Latest news with #Justyna
Metro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Eurovision fans 'declare their winner' after country becomes dark horse
Eurovision fans have declared their winner after the country's scintillating semi-final performance. Last night, 10 countries battled for a spot in the Grand Final on Saturday, with Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, San Marino, and Portugal all qualifying. For Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, and Slovenia, their dreams of Eurovision glory ended. However, Justyna Steczkowska of Poland may officially have become the new dark horse of the contest after her thrilling performance of 'Gaja'. Commenting on Instagram, several fans replied to a video showing the 52-year-old performing by saying 'winner'. @agaszuscik wrote: 'A great talent and a great class. We are proud and thank you!' @daawidrakowski also commented: 'Winner of Eurovision 2025.' @anitaczylija added: 'That was everything!'. Meanwhile, @maciej_oscar wrote: 'We are so proud of you, Justyna! Pure perfection. You left your soul on the stage! You are the inspiration! Poland is standing behind you!' Justyna – who appeared in the competition three decades ago – replied back to the post, which has now received over 220,000 likes, saying: 'Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support! 'Gaja' just exploded on stage, full of energy and power. 'Your presence and every kind word mean so much to me. If you felt Gaja's energy, please vote for number 2 and help us reach the final. Every vote counts!' Sweden 39% Austria 23% Netherlands 7% France 6% Israel 5% Finland 3% Switzerland 2% Spain 1% United Kingdom 1% Elsewhere in last night's semi-final, fans were left speechless after Switzerland's act Zoë Më's semi-final performance descended into chaos. During the performance, the broadcast appeared to glitch and showed a dark image, while the camera also struggled to remain focused on Zoë. Afterwards, BBC host Rylan Clark commented on the technical issues, saying: 'We should say there as well, I think there was a couple of little tech problems with that one single-shot camera.' On X, viewers said they felt 'sorry' for Zoë and demanded 'justice', while others joked host country Switzerland was attempting to 'sabotage' their own act. More Trending Some fans were even reduced to tears at one point after a special appearance from Eurovision legend Celine Dion. A special rendition of her song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi was also performed by previous Eurovision stars, including Silvester Belt and Iolanda. The My Heart Will Go On hitmaker, 57, took the chance to reflect on her own Eurovision journey, having represented Switzerland in 1988. Speaking both in French and English, she told viewers that the country 'has always held a special place in [her] heart'. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Race Across The World has a major flaw that needs fixing MORE: I Kissed A Boy's trans contestant isn't hoodwinking anyone MORE: BBC's 'best crime drama ever' vows to be even better in season 3
The Guardian
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Abortion Dream Team review – dynamic study of activists resisting Poland's near-total ban
Under Poland's near-total abortion ban, a group of courageous activists step up for women's autonomy. Deploying a fly-on-the-wall approach, Karolina Domagalska's dynamic film closely follows the tireless efforts of Abortion Dream Team (ADT), an advocacy group founded in 2016. Forming a staunch resistance to oppressive legislation, they provide medical consultancy and assistance to tens of thousands of women who can no longer access abortion services legally. The hotline never stops ringing. Abandoned by the healthcare system, women from all over Poland reach out to the ADT volunteers, who guide them through these moments of uncertainty and confusion with extraordinary care. In addition to abortion pills and emergency contraceptives, the group also provides logistics support to those who need to travel to other countries for critical procedures. Every day comes not only with this flood of cries for help, but also an onslaught of threats and abuse from anti-abortion supporters. In one harrowing scene, the activists confront a group of policemen about a moving bus plastered with the faces of ADT associates, branding them as so-called murderers. The law, however, is not on their side. Justyna, one of their core members, was put on trial and convicted for distributing abortion pills. Shot in tight closeup, Domagalska's documentary brilliantly conveys the unseen psychological toll of this social work. At the same time, the film overflows with the joy of activism. In their playful video campaigns, ADT members deliberately counter the stigmas surrounding abortion with spirited humour. In one scene that parodies Baywatch, the activists, dressed in all red, break into laughter as they sprint down a sandy beach. They, too, are on a mission to save lives, one phone call at a time. Abortion Dream Team is on Viaplay from 21 April.
