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Brazil's government has been caught by surprise by the size and scale of recent protests. But analysts say they shouldn't have been. In a connected world, what happens in one part of it — say Turkey — can inspire social movements as far away as Brazil.

In a 10-minute speech, President Dilma Rousseff pledged a nationwide overhaul of public transportation and education but also threatened a crackdown if violent demonstrations continue.

Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with Brazil Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota about the mass protests taking place in that country over corruption and the rising cost of living.

Brazil has become a global powerhouse when it comes to agriculture. Yet there's friction in the country's rural heartland: Cattle ranchers and soybean producers are facing off with indigenous tribes over who has rights to vast tracts of land.

Thursday was marked by violent demonstrations, vandalism and intense clashes with military police. While the demands of demonstrators were broad, they were united in their rejection of politics as usual.

As the demonstrations swamped São Paolo, the government tried appease the them by in some cities lowering the bus fare that sparked the unrest.

In Rio de Janeiro, more than 100,000 people filled the streets calling on the government to concentrate on them and not on international events.

The Nicaraguan congress has granted a Chinese tycoon the exclusive right to develop a multi-billion dollar rival to the Panama Canal. The bill grants the investor 50 years of control over the potential shipping route — pending a study of its viability.

Mexico City has largely been spared the drug violence in other parts of the country. But a brazen daylight abduction of 12 young people from a Mexico City bar is putting the spotlight on one of the capital's roughest neighborhoods, and putting the popular mayor on the defensive.

The Colombian city was the world's murder capital in the 1990s, but it managed to turn its fortunes around. Homicides were cut by 80 percent and made big gains on a number of fronts. But the city still faces many challenges in a region plagued by violence.