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Google speech policy requires difficult trade-offs
A new speech policy looks set to rein in Google’s intellectually freewheeling culture. It points to difficult trade-offs today’s organizations must make.
Saving the Amazon: sanctions, less meat, intervention?
The Amazon — the “lungs” of our planet — is burning. What to do? Punish Brazil with sanctions? Eat less meat? Or send in forces?
I discovered a slice of Paris through Chinese immigrants
Chinese immigrants form a growing community in France. Two manicurists gave me insight into challenges facing workers in Paris’s beauty industry.
Climate change: Let a thousand flowers bloom
The climate crisis is everywhere, but so are initiatives to cope with it and counter it. Here are just a few of my favorites.
Climate change gets more personal and political
Record heat around the world. Wild fires in the Arctic. Greenland’s ice rapidly melting. Climate change is upon us. The situation is dire — but we can act.
Watch: On Cantonese opera, ca trù and cultural identity
A trip to Hong Kong taught me why Cantonese opera and ca trù singing, which I once thought boring, are so important to cultural identity.
Let’s keep meddling politicians away from central banks
Power-hungry politicians are piling pressure on central banks to do their bidding. But short-term meddling only erodes long-term stability.
Spain is in political limbo — and that worries the EU
Nearly four months after its election, Spain has still not formed a government, causing frustration at home and concern in the EU.
In Afghanistan, drivers take to cars to express themselves
In Afghanistan, people love to express themselves on their cars. The messages range from the personal to political to philosophical.
Pace Academy of U.S. joins News-Decoder’s ranks
A 10th U.S. school, Pace Academy, is joining News-Decoder, bringing a distinctive cross-disciplinary approach to our international network.
We need to keep disarmament treaties, not scrap them
In a world with nuclear weapons, every agreement counts. So the decision by the U.S. and Russia to scrap a disarmament treaty does matter.
On the front lines: Barry Moody recalls sleepless nights
Barry Moody worked for more than four decades covering some of the world’s biggest stories. It was variously tragic, exhausting and exhilarating.
Refugees flee in record numbers around the world
The world’s refugee population is growing. But the countries where migration is most contentious is not where most refugees are settling.
U.S. podcast spotlights News-Decoder and partner
Two non-profits are joining forces for youth around the world. A podcast highlights News-Decoder and the International Congress of Youth Voices.
Central banks need to fight climate change!
Should central banks actively fight climate change? A UK non-profit disagrees with News-Decoder correspondents and says “absolutely!”
Can Boris Johnson unite the UK as it exits Europe?
The UK will leave Europe no matter what, says new British PM Boris Johnson. But his hard-line Brexit stance is exposing cracks within the UK itself.
On the front lines: Sue Landau helps youth fix the climate
Susan Landau has worked as a financial journalist for top international publications. Now, she helps young people understand climate change.
In Hong Kong, I glimpsed my twin, tug-of-war cultures
Raised in Canada of Asian descent, I struggled as a youth to reconcile my two cultures. On a trip to Hong Kong, I saw my own duality in a traditional dance.
On the front lines: Betty Wong is a storyteller at heart
From school paper to the Wall Street Journal, Betty Wong covered major stories including the 1990s stock boom and the Great Recession.
Biafra lost a war but gained a musical heritage
Secessionist Biafra lost a war that divided Nigeria. But songs aimed at motivating troops in a lost cause have given the Igbo group a lasting heritage.
Filipino journalists risk life and freedom to expose truth
Filipino journalists Fermando Sepe Jr. and Maria Ressa have exposed government corruption and abuse — and persist despite threats to their safety.
Hong Kong: Will the Chinese army intervene?
As protests against Hong Kong authorities become more violent, worries that China’s army might intervene are mounting.
Kenya tackles youth unemployment with education shift
Soaring youth unemployment has forced Kenya to reform its education system. Now, it’s focused on providing technical training. Will it work?
Listen: Hong Kong’s disappearing fishing villages
Hong Kong’s fishing villages are a microcosm of broad, cultural changes sweeping the Chinese territory and former British colony.
Should central banks do more for climate change?
Central banks have clout. Why not fight climate change by steering private banks away from fossil fuels? News-Decoder writers tackle the question.
Wet markets opened my eyes to Hong Kong’s culture
Wet markets are an integral part of Hong Kong’s culture and communities. But will they survive as China’s economy modernizes?
