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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.
Awards offered to news outlets working with youth
News organizations around the world that engage with youth are invited to apply for two awards that honor solid journalism.
Vaccines: Here’s the truth amid many myths
Some think there is a global conspiracy to promote harmful vaccines. But doctors and health experts agree: Vaccines are safe and they save lives.
From Guatemala to a U.S. university: my American Dream
I was raised in Guatemala, where I was expected to grow up fast and told that women are not meant to go to school. But I had other dreams.
Forgetting Tiananmen for prosperity and stability
China’s rulers have suppressed memories of Tiananmen protests of 1989 while offering prosperity and stability. But what if a crisis erupted?
Decoder: Why are vaccines so important?
Vaccines save millions of lives every year. Yet some people resist being immunized. Here’s how vaccines work and why humankind needs them.
Children in Afghanistan earn hard living on the streets
Millions of children in Afghanistan work full or part time. After Kabul’s public transit system collapsed, a new form of work emerged: street shouting.
Remembering Tiananmen. Or not
It’s been 30 years since China’s army crushed protests in Tiananmen Square. Can Beijing come to terms with its past without remembering?
D-Day: Paying my respects to a decorated war hero
I accompanied two U.S. presidents to D-Day commemorations. Then I traced the footsteps of my uncle, a doctor who became a war hero.
A day in the life of a former inmate
An inmate faces many challenges and cruelties, during and after time in prison. Their family can suffer, too. We learned as much during a recent exercise.
Decoder: Why the South China Sea matters to all of us
The South China Sea has become one of the world’s most dangerous flash points. So far, the dispute has not resulted in military conflict. But it could.
Jordan’s female leaders give reason to hope
Women leaders in Jordan fighting for equal rights offer hope that feminism can be advanced without sacrificing our unique culture.
Hewitt School in New York joins News-Decoder
Presence, empathy, research and purpose — those are the academic pillars at the Hewitt School in New York, News-Decoder’s newest partner.
D-Day: How code-breakers changed the course of history
They were eccentric code-breakers hidden in a Victorian mansion. Their secret work underpinned the D-Day invasion and shaped World War Two.
Encounter with a female vampire ghost – Part II
Meet a “pontianak” — the classic female vampire ghost of a woman who died in childbirth, and sucks blood of virgins and men who have wronged her.
Decoder: What is impeachment and how does it work?
U.S. President Donald Trump calls it the “I-word”. It has lawmakers in Washington in a quandry. So what is impeachment and how does it work?
Growing up brown in a white U.S. town
When I was seven, I cried about having brown skin. I barely exist among the moon’s bloodless glow that speaks its own white language.
Encounter with a female vampire spirit – Part I
Ghost tales form an important horror film genre in Indonesia and Malaysia. But what happens when a female vampire spirit wants to follow me home?
Paraguayan news team wins environment reporting prize
A global prize backed by News-Decoder and two board members has gone to a media group in Paraguay for reporting that aimed to save a huge forest.
Decoder Spotlight: Westover students & faculty stand out
Their students earned a record number of prizes and reported on Rwanda in a webinar. Westover School wins this month’s “Decoder in the Spotlight” award.
Jordan’s struggle to erase the stain of honor crimes
For decades, Jordan has struggled to introduce reforms and prevent honor crimes — one of the uglier vestiges of colonialism.
Pakistan commits to reform schools that teach militancy
For decades, militant religious schools in Pakistan called madrassas taught students to kill non-believers. Now, Islamabad is taking them on.
In Afghanistan, winning peace requires diplomacy
The war in Afghanistan is the longest military conflict in U.S. history. It has failed. The key to peace is diplomacy and the quiet work of diplomats.
Decoder: A key to understanding Russian suspicions of West
The Soviet Union and its allies opposed the West for 36 years. After the Iron Curtain fell, NATO expanded, deepening Russian-Western tensions.
Should poor countries control their own climate projects?
The UN’s Green Climate Fund helps finance climate projects in poor countries. Most of its money goes to large international players. Is that right?
Students on four continents win News-Decoder contest
Women’s rights, identity and mental health — social and political issues dominated winning entries in News-Decoder’s multimedia storytelling contest.
Jordan needs reforms to include women in its economy
Jordan ranks among the world’s worst countries for women’s economic participation. A former cabinet minister speaks out on what must change.