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Chinatown offered me a window into immigration
I’d gone to Chinatown before, but only when I looked closely did I see how waves of immigration have shaped its character and history.
Meet News Decoder’s new Student Ambassadors
News Decoder empowers youth around the globe, and our Student Ambassadors make it all possible. Meet the team for the coming academic year.
Refugees give back to European nations that took them in
The EU has been criticized for inconsistency towards asylum seekers. But some European nations have admitted refugees — who are now paying back.
‘The Wizard of Oz’ — a parable of political deceit
Dorothy’s adventures in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ offer more than fantasy for children. Like the wizard behind his curtain, politicians world-wide deal in deceit.
Cholera & the Keystone Cops — 50 years before COVID-19
Cholera swept the globe half a century before COVID-19. But nothing, not even Keystone Cops, could stop our road trip to Moscow.
World’s youth can learn from Black Lives Matter protests
Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S. can spur change around the world. Youth can play a key role in the fight for equality, says a young African educator.
News media is no match for Trump and his tall tales
U.S. presidents have often twisted the truth. But Donald Trump has flooded the media with falsehoods in a unique challenge to democratic institutions.
My life in journalism, where facts & truth count
The world has changed dramatically since I was a cub reporter. But facts and truth should still matter in the world of journalism.
Good writing is a process, not just pen to paper
What’s the secret to good writing? It’s a process that can push authors outside their comfort zones as they challenge their assumptions.
Decoder: China lends huge sums to rebuild ancient Silk Road
It’s one of the biggest projects ever. Here’s how China plans to rebuild the ancient Silk Road — and how its plan could reshape the globe.
Do Black Lives Matter protests matter for the world?
Will Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S. over racial injustice spur change there and around the world? Human rights advocate Steve Crawshaw hopes so.
Northern Ireland offers an example of police reforms
Violence against Black Americans has thrust U.S. police reforms to the fore. Northern Ireland has grappled with its own history of police prejudice.
Agog at U.S. race protests, Russians draw own conclusions
U.S. protests over race have given some Russians an excuse to bash America. Others fear street action in Russia is a distant dream.
Calls for racial justice reverberate around the world
As protests for racial justice sweep across the U.S., young people are demanding an end to persistent inequities around the world.
My elderly grandmother in China persevered during COVID-19
COVID-19 has hit the elderly hard and left many alone in confinement. But my grandmother in China has endured, even thrived, offering a lesson in tenacity.
News Decoder expands in Africa, Europe and the U.S.
News Decoder is expanding its program in Africa, Europe and the United States, and now has a footprint in 12 countries on five continents.
Hungary, EU’s ‘bad boy,’ has managed COVID-19 with tact
Ruled by a populist, Hungary is considered Europe’s bully. But its prime minister has shown common sense in managing COVID-19.
Worlds apart, youth tend to communities during COVID-19
Youth around the world are fighting fake news and delivering groceries to the needy as they juggle online studies with community service during COVID-19.
Lebanon’s economic meltdown eclipses COVID-19 danger
Lebanon has largely dodged COVID-19. But its finances are in tatters — and so, too, its facade of prosperity. Disaster awaits.
Here’s proof that youth are helping fight COVID-19
Reporting from around the world confirms that youth are using their creativity and energy to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our ‘zine’ offers a creative antidote for COVID-19
We were students seeking solace from COVID-19. Then, with a burst of artistic creativity, an online ‘zine’ was born.
COVID-19 lockdowns spur female genital “cutting”
The world was making progress in curbing female genital mutilation, a rite of passage to womanhood in many countries. COVID-19 is hurting those efforts.
Hong Kong and China: One country, one system?
Hong Kong youth are protesting again against the city’s rulers in China. The stakes are sky-high for the world’s economy and, potentially, security.
Walking with the mujahideen in Afghanistan
I was in Afghanistan when mujahideen guerrillas fought Soviet invaders. Three decades later, security remains precarious and peace a distant dream.
Will COVID-19 help the fight against climate change?