Decoder: Why central banks matter so much
Central banks are among the world’s most powerful institutions, but often operate in the shadows. What do they do? And why do they matter?
Listen: News-Decoder is now on Apple Podcasts
More and more youth around the globe are turning to podcasts to learn about the world and to share stories. News-Decoder is part of the revolution.
Shocking survey jolts man’s convictions!
We all have our convictions. But the world’s a complex place, where opposing viewpoints co-exist. Humility can be the first step to understanding.
From Flopnik and shame to a man on the moon
It’s been 50 years since the U.S. put a man on the moon. It’s worth recalling how the U.S. lagged at the start of the Space Age. And what about Earth?
Elaine Monaghan – On the front lines: “Talk to strangers”
Elaine Monaghan dodged death in Albania and skirted bombs in Northern Ireland. A journalist’s job? To ask the right questions.
Cricket outsider Afghanistan pursues an epic odyssey
Afghanistan is an unlikely home for the sport of cricket. But its national team has proudly clawed its way to the game’s upper echelons.
Media savvy a key to populist parties’ success
Populist parties are the political groupings of the 21st century. Insurgents who get social media right can make big gains. But not all succeed.
On the front lines: Maggie Fox has a press pass to history
Maggie Fox witnessed the toppling of a president and war in the Balkans. For this News-Decoder correspondent, journalism “is the coolest job ever.”
Breadth & depth: A sampling of News-Decoder’s best
News-Decoder has pulled together a dozen articles that showcase authors of all ages tackling complex issues with impartiality and fairness.
Conversations with a female vampire ghost – Part VI
Suddenly I hear a baby cry next door. Didn’t I hear it earlier in the day? Just a normal human baby crying for food, right? Of course it isn’t a ghost.
Decoder: Why abortion is more than a political debate
Abortion is wrapped up in politics in many nations including the U.S. But one in four pregnancies ends in abortion, making it a global health issue.
Conversations with a female vampire ghost – Part V
“Meester. You called me. I am Farida. I am here for you.” Dewi huddles in a corner, then squats on a chair. I don’t get too close to the ghost.
Conversations with a female vampire spirit – Part IV
He’s warned it’s difficult and dangerous to meet a vampire ghost. But our intrepid narrator insists on trying to conjure up a female man-eating spirit.
Journalists hit by job cuts, killings and jail
Journalists are losing jobs in the U.S. and facing jail or even death elsewhere. Is a free press a thing of the past and news reporting a dying profession?
Here’s what legalizing abortion has meant for U.S. women
What was it like in the U.S. before abortion was legal? A doctor recalls botched, amateur procedures and fears health risks if abortion is re-criminalized.
Decoder: U.S.-Iran ties impaled on the past
Why are the U.S. and Iran at daggers drawn while Donald Trump has vowed to pull troops out of foreign wars? Mutual antagonism goes way back.
Conversations with a female vampire spirit – Part III
We know that vampires and ghosts don’t exist. Or maybe they do? Better to know what to expect from a pontianak spirit — before they eat your organs.
Hong Kong trip opened my eyes to residents’ worries
My trip to Hong Kong coincided with the lead-up to huge protests against an extradition law. I now understand concerns over China’s tightening grip.
I discovered a different Middle East in a desert and shop
I used to associate the Middle East with violence, devastation and instability. On a trip to Israel, I discovered hospitality and generosity.
Are migrants wearing out their welcome in Mexico, too?
Mexico is under pressure to stop migrants from fleeing Central America to the U.S. Are Mexicans’ attitudes towards their neighbors hardening?
Does U.S.-China trade dispute mean a new Cold War?
The U.S. and China are engaged in a tit-for-tat trade dispute affecting billions of dollars of commerce. Do the tensions point to a new Cold War?
In Hong Kong, young protesters return with a vengeance
Youth in Hong Kong have poured into the streets to protest against a proposed law they say threatens the city’s autonomy. Are they pushing their luck?
Arms control may be out of fashion, but it still matters
The U.S. has pulled out of a major arms control treaty amid tensions between Washington and Moscow. Weapons treaties are out of favor — but they matter.
Dogs move from street to shelter in Colombia
Street dogs often suffer abuse. Some people find them a nuisance and a public health risk. We discovered a solution in an animal shelter in Colombia.