Latest news with #FightBack
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Merab Dvalishvili hopes UFC doesn't waste Ilia Topuria lightweight debut for 'stupid' reason
Merab Dvalishvili hopes UFC doesn't waste Ilia Topuria lightweight debut for 'stupid' reason Merab Dvalishvili doesn't see a point in the UFC risking a superfight between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev. UFC lightweight champion Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) is not sold on former featherweight champion Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) as his next title challenger and wants to see him earn the opportunity first. Bantamweight champion Dvalishvili argues that Topuria, a fellow Georgian fighter, has vacated his 145-pound title for a move up to lightweight, so it won't be considered as Makhachev fighting a smaller guy. "He's saying he's not a lightweight, he's featherweight and he's champion," Dvalishvili said on Jake Shields' "Fight Back" podcast. "I know Islam is saying, 'Oh, I don't want to fight small guys,' but Ilia is f*cking the biggest name." Arman Tsarukyan, who was slated to challenge Makhachev at UFC 311 before pulling out due to a back injury, will have to earn his way back to a title shot. Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) insists on fighting for the title next, and Makhachev and his team are currently dismissing Topuria. Topuria says he was promised a lightweight title shot upon vacating his featherweight title, so who will get the shot at Makhachev? Either way, Dvalishvili is against the idea of the UFC booking Topuria and Oliveira in a title eliminator. "He already beat Arman," Dvalishvili said of Makhachev. "He beat Oliveira, he beat (Poirier). It's not going to be an easy fight for Ilia, but that's the fight to – Ilia's my friend, I love him, but it's going to be stupid if he fights Oliveira, if he loses against Oliveira. This is the superfight."
The Independent
19-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
31 states are failing to provide vital reproductive and sexual health services to women in the US, damning report says
Thirty-one U.S. states are failing to provide basic sexual health and reproductive services, a damning new report has revealed. Activist group rePROs Fight Back's annual report found that reproductive healthcare in the U.S. continues to be in a perilous state in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022 during President Donald Trump's first term in the White House. The failing states were ranked with a 'D' or 'F' grade depending on whether they provided access to a number of vital sexual and reproductive health services and rights. Just two of the failing states, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, voted for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. While others, such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and Kentucky, boast Democratic governors. In 2021, the year before Roe v Wade was overturned, 26 states had failing grades. Since the grading system began in 2011, the U.S. has fallen from a C- to an F. The number of falling states in the first year of the study was just nine. The overturning of legislation also led to a surge in attacks on gender-affirming care for minors, the organization says. In his first week, President Donald Trump signed a pair of executive orders to revive two anti-abortion policies from his first term in 2017, despite declaring that the issue should be left to individual states. As things stand, abortion has been completely banned or almost completely banned in 19 states. Consequently, thousands of women across the country have had basic healthcare access refused, jeopardizing their future fertility and, in many cases, putting lives at risk. Trump's latest threats to slash Medicaid funding have also mounted fresh fears on the future of abortion and reproductive rights in America. 'Looming on the horizon is the possibility of a federal abortion ban or restrictions on mifepristone, which would be crippling to abortion access around the country,' the rePROs Fight Back report stated. According to the report, best practice medication and surgical care is banned in nearly half of U.S. states, but rePROs have warned that under the direction of Trump, state bans could soon extend to being enforced at a national level. For the sixth year in a row, the U.S. as a whole received an 'F' grade, meaning that safe reproductive healthcare remains at its lowest. In the report, states are graded on three key factors: prevention, affordability, and access. States are asked about sexual education in schools, if emergency rooms are dispensing emergency contraception, and if minors are allowed to consent to contraceptive services. They are also posed with questions about the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, who qualifies for Medicaid family planning, postpartum coverage, insurance coverage for abortion services, and if there are harassing or burdensome requirements on those seeking family planning, abortion services, or gender-reaffirming services. States that score highly will have comprehensive sex education in schools, emergency contraception mandated in the emergency room, access to contraception services for minors, Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, a Medicaid 'waiver' expanding eligibility for family planning services, Medicaid postpartum coverage expanded to 12 months, insurance coverage of abortion services, an absence of abortion restrictions, an absence of TRAP laws (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers), access to abortion medication and access to gender-affirming care. The highest for a state to score is between 86-100, an A, and the lowest is less than 49.9, an F. The more points a state is awarded, the better the services available. Only five U.S. states were awarded an A in the report. In descending order, these were Oregon, Washington, California, New Mexico, and Vermont. The 25 states that received a failed 'F' grade were: Alabama Arizona Arkansas Florida Georgia Idaho Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Missouri Nebraska North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Jennie Wetter, Director of rePROs Fight Back, said that 'the fight for bodily autonomy is far from over.' Speaking on the political climate and how sexual health rights had worsened, Wetter said that states had been forced to resort to 'enacting policies to protect abortion providers from investigations in hostile states,' which she called 'true beacons of hope in this gathering storm.' However, she said that attacks on bodily autonomy were not slowing down anytime soon and insisted that hostility towards abortion and transgender rights is gaining momentum. She said the threats presented by the Trump administration were 'a menacing storm looming on the horizon.' 'We are already failing when it comes to meeting people's sexual and reproductive health needs by banning abortion, denying young people access to evidence-based sex education, blocking people from accessing affordable health care via Medicaid, putting gender-affirming care out of reach for many, and so much more,' Wetter said. 'These impacts are never felt equally and disproportionately affect those who are already marginalized, such as BIPOC, people with low incomes, young people, those with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community, and those at multiple intersections of these identities. 'With the threats posed to our right to bodily autonomy by potential federal actions from the new administration related to abortion access, transgender health care, health care costs, and more, people in every state are at risk. We must be ready for a long, hard fight to achieve a world with reproductive freedom for all.'
