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Borneo Tree Spirits Go to Court (Part I)
A human rights lawyer from Borneo goes to court for a tropical rainforest against rapacious corporate interests. The first installment in a five-part story.
With Trump, hopes fade for Palestinian state beside Israel
Donald Trump may have abandoned Washington’s commitment to a Palestinian state living alongside Israel. But the dream of a two-state solution died long ago.
Race relations in America: My baptism by fire
I waded into a raging debate over race relations in America. I emerged battered and bruised — and better able to understand different views.
Spain’s crisis over Catalonia on hold
Leaders in Spain have stepped back from the precipice in their battle over Catalonia’s bid for independence. But resentment persists.
Taiwan Supper Club: Openness and Blurred Boundaries
Taiwan has long been a crossroads of empires and a refuge for resistance. I arrived as a flaneur, with few expectations of making local friends.
Decoder in the Spotlight: Suining Sim of ISF Academy
Suining Sim, a student at ISF Academy in Hong Kong, has been named News-Decoder’s first “Decoder in the Spotlight” for her outstanding contributions.
Can China and the U.S. escape the Thucydides Trap?
Can China and the U.S. avoid the “Thucydides Trap” — a rising power threatening an established power, leading to war — and pacify North Korea?
Why Catalonia’s independence push is so important
Catalonia’s drive to win independence from Spain is the latest threat to Europe’s framework and a reminder of other movements on the continent.
U.S. football protests nothing new in race relations
Donald Trump’s attacks on pro football players protesting against racial injustice tap into a racist well familiar to generations of black U.S. athletes.
Kenya takes giant stride, but ethnic splits persist
Kenya has taken a giant step in strengthening democracy, sending a signal to all of Africa, but persistent ethnic divisions beset the East African nation.
What’s in store for Syria if Islamic State is defeated?
Islamic State fighters are on the run in Syria. But if they are defeated on the battlefield, the aftermath could still prove very messy and very uncertain.
A 14th school joins News-Decoder’s global network
La Jolla Country Day School in southern California has signed up with News-Decoder as the 14th founding member of our international learning community.
Refugee children risk exploitation, trafficking abuses
They try to cross the Mediterranean with their families. But child migrants and refugees are at great risk of abuse, exploitation and human trafficking.
China and the West: Friends, Foes or Frenemies?
Will China and the U.S. clash? Can Beijing help defuse tensions on the Korean peninsula? These are students’ questions ahead of a News-Decoder webinar.
Kurds under pressure to scrap independence vote
The Kurdish region of Iraq is under pressure to scrap an independence vote that critics say could hinder the fight against Islamic State militants.
Hay esperanza. Holding out hope for U.S. “Dreamers”
José crossed into Texas from Mexico when he was five. The chances of this “dreamer” staying in the U.S. — the only country he knows — are now in doubt.
Sí, se puede: Finding the Purpose of Protest
The 2016 U.S. election woke up many young Americans who, like me, had limited their political participation to voting in presidential elections.
Will wealthy Catalonia split from Spain?
Catalonia, Spain’s most powerful region, is staging a fresh bid for full independence. Spain’s government says that is illegal. What happens next?
What’s next for the friendless Rohingya?
State-sponsored attacks on Myanmar’s Rohingya have created a humanitarian crisis and stoked worries of a prolonged insurgency that draws jihadists.
Can North Korea’s nuclear strategy succeed?
North Korea has drawn international opprobrium with its nuclear and missile tests. Can its leader, Kim Jong-un, win the respect he craves?
America’s problems coping with racists
Who would have thought seven decades ago that a German chancellor would rebuke a U.S. American president for failing to condemn racists and neo-Nazis?
“Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right”
The last thing China needs is a military and trade crisis. But with mercurial leaders in both North Korea and the United States, it might not have a choice.
Irish border presents major obstacle in Brexit talks
The Irish border is emerging as a surprisingly tough obstacle on Britain’s path to leaving the European Union.
News-Decoder’s founders support global mission
Thirteen academic institutions in eight countries have joined News-Decoder’s community of young people keen to learn about the world.
Boxing: Celebrity, showbiz and money
An undefeated world boxing champ takes on an untested opponent. Yawn, right? Hardly. Mayweather vs McGregor is sheer showbusiness.