The Guardian
13-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Polish court orders retrial of woman found guilty of helping terminate pregnancy
A Polish court has ordered a retrial in the case of an activist found guilty of aiding a woman to terminate her pregnancy in a symbolic moment for Poland's abortion rights movement. Justyna was sentenced to community service in 2023 in the first such case for an activist in the EU country, which has a near-total abortion ban and outlaws abortion assistance. Donald Tusk's centrist governing party has so far not garnered enough support in parliament to push through its pre-election pledge to ease these laws. But an appeals court on Thursday overturned 'the contested judgment in its entirety'. The judge, Rafal Kaniok, cited doubts over the impartiality of the presiding judge who delivered the sentence in 2023. Supporters of Wydrzyńska – including from her Abortion Dream Team nonprofit organisation, which helps women carry out abortions – gathered in the court. 'For me, this is not a victory,' Wydrzyńska told AFP after the ruling. 'The only outcome I would consider a victory today would have been if this court had said: 'Yes, you are innocent.'' A handful of anti-abortion activists were also present outside the building, reciting Catholic prayers. Currently, women can get an abortion in hospital only if the pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest or poses a direct threat to the life or health of the mother. Abortion assistance is punishable by up to three years in jail. A network of abortion rights groups, Abortion Without Borders, said that it dealt with an 'overwhelming number of enquiries from people seeking abortion support' in Poland or abroad. In 2024, the network 'supported 47,000 people in accessing abortion care', it said in a report released last month. 'Abortion in Poland is a daily reality,' it added, estimating that up to 150,000 abortions were carried out each year in the predominantly Catholic country. But according to official numbers, only about 780 of those were performed in Polish hospitals in the first 10 months of 2024. In August, the prime minister conceded there was 'simply no majority' to deliver on his party's pledge to allow abortion until the 12th week of pregnancy in the current parliamentary term. One of his senior lawmakers announced last month that work on relaxing the rules, some of Europe's strictest, would resume only after the presidential election scheduled for May. Four bills to loosen the abortion law had been debated in a parliamentary committee, but even if they got the green light from lawmakers, Poland's conservative president, Andrzej Duda, has indicated he will veto them.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
American Airlines Crash: Figure Skater, 12, Had Beaten Cancer
Originally appeared on E! Online A tragic revelation has been shared from one of the families affected by the American Airlines plane crash. After American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a helicopter mid-air on its way from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C. Jan. 29, the family of 12-year-old Brielle Beyer—a victim of the fatal event—shared that she had already endured cancer as a 4-month-old. 'She was just such a fighter in everything she did," Brielle's father Andrew Beyer told ABC News in an interview published Jan. 31. 'She just lived life to the fullest with everything.' Andrew—who also shared a 6-year-old son with wife Justyna, who was also a victim in the crash—emphasized how important figure skating was to his daughter's life. 'She was so proud of herself in figure skating for the progress she had made,' he added to the outlet. 'Making that team was one of her life goals. And she achieved it. And she was just so, so proud of herself.' More from E! Online Adult Star Emily Willis Allegedly Left "Permanently Disabled" After Rehab Stint for Ketamine Addiction NBC News' Chuck Todd Announces Sudden Exit After Nearly 20-Year Run Reese Witherspoon Reveals Actress Ended Their Friendship Over This "Pretty Bad" Faux Pas His wife had joined his daughter on a trip to Kansas for a skating camp, adding, 'Figure skating at that level, it's a lifestyle—I missed them.' The tragic deaths of Brielle and Justyna were not the only lives lost in the horrific plane crash—which left the American Airlines plane split in several pieces after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. There were 65 other victims in the disaster, including Christine Lane and her 16-year-old son Spencer Lane, the latter of whom shared an Instagram Story shortly before takeoff of the jet's wing, writing, 'ICT->DCA.' In addition to Spencer and Brielle, there were 12 other figure skaters aboard the American Airlines flight as they traveled back from a development camp hosted by the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Upon hearing about the lives lost, several world-renowned figure skaters spoke out—including Olympian Nancy Kerrigan. 'I just wanted to be here and be part of our community,' Kerrigan said through tears in a video statement. 'When you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it's an even bigger blow.' She added, 'We just wish them well—the families—the courage and the strength to make the next steps.' Keep reading for more details about the American Airlines crash... What Happened to the Passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342?Who Was Onboard American Airlines Flight 5342?Who Was Onboard the U.S. Army Helicopter Involved in the Collision?What Happens Next After Recover Efforts for American Airlines Flight 5342?Who Has Spoken Out After American Airlines Flight 5342 Crashed Into the Potomac River? For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Days after 12th birthday, ice skater marking ‘best year of her life‘ dies in plane crash
Brielle Magdalena Beyer, a 12-year-old figure skater from Virginia, and her mother Justyna Magdalena Beyer, 42, were among those killed in Wednesday night's plane crash while flying back from Wichita to Washington DC. Brielle and Justyna lived in Aldie, an unincorporated area in Loudon County, Virginia, according to Loudon County newspaper The Burn. Brielle was a member of the Skating Club of Northern Virginia, along with several of the other young victims and their families. She had celebrated her 12th birthday about two weeks before the crash. The Skating Lesson, a social media account focused on figure skating, described Brielle as 'a spunky skater who was said to live on the ice.' An accomplished figure skater who dreamed of making it to the National Development Team and the camp held for team members, Brielle had medaled in every national qualifying event she attended in 2024. Shortly before leaving for Wichita, the young skater shared on Instagram that she had recently achieved her goal of successfully landing several triple jumps. '2024 was by far the best year of my life,' Brielle wrote on Instagram in December. 'I had so much fun with friends and family and achieved many new skills that I thought I would never be able to do! I reached my goal of becoming a NDT member and I am so grateful for that.' Brielle was coached by former Swedish national medalists Kalle Strid and Mikael Olaffson. The pair also coached Cory Haynos and Edward Zhou, who died in the crash . The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, and the helicopter had three soldiers on board. Authorities said Thursday that the crash left no survivors. 'I lost my 3 little kids in that flight and their families,' Strid wrote on social media Thursday. 'I am not strong enough to talk to anyone today.' Together, Strid and Olaffson's students were known as the Nova Vikings, and the team skated at the MedStar Capitals IcePlex in Arlington, Virginia. There, Brielle developed close friendships on and off the ice with many other young figure skaters. IcePlex students shared a tribute video on Instagram Thursday, celebrating the skaters' relationship on and off the ice. In a joint statement with the Washington Figure Skating Club, the Skating Club of Northern Virginia said members of the club and community were 'devastated' by the plane crash. 'As we continue to process this tragedy, we honor the memories of those who we have lost—their passion for the sport, the friendships they cultivated, and the joy they brought to the ice,' WFSC and SCNV wrote. 'Their presence at our rinks and in our community is deeply felt, and their absence is indescribable.' Brielle and Justyna are survived by Brielle's father Andy Beyer and her brother Kallen Beyer, 6.
