Parole battle pits Sinatra family against killer of singer's right-hand man

Jeffrey Perrotte, who slammed drunk into Jilly Rizzo's car and then fled the scene, vows to be an example of alcohol abuse's deadly consequences. Foes of his bid for freedom cite crime's horror

By Scott Kraft, Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Rancho Mirage — 

Jilly Rizzo had spent hours preparing for his 75th birthday party, a soiree the next day that was to include his friend Frank Sinatra and other Rat Pack luminaries. A few minutes after midnight, he got into a white Jaguar and headed for his girlfriend's house.

As his car slowly crossed Gerald Ford Drive, Rizzo probably didn't see the Mercedes blazing down the rain-slick street. The driver was Jeffrey Perrotte, a 28-year-old alcoholic, a local man with a rap sheet of DUIs who had the papers for court-ordered alcohol rehabilitation sitting in the glove box of his car.

The Mercedes struck the right side of Rizzo's car, which burst into flames. Perrotte climbed out of the Mercedes and did something that is hard to imagine, even nearly two decades later: He ran home as Rizzo burned to death.

Los Angeles Times

Women’s Role in Holocaust May Exceed Old Notions

JERUSALEM — Amid the horrors of the Holocaust, the atrocities perpetrated by a few brutal women have always stood out, like aberrations of nature.

There were notorious camp guards like Ilse Koch and Irma Grese. And lesser known killers like Erna Petri, the wife of an SS officer and a mother who was convicted of shooting to death six Jewish children in Nazi-occupied Poland; or Johanna Altvater Zelle, a German secretary accused of child murder in the Volodymyr-Volynskyy ghetto in Nazi-occupied Ukraine.

The Nazi killing machine was undoubtedly a male-dominated affair. But according to new research, the participation of German women in the genocide, as perpetrators, accomplices or passive witnesses, was far greater than previously thought.

The New York Times

Europeans Cast Critical Eye on Homeopathy

Without any scientific proof of their effectiveness, homeopathic remedies are highly disputed in Europe. With budgets strained, politicians are questioning whether the alternative treatments should be covered by state insurance systems.

It was the kind of humor that the British love. In several cities across the country, mostly young crowds marched into their local branches of the drug store Boots. Each purchased a small bottle of the homeopathic remedy Arsenicum album, which is used in the treatment of anxiety and food poisoning.

At 10 a.m., they all opened their bottles, full of remedy globules. One man wearing a hat shouted out that he was sacrificing himself for the sake of science. On command, the entire crowd began swallowing the globules -- not two or three of the small pills, but the entire bottles. "Mmm, delicious," some said. Others just laughed.

Spiegel Internacional

Don't be afraid of Islam, says Al-Sudais

JEDDAH: The imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah told the world not to be afraid of Islam and Muslims, adding that Islam represents a message of peace, goodness and tolerance.

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais made the announcement while delivering his Friday sermon at the Tauheedul Islam Mosque in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.

The new Tauheedul Islam Mosque is the largest in Lancashire and cost 3.5 million pounds ($5.37 million). Qatar's royal family provided an initial donation of 1.5 million pounds for the basic construction of the mosque, with the remainder generated from the Blackburn community. The community had outgrown the much smaller mosque, which was established at the same site in the 1960s.

Arab News

African children accused of witchcraft

NEW YORK, July 17 (UPI) -- A growing number of children are being accused of witchcraft in parts of Africa, the U.N. children's agency says.

A UNICEF report says that children accused of being witches -- some as young as 8 -- have been burned, beaten and even killed as punishment, BBC News reported Saturday.

The report says orphans, street children, albinos and the disabled are most likely to be targeted.


UPI

Serial killer suspect charged in 1968 case

PONTIAC, Mich., July 17 (UPI) -- A suspected serial killer who spent 22 years in prison for strangling two women has been charged with strangling a third in 1968 in Michigan.

Investigators say Nolan Ray George, now 67, of Hamilton, Ohio, actually had confessed to killing Gwendolyn Perry, 22, after getting a promise from police in Pontiac, Mich., he would not be charged, the Detroit Free Press reported. But Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper said Friday exhaustive searches of the files turned up no formal immunity agreement and he is now charged with first-degree murder.

