11 World News

WORLD WORLD

By: Shayna Griffith

Travis Scott’s Astroworld Tragedy

On Friday, November 5, at least 9 people were killed and hundreds were injured at rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld music festival in Houston, Texas. Chaos ensued in the densely-packed pit of over 50,000 people, causing members of the crowd to be crushed against each other.

The victims’ ages varied from 14 to 27, and one victim’s age remains unknown, according to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. No people were reported missing.

Turner announced in a press conference on November 6 that at least 25 people were hospitalized, and 13 of those individuals remained hospitalized by Saturday afternoon. Five of them were under 18 years old. Turner explained, “There are a lot of unanswered questions... Over the next several days, several weeks, could be even longer, we'll take an in-depth look at everything that took place, why it took place, what steps we can do moving forward to mitigate an incident of this kind from taking place."

Rapper and event organizer, Travis Scott, received backlash after he continued to perform while attendees were being hauled into ambulances. The crowd even began chanting “Stop the show,” but Scott continued on with the performance. Many fans claimed the rapper should have taken action to ensure everyone was safe before the festival.

Currently, Travis Scott is facing a $750 million lawsuit brought on by victims of the festival and families. The lawsuit claims that Scott and his exclusive partners, streaming service, record labels, handlers, entourage, managers, agents, hangers on, promoters, organizers and sponsors were negligent of the unsafe conditions of the festival.

More news about Scott and Astroworld will continue to unfold as the lawsuit moves forward. Whether the rapper is found guilty or not, his reputation as a performer will forever be altered due to the several lives lost at his festival.

Britney Spears Freed From Conservatorship

After 14 years of not having power over her personal affairs and multimillion dollar fortune, pop star, Britney Spears, is finally being freed from her conservatorship.

On Friday, Los Angeles County Judge Brenda Penny ended Spears' conservatorship from her father, James Spears. The ruling will allow Spears to regain control of her life and live on her own terms.

Spears’ conservatorship gained attention when the singer publicly described the conservatorship as “abusive” and “demoralizing” 4 months ago. Spears’ dedicated fans then created the #FreeBritney movement, which would become a trending topic worldwide and attract the attention of multiple news outlets. The movement would later spark the creation of New York Times and Netflix documentaries.

"I just want my life back," Spears said during a virtual court appearance on June 23, 2021. "It’s been 13 years. And it’s enough."

After November 12’s ruling, Spears expressed her gratitude towards her fans and those who have given her a voice when she could not speak out. "Good God I love my fans so much it's crazy!!! I think I'm gonna cry the rest of the day!!!!" she Tweeted.

Her fans also rallied outside the courthouse on the day of the hearing, chanting “Free Britney” and playing her music through speakers. Although Spears’ conservatorship has ended permanently and she is free to make her own decisions, her legal team is still investigating her father’s previous ownership of her affairs, including the alleged bugging of her cell phone and misspending of her money.

Spears’ diehard fans continue to support her through her journey to freedom.

NEWS NEWS

Pfizer’s Experimental COVID-19 Pill

Pfizer has officially asked U.S. regulators to approve of their new pill to treat COVID-19, giving people an easy way to treat the virus at home. The proposal was initiated in time for the likely spike in cases coming this winter.

The pill has been proven to significantly decrease the rate of hospitalizations and deaths among people who have been diagnosed with COVID. However, Pfizer is not the only company with an anti-COVID pill, as the Food and Drug Administration is already reviewing a pill by Merck and other smaller, competing companies. According to Pfizer, the pill is designed for adults with mild to moderate COVID symptoms who are at risk for becoming severely ill. For best results, the pill should be taken within three days of experiencing symptoms, which could be a problem if COVID testing shortages occur this winter.

Currently, the only similar COVID treatments are only permitted to be administered via IV by a healthcare professional. The Pfizer pill’s approval would mean those with COVID could treat themselves easily at home. It is not currently known if, or when, the Pfizer pill will get a public review. The Merck pill is currently undergoing a review by the FDA. However, the U.S. government already has plans to purchase Merck’s pill. If the pill becomes accessible, death rates and hospitalizations will likely decrease significantly.

Harry Potter “Return to Hogwarts” To Air on HBO Max

With the 20 year anniversary of the film “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” occurring in November, everyone’s favorite magical trio will return to the big screen next year with “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.”

Danielle Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint will reunite for the HBO Max special set to air on New Year's Day 2022. Since the release of the final film in J.K. Rowling’s series in 2011, the Harry Potter franchise has not come back to life until now. According to HBO Max, the new feature will “tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new, indepth interviews and cast conversations.”

Over the past 20 years, the Harry Potter films and books have gained a worldwide cult following and have accumulated millions of dedicated fans.

“It has been an incredible journey since the debut of the ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ film, and witnessing how it has evolved into this remarkable interconnected universe has been magical to say the least,” Tom Ascheim, president of Warner Bros stated.

The division of Warner Bros., Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics stated, “This retrospective is a tribute to everyone whose lives were touched by this cultural phenomenon — from the talented cast and crew who poured their heart and soul into this extraordinary film franchise to the passionate fans who continue to keep the Wizarding World spirit alive 20 years later.”

Other cast members from the original films who will be in the new feature include Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman and others.

“There’s magic in the air here with this incredible cast, as they all return home to the original sets of Hogwarts, where they began 20 years ago,” producer Casey Patterson said. “The excitement is palpable as they prepare to take their fans on a very special and personal journey, through the making of these incredible films.”

All eight Harry Potter films are currently available to stream on HBO Max, and “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” will be available January 1, 2022.