The news at a glance ... Americas
Americas
Ottawa
Oh, Canada: After a massive public outcry, the Canadian government has backed away from its proposal to render the lyrics of the national anthem gender-neutral. Sen. Nancy Ruth—who in the 1990s dropped her last name, Jackman, in a protest against patriarchy—had proposed that one line be changed from the current “True patriot love in all thy sons command” to the original, 1908 version: “True patriot love, thou dost in us command.” Her idea was included in last week’s “throne speech,” the government’s description of its agenda for the coming parliamentary session. But just two days later, after polls showed that nearly 75 percent of Canadians were opposed to the change, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his government would leave the anthem as it is.
Havana
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Dissidents on hunger strike: Several prominent Cuban dissidents have gone on a hunger strike to protest the death of an imprisoned political activist. Orlando Zapata Tamayo, 42, died three weeks ago, after refusing food for 82 days. It was the first time an activist in Cuba had died of a hunger strike since 1972, and the death has galvanized the dissident community. “It has really touched the opposition,” said activist Guillermo Fariñas, one of the hunger strikers. “Everyone wants to show support.” The Cuban government this week called Fariñas a “common criminal” and a “paid agent of the U.S.” Thousands of Cubans are incarcerated for the unspecified crime of “dangerousness,” according to the U.S. State Department.
Mexico City
Priest accused of raping sons: The late founder of the ultraconservative Catholic order Legionaries of Christ now stands accused of raping his own sons. When he died in 2008, at age 87, the Rev. Marcial Maciel was under investigation by the Vatican for allegedly raping seminarians. Maciel also had mistresses and illegitimate children, and last week, two of his sons, now grown, said their father had repeatedly sexually abused them when they were young. The Legion, a powerful group with chapters in 22 countries, did not deny the allegations, saying on its website, “We share the suffering and shame of the family.” Later this month, Pope Benedict XVI will receive the first report of a five-bishop team investigating whether others in the Legion covered up Maciel’s crimes.
Concepción, Chile
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Earthquake loot: Thousands of looters in Concepción have begun taking advantage of a brief amnesty period by dumping stolen items in the streets for government trucks to pick up. Looting was rampant in the hours following last month’s 8.8 magnitude quake, which leveled buildings and shattered countless storefront windows. People carted off everything from designer clothes to plasma TVs to entire ATM machines. This week, President Michelle Bachelet vowed to bring “the full weight of the law down on those who committed these crimes,” and she said looters who did not return their booty would be arrested. Police said they recovered around
$2 million worth of merchandise.
Brasilia, Brazil
Trade scuffle: Brazil slapped trade sanctions on U.S. goods this week in retaliation for continued American subsidies to the U.S. cotton industry. The U.S. gives its cotton producers $3 billion in subsidies each year, in violation of World Trade Organization rules. As a result, the WTO authorized Brazil to enact tariffs worth more than $800 million against U.S. products, ranging from Heinz ketchup to Ford cars. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said that it was “disappointed” in the sanctions and would prefer to continue negotiations. Brazil and the U.S. have been arguing over the issue for the past eight years.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
An iconic ship is being turned into the world's largest artificial reef
Under the Radar The SS United States will be sunk off the coast of Florida if all goes to plan
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The 'loyalty testers' who can check a partner's fidelity
Under The Radar The history of 'honey-trapping goes back a long way'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: October 9, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
The news at a glance...International
feature International
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The bottom line
feature Youthful startup founders; High salaries for anesthesiologists; The myth of too much homework; More mothers stay a home; Audiences are down, but box office revenue rises
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The week at a glance...Americas
feature Americas
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The news at a glance...United States
feature United States
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The news at a glance
feature Comcast defends planned TWC merger; Toyota recalls 6.39 million vehicles; Takeda faces $6 billion in damages; American updates loyalty program; Regulators hike leverage ratio
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The bottom line
feature The rising cost of graduate degrees; NSA surveillance affects tech profits; A glass ceiling for female chefs?; Bonding to a brand name; Generous Wall Street bonuses
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The news at a glance
feature GM chief faces Congress; FBI targets high-frequency trading; Yellen confirms continued low rates; BofA settles mortgage claims for $9.3B; Apple and Samsung duke it out
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The week at a glance...International
feature International
By The Week Staff Last updated