Decoder Replay: The world celebrates the world we live on For Earth Day, we talk to the person who started the annual celebration to begin with. We learn that the best weapon for fighting climate change is education.

🌱 For Earth Day, we republish an interview with Kathleen Rogers, president of EARTHDAY.ORG — and the person who started the annual celebration to begin with.

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What if "Sweet Sixteen" meant social media, at last! In response to pressure from parents, politicians in Switzerland and elsewhere are considering social media bans. But teens say that won't solve the problem.

📵 In response to pressure from parents, politicians in Switzerland and elsewhere are considering social media bans. But teens say that won’t solve the problem.

🗞️ Student Ava Rabian considers arguments for and against proposed social media bans for people under 16.

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Hungarians show that Big Daddy tactics don't always work In the recent election, Hungarians proved that a strong-arm leader can be removed from power and that peaceful change is possible.

Hungarians proved that a strong-arm leader can be removed from power and that peaceful change is possible.

🗞️ Helen Womack reports on Péter Magyar’s recent landslide victory.

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Sometimes you greet the bear In North India, people are learning to co-exist with an animal that has long terrified them.

🐻 In North India, people are learning to co-exist with an animal that has long terrified them.

🗞️ Tauseef Ahmad and Sajid Raina report on how Himalayan communities are learning to live with and protect local brown bear populations.

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Decoder Replay: Why be judged? Who doesn't want to be Best in Show? But all those who compete in talent and skill contests prove themselves to be a breed apart.

🗞️ As our 19th Non-Fiction Storytelling Contest draws near we republish a piece by Marcy Burstiner, which looks at the value of entering a competition — even if you think you have little chance of winning.

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The welcome mat isn't always out for international students In the professional world, international experience is more needed now than ever before. But global politics is making it difficult to study abroad.

🌎 International experience is more needed now than ever before. But global politics is making it difficult to study abroad.

🗞️ Chris Lo looks at how current political realities affect international mobility and student access to international study experiences.

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Pakistan seeks to prove it can be a peace maker Long viewed through the lens of instability and internal crisis, the Islamic nation has emerged as a key mediator between the United States and Iran.

Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between the United States and Iran.

🗞️ Mubashir Naik examines recent shifts in South Asian politics and Pakistan’s positioning as a diplomatic negotiator on the international stage.

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Decoder Replay: Can Britain's bridge to Europe be rebuilt? Back in 2016, a slim majority of British citizens voted to exit the European Union. A decade later, "Brexit" has made a far bigger majority of people unhappy.

🗞️ As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer looks to repair the damage caused by Brexit, we republish a 2025 piece by Barry Moody about the effects of Brexit for the UK and its European neighbors.

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In a multilateral world, don't understimate middle powers By uniting on shared values, nations like Sweden, Brazil and New Zealand can push back against superpowers. Canada is leading the way.

🌐 By uniting on shared values, nations like Sweden, Brazil and New Zealand can push back against superpowers. Canada is leading the way.

🗞️ Susanne Courtney decodes Canadian diplomacy and how middle powers use international cooperation on the world stage.

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Do we really know the world we think we know? Many people picture Africa as desert, safaris and trash-filled cities. Of 54 nations and vibrant urban scenes? Not so much. Why do we think we know places we've never visited?

🌍 Many picture Africa as desert, safaris and trash-filled cities rather than a continent of 54 distinct nations, vibrant urban scenes and wide-ranging diversity.

🗞️ Mohamed Adem Somai questions the assumptions people make about places they've never been to.

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Can you tell fact from fiction? On International Fact-checking Day, we recognize the many ways truth has blurred and the ways people are working to separate what's real from what's false.

🔎 On International Fact-Checking Day, we recognize the many ways truth has blurred and the ways people are working to separate what’s real from what’s false.

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#FactCheckingDay #disinformation #InternationalFactCheckingDay

Decoder Replay: What does citizenship mean? | News Decoder Depending on how nine justices decide a landmark court case, children born in the United States next year might, or might not, be U.S. citizens.

⚖️ Depending on how nine justices decide a landmark court case, children born in the United States next year might, or might not, be U.S. citizens.

🗞️ We bring you a selection of articles to better understand the complexity of citizenship and statelessness.

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A predatory ecosystem that relies on child soldiers While the world looks away, a war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has lasted for decades is getting worse. And it is being fought by children.

🪖 While the world looks away, a war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has lasted for decades is getting worse. And it is being fought by children.

🗞️ Junior Johnson looks at the armed groups recruiting child soldiers across the DRC.

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The healing power of salsa music Latin dance is popular worldwide. And whether they lead or follow, people find salsa can build community and improve their health.

💃🏾 Latin dance is popular worldwide. And whether they lead or follow, people find salsa can build community and improve their health.

🗞️ Angelica Recierdo explores the salsa dancing keeping people sharp, fit, and connected.

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When war leaves you without heat, its time to dance It is cold in Ukraine, where Russian bombs have cut off power for heat and electricity. To keep people warm and sane, DJs have sprung into action.

❄ It is cold in Ukraine, where Russian bombs have cut off power for heat and electricity. To keep people warm and sane, DJs have sprung into action.

🗞️ Ashley Perl explores the rave culture bringing Ukranians together, keeping them warm and upbeat.