UPI

Polanski makes first appearance since house arrest ends

Film director Roman Polanski has made his first public appearance since being released from house arrest in Switzerland four days ago.

Polanski went to see his wife perform at the Montreaux Jazz Festival but did not speak to the media.

In an interview to be aired later, however, he thanked Swiss supporters.

BBC News

The day after: India raps Qureshi's etiquette

NEW DELHI: Shah Mehmood Qureshi really couldn't complain about S M Krishna's phone etiquette. During the day-long negotiations, at several times, the entire Indian delegation was left alone in Qureshi's room in the Pakistan foreign office, while the Pakistan delegation stepped out to consult their bosses. In any diplomatic negotiation, it's perfectly normal for officials to stay in touch with their headquarters. Therefore, there is complete mystification in the Indian camp about Qureshi's bellicosity, said sources familiar with the Islamabad.

The Times of India

Omar plans to cut off foreign funding for protesters

NEW DELHI: Under fire for his handling of violent protests in the Kashmir valley, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday received the "unstinted" backing of the Congress leadership even though he was advised to be alert to further trouble. 

The chief minister met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and home minister P Chidambaram on a busy day. He is understood to have briefed the leaders of the situation in the state while his meeting with the home minister would have touched on the nitty-gritty of maintaining peace. 

The Times of India

Pak leaders now sing a conciliatory tune

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: After having scuppered the July 15 India-Pakistan foreign ministers' meeting by raising demands it knew could not be met, the Pakistani leadership on Saturday hummed conciliatory notes, claiming to be fully committed to normalising ties with India. 

Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Gilani asserted Islamabad wanted "continuation of dialogue with India" and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh had assured him that "all issues" between the two nations would be discussed. "We wanttalks, they (India) too want talks. When talks are held, we will discuss all issues," he said in Lahore. 

The Times of India

Poland hosts landmark European gay pride

Several thousand people have attended a European-wide gay rights parade in the Polish capital Warsaw.

It was the first time the annual EuroPride march was being held in Central or Eastern Europe.

Several small counter-demonstrations were also held and some people hurled eggs and abuse at those in the parade.

A BBC correspondent says gay people in staunchly Roman Catholic Poland find it hard to be open about their sexuality.

Church leaders and politicians regularly speak out against homosexuality, Adam Easton reports from Warsaw.

EuroPride's organisers say they want to fight discrimination against homosexuality and promote a debate about legalising same-sex relationships in Poland.

BBC News

Character actor James Gammon dies at 70

James Gammon, a versatile character actor who brought to stage and screen his gravelly voice and craggy face, died Friday in Costa Mesa. He was 70 and had cancer.

Gammon may be best known for his role as Lou Brown, manager of the hapless Cleveland Indians in the 1989 comedy "Major League" and its 1994 sequel. He stood out with key roles in many films including "Urban Cowboy," "The Milagro Beanfield War," "Ironweed," "Silverado" and "Cold Mountain".

Los Angeles Times

Vipers bite bad golfers

An unusually high number of Swedish golfers have reported being bitten by vipers while handling their balls in the rough. 

“It’s probably because of the weather,” said Hanna Holmquist, spokeswoman for the Stockholm county health board. 

With temperatures soaring over the last ten days, the health board has seen a 47 percent increase compared to the same period last year in the number of phone calls from members of the public concerned about various forms of bites and stings.

The Local SE

A third of doctors would help terminally ill die

More than one in three German doctors would consider helping a patient to commit suicide, according to survey which has been kept under wraps since last September.

The survey also shows that around a quarter of doctors would consider actively participating in the death of a patient, according to the analysis, reported Der Spiegel.

President of the German medical association Jörg-Dietrich Hoppe said doctors should not fear being prosecuted if they help a terminally ill person kill themselves, as assisting someone to commit suicide does not attract a criminal punishment.

