The World

As the world protests, what’s happening in Barcelona 

Protests broke out around the globe this weekend, from Haiti to Hong Kong, from Chile to Lebanon. Is there something in the air or have we just started paying attention? And for the past week, people in Catalonia have been out on the streets. They're protesting the long prison sentences for nine separatist leaders involved in the 2017 vote on Catalan independence. Lucia Benavides reports that supporters of Catalan independence say they're losing patience with Madrid.

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What makes a movement successful

Orion Lewis, a professor of political science at Middlebury College, spoke to host Marco Werman about the tactics and strategies that successful protest movements historically have had in common.

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Australian press protest

The Right to Know Coalition, which is made up of major media organizations across Australia, staged a silent protest against government secrecy laws. They redacted the front page of every major newspaper in Australia. Host Marco Werman explains more.

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Protests in Chile 

First a hike in bus fare, then student protests, then violence — and now a state of emergency, even curfews. The situation in parts of Chile quickly escalated over the weekend. But for Claudia Heiss, a political scientist at the University of Chile in Santiago, the current unrest is part of a deeper thread, one that goes back to a difficult era of dictatorship in Chile. Host Marco Werman speaks with her about the connections.

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World’s fastest ants 

The silver ants of the Sahara can run their body length in less than a hundredth of a second - 10 times the fastest human runner. Marco hears how biologist Sarah Pfeffer, of Ulm University in Germany, was able to measure the ants' speed, and examine why the ants move so fast.

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Turkey’s plan for Syria

All eyes are on Turkey, as its five day pause in offensive operations in Syria is set to expire tomorrow.  Turkey wants to occupy a strip along the border. But the Kurds who live there say they fear they will be ethnically cleansed from Syria. Host Marco Werman speaks with Elizabeth Tsurkov, a fellow at The Foreign Policy Research Institute, in Philadelphia.

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Turkey’s Saturday Mothers

The Saturday Mothers are a group of Kurdish women who have been holding weekly vigils for years in Istanbul to demand answers about their missing sons, fathers and husbands. They've been protesting so long that in some cases, their children are taking up the reins. Fariba Nawa reports.

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Elton John opens up

At the age of 72, Elton John is enjoying a renaissance. This year alone, he’s been the subject of a hit film, played 88 concerts, and previewed a new Broadway musical based on the hit novel, “The Devil Wears Prada.” Now, he's lifting the curtain on his career and his private life in a new memoir simply titled, “Me.” The BBC's Mark Savage has the story.

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No vote, no apologies in UK Parliament 

Only 10 days until the big Brexit deadline. But today marked another setback for Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It came from House of Commons speaker, John Bercow, who decided not to allow a vote on the Brexit deal that Johnson reached with the European Union. Bercow said he would make no apologies for his decision.

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Global downturn threatens democracy

A global economic slowdown has been putting stress on democratic institutions around the world. Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist, talks with host Marco Werman about how recession makes extremist politicians more attractive to voters.

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Protests in Lebanon turned into a big dance party

Through the weekend, protestors in Lebanon have demanded regime change and want Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign. The demonstrations have been largely peaceful. In fact, they've taken on a sort of party atmosphere. From the children's tune Baby Shark to a DJ playing from a balcony, host Marco Werman has the details.

Protest movements explode around the world

Music heard on air