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Asian flu v. coronavirus: A different time, similar problem
As a survivor of the Asian flu, I remember 1957 vividly. Times have changed since, but there are key similarities between that crisis and the coronavirus.
“The Kids Are Alright” Podcast
“The Kids Are Alright” is a youth-led podcast produced by News-Decoder and Podium.me to provide young people with a platform to address big issues.
Africa: What happens to ties with Britain post-Brexit?
Britain was once a colonial power in Africa but now lags other nations in trade with the continent. Boris Johnson says he wants to change that.
I was an in vitro baby. IVF is disputed — but widespread.
I was conceived through in vitro fertilization. My year in Spain has given me a chance to see both sides of this controversial procedure.
Listen: Just whose art is it anyway?
In this episode of “The Kids Are Alright” podcast, American and Jordanian reporters examine how the art world is protecting culture and heritage.
Decoder Spotlight: Friends Seminary shines
U.S. school Friends Seminary wins this month’s Decoder in the Spotlight award for engaging through a webinar, article, quiz and class.
Massacre haunts divided Caucasus amid shaky ceasefire
Azerbaijan blames Armenia for a massacre of civilians in the South Caucasus. Armenia denies the charge. Meanwhile, lasting peace proves elusive.
Italy bucks populism but egos weaken government
Italy has sidelined right-wing populism for now. But a shaky governing coalition and big egos are keeping long overdue reforms on the back burner.
Police clampdown on protests fans tensions in Chile
Protesters upset over economic inequalities have thrown free-market darling Chile into disarray, prompting a crackdown decried by rights advocates.
Deciphering Trump through an African trade deal
Donald Trump has disparaged African countries in no uncertain terms. Why, then, does he keep meeting Kenya’s leader in the White House?
Climate change is already damaging our health
From increased stress to more ticks, global warming is harming human health around the world in insidious ways. Africans are likely to suffer the most.
Remembering the day Nelson Mandela walked free
Thirty years ago, South Africa released famed political prisoner Nelson Mandela from prison. I covered the momentous story.
Can North Korea keep the coronavirus in check?
Wary of the coronavirus, North Korea has all but shut its borders, choking its economic lifelines. How grim a toll might the disease take?
How can schools best teach about climate change?
Global warming and its consequences can provoke anxiety in young people. Educators need to be trained on how best to teach about climate change.
Decoder: Managing public health crises like coronavirus
The World Heath Organization has declared the new coronavirus a global public health emergency. What does that mean? And what are the dangers?
Would U.S. pullout from the Sahel make Americans safer?
The U.S. is considering pulling forces out of the Sahel in Africa, where they are fighting Islamic extremists. Would a withdrawal make Americans safer?
Trauma can be addressed in schools. Some are trying
Millions of U.S. children experience trauma that can affect their behavior and life prospects. Now, schools are adopting programs to address trauma.
Decoder: Navigating the coronavirus headlines
Coronavirus headlines are taking readers on a roller coaster of fear, hope and confusion. Here are tips for telling what’s true and what’s not.
Is Big Sugar trying to get you addicted to soda?
What’s more harmful to your health — sugar or fat? Is it most important to exercise? The answers can depend on who’s paying for “scientific” research.
Are you a Decoder? Take our quiz.
Have you been reading our decoders on the world’s biggest issues? Test your knowledge with our Decoder quiz and get in the running for some swag!
News-Decoder launches course on media literacy
The new course tackles issues inherent to our digital age: How to be media literate and cope with a tsunami of information, much of it misleading.
Can a divided Spain offer Europe a helping hand?
A deeply polarised Spain finally has a new government. Can Madrid punch above its weight and shore up a wobbly European Union?
Decoder: Rising sea levels risk redrawing world’s maps
Sea levels are rising quickly due to global warming. If the trend continues — or accelerates — entire coastlines will be threatened.
Decoder: Superbugs, the world’s little-known silent killer
It’s called one of the gravest medical threats to humankind. Imagine if a common infection meant certain death. Superbugs are terrifying.
Listen: Free speech against media censorship
Censorship in China allows the government to control the media narratives. How can democracies protect free speech and sort fact from fiction online?
Decoder: What is vaping and is it safe?
