The world at a glance . . . Americas

Toronto

Uproar over hockey theme: The Canadian Broadcasting Corportation sparked a national outcry last week when it dropped the venerable theme song for Hockey Night in Canada after nearly 40 years. The jingle, sometimes called Canada’s second national anthem, was written in 1968 by Dolores Claman, 80, who has long complained that she has not been properly compensated. When Claman and the CBC couldn’t come to terms over rights, the network said it no longer wanted the iconic tune and would launch a contest to find a new one. The announcement may have been a bluff, but private broadcaster CTV swooped in to buy the jingle for its own hockey broadcast. Outraged fans say the song belongs on the national network, not a private one, and many are now calling for intervention by Parliament. Claman reportedly wanted $2.5 million for the rights to the song; she had been paid a $500 royalty each time it was played.

Havana

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Elian Gonzalez pledges allegiance: Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban refugee who eight years ago was forcibly repatriated from Miami at the age of 6, appeared this week at an induction ceremony of the Union of Young Communists. Gonzalez, now 14, was one of 18,000 teenagers pledging fidelity to President Raúl Castro and retired leader Fidel Castro. “Fidel and Raúl can count on us,” said Gonzalez, who plans to attend a military academy. Gonzalez became a cause célèbre among Cuban exiles following a bitter court battle between his Miami relatives, who wanted to keep him, and his father, who wanted him back in Cuba. Elian was one of the few survivors after a handmade boat carrying him, his mother, and other Cuban refugees capsized. His mother died.

Bogotá, Colombia

When lyrics sting: The Colombian government has filed a protest with France over a new song by French first lady Carla Bruni. The love song, from the model-turned-singer’s third album, includes the lyrics, “You are my drug, more deadly than Afghan heroin, more dangerous than white Colombian.” Colombia, which produces 80 percent of the world’s cocaine, has been trying to deglamorize the drug. “Coming from the mouth of the wife of the president of France, this type of statement is very painful for Colombia,” said Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo, who spent six years as a prisoner of drug-trafficking guerillas. The government of Afghanistan had no immediate comment on the song.

Rio de Janeiro

Militia leader arrested: A police officer wanted for leading a violent paramilitary militia turned himself in this week, following a massive two-week manhunt. Authorities say Odnei Fernando da Silva headed a criminal organization that effectively ruled one of Rio’s shanty towns or favelas—ostensibly to protect it from drug gangs. Da Silva’s militia allegedly subjected two journalists to six hours of torture last month for investigating corruption on its turf. Da Silva, who denied being a militia leader, surrendered after security forces identified all his hideouts, forcing him to sleep on the streets.