An American girl's rescue from ISIS

How an 8-year-old was saved from a detention camp, photos of a packed Lollapalooza, and a celebration of the stripper heel.

THE BIG STORY   A young American girl whose mother joined ISIS and died has been rescued, a former US diplomat said   The 8-year-old, Aminah Mohamad, was in a Syrian detention camp with her caretaker —  a Somali woman who was an unwavering ISIS supporter. The caretaker and her companions went to great lengths to hide her from anyone who might report that they had an American girl, including dressing her in a niqab.   Her rescue from the Kurdish camp in a July 17 raid might have never happened if not for a Canadian woman, who joined the terrorist group in 2014 but has since denounced the organization, and a former diplomat. For now, Aminah is in Kurdish custody as she awaits being repatriated to the US, a place she has no memory of. It's a somber coda to a story we first reported on in 2015, about Aminah's mother leaving her home in Tennessee to become an ISIS bride. STAYING ON TOP OF THIS   Photos show the enormous turnout for Lollapalooza despite Delta concerns   In 2020, the iconic Chicago festival was canceled because of COVID-19. This year, a reported 100,000 people flocked to the city's Grant Park for each of the music festival's four days — as an even more contagious variant of the virus grips the US. Organizers required attendees to wear masks at any indoor spaces, and all guests had to show either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter the festival. That said, it's hard not to look at photos like this … Aerial view of the crowd at Lollapalooza on July 31, 2021. Colin Hinkle / Soaring Badger Productions … and not worry a bit. SNAPSHOTS   DaBaby said he's sorry for the anti-gay comments that led to three music festivals canceling his appearances and celebrities such as Elton John and Madonna criticizing him.   Influencer Hayes Grier has been arrested for robbery and assault in North Carolina. The victim, a 24-year-old man, sustained serious injuries that left him hospitalized. Billie Eilish talked about having a "terrible" relationship with her body. "When I'm on stage, I have to disassociate from the ideas I have of my body," she said in an interview with the Guardian. SEX WEEK   Here's to the stripper heel   Platform heels, pole heels, or Pleasers — a stripper heel by any other name will be as high. The platform-and-heel combo was designed for visual impact and endurance and has defied stigma to shine on the red carpet, the runway, and the silver screen, contributor Marie Lodi writes. Why not slip into this story and see where the heels came from, where they are now and where they're clacking to next? TOKYO OLYMPICS   Laurel Hubbard made Olympic history as the first transgender woman to compete in in a solo event The 43-year-old weightlifter from New Zealand took part in the women's super heavyweight 87+kg category on Monday. Her medal ambitions were cut short after three failed lift attempts. Hubbard became eligible to compete back in 2015, when the International Olympic Committee published changes to its eligibility guidelines for trans athletes. These include a limitation on testosterone levels. Chris Graythen / Getty Images Her inclusion has been hailed as a major milestone in the campaign to create space for trans athletes in sports. However, she is not alone. Canadian soccer player Quinn is the first openly trans and nonbinary athlete to compete at the Olympics. They are set to be the first trans athlete with an Olympic medal following Canada's semifinal win over the US in the women's soccer competition, the CBC reported.   More Simone Biles returned to the Olympics and won a bronze medal. Your companion in tackling whatever's looming today, Brandon 📝  This letter was edited and brought to you by Brandon Hardin and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.     👉 Your support of BuzzFeed's journalism does not constitute a charitable donation, and your contribution is not eligible for a tax-deduction. This is part of an effort to explore a deeper relationship with our most active supporters. 🔔  Want to be notified as soon as news breaks? Download the BuzzFeed News app for iOS and Android (available in Canadian, UK, Australian, and US app stores). 💌  Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up to get BuzzFeed News in your inbox! Show privacy notice and cookie policy. BuzzFeed, Inc. 111 E. 18th St. New York, NY 10003 Unsubscribe