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In Ukraine war, Red Cross defends neutrality against critics
For more than 150 years, the Red Cross has remained neutral in wars. Today, it still defends that stance against critics as Russia ravages Ukraine.
Youth-inspired protests rock strategically located Sri Lanka
Fed up with corruption and shortages of food and fuel, protesters are calling on Sri Lanka’s rulers to resign as the South Asian nation nears bankruptcy.
Decoder: What happens if you buy a carbon credit?
I am interested in carbon credits — permits that offset greenhouse emissions. So I bought a tonne of carbon. Here’s what I learned.
Watching Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I saw logistics flaws
Logistics in war is hardly glamorous. But the first phase of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exposed fateful failures in the attacker’s military support system.
At-home learning offers glimmer of hope to Afghan girls
The Taliban have barred girls from schools in Afghanistan. So some of them gather secretly in homes in Kabul, drawn together by a former teacher.
Is Putin crazed? Or is Russia’s assault of Ukraine rational?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reflects Vladimir Putin’s unhinged state, some experts say. But his views of ‘Mother Russia’ provide a logical explanation.
War in Ukraine stirs empathy & angst in neighboring Romania
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent millions of refugees into neighboring nations. I live in Romania, where the war has stirred compassion and fear.
Shaken by war in Ukraine, children turn to art for hope
News groups around the world are encouraging children shocked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to turn to art as an outlet for their worries.
In Africa, storytellers are the truth tellers
While around the world misinformation and lies abound, in Africa, stories transmit morals, acceptable behavior and universal truths.
I’m Catholic. The Church should welcome everyone — gays too.
I’m a staunch Catholic. But I object when the Church rejects gays. Everyone should be celebrated regardless of their sexuality.
Trying to provide a glimmer of hope to Ukrainian refugees
I’m a medic with a team helping Ukrainian refugees who are fleeing their country. Tonight, we hope we’ve given one young man a chance to survive.
A meal — and a beating — that changed my life forever
I have always wondered why my Mom gave me a merciless beating over a piece of meat. But that meal changed my life for the better.
Why have many nations not condemned the war in Ukraine?
More than two-thirds of the world’s population live in nations that have not denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Some Cold War bonds endure.
‘We Flap Our Wings Of Fire’ – in honor of Ukrainian refugees
A poem by an Indian humanitarian honors refugees fleeing the destruction wrought by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
My relatives in Poland welcome Ukrainians with open arms
More Ukrainians have fled to Poland than any other country. Like so many Poles, my relatives are doing what they can to help.
News Decoder is looking for a new educational news leader
Seven years after its launch, News Decoder is searching for a new Educational News Director to succeed founder Nelson Graves.
Meet a Russian who is helping Ukrainian refugees in Hungary
Ukrainian refugees come to Anastasia in Hungary for a night or two before moving on. This Russian is helping refugees while war rages at home.
How I made friends and grew up at study camp in West Africa
We studied together ahead of exams. What I learned about friendship and adversity at study camp in West Africa will serve me for life.
Decoder: Love of economic growth can hinder climate action
Efforts to combat global warming can clash with our addiction to economic growth. Even the global benchmark of success, GDP, is flawed.
Decoder Spotlight: Realgymnasium Rämibühl in Zurich
Zurich’s oldest high school wins News Decoder’s Spotlight award for its creative engagement and its students’ exemplary, multimedia work.
My grandmother recalls living behind the Iron Curtain
My grandmother has spent her entire life in Georgia. The Soviet Union was not all bad, she said, but Georgia’s dawning independence was beautiful.
Extreme weather events call for better global forecasting
Poor nations are hardest hit by extreme weather, but they can lack resources to produce forecasts that can save lives. Now something is being done.
Decoder: With war in Ukraine, spectre of nuclear war returns
Three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has revived dormant fears of a catastrophic nuclear war.
Self-harm is a growing problem among young people worldwide
Cutting, burning, hitting oneself are all forms of self-harm. It’s important to grasp why young people do it and for schools to help them manage stress.
COVID-19 has stoked pet trade — and created pet problems
To combat loneliness, many people have bought pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. That has meant more abandoned pets and a surge in illicit trade.