Vaping has exploded in popularity with young people. But the case against e-cigarettes — for smokers and non-smokers — is mounting.
Decoder: How killer drones became key U.S. weapons
The U.S. used a drone, controlled from an Air Force base thousands of kilometers away, to kill Iran’s top general. Are drones reshaping war?
Democracy: Can we rescue it from disrespect?
Britain’s election could mean a return to normal politics after rancour over Brexit. But the jury is out in the U.S. Can decency in democracy be saved?
Insulin access a challenge for governments, diabetics
Nearly half of type 1 diabetics lack access to insulin, especially in developing countries. Non-profits are trying to help, but there are no easy solutions.
United States kicks Iran hornet’s nest
Iran has signaled a desire to avoid full-out war with the United States. But the conflict between the two nations remains, and Tehran has other options.
Youth in Sudan helped topple a ruthless dictator
Among pro-democracy protesters around the world in 2019, youth and women in Sudan led a movement that ousted a ruthless, 30-year dictatorship.
Youth are not active enough, putting their health at risk
Most youth around the world get less than an hour of physical activity a day. Better programs and measurements are needed.
A boy’s struggle to find his way in Indonesia
Getting ahead in Indonesia is a struggle. Crooked middlemen and indifferent bureaucrats loom large. Those toiling the soil are pawns to distant landowners.
Our most popular stories in 2019? Read on.
We published more stories in 2019 and were read in nearly 200 countries and territories. Readers flocked to articles about Africa, written by students.
Decoder: Why protests in Latin America matter
Protests across Latin America target common complaints, including poverty and corruption, and offer lessons for much of the rest of the world.
Nigeria state recruits local hunters to fight terrorism
A governor in Nigeria is recruiting 10,000 hunters to try to accomplish what the army has been unable to do: defeat Boko Haram militants.
Pugnacious pirates threaten West Africa
Only recently, pirates terrorised ships off of East Africa, crippling sea transport in the resource-rich zone. Now, the scourge has shifted to West Africa.
What my garden says about the American dream
My father used to tend our garden. Then he was taken from us — changing what I understood about America’s fundamental covenants.
U.S. blunders in Afghanistan recall Vietnam
The stark missteps recorded in the Afghanistan Papers recalled an historic about-face by an architect of the U.S. war in Vietnam.
Afghanistan & U.S.: Déjà vu all over again
The U.S. sends troops far from home on an ill-defined mission. Leaders lie. The conflict becomes a quagmire. That’s Afghanistan — or Vietnam redux.
Here are the winners of our storytelling contest
Claire Wang and Christine Fernando win first prize in News-Decoder’s Storytelling Contest with articles on French protests and U.S. immigration.
Decoder Spotlight: African Academy excels again
African Leadership Academy wins News-Decoder’s “Decoder in the Spotlight” award for its students’ exemplary contributions to our global community.
Depression stole me. So I fought back — with help
At age 15, I was no longer me. Learning about depression taught me about myself, my support group and growing efforts to fight mental illness.
Listen: Young voters critical but hesitant in South Africa
Young voters in South Africa aren’t as loyal to the ruling African National Congress as their elders. This could reshape the young democracy.
‘Brain waste’ exacts human and economic toll on U.S.
Immigrants can struggle to work as professionals in the U.S. But there’s no quick fix to “brain waste,” which can punish the economy and migrants.
U.S. EdTech firm Newsela partners with News Decoder
U.S. EdTech leader Newsela engages with millions of students and works with top global media brands. It’s News Decoder’s newest content partner.
Listen: Why Venezuela is now a global crisis
The crisis in Venezuela has exploded into a global, humanitarian emergency. Giavanna Bravo reports in this episode of “The Kids Are Alright.”
Decoder: Why do diplomats matter?
Nations defend themselves with armed forces. But the military alone cannot solve today’s crises. Diplomats and “soft power” are needed.
Is economic growth at odds with fighting climate change?
The quest for economic growth makes it hard to adopt changes to mitigate climate change. What if we were measuring progress the wrong way?
A cribsheet on COP 25 and how to fight climate change
A global climate conference faces a deepening crisis as nations renege on pledges made in Paris in 2015. Still, there are glimmers of hope at COP 25.