Why is Brussels Under Attack?
Deadly blasts — explosions ISIS has now said it carried out — killed at least 26 and injured dozens in Brussels Tuesday morning. There are still more questions than answers in the terrorist attacks, but the strain of radical Islam in Belgium has been growing in a country with a complicated history with its immigrants. [Washington Post]
From Awkward Hugs to Rainy Days, POTUS' Visit to Cuba
President Obama is the first sitting U.S. president to visit Cuba in 90 years, so the Internet couldn’t get enough of what the historical trip entailed — from if the stormy weather was a good omen to how the visit impacts the future of both countries. Oh, and then there was that handshake. [BBC]
A Deep Dive Into a Bronx Murder
The New York Times is going deep on every murder that occurs this year in the 40th Precinct in The Bronx. This is the story of Freddy Collazo, a troubled young man whose mixed attempts to get away from the streets ended in February when a killer caught up with him and gunned him down in the Forest Houses. [NYT]
PHOTOS: Russell Frederick Documents Bed-Stuy’s History
See Bed-Stuy before the changes. Starting in 1999, Brooklyn photographer Russell Frederick walked the neighborhood to give a glimpse into the African-American community, documenting the families, working-class residents, style and more. “The world also needs to see a different side of Black America. When people see a ‘black community’ it's always a ghetto, a slum place with issues, but despite the challenges present you have good people — people who are trendsetters, entrepreneurs, people trying to make it.,” Frederick said. [The Daily Beast]
How Self-Driving Cars Could Impact Privacy
Self-driving cars are quickly shifting from science fiction to reality and Atlantic writer Adrienne LaFrance has taken a look at the type of impact they could have on privacy, writing that “the price of convenience is surveillance.” The piece argues that the cars will collect tons of information about their passengers and could use everything from emails to overheard conversations to help drive people around. [The Atlantic]
Staten Islander Stabbed, Still Makes Ferry
A Staten Island man still made the ferry transfer despite getting stabbed in the stomach early Saturday morning while riding on the downtown N train. The 21-year-old wasn’t about to miss the boat and pushed through his pain to get aboard. [The Daily Beast]
$290M Polar Research Ship May Be Named ‘Boaty McBoatface’
Scientists, who launched a public poll to name the state-of-the-art ship last week, were expecting slightly more distinguished suggestions, but if you give the internet the chance to vote... [NBC]
This Man Can’t Forget Anything
Nima Veiseh has a perfect memory — a rare condition called hyperthymesia in which his brain records all of his experiences in elaborate detail and he can remember then as if they’ve just happened. WNYC’s The Takeaway talks with Veiseh about the good and the bad that comes with not being able to forget. [WNYC]
The Criminal-Tracking App That Might Just Help Rikers
A tiny, pilot program of sorts for physically tracking young people in the criminal justice system is now being tested by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. It uses ankle bracelets and a GPS-tracking app to keep tabs on just three people (for now) who would otherwise be sitting in jail. The program is designed — if it works — to keep young offenders off Rikers Island, WNYC reported. [WNYC]
Thousands of Prison Cells Are Empty in the Netherlands
Judges are granting shorter sentences and crime has gone down in the Netherlands, leading government officials to close five prisons. The crime rate has continued to decrease at a rate of close to 1 percent a year. The Netherlands already closed 19 prisons in 2014 and even took some prisoners from Norway, a country which has the opposite problem. [Quartz]
What Happens When You Give Away Money
A group of residents in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, hid more than 100 pink envelopes stuffed with twenty dollar bills around town yesterday. Instead of pocketing the cash, many of those who found the envelopes chose to pay it forward, buying strangers coffee, lunch or donating the money to charity, BuzzFeed reports. [BuzzFeed]
This column was compiled by DNAinfo reporters Camille Bautista, Nikhita Venugopal, Carolina Pichardo, Eddie Small, Noah Hurowitz, Gwynne Hogan, Shaye Weaver, Jeanmarie Evelly, Irene Plagianos, Rachel Holliday Smith and Emily Frost.
