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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.
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.