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The 1960s: Sport reflected the world’s changing ways
More than just a game, sport reflected wrenching changes in the 1960s — racial tension, the U.S. antiwar movement, women’s rights, decolonialization.
Contest winners “connect dots across the globe”
Students at King’s Academy, Westover School, La Jolla Country Day School and Thacher School have won News-Decoder’s writing contest.
My back-door escape with the Beatles
I spent an evening with the Beatles in 1963, escaping with them from their frenzied fans through a window after a concert that launched Beatlemania.
Lessons from Malaysia: Persistence and patience
Autocrat or nation-builder? Malaysia’s Mahathir still stirs mixed feelings even as he stuns the world by regaining power and reuniting with his nemesis.
Malaysia miracle as Mahathir, Anwar reunite
Malaysia has stunned the world with a political tremor that has reunited two foes and which bucks a trend towards authoritarianism in Southeast Asia.
Angels, demons, double standards in Trump’s Mideast
Donald Trump has withdrawn the U.S. from the Iran nuclear accord. But his criticism rings hollow in a region dripping in blood, where implacable foes jostle for power.
Prague, 1968: A knock on the door, tanks in the street
“Wake up! They’ve come!” A Russian-led invasion force riding tanks had rolled into Prague, crushing reform hopes and deepening the Cold War divide.
From the 1960s and Summer of Love to #MeToo
“Free love” of the 1960s fueled the sexual revolution, which liberated many women but failed to end violence and inequality. #MeToo is a needed next stage.
Vietnam remembered: I was there when Saigon fell
I covered the fall of Saigon when South Vietnam collapsed and North Vietnamese seized the city. I now ask myself: What was the sense of it all?
How I helped the Stones get rolling
It was 1963 in London. No one knew it, but we were witnessing the makings of a musical legend. And I wrote the first review of the Rolling Stones.
Decoder: Can pricing carbon brake climate change?
It costs nothing to pollute. That has long been the driving force of our economy. But a movement is growing to change that calculus by putting a price on carbon.
China on Iran nuclear deal: energy, U.S. & North Korea
China’s stance towards the Iran nuclear deal is rooted in three concepts: energy, its relationship with the U.S. and the North Korean nuclear issue.
U.S. firms back away from guns, but impact is unclear
Some U.S. firms have cut ties with manufacturers of guns following the mass shooting at a Florida high school. But the impact of the moves is unclear.
May ’68: France’s modern revolution & political theatrics
Fifty years ago in May ’68, angry students and workers brought France to a standstill in a bout of civil unrest that had a whiff of revolution.
Smartphones mean high school is just not the same
Smartphones can be great learning tools, but they can also be addictive, interfere with learning and contribute to bullying. I know — I teach high school.
Remembering Vietnam: More than just a war
I covered the Vietnam War as a rookie foreign correspondent in 1966 and 1967. There was death and destruction for sure, but it was not all war.
The 1960s: By one who was there – and still remembers it
The 1960s were a zeitgeist of anti-establishment values and alternative philosophies, an age of counter-culture, hippies and yippies. I was there.
China flexes its muscles, tests aircraft carrier
China is making a huge statement about wanting to project military might with sea trials of its first home-built aircraft carrier.
Historic verdict condemns Italian collusion with the Mafia
A Sicilian court has ruled politicians and police encouraged deadly car bomb attacks, shining a light into Italy’s long and bloody fight against the Mafia.
Decoder Spotlight: Sewon Lim of Miss Porter’s School
South Korean Sewon Lim of Miss Porter’s School in the United States wins this month’s “Decoder in the Spotlight” award for her outstanding contributions to News-Decoder.
Sit up and take heed: Italy cannot be allowed to fail
Italy is struggling — again — to form a government. But with massive debt and a large economy, Italy is no financial side show. Time to pay attention.
Eyewitness: The dying days of the Vietnam War
I arrived in Saigon six weeks before North Vietnamese troops captured the South Vietnamese capital. Weeks that marked the end of the Vietnam War.
French rail strike is reformist Macron’s litmus test
French rail workers have launched a strike that is stirring memories of past political convulsions and which is President Macron’s toughest test yet.
Educator Hartwell agrees to join News-Decoder board
Janet Hartwell, an experienced global educator, has agreed to serve on News-Decoder’s board, strengthening the not-for-profit’s leadership.
Spain’s crackdown on rappers: A threat to free speech?