The Local DE

Bashkortostan's Leader Abruptly Quits After 17 Years

Bashkortostan President Murtaza Rakhimov, one of the last regional political heavyweights, ended his 17-year reign by abruptly resigning late Thursday, the same day that lawmakers granted him a $24,500-a-month pension.

The Kremlin said Rakhimov, 76, "voluntarily" resigned during a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev, who appointed RusHydro deputy CEO Rustem Khamitov as acting president.

Medvedev praised Rakhimov in televised remarks for his "fruitful service" and awarded him with the Order of Merit to the Fatherland in the first degree.

The Moscow Times

OSCE summit to be held in Astana by year end

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) countries supported the initiative made by Kazakhstan to hold next summit in Astana, Kazakh Foreign Minister and Acting Chair of the OSCE Kanat Saudabayev said.

RIA Novosti

Estonia looks to boost euro support

TALLINN - The Estonian Finance Ministry has announced that it will launch a campaign to increase support among the general population for the country joining the eurozone at the start of next year.

According to "Business Week", at present less than half the Estonian population - 45% - support the move to adopt the EU's single currency. Opposition to the adoption of the single currency is strongest among senior citizens and the Russian-speaking population.

The Baltic Times

Papandreou to chair Cabinet meeting on tackling crime in capital’s historic center

Prime Minister George Papandreou is this week to chair a Cabinet meeting aimed at addressing the growing problem of crime and general degradation in the city’s historic center, Deputy Citizens’ Protection Minister Spyros Vougias told Skai Radio yesterday, noting that an action plan involving seven different ministries had been drawn up and was ready for implementation.

“We must restore Athens to the state it was prior to 2004,” Vougias told Skai, referring to the radical makeover undergone by the Greek capital for the Olympic Games.

Ekathimerini

Czech finance minister against tax exemptions for loans

Prague - Newly appointed Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (TOP 09) would like to cancel tax exemptions for home loans under which people can deduct the interests paid from their taxes, the daily Pravo writes today.

CeskéNoviny

Benedict Cumberbatch on playing Sherlock Holmes

'From the tiny scratches on your mobile, I deduce that your brother is an alcoholic and that you don't get on with him'

The splendidly named 33-year-old actor Benedict Cumberbatch looks absolutely dreadful. He is known to have "interesting" features – sloe-eyed and snub-nosed, with a sort of startled-meerkat-meets-a-Magimix look about him – but today he is also pasty-faced, with bottle auburn hair and a nasty, shiny cream shirt. His suit looks one size too small for him. It's a wet February morning on the Cardiff set of Sherlock, the BBC's modern adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic. Cumberbatch, who plays Holmes, twists and shifts about in his chair. He sits on his hands. He does impromptu imitations and funny voices. His eyes jag from side to side. Mark Gatiss, who co-wrote the screenplay, says, "Oh, he's always like that. You should hear him in the car on the way back to the hotel in the evening. Does impressions of everyone. Hilarious".

The Guardian

25,000 new asteroids found by NASA's sky mapping

LOS ANGELES: Worried about Earth-threatening asteroids? One of NASA's newest space telescopes has spotted 25,000 never-before-seen asteroids in just six months.

Ninety-five of those are considered "near Earth," but in the language of astronomy that means within 30 million miles (48 million kilometers). Luckily for us, none poses any threat to Earth anytime soon.

Called WISE for Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, the telescope completes its first full scan of the sky on Saturday and then begins another round of imaging.

Arab News

Viewpoint: The murky world of illegal Asian gambling

Every four years, during or after the World Cup, there is some breathless report of an "unprecedented" police raid on Asian illegal bookmaking operations.

Now, yet another one is being announced in the world's press.

One should not take them too seriously. It is not that individual policemen are necessarily corrupt, but it does mean that, overall, an elaborate game is being played out for everyone's benefit. Here is how it works.

BBC News

Last of Donegal crash victims is laid to rest

MOURNERS came out in their hundreds yesterday to attend the last of eight funerals following a two-car crash on the Inishowen Peninsula last Sunday night.

The funeral of 23-year-old James McEleney took place in St Mary’s Church in Clonmany, the third funeral to have taken place in the church in two days.