Entrepreneurs step in as Australia lags on climate change
Australia has been slow to combat global warming. Now wealthy entrepreneurs are picking up the mantle to drive change.
CORRECTED-Canadians nurture ties to their former home, Ukraine
Thousands of miles from war in Ukraine, Canadian students study the language, culture and religion of their ancestors in Eastern Europe.
Watch: Here’s how Switzerland has tackled its heroin problem
What’s the best way for a country to curb heroin addiction? My nation, Switzerland, offers an example for the world to follow.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine imperils Arctic cooperation
The Arctic has long been a region of peace. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is jeopardizing cooperation in the vast zone threatened by climate change.
Listen: There’s no Plan B if our friends the bees perish
Some consider them a nuisance, but bees are critically important. Our podcast, “Plan Bee,” explains how climate change and humans put bees at risk.
Does China’s Paralympics coverage mask rights flaws?
China is spotlighting the Paralympic Games and winning medals. But do its broadcast coverage and athletes’ success mask inequitable rights?
Decoder: What was the Soviet Union? Why does Putin miss it?
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the fall of the Soviet Union was a catastrophe. What was the USSR, and what does Putin really want?
Human-made debris is accumulating even on the moon
Part of a rocket from a Chinese mission will crash onto the moon this week, adding to debris from humans that is accumulating on the lunar surface.
Here’s how to make sense of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine begs questions that most young people have never asked. Here’s how to make sense of the conflict at the heart of Europe.
Hungary elections are a referendum on “illiberal democracy”
As leader of Hungary, Viktor Orbán has thumbed his nose at EU values. Elections in April will test whether Hungarians want his “illiberal democracy.”
With war in Ukraine, editors help kids cope with scary news
Editors around the world explain how they’re helping kids to understand and cope with the news as Russia invades Ukraine.
With Russian forces in Ukraine, our survival may be at stake
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens the global order that has spared us world war. In an era of nuclear weapons, our very survival could be at risk.
Why we all need to care about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
We asked News Decoder correspondents why young people should care about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Here’s what they said.
Faculty Spotlight: Maria del Rosario of Gimnasio Los Caobos
Growing numbers of students and faculty are using News Decoder at a school in Colombia thanks to a resourceful teacher, Maria del Rosario Silva.
Algeria war legacy still dogs France
It’s been 60 years since Algeria won freedom. The nation’s former ruler, France, is still struggling with its colonial legacy, national identity and values.
Helping LGBTQIA+ immigrants endure adversity in the U.S.
Transgender and queer immigrants can face hardship in detention and when settling in the U.S. Here’s a group that helps LGBTQIA+ migrants.
How China’s athletes gave Los Angeles a helping hand
Fewer than four decades ago, an emerging China joined its first Olympic Games. Like today, geopolitics loomed large at the Los Angeles event.
Decoder: Why Russia and Ukraine are so tightly linked
Neighbors Russia and Ukraine share a common history that looms over Europe’s deepest security crisis in decades.
Decoder: If tech giants are too big, how can we curb them?
Many experts think tech giants have grown too powerful. But they disagree over how best to regulate emerging technology without stifling innovation.
Ukraine poses most serious East-West confrontation in years
Reminiscent of tensions during the Cold War, the Ukraine crisis represents the most serious East-West confrontation since the end of the Soviet Union.
Macron stands out in French election as defender of Europe
French voters may have their minds on other matters ahead of April’s election, but President Emmanuel Macron stands firmly for a strong Europe.
A couch once united us. Now our family tableau has faded.
Our family used to gather in joy around my grandfather’s couch. He and his sofa are now gone, and I wonder if home will ever be the same.
No choice but to toil for Syrian refugee children in Lebanon
Lebanon is suffering one of the worst crises the world has seen in 150 years. The children in one Syrian refugee family have little choice but to work.
New faces add firepower, fresh perspectives to News Decoder
Three graduate students in Paris have joined News Decoder, bolstering staff and adding new perspectives to the nonprofit’s governance.
Decoder Spotlight: Li Keira Yin of The Thacher School
A Chinese citizen studying in the U.S., Li Keira Yin wins this month’s Student in the Spotlight award for her contributions to News Decoder’s community.