“Victory” could be elusive for Trump in Afghanistan
Afghanistan will likely frustrate U.S. President Donald Trump, whose “new” strategy to achieve victory there sounds all too familiar.
U.S. image sinks in much of the world, Pew says
Data from a respected U.S. polling center underscores a dramatic deterioration in foreign opinion of the United States since Donald Trump became president.
In Kyiv, I found a hopeful, anxious, tough Ukraine
Visiting Ukraine, would I find a grim, tense nation shaking off its Soviet past and at war with itself? I discovered a vibrant society and hopeful youth.
Experience & Youth: A Unique Learning Dynamic
News-Decoder brings together youth and experience to shine a light on the world’s most pressing problems and to create a distinctive learning dynamic.
Climate: The usefulness of prophets of doom
More and more studies are predicting climate disaster. Will the prophesies of doom lead to action to curb global warming — or to reckless hopelessness?
Cheng Ho Gardens: China’s subtle land-grab (conclusion)
It’s a luxury resort among tropical islands, a safe haven for world leaders. What’s not to like about China’s Cheng Ho Gardens? Here’s the final chapter.
News-Decoder takes a strategic step into Africa
News-Decoder has sealed a partnership with the African News Agency that deepens our ties to that vital continent and marks a milestone in our growth.
Cheng Ho Gardens: China’s subtle land-grab (Part III)
Where can future leaders who resemble Idi Amin or Baby Doc retire when their time has run out? Cheng Ho Gardens is their safe haven in the South China Sea.
What do U.S. sanctions mean for Russia and the West?
New U.S. sanctions on Russia might look like just another diplomatic move following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. But they could have dire consequences.
To veil or not to veil? A dilemma for Muslims in France, US
France takes a stricter stance towards the Islamic veil than the U.S. Yet despite legal protections, Muslim women still face discrimination in the U.S.
Cheng Ho Gardens: China’s subtle land-grab (Part II)
On an island in the South China Sea, I learned of China’s plans to build an eco-friendly holiday destination — a land-grab without a shot being fired.
Can Emmanuel Macron restore France’s grandeur?
President Emmanuel Macron wants to restore France’s grandeur. But will the gestures of his first two months in power lead to concrete results?
Cheng Ho Gardens: China’s subtle land-grab (Part I)
I wanted to understand China’s interventions in the South China Sea — and ended up with a scary scoop, in an ethical pickle, on a disputed tropical island.
Europe’s cyber swat team spotlights fake news
Taking up arms against fake news, a team of experts in Europe’s capital is highlighting fake news peddled by pro-Kremlin news outlets.
Letter from Italy: A country strangled by red tape
Suffocating bureaucracy, mountainous debt and political instability keep Italy stuck in the past, with little hope for innovative reforms.
Why do we talk money when we talk climate change?
Have you ever noticed how people frame the debate about climate change in terms of dollars, jobs and the economy? We risk ignoring a key victim — nature.
The United States: So rich, and yet so poor
The United States is the richest nation in the world with many millions of poor. I’m baffled more has not been done to spread this extraordinary wealth.
Glimpses of Vietnam: Generosity and Beauty
A trip to Vietnam reveals a nation still divided more than four decades after the end of its civil war. But it also beams with humanity and joy.
Pickup duty: A glimpse into life in South Texas
Pickup duty at a school in South Texas, a stone’s throw from the Rio Grande River, is a window into the world of my students and their families.
Guns in the United States: How bad is it?
I grew up in Europe and study in the United States. I ask myself: Just how serious is the U.S. problem with guns compared to other countries?
The rise and fall of cinema in Kabul
The movie industry in Afghanistan has a tumultuous history. Today, Afghan cinema and film-making are at an all-time low, with little hope of a revival.
Blockade of Qatar: Gulf residents feel the pinch
A blockade by Saudi Arabia and allies of Qatar is hitting residents of the Gulf in their daily lives amid expectations that the row will rumble on.
Why Saudi Arabia-Qatar tensions are so important
The region is energy-rich, torn by conflict and at the center of a struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran. All reasons why the blockade of Qatar matters.
Here are the issues I plan to tackle this summer
We asked readers what topics I should write about while interning at News-Decoder this summer. Here are the issues — and proof we listen to readers.