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Decoder: What is the European Parliament?
It’s unloved and misunderstood. It splits time between Brussels and Strasbourg. Its powers have grown, yet voters shun it. It’s the European Parliament.
Houston’s acceptance of immigrants a lesson for the U.S.
I am proud that my hometown Houston embraces immigrants. It would be great for the U.S. economy if the rest of America did as well.
Colliding atoms, bright lights in a Long Island laboratory
Seven Nobel prize winners have worked in a laboratory on Long Island, where scientists from around the world examine the smallest particles.
Listen: In the end, violence always wins
I use the human race to play my evil game. I’m to blame for wife-beating, guns, bomb flames. I’m the infamous, rash, spirit of violence.
China and Africa: A Tale of Neocolonialism
I recently returned to Kenya to see China’s hand in Africa’s economic development. But does China have the continent’s best interests at heart?
Here’s how Rwanda came to terms with genocide
After genocide, Rwanda needed a judicial system that fit the violence committed. I discovered a unique court system fostered reconciliation.
Female genital mutilation stalks the U.S.
Female genital mutilation persists in many countries. While efforts to curb the rite are progressing worldwide, the practice has gained ground in the U.S.
Testosterone-heavy female runners face difficult choice
After a court upheld rules limiting testosterone levels for female runners, some athletes must now choose between treatment, changing events or quitting.
No, I was not okay. I had to overcome PTSD.
I used to tell myself, “It’s fine.” But then I presented a project that triggered difficult memories. I now realize I have to overcome PTSD.
Are street artists vandals or prophets?
In Colombia, we are surrounded by urban art. Some people appreciate its subversive message, others flinch. Here are some murals that caught our eye.
Sri Lanka terrorist attacks reignite familiar problems
After extremists killed hundreds in Easter suicide bombings, Sri Lanka’s minority Muslim population now has to worry about retaliatory attacks.
Message to European youth: Get to know the EU!
We surveyed Danish youth to understand what they know about the EU’s composition and procedures. The results surprised us.
The sound of a bullet visits us daily
The sound of a bullet goes out my door and walks up my street. It buys from the corner store and heads where friends meet.
Notre-Dame fire unites, then divides France
The fire at Notre-Dame cathedral moved citizens in France. But an outpouring of donations to fund its reconstruction has stirred controversy.
I’m Asian-American and finally proud of it
Mocked and belittled as an Asian-American, I was desperate to fit in with my peers. With time and age, I have learned to straddle the two cultures.
Unruly Indonesia gets more predictable
Two decades after it threw off an authoritarian regime, Indonesia is a rare democracy in a region dominated by autocratic rulers.
Decoder Spotlight: Giavanna Bravo of Greens Farms Academy
Giavanna Bravo of Greens Farms Academy has won our “Decoder in the Spotlight” award for her multimedia contributions and leadership.
Women’s rights can be advanced under Islam
Many Westerners hold misconceptions about Middle Eastern women. They are not powerless, and Islam is compatible with women’s rights.
The things I carry on this journey called life
A Jordanian youth reflects on the tangible and intangible objects, the memories and values that he carries with him each day.
Algeria rebels against strongman rule. But how will it end?
Will bright supporters of democracy win power in Algeria? Or will they be cut down by troops as a fearful majority stays home?
O Mother Africa! Your children will assert themselves
Mother Africa, tell me, why so much suffering? Dry your tears, for your children will assert themselves and affirm your diversity.
News-Decoder receives major gift from family foundation
A multi-year gift from a U.S. family foundation marks a vote of confidence in News-Decoder and has allowed our not-for-profit to hire a third staff member.
Elections in Thailand: Déjà vu all over again
Thailand holds the world record for military coups. Landmark elections in March seems sure to yield yet more instability in the Southeast Asian nation.
How the Syrian crisis is affecting Jordan
Jordan has long been a peaceful center in a tumultuous region. But the Syrian crisis has forced it to revisit a thorny social problem: child marriages.
Listen: China and the U.S. vie for influence in Asia
The South China Sea is the focal point of a geopolitical struggle between Beijing and Washington. We interview an expert on the region’s complexities.
Can we protect free speech and curb big money politics?