Want to ensure the impact of COVID-19 on the environment slows climate change? Then be sure to vote, a top environmentalist tells a News Decoder webinar.
Cuddling your baby strengthens its health for life
We’ve long known that a mother’s love can mould a child’s behaviour. Holding the baby can improve its health for life, research now shows.
News Decoder interns: Spreading insight and amity
They have helped shape News Decoder from the start five years ago. Meet our far-flung interns.
Youth can dodge COVID-19’s economic blow
The economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will fall mainly on youth. Here are ways young people can mitigate the impact.
Mom and Madre: Different cultures, similar values
An American in Spain, I learned that different cultures and distance could not mask the similar values of my two Moms.
Will COVID-19 help the fight against climate change?
COVID-19 has put a lid on carbon emissions, and some experts think it could eventually help slow climate change.
Will COVID-19 change our lives fundamentally?
For many, COVID-19 has turned the world upside down. Can we expect the global crisis to stir profound change?
Teens: Manage your stress during COVID-19!
Because the COVID-19 pandemic can be traumatic, young people need to set self-care plans to manage stress and keep their immune systems strong.
What history teaches Britain during COVID-19
A sense of exceptionalism served Britain well in world wars, but COVID-19 has exposed the dangers of going it alone.
Could COVID-19 speed a reunited Ireland?
COVID-19 has prompted different responses in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Will the pandemic make eventual reunification more likely?
Homeless in Los Angeles exposed to COVID-19
Thousands of homeless in Los Angeles are finding it hard to shelter in place during the COVID-19 pandemic despite authorities’ efforts.
Different twists on COVID-19 win News Decoder contest
Students tackled topics from homelessness to hip hop. Entries on COVID-19 and the environment copped the prizes in our storytelling contest.
Nature rears its head as COVID-19 shuts down cities
Lockdown has enticed many species into quiet cities and thrust nature’s beauty to the fore. Will COVID-19 help the fight against climate change?
COVID-19 clouds young people’s economic future
Governments have spent huge sums to support societies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young people worry they will pay the price.
Decoder: Risks and rewards in COVID-19 vaccine race
The world will need a COVID-19 vaccine to end the pandemic without millions of deaths. The race is on, with a half dozen candidates in the lead.
Coping while COVID-19 kills and anxiety prevails
The COVID-19 pandemic is sowing anxiety around the world. Here’s how six young people are coping with stress as they face an uncertain future.
For the immunocompromised, isolation is nothing new
Isolation is nothing new for the immunocompromised. Their weakened immune systems have prepared them for COVID-19 lockdown.
Protest music helped me understand taboo issues
Gun violence, racism and mental health are issues we should care about, but they aren’t always easy to discuss. Music can help.
In cozy COVID-19 lockdown, I recall the victims of war
While comfortable in COVID-19 lockdown in Rome, I think of refugees of war in Iraq and Syria who are also isolated, but desperate and without a choice.
COVID-19 will help us save the planet, right? Think again.
COVID-19 has stifled economic activity, leading to a drop in carbon emissions and clearer skies. But don’t count on the pandemic saving our planet.
How COVID-19 is affecting news reporters, publishers
COVID-19 is disrupting the business models and work of news publishers and reporters alike. Many of the changes will be profound and lasting.
What does COVID-19 mean for stock markets?
Stock markets over time tend to reward investors with financial gains. But the COVID-19 pandemic has thrust markets into uncharted territory.
Will COVID-19 lead to vast changes in the world?
Past cataclysmic events have triggered major changes in the world. Will COVID-19 galvanise the fight against global warming and slow globalisation?
Long-distance dating in the time of COVID-19
COVID-19 has made long-distance dating the new norm for many young couples. Experts share tips on making relationships work in the time of corona.
Decoder: Why are U.S. troops all over the world?
Despite an isolationist president and a plan to withdraw from Afghanistan, the U.S. has some 200,000 troops scattered around the world.
Decoder: WHO is world health boss, without a cudgel
Its mission is to protect the world’s health. But the WHO is beholden to its 194 member nations and lacks enforcement powers.