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Europe
3:17 am
Sat October 13, 2012

Spanish Crisis Revives Calls For Catalan Secession

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Credit Josep Lago / AFP/Getty Images
Supporters of independence for Catalonia gather in Barcelona on the Spanish region's national day, on Sept. 11.
Credit Lluis Gene / AFP/Getty Images
Supporters of independence for Catalonia demonstrate on Sept. 11 in Barcelona to mark the National Day of Catalonia, amid growing protests over Spain's financial crisis.
Credit Emilio Morenatti / AP
A woman in traditional Catalan dress participates in National Day demonstrations in Barcelona on Sept. 11.
Credit Jasper Juinen / Getty Images
Fans of FC Barcelona form a Catalan flag in the stands before the start of a match between Barcelona and archrival Real Madrid in Barcelona earlier this month.
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Originally published on Sat October 13, 2012 7:17 pm

On a recent day in Barcelona, the capital of northeast Spain's Catalonia region, José Maria Borras and his lifelong friend Antonio Canosa sip coffee in the same square where they went to grade school.

The two retirees — both in their mid-60s — grew up under Spain's military dictator Francisco Franco, who prohibited the Catalan language, festivals and any talk of independence.

"It's been a long struggle for freedom," Borras says. "Back in those years, if you were in this very schoolyard speaking Catalan you'd be punished."

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Parallel Lives
3:17 am
Sat October 13, 2012

Hawaii Prep School Gave Obama Window To Success

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Credit Punahau School 1974-1975 Yearbook
Barack Obama in a 1975 photo from the Punahou School yearbook. He and his eighth-grade homeroom classmates pose with a slide projector as part of the yearbook's theme of "Nostalgia."
Credit Martin Kaste / NPR
Sandy Beach Park, one of Obama's favorite spots growing up in Hawaii.
Credit Laura S.L. Kong / Getty Images
Obama shoots the ball while playing for the Punahou School basketball team in 1979.
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Originally published on Sat October 13, 2012 7:15 am

From now until Nov. 6, President Obama and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney will emphasize their differences. But the two men's lives actually coincide in a striking number of ways. In this installment of NPR's "Parallel Lives" series, a look at Obama's time at a Hawaii institution called Punahou.

Punahou School was founded by missionaries in 1841 — the campus is just up the hill from Waikiki, and it's built around a historic spring.

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World
3:17 am
Sat October 13, 2012

New French President Sees Popularity Crash

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Just a few months ago, supporters rallied in the streets for the election of Francois Hollande. Now, some of the same people are protesting against the French president. Leftist parties and unions organized this anti-austerity protest in September.
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Originally published on Mon October 15, 2012 2:47 pm

Just five months after electing President Francois Hollande, many French are now despairing that he cannot deliver on the vision they voted for. What's worse, some wonder if Hollande has a plan at all.

The new president's ratings have plummeted, and his once-lauded "steady approach" is now perceived as dithering.

Protesters shouting "Resistance!" in the streets of Paris this month included people who voted for him and now feel betrayed. They were demonstrating against the European fiscal treaty, approved this week by the Socialist-dominated French parliament.

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Movie Interviews
3:17 am
Sat October 13, 2012

Hoop Dreams Land Basketball Player An 'Iran Job'

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Originally published on Sat October 13, 2012 7:15 am

Weekend Edition host Scott Simon talks with filmmaker Till Schauder and basketball player Kevin Sheppard. Schauder's new film goes behind the scenes in Iran, where Sheppard played professionally for a time. The film is called The Iran Job.

Presidential Race
3:17 am
Sat October 13, 2012

Candidates Return To The Trail After VP Debate

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Originally published on Sat October 13, 2012 7:15 am

One day after the only vice presidential debate, Rep. Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden took to the campaign trail. NPR's Ari Shapiro reports.

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