Since 2010, big money has flooded U.S. politics following a Supreme Court ruling that interpreted the First Amendment expansively. Is reform possible?
My reflections on the scars of African colonialism
The African man is in an impossible situation. He is neither the man before colonialism nor a true Westerner. He is lost in a chasm between two worlds.
A New Perspective on Polarization
I’ve spent the past school year studying overseas. It’s given me a new perspective on my own homeland and on the polarization that divides us.
A New Yorker finds new ways of thinking in France
I’m a New Yorker studying in France. I now realize a president doesn’t define a country and there are constructive ways to talk about politics.
NATO turns 70. Does it have cause to celebrate?
NATO continues to grow in size but not necessarily in strength. Can the 70-year-old military alliance withstand forces weakening its foundations?
EU’s migration policy destroys Niger’s smuggling economy
The EU is partnering with African countries like Niger to stop migration flows. One unintended consequence? Wiping out local livelihoods.
Look: “She and I” is my gender story
Everyone prayed I would be a boy. I was born a baby girl. My photographs show how the genders “girl” and “boy” can coexist as they interact.
Duterte, democracy and the war on drugs
Philippine President Duterte’s war on drugs has killed thousands of citizens extra-judicially. Can the country still be called a democracy?
Look: Women’s rights on a street in Amman
A female face in a sea of mustaches and beards: We went looking to document women’s rights and found a street vendor selling bread in Amman.
Hopes rise with the end of Africa’s cold war
Ethiopia and Eritrea’s cold war has come to an abrupt end, sparking vast change. I speak with a political prisoner who was unlawfully detained for 20 years.
Can sport be an antidote to populism?
Soon, even breakdancing may be an Olympic sport. My reflections on how the inclusiveness of sport may help to counter rising populism.
Decoder Spotlight: African Leadership Academy shines
Students at the African Leadership Academy have been named this month’s “Decoders in the Spotlight” for contributing exceptional content to News-Decoder.
Should it be a crime to help illegal immigrants?
Europeans are being prosecuted for aiding illegal immigrants. EU states had a choice to exempt humanitarian aid from criminal charges. Most didn’t take it.
The time I showed Shirley MacLaine around Beijing
Last year, 140 million tourists visited China. In 1973, Beijing was selective about who got to enter. Hollywood star Shirley MacLaine was one of the few.
Decoder: What is terrorism? And who are terrorists?
A bloody attack in New Zealand brought the word “terrorist” back into the headlines. What is terrorism, and why is the term controversial?
China and India vie for dominance in Sri Lanka
China has dramatically increased its presence in Sri Lanka in the past decade. But so has India. Are the two giants in a race neither wants to lose?
Look: “Yellow vests” movement wakes up France
“Yellow vests” protests have rocked France for months. We watched angry demonstrators march in Brittany — proof the movement is national in scope.
In Venezuela, a regime change plan gone awry
The regime in Venezuela clings to power amid hunger and misery, in the face of a U.S.-backed opposition. Are we seeing the Syria scenario again?
In pursuit of stability: Why the EU was created
It may not seem like it today — with Brexit, nationalism and a resurgent Russia on its borders — but the EU was created to promote stability.
Watch: A chat with one of Africa’s most powerful men
Sim Shagaya is one of the most powerful men in Africa. He told me the continent needs entrepreneurs with a vision, who put social good above mere profit.
Do para-athletes face abuse trying to prove their disabilities?
Para-athletes are subject to a controversial disability classification process to be eligible to compete at the Paralympics. Does the process go too far?
Listen: It’s a privilege to be able to vote. Use it!
Youth can make a big difference in the world if we take advantage of the chance to vote. It’s a challenge we should take up, a young activist says.
Spain at political crossroads with far right rising
A far-right party has emerged in Spain and is gaining strength as the European Union struggles with Brexit and euro-sceptics in other member states.
UN slow to reshape workplace in wake of #MeToo scandal
A damning report held UNAIDS leaders responsible for creating a culture of impunity and harassment. Why has the UN been so slow to respond?
Watch: All The Single Ladies: Kenyan support group for women
My family’s helper told me “being single” is her greatest challenge. She showed me an incredible Kenyan welfare group that supports single women.