Spain has sentenced two rappers to prison for lyrics that critics say could spur terrorism. Critics fear a security crackdown threatens free speech.
Mental health: Choose your words carefully
“I’m so depressed.” “I’m going to shoot myself.” Really? I hear lots of people speak so lightly of mental health disorders. Be careful of what you say.
Social Media: Our Technological Opioid Crisis
It’s no use throwing out all our digital devices to free ourselves from an addiction to social media. But a dose of self-discipline can go a long way to restoring sanity.
Wall Street: Is this bull market different?
I loved covering Wall Street, spending trading days watching the market. But the question today is: How frothy is this aging bull market?
Corsica: A restless outlier in France’s grasp
The island of Corsica has seen rulers come and go. Part of France for 250 years, it retains an uneasy rapport with overlords in Paris.
Catalonia: Historic yearning is now Spain’s crisis
Catalonia has long dreamed of independence from outside rulers. Now it’s at loggerheads with its Spanish masters — at an awkward time for Europe.
In America, a teenage revolt against lax gun laws
In America, reactions to school shootings follow a numbing pattern: grief, outrage and unfulfilled calls for gun laws. This time, things are different.
My path from the Bronx to boarding school
My parents came to the U.S. from Mexico, and I grew up in the Bronx. They have sacrificed so much for me — a burden I need to learn to live with.
Plastic chokes the planet, and it may be with us forever
The world is awash in plastic, and it’s choking the planet with discarded trash that could be with us forever. And the problem is getting worse.
Roger Bannister: Nostalgia for well-rounded life
The death of Roger Bannister — the first person to run a mile in under four minutes — stirred memories of a bygone era when amateur athletes ruled sports since gone professional.
Women’s Day: A global fight, wherever you are
I was in Spain for International Women’s Day. It was unbelievable to see so many people fighting for the same things that I fight for in America.
Immigration: “I’m proud of my tan skin.”
I’m the daughter of Mexicans and proud of my heritage and tan skin. But it’s not always easy being the daughter of undocumented immigrants in America.
Decoder Spotlight: SYA France stands out
School Year Abroad France students have submitted more articles to News-Decoder this year than any other program. Their engagement has won them our monthly Spotlight award.
Europe’s brain drain: Talented young Muslims are leaving
Why would young Muslims leave Europe to return to countries their parents had left? Discrimination is pushing some out while job opportunities beckon.
Missiles in South Korea: Dialogue of the deaf
The U.S. and South Korea see defensive missiles as a shield against possible North Korean aggression. But the move is seen entirely differently in Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow.
Northern Ireland: A political volcano inside Europe
Northern Ireland has been peaceful for two decades. But tensions are building again as a power-sharing agreement teeters and Brexit looms.
Elections in Italy: Resurrection, hubris and lies
Italy’s election will likely produce yet another a weak coalition government, unable to tackle obstacles to growth in the eurozone’s 3rd biggest economy.
Guns in America: Students are shifting the debate
Students are leading the charge for stricter gun controls in the U.S. But they face entrenched opponents and a deep cultural attachment to firearms.
Writing tips: A helping hand for aspiring authors
Young authors have a lot to say, and we need to listen. Here are five tips to help raise your writing to News Decoder’s standard.
The magnetism of my unheralded hometown, Cleveland
Many Americans make fun of my hometown, Cleveland. But people keep moving back, attracted by its quality of life. Watch out, New York and Chicago!
Like Goldilocks, so inflation: A bit can be just right
Think of inflation the way you think of Goldilocks and the three bears: too much or too little is a problem. Just a bit can be just right.
Long absent, inflation returns to unsettle markets
The prospect of inflation — virtually unknown to younger generations — is unnerving markets. But the timing of this market correction could be just right.
A child of Instagram finds peace in a darkroom
“The darkroom is my sanctuary. I find peace in the red ambient light. I dodge and burn my images with purpose and passion.”
“What even are you?”: Reflections of a biracial American
Being biracial should be simple: you are composed of half of each parent’s race. But I’ve discovered the reality is anything but.
Getting on the Olympics team … as a journalist
I was no sports expert, but I covered six Olympics. It was exciting and frightening at the same time — a bit like my spin on the Olympic velodrome.
In Europe’s far east, an ancient forest survives
In an ancient forest in Europe, wolves, bison and lynx roam, while fungi and insects thrive in a conserved wonderland at the center of controversy.