Catch up on this month’s good news, from Britney Spears’ father stepping down from the conservatorship to the Internet crowdfunding over $6 million for people in Afghanistan.
August 7: Allyson Felix Becomes The Most Decorated U.S. Track Athlete (NPR)
In her fifth Olympic Games, American track star Allyson Felix became the most accomplished athlete in the history of U.S. track and field. She won her 11th Olympic medal—her 7th gold—in the women’s 4x400 meter relay.
“I think this is a really special team because we’re not 400-meter runners—I don’t consider myself a 400-meter specialist,” Felix told NPR. “We all do different things, and it was really cool to come together to get to close out the Olympic Games and for me, my Olympic career in this way.”
August 12: Britney Spears’ Father Jamie Spears Agrees to Step Down From Conservatorship (Variety)
After placing his daughter under a conservatorship 13 years ago, Jamie Spears has finally agreed to step away from leading the arrangement that has controlled every aspect of Britney Spears’ life since 2008.
“This move is a major victory for Britney Spears and another step towards justice,” Spears’ legal team said in a statement. The statement continues, “We look forward to continuing our vigorous investigation into the conduct of Mr. Spears, and others, over the past 13 years, while he reaped millions of dollars from his daughter’s estate.”
August 20: $6 Million Raised on GoFundMe in 1 Day to Rescue Afghans Targeted by Taliban (Inside Edition)
When a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe aimed to raise $550,000 for people in Afghanistan, their goal was reached in only two hours—and more than $6 million was raised by the end of the day.
“You all have contributed to leading the charge for good. For human decency. For changing the world for the better,” said the organizers of the GoFundMe in a statement.
August 23: Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID Vaccine Gets Full Approval From The FDA (NPR)
The Pfizer vaccine is now the first COVID vaccine to be fully reviewed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with the approval taking the place of the emergency use authorization previously in place. "While this and other vaccines have met the FDA's rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product," said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock in a statement.
August 25: Afghan All-Girl Robotics Team Members Land in Mexico (Al Jazeera)
“We give you the warmest welcome to Mexico,” said Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister Martha Delgado when she greeted five members of an Afghan robotics team who recently arrived in Mexico after fleeing Afghanistan. One of the team members, Fatemah Qaderyan, said, “We are happy to be here. From now on we will have opportunities for many more achievements in our lives.”
