Newsletter Archive

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Suffolk County, Long Island, New York has a gang problem. With 17 reported murders of gang-related violence since January 2016, one afflicted community of mostly Hispanic residents has altered the way it goes about regular activities. High school students like Natalia Osorio are careful not to talk to members of the royal-blue-clad gang known as La Mara Salvatrucha — MS-13. Still community members had mixed emotions about a visit by President Donald Trump to highlight federal efforts to eradicate the gang.

As the U.S. State Department marks its 228th birthday this month, the agency in charge of American diplomacy finds itself at a turning point, facing the threat of deep budget cuts and with many high-profile positions vacant. Turmoil at the White House and rumors of a possible Cabinet shake-up have spilled over to State, as it is popularly known, and prompted speculation that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson might be contemplating leaving his post.

Allowing mainland Chinese police to patrol the station of a new high-speed rail line is expected to meet strong opposition when it next goes through a review by the Hong Kong legislature. The joint checkpoint plan was introduced by the city government of Hong Kong earlier this week. But many of the city’s pan-democrats and legal experts say the administration of newly inaugurated chief executive Carrie Lam may have set off a political time bomb.

What do kids want in a digital world where every song or video is a click away? Toymakers are betting on unwrapping, cracking, and hatching. “Blind Bags” are small inexpensive toys enclosed in packaging so that kids can’t see what they’re getting until the package is opened.  Blind bags and other hot, new toys were on display in New York City recently at the “Sweet Suite” toy event.

The world’s oldest living head of state, Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, says he is fit enough to run for re-election next year. The 93 year old has batted away whispers about who he will choose to follow him when he succumbs to his inevitable death. But as he continues to shuttle back and forth to Singapore for medical treatment, the call for him to name a replacement has grown louder. The most recent — and loudest — voice to call for a successor is also the most unexpected: his own wife.

VIDEO: The president of the United States is being accused of trying to bully his attorney general into quitting, while the new White House communications director is taking verbal shots at President Donald Trump’s chief of staff. It looks like staffers at the highest level of the Trump administration are engaged in open warfare.