Obama Tours Africa

Obama On The Human Race: We Are All A Family

Before returning to the US from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Tuesday, President Barack Obama had some heartwarming comments calling for world harmony. During a state dinner Obama reflected on seeing the famous fossil remains of Lucy, a hominid that was one of the earliest ancestors to the human race at Ethiopia’s national palace.

The president said: “When you see our ancestor…we are reminded that Ethiopians, Americans, all the people of the world are part of the same human family, the same chain…so much of the hardship and conflict and sadness and violence that occurs around the world is because…we look at superficial differences as opposed to seeing the fundamental connection that we all share.” Read more and check out photos from Obama’s trip at the Huffington Post.

Up Next: More Conflicts Arise At Rolling Stone Magazine After UVa Rape Scandal 

Despite the story having been published months ago, the botched investigative report detailing the alleged rape of a student at the University of Virginia continues to pose legal and staffing issues at Rolling Stone Magazine. The managing editor, Will Dana, is stepping down from his position following 19 years at the publication without a named successor. Dana was heavily criticized for the ethical issues posed by the article.

Furthermore, the magazine has incurred yet another lawsuit from three UVa graduates for the “vicious and hurtful attacks” they’ve endured as a result of the story. Read more at the New York Times and ABC News.

Up Next: Eric Garner’s Court Papers Still Being Withheld From The Public

Court Rules To Further Conceal Records Of Eric Garner’s Case From The Public

A New York appeals court has maintained a lower court’s decision to keep the transcript of the grand jury investigation on Eric Garner’s death away from the public. The judges came to the decision by arguing there was no “compelling and particularized need” to release the records. However, advocates who have been petitioning for access to the court files are saying that they’re not deterred by the recent decision, and that they’ll still go forth with an appeal. Read more at the Huffington Post.

Up Next: Officials May Have Found Traces Of The Boeing 777

Airline Officials Believe They’ve Uncovered Remains Of The Missing Boeing 777 Flight

Family members of the 239 people that vanished while aboard the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014 may finally start getting some answers. Debris from an airplane was recently discovered on an island in the Indian Ocean and could provide critical information as to what happened to the flight. Airline officials aren’t sure yet if the aircraft part they found belongs to the plane that disappeared. However, researchers are encouraged; the part is unique to the model of the Boeing 777 in question. Read more at CNN.

Up Next: Florida County Unnerves Residents With Confederate Flag

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: One Confederate Flag Gets Replaced By Another After Locals Petition For Its Removal

Walton County officials in Florida made an unusual decision in response to a petition to remove the Confederate flag from courthouse grounds. They decided to replace the flag with yet an older version of the Confederate flag, saying that they wanted to honor the “blood and sweat” of Southern people that fought in the Civil War.

The leader behind the movement to remove the flag has been pushing back against the decision. Frustrated, Daniel Uhlfelder said: “They replaced a symbol of segregation with a symbol of slavery and secession.” Read more at the Huffington Post.

Up Next: Anti-Abortion Group Banned From Releasing More Videos Against Fetal Tissue Company

Center For Medical Progress Slammed In Court; Planned Parenthood Website Hacked

David Daleidan’s team at the Center for Medical Progress, a group decrying abortions, has been slapped with a restraining order that is barring them from releasing videos featuring conversations with officials from StemExpress, a fetal tissue donation company. The Center for Medical Progress is the same group that came after Planned Parenthood, accusing them of illegally selling deceased babies’ body parts for profit. The restraining order is in place until August 19 when a hearing will be held for the anti-abortion group and StemExpress.

Simultaneously, Planned Parenthood’s website shut down on July 29 after it was hacked by whom the organization is calling anti-abortion “extremists.” The website was hacked using a DDoS procedure which floods it with traffic, resultantly blocking readers from entering its pages. Dawn Laguens, Planned Parenthood’s executive vice president, released a statement saying: “This is a new low for anti-abortion extremists; 200,000 people a day count on Planned Parenthood’s website for accurate health information. Blocking people from accessing information on the full range of sexual and reproductive health…only shows how far opponents of safe and legal abortion will go.” So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the breach. Read more at the AP and CNN.

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