My ex-boyfriend secretly took photos of me during sex, posted my private photos to the group without my permission and publicised my social media accounts," a female victim who was not named told the newspaper. She was alerted to the forum in May through an anonymous tip-off, adding that many of the chat group messages self-deleted and the images could not be saved or screenshotted due to the settings in the Telegram chat. Chatroom users also sold everyday objects, such as incense holders, fitted with pinhole cameras to secretly film women, according to chat records published in the report. "This has heightened the concerns of many women, as voyeuristic incidents seem to be ubiquitous," said Huang Simin, a Chinese lawyer who specialises in sexual violence cases. "I've noticed a general sense of powerlessness (women feel with regards to legal protections), a feeling that there's no effective way to address such incidents." The main MaskPark forum has been taken down but some smaller sub-forums remain active on Telegram, the Southern Daily said. "The sharing of non-consensual pornography is explicitly forbidden by Telegram's terms of service and is removed whenever discovered," a Telegram spokesperson told Reuters. "Moderators proactively monitor public parts of the platform and accept reports in order to remove millions of pieces of harmful content each day, including non-consensual pornography." SOUTH KOREA SCANDAL Chinese social media commenters likened the incident to South Korea's "Nth room" scandal, where operators of pay-to-view Telegram chatrooms blackmailed at least 74 women, including underage girls, into sharing sexually explicit images of themselves with tens of thousands of users. The case sparked a national outcry in South Korea and the main ringleader was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2020. "Compared to the 'Nth room' incident, the evil of MaskPark is even more normalised and diffuse. There is no single principal offender and users share images for 'pleasure' not profit," read one Weibo post with more than 14,000 likes. Chatroom users who posted images can be investigated under Chinese law for "producing, selling and disseminating obscene materials for profit" as well as "illegally using special equipment for eavesdropping and taking non-consensual photos," said Huang. But the offences of secret filming and photography carry relatively light punishments if the content is not deemed obscene, she added, with a fine of up to 500 yuan ($69.68) and 10 days' administrative detention for serious cases. It is also difficult for Chinese police to punish offenders over MaskPark because Telegram is encrypted and hosted overseas, said a Chinese legal researcher who requested anonymity for reasons of sensitivity. "Criminal cases require a high evidence threshold, so disseminating intimate images often remains difficult to prosecute due to insufficient evidence," they said. "There are no specific regulations regarding the dissemination of intimate images of adult women." Both lawyers called for stronger government regulatory oversight of gender-based abuse on online platforms. "I hope that China will develop criminal laws to regulate carrying out voyeurism and sexual violence through visual imagery in the future," said Huang. ($1 = 7.1755 Chinese yuan renminbi)
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Fantastic Four: First Steps breaks Marvel's box office slump with a $218million global debut
The latest Marvel Studios movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has had a stellar start at the box office with a bigger-than-expected opening weekend. The superhero film, which stars Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, has raked in an estimated $118million domestically and another $100million overseas, for a global debut of around $218million, according to Comscore. The rebooted Fantastic Four story, even managed to topple another iconic hero, Superman, which had led at the domestic box office for the past two weeks. Heading into the weekend, projections had forecast a $115million North American take for the Fantastic Four movie, making First Steps one of the studio's best-performing non-sequel debuts in recent years. The film, which introduces a fresh version of Marvel's original superhero team, cost at least $300million to produce and market. And unlike many recent Marvel entries, First Steps doesn't require fans to brush up on previous films or plot lines to understand what's happening. The standalone approach appears to be paying off. Marvel has seen several stumbles in recent years, including 2021's Eternals and this year's Thunderbolts, which has grossed just $382million - the studio's lowest total (adjusted for inflation) since it launched its cinematic universe in 2008. Sequels haven't fared much better, fueling chatter about 'superhero fatigue.' Analysts have also pointed to an overcomplicated web of storylines to leaving some audience members lost. But First Steps seemingly marks a promising reset. Directed by Matt Shakman, the film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the latest version of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing. Additionally, Julia Garner plays the Silver Surfer. The franchise has a rocky past. A 1994 adaptation was shelved before release, and the 2005 and 2007 versions were met with critical backlash despite moderate ticket sales. A 2015 reboot fared worse, both at the box office and with fans. 'It is a no-homework-required movie,' Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said at a recent publicity event, according to The New York Times. 'It literally is not connected to anything we've made before.' This new iteration, however, has earned praise for its strong ensemble cast and a more grounded story. 'The movie is a step-up in concept, storytelling and appeal,' said box office analyst David A Gross. 'We haven't had this kind of performance from the genre for a long time.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Could Steffy's Break Spell Breakup? Will B&B Mess With Finn While His Wife Is Away?