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Girl With the Needle' Stars Trine Dyrholm and Vic Carmen Sonne Ready for Oscar Campaign in the Trump Era, Talk Abortion Rights: ‘Every Woman Should Be Able to Choose'
'The Girl with the Needle' stars Trine Dyrholm and Vic Carmen Sonne are slowly readying for the Oscar campaign. But following the U.S. election, the film – set in the early 20th century and dealing with unwanted pregnancies – feels increasingly timely, they say. 'Since Trump's inauguration at the White House it has been hard to keep up with what's going on and with what all of this is going to mean. Same goes for the abortion ban. We know what has already happened in several states, and it's devastating. But it's almost like people want to acknowledge these themes the film is revolving around. And that's a positive sign,' argues Vic Carmen Sonne at Göteborg. More from Variety Thomas Vinterberg, Goteborg's Artistic Director Pia Lundberg Address Controversial Remarks of Swedish Minister of Culture: 'Fight Back' 'Black Crab' Writer Pelle Rådström Wins the Nordic Series Script Award for 'Pressure Point' Girl in Red to Make Feature Film Debut in Maipo's 'Low Expectations' (EXCLUSIVE) The Danish actor plays Karoline: a young woman who, following a failed abortion, begins working at an 'adoption agency.' But its mastermind Dagmar (Dyrholm), always eager to help those who can't raise their children, seems to be hiding something. Directed by Magnus Von Horn, the drama – which premiered in Cannes and is now Oscar nominated as Best International Feature Film – is loosely based on a true story. 'It already felt very contemporary when we shot it in Poland. They are dealing with the same issues. They don't have free access to abortion, so the whole team was really affected by the film. You could feel it,' notes Dyrholm. 'Up until the election, I was very depressed. I wondered: 'What are we going to do?!' And then it happened, and I am getting more and more optimistic. It's very weird, actually. We need to stick together, we need to fight for a stronger Europe. Talking about love is more important than ever. We have to say: 'We dare to share, because we care.' I really mean it now.' During trying times, people want to share their 'fears and desperation,' she argues. 'We need topics that are difficult to deal with. This film is about abortion, about the unwanted, about PTSD experienced after the war. So many countries are dealing with these things. We have the right to choose and to have a good life, but it's not a given. The world is getting more and more divided, and when that happens, we need nuances. Complexity is exactly what's missing. We need a place where we can breathe and right now, that's cinema.' She noted: 'Why do we say 'yes' to projects like this one? Because we have the opinions we have. Every woman should be able to make a choice, of course. In Denmark, we changed the abortion law, and it will be legal up to the 18th week of pregnancy. But trying to say why we need art is also political.' According to Vic Carmen Sonne, the film's characters 'are trying to do the best they can with what they've been dealt.' 'When you have a marginalized group and you take away their rights, also the right to choose, you take away their voice and their existential freedom. And then what's going to happen? They're going to fucking rebel and revolt, and they're going to hit back,' she says. 'Karoline doesn't accept the state of things. She wants a good life, so she meets Prince Charming and comes to his castle. There's a pact between the Prince and the Beggar Girl, but it's something she enforces on him. It's not manipulation: it's determination.' Ultimately, 'The Girl with the Needle' should be viewed as a critique of society – not as a critique of its characters, often pushed to the edge. 'It's all about structures and hierarchies. If you push people too hard, they create an underworld. That's what Dagmar does. But she's also taking away these girls' guilt. She tells them: 'Maybe you don't have a future, but your child will.' She also says, 'Life is horrible but we have to pretend it's not.'' 'The key is to never judge your characters; the same way you shouldn't judge people. We put them into boxes. We say: 'Okay, here's Trump and his team, and over there you have the good guys.' It doesn't work like that. You can say when you don't like something, but you also need – at some point – to walk together. We don't have to agree. But we have to take care of each other. And bring back all these 'old-fashioned' words: Peace, love, caring.' Her co-star adds: 'A lot of this comes from fear. If you feel you are losing power, losing money, losing the capacity to provide for your family and friends, you seek a dictator. You seek the one who screams the loudest. I think most people on this planet haven't been told: 'You are amazing, we love you, your voice matters.' And that's important.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in February 2025