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Decoder Replay: Armed strength doesn't equate to super power The Roman army once conquered the world, but the Roman empire was ultimately brought down by primitive tribes. Are we seeing the decline of the U.S. empire?

🌎 Has the United States lost its role as a global superpower?

🗞️ As the U.S. government continues to invade foreign soils without establishing alliances with allies, we republish a 2021 piece by Gene Gibbons which explores the changing role of the USA since 9/11.

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My country at a crossroads South Sudan is rich in oil and poor in everything else. Still waiting for the country to fulfill its promise of independence, its people find creative ways to cope.

South Sudan’s oil wealth could be a foundation for development, yet corruption and poor governance prevent resources from reaching those in need.

🗞️ Chol Ayong Chau Ajak looks at how South Sudanese families cope and navigate daily insecurity.

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Why must young people earn your respect? We often hear how respect goes both ways. But talk to any teen and they'll tell you that rule only seems to apply when you reach a certain age.

We often hear how respect goes both ways. But talk to any teen and they'll tell you that rule only seems to apply when you reach a certain age.

🗞️ Bukhona Babusise Vilane explores why and how young people earn respect.

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Decoder Replay: Forests to help the planet breathe Redwood forests have survived only in the Pacific Northwest. But these carbon suckers will grow almost anywhere with a little land and a lot of love.

🌳 21 March marks the International Day of Forests.

🗞️ To mark the day, we republish a 2023 piece by Marcy Burstiner which looks at how and why people are conserving and creating redwood forests around the world.

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When you must fight for the right to imagine your own future When war broke out in Sudan, schools and universities across the country shut down causing an educational crisis affecting some 19 million children.

When war broke out in Sudan, schools and universities across the country shut down causing an educational crisis that affected some 19 million children.

🗞️ Dan AbdelBasit reflects on how war reshaped views on and access to education.

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You were so certain of that idea... until you weren't We absorb ideas the way we absorb language, not through argument but through immersion, until the position becomes indistinguishable from thought itself.

“This is not a story about a war. It is a story about how any of us come to believe what we believe.”

🗞️ Eman Amede explores belief, certainty and the importance of challenging what we hold to be true.

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You are passionate about something. How is that a waste of time? Parents love it when a kid reads books. Playing video games, not so much. What if the latter could be a career? Would the approval flip?

🕹️ Parents love it when a kid reads books. Playing video games, not so much. What if the latter could be a career? Would the approval flip?

🗞️ Shadrach Massaquoi explores gaming as a productive hobby and pastime.

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Decoder Replay: If a woman designed this place... Women use cities differently than men but their needs have largely been ignored in urban planning. That's starting to change.

🏙️ Women use cities differently than men but their needs have largely been ignored in urban planning. That’s starting to change.

🗞️ Tara Heidger looks at research on gendered urban spaces and how to make urban spaces work for everyone.

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Decoder: What has the United States gotten the world into now? With the joint bombing of Iran with Israel, the United States may have begun a war without an endgame. Let's help you make sense of the chaos.

🧩 With the joint bombing of Iran with Israel, the United States may have begun a war without an endgame. Let’s help you make sense of the chaos.

🗞️ Daniel Warner decodes the current situation in the Iran and the Middle East.

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Being alone is not the same as lonely Society places value on being social. When we choose to bow out, people wonder what's wrong. But sometimes healthy "me time" means: Just me.

Society places value on being social. When we choose to bow out, people wonder what’s wrong. But sometimes healthy “me time” means: Just me.

🗞️ Mahara Mmangisa reflects on social dynamics, friendships and learning to live with social boundaries.

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Is judging people on "intelligence" the smart thing to do? Society often puts people into one of two categories: Intelligent and worthy of attention, or stupid and ignored. But who sets the standards we must live up to?

🎓 Society often puts people into one of two categories: Intelligent and worthy of attention or stupid and ignored. But who sets the standards we must live up to?

🗞️ Anotidaishe Chinyadza reflects on intelligence and how our perceptions of intelligence shape lives.

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At what age do you earn the right to speak up? Children are often told: pipe down, keep quiet, sshhh! But just maybe they have things to say that are worth hearing.

🤫 Children are often told: pipe down, keep quiet, sshhh! But just maybe they have things to say that are worth hearing.

🗞️ Ngesihle Dlamini speaks out on #silence and how it shapes social dynamics in #eSwatini.

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Can we help plants thrive even as we consume them? On World Wildlife Day, the United Nations asks us to consider all the things we eat to keep us healthy and think: What if they all disappear?

🐢 Today is World Wildlife Day.

🗞️To celebrate the day, we publish a selection News Decoder stories that explore everything from biodiversity to nutritious algae to the history of tea.

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#WorldWildlifeDay #Biodiversity #Environment

What happens when we grow cold to suffering? We are faced with a world full of disaster and suffering but feel powerless. The result? We stop caring.

Hamza Mohamed Ramadan Zahran explores the quiet power of love and empathy to bring about meaningful change.

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Decoder Replay: We can't stop scrolling. Whose fault is it? Some think Big Tech is to blame for our inability to get off the social media that has left so many of us depressed. Why is it so hard to turn off the phone?

📱 Social media platforms and apps are so addictive they're having an impact on our attention span, mood and physical and mental wellbeing.

🗞️ Haley Davis explores brain rot, doomscrolling and the effect of phone overuse on our metal health.

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