When Steffy packs up her kids and heads overseas to escape the mess Luna left in her wake, she's doing what any traumatized wife and mom would do and taking a breather. But while she's finding peace abroad, things could be heating up back home. The question is: what will happen to Finn while his strong, stunning wife is out of the picture? Will he play house solo, or will temptation come knocking in the form of a beautiful, very available woman? Paging Dr. Hottie Let's not pretend Finn (Tanner Novlan) isn't a catch. He's gorgeous, emotionally intelligent, and has that dreamy doctor energy that makes women weak in the knees. And now? He's vulnerable. That's prime real estate for daytime drama. With Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) gone, you just know someone's going to try their luck. WATCH THIS: Stay in the loop about all the soapy casting changes! Finn Vs. Temptation Could Hope (Annika Noelle) make another move? She may be engaged to Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor), but we all know her love life is a flipbook of impulsive decisions. Her perceived chemistry with Finn weened off months upon months ago…or did it? A casual conversation, a comforting moment, and boom – we've got a love triangle nobody asked for but everyone would secretly love. Then there's Ivy (Ashleigh Brewer) newly single and absolutely glowing. She's already reestablished herself in town and doesn't seem to mind stirring a little trouble. A flirt here, a smile there, and suddenly she's sliding into Finn's orbit. And don't even get us started on how good they'd look together. Sparks, anyone? READ MORE: See what drama awaits this week on B&B! And what if the woman who shakes things up isn't someone obvious, but someone who crosses over from his home life to his work life? Dr. Bridget Forrester (Ashley Jones) has brains, beauty, and a badge that says Doctor. She and Finn could bond over patients, late-night charts, and maybe even something a little steamier. Is that a heartbeat spike or just undeniable tension? Will Finn Stay Faithful? B&B thrives on forbidden connections, emotional cheating, and shocking twists. With Steffy gone, her marriage might be in more danger than she realizes. Whether it's a slow-burning flirtation or a full-blown betrayal, Finn's loyalty is about to be tested like never before. If there's one thing we know about the soaps, it's that no man is left to his own devices for very long without some sort of trouble brewing – and no woman plays fair when love and lust are on the line. Got a wild theory that could shake up soapland? Drop us a line at amber@ Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Fantastic Four: First Steps breaks Marvel's box office slump with a $218 million global debut
Marvel Studios is officially back in the blockbuster business. The Fantastic Four: First Steps launched with a bigger-than-expected opening weekend, raking in an estimated $118 million domestically and another $100 million overseas for a global debut of around $220 million, according to Comscore. Heading into the weekend, projections had forecast a $115 million North American take, making First Steps one of the studio's best-performing non-sequel debuts in recent years. The film, which introduces a fresh version of Marvel's original superhero team, cost at least $300 million to produce and market. And unlike many recent Marvel entries, First Steps doesn't require fans to brush up on previous films or plotlines to understand what's happening. 'It is a no-homework-required movie,' Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said at a recent publicity event, according to The New York Times. 'It literally is not connected to anything we've made before.' The standalone approach appears to be paying off. Marvel has seen several stumbles in recent years, including 2021's Eternals and this year's Thunderbolts, which has grossed just $382 million — the studio's lowest total (adjusted for inflation) since it launched its cinematic universe in 2008. Sequels haven't fared much better, fueling chatter about 'superhero fatigue.' Analysts have also pointed to an overcomplicated web of storylines to leaving some audience members lost. But First Steps seemingly marks a promising reset. Directed by WandaVision's Matt Shakman, the film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the latest version of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing. Additionally, Julia Garner plays the Silver Surfer. The franchise has a rocky past. A 1994 adaptation was shelved before release, and the 2005 and 2007 versions were met with critical backlash despite moderate ticket sales. A 2015 reboot fared worse, both at the box office and with fans. This new iteration, however, has earned praise for its strong ensemble cast and a more grounded story. 'The movie is a step-up in concept, storytelling and appeal,' said box office analyst David A. Gross. 'We haven't had this kind of performance from the genre for a long time.' The film's release also arrives amid a quieter year for superheroes in general. Only four titles in the genre were released in 2025, down from eight just two years ago, with nothing else scheduled until Supergirl lands in June 2026. 'This is the new normal,' Gross added, noting studios are adjusting output to match changing demand. Marvel wasn't the only studio celebrating over the weekend. Warner Bros. Discovery also hit a major milestone, with Superman soaring past $500 million globally and Apple's F1, which Warner distributed, hitting $509 million in ticket sales. Superman marks the first theatrical release from DC Studios under new co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, who stepped in back in 2022 with a 10-year plan to reboot the brand across film and television. The film now ranks as the fourth-highest-grossing Superman title ever, trailing only Batman v Superman, Man of Steel, and Justice League. Meanwhile, F1 has officially become Apple's top-grossing theatrical release to date — racing past 2023's Napoleon.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Notches $118 Million Opening Weekend—Just Trailing ‘Superman' Opening
'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' grossed $118 million at the domestic box office over the weekend—largely meeting earlier projections, but still placing it behind 'Superman' for the biggest superhero film opening of 2025 so far. Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby attend a launch event for "The ... More Fantastic Four: First Steps" in Berlin. Getty Images The new adaptation of the iconic Marvel superhero team starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bacharach and Joseph Quinn received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, according to Rotten Tomatoes, propelling the film globally to a $218 million opening weekend after factoring in another $100 million overseas. The Matt Shakman-directed Marvel film boasted the year's second-highest opening day, grossing $57 million at the domestic box office Friday—placing it behind only 'A Minecraft Movie,' which opened with $57.11 million in April. The film met projections from Box Office Pro, who estimated it could gross in the $115 million–$135 million range—but fell behind some bullish predictions from insiders who saw the first night sales, Deadline reported. The ticket sales propelled it to the fourth-highest opening weekend of the year, behind 'A Minecraft Movie' ($162 million), 'Lilo & Stitch' ($146 million), and 'Superman' ($125 million). 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' marks the biggest hit for Marvel Studios at the box office this year. The studio that enjoyed outsized success with big budget superhero movies in an interconnected cinematic universe was off to a slower start in 2025 than it was used to. 'Captain America: Brave New World' opened with $88 million, while 'Thunderbolts*' opened with only $74.3 million. 'Thunderbolts*,' which opened in May, ended up grossing over $382 million at the box office, but was still among the lowest earning Marvel Cinematic Universe films released since the project began. Surprising Fact Although the Fantastic Four comics have been around since 1961, the past attempts to adapt the Marvel mainstays have mostly underperformed at the box office. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' has now had the best opening weekend of any of the past three adaptations. 'Fantastic Four,' the first adaptation in 2005, starring Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis, opened with $56 million before finishing at around $333.5 million worldwide by the end of its run in theaters. The sequel, 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,' opened with $58 million at the domestic box office in 2007, but ended up grossing less than the first installment, with $301.9 million worldwide. The 2015 reboot 'Fantastic Four,' directed by Josh Trank and starring Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara and Jamie Bell mostly flopped, opening with only $25 million at the domestic box office and grossing $167.9 million worldwide. Big hits from the previous weeks rounded out the rest of the box office charts over the weekend, with 'Superman' grossing about $25 million for second place. 'Jurassic World Rebirth' remained in third place with a $13 million weekend, and 'F1' hung on after debuting in June to gross about $6 million, according to early figures reported by Hollywood trade publications.