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Girl With the Needle' Stars Trine Dyrholm and Vic Carmen Sonne Ready for Oscar Campaign in the Trump Era, Talk Abortion Rights: ‘Every Woman Should Be Able to Choose'
'The Girl with the Needle' stars Trine Dyrholm and Vic Carmen Sonne are slowly readying for the Oscar campaign. But following the U.S. election, the film – set in the early 20th century and dealing with unwanted pregnancies – feels increasingly timely, they say. 'Since Trump's inauguration at the White House it has been hard to keep up with what's going on and with what all of this is going to mean. Same goes for the abortion ban. We know what has already happened in several states, and it's devastating. But it's almost like people want to acknowledge these themes the film is revolving around. And that's a positive sign,' argues Vic Carmen Sonne at Göteborg. More from Variety Thomas Vinterberg, Goteborg's Artistic Director Pia Lundberg Address Controversial Remarks of Swedish Minister of Culture: 'Fight Back' 'Black Crab' Writer Pelle Rådström Wins the Nordic Series Script Award for 'Pressure Point' Girl in Red to Make Feature Film Debut in Maipo's 'Low Expectations' (EXCLUSIVE) The Danish actor plays Karoline: a young woman who, following a failed abortion, begins working at an 'adoption agency.' But its mastermind Dagmar (Dyrholm), always eager to help those who can't raise their children, seems to be hiding something. Directed by Magnus Von Horn, the drama – which premiered in Cannes and is now Oscar nominated as Best International Feature Film – is loosely based on a true story. 'It already felt very contemporary when we shot it in Poland. They are dealing with the same issues. They don't have free access to abortion, so the whole team was really affected by the film. You could feel it,' notes Dyrholm. 'Up until the election, I was very depressed. I wondered: 'What are we going to do?!' And then it happened, and I am getting more and more optimistic. It's very weird, actually. We need to stick together, we need to fight for a stronger Europe. Talking about love is more important than ever. We have to say: 'We dare to share, because we care.' I really mean it now.' During trying times, people want to share their 'fears and desperation,' she argues. 'We need topics that are difficult to deal with. This film is about abortion, about the unwanted, about PTSD experienced after the war. So many countries are dealing with these things. We have the right to choose and to have a good life, but it's not a given. The world is getting more and more divided, and when that happens, we need nuances. Complexity is exactly what's missing. We need a place where we can breathe and right now, that's cinema.' She noted: 'Why do we say 'yes' to projects like this one? Because we have the opinions we have. Every woman should be able to make a choice, of course. In Denmark, we changed the abortion law, and it will be legal up to the 18th week of pregnancy. But trying to say why we need art is also political.' According to Vic Carmen Sonne, the film's characters 'are trying to do the best they can with what they've been dealt.' 'When you have a marginalized group and you take away their rights, also the right to choose, you take away their voice and their existential freedom. And then what's going to happen? They're going to fucking rebel and revolt, and they're going to hit back,' she says. 'Karoline doesn't accept the state of things. She wants a good life, so she meets Prince Charming and comes to his castle. There's a pact between the Prince and the Beggar Girl, but it's something she enforces on him. It's not manipulation: it's determination.' Ultimately, 'The Girl with the Needle' should be viewed as a critique of society – not as a critique of its characters, often pushed to the edge. 'It's all about structures and hierarchies. If you push people too hard, they create an underworld. That's what Dagmar does. But she's also taking away these girls' guilt. She tells them: 'Maybe you don't have a future, but your child will.' She also says, 'Life is horrible but we have to pretend it's not.'' 'The key is to never judge your characters; the same way you shouldn't judge people. We put them into boxes. We say: 'Okay, here's Trump and his team, and over there you have the good guys.' It doesn't work like that. You can say when you don't like something, but you also need – at some point – to walk together. We don't have to agree. But we have to take care of each other. And bring back all these 'old-fashioned' words: Peace, love, caring.' Her co-star adds: 'A lot of this comes from fear. If you feel you are losing power, losing money, losing the capacity to provide for your family and friends, you seek a dictator. You seek the one who screams the loudest. I think most people on this planet haven't been told: 'You are amazing, we love you, your voice matters.' And that's important.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in February 2025