The Irish Times

Thousands Attend Funerals for Iran Bombing Victims

The victims of twin suicide bombings in Iran have been laid to rest, mourned by thousands of people at funeral rites Saturday in the southeastern city of Zahedan. 

Twenty-seven people were killed and about 270 wounded Thursday in the explosions outside a mosque in Zahedan. 

VOA News

China's Wen soothes on rare earths and investment worries

XI'AN, China (Reuters) - Chinese premier Wen Jiabao told a German trade delegation that China would not block exports of rare earth metals, while disputing allegations that China's investment climate has worsened for foreign businesses.

European and American business associations have expressed concern over the past year at Chinese policies that favor procurement of goods and services with "indigenous innovation" as well as China's promotion of national standards instead of international norms for technology and equipment.

German business leaders called for open access to Chinese markets, better intellectual property right protection, and equal access to resources including rare earth minerals.

Reuters Canada

Muslim attack on Christian village in Nigeria kills 8: army

JOS, Nigeria — Muslims attacked a Christian village in central Nigeria on Saturday, killing eight people with machetes and burning seven houses and a church in fresh religious violence, an army spokesman said.

The attack followed clashes in eastern Nigeria earlier in the week that also killed eight and left six mosques and a church burnt.

"It's true eight people were killed," Lieutenant Colonel Kingsley Umoh said.

AFP

Militants kill 16 in Pakistan convoy ambush

A suspected sectarian attack on a civilian convoy in a troubled tribal area of Pakistan has left 16 dead.

Several other people were wounded in the ambush in the north west, where the army has carried out operations against Islamist militants.

The convoy, which was being escorted by security forces, was attacked in Char Khel village in the Kurram region.

BBC News

New Caravaggio painting may be found in Rome

A new Caravaggio painting may have been found in Rome, ASNA Italian news agency said citing L'Osservatore Romano, a semi-official newspaper of the Holy See.

The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence (Martirio di San Lorenzo) belonging to the Catholic priestly order of the Jesuit has not yet been identified as a work of Caravaggio as further analyses are required before it can be attributed for certain to the Italian master.

RIA Novosti

Russian pianist Pletnev returns to Thailand for child sex abuse hearings

Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev, accused of sexually abusing a child in Thailand and released on a bail has returned to the Asian country for court hearings, a Russian National Orchestra spokeswoman said Saturday.

RIA Novosti

Pennetta, Kanepi to meet in Palermo final

PALERMO, Italy, July 17 (UPI) -- No. 1 seed Flavia Pennetta and Kaia Kanepi of Estonia gained berths in the Palermo International championship round with semifinal victories Saturday.

UPI

Paris Hilton detained for pot possession

AJACCIO, France, July 17 (UPI) -- American socialite Paris Hilton was briefly detained by French police in Corsica after they allegedly found marijuana in her purse, media reports said.

UPI

South Ossetian president's plane makes emergency landing in Helsinki

South Ossetian president Eduard Kokoity's plane made an emergency landing in Finnish capital of Helsinki due to technical problems, a source in Nicaraguan capital of Managua told RIA Novosti.

RIA Novosti

Medvedev proposes harsher punishment for terrorism

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has proposed imposing harsher punishments for terrorism and has submitted a bill outlining amendments to the criminal code, the Kremlin's press service said on Saturday.

RIA Novosti

Russia, Armenia agree to Olympic cooperation

Russia and Armenia signed in Yerevan on Saturday an agreement on cooperation between their national Olympic committees.

"In the Soviet era, Armenia was a republic with huge sporting traditions," President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov said at a press conference after signing the agreement.

RIA Novosti

OSCE countries have obligation to liberalize visa regimes - Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on participants of an informal meeting of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) not to hinder the process of visa regime liberalization.

RIA Novosti

One day, I will win over the Chinese: Dalai Lama

DHARAMSALA: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama has again expressed his firm belief that one day he would win over the Chinese leaders to gain genuine autonomy for the people living in Tibet, but reiterated that he was not seeking separation from China. 

"You know, I have my mantra, we are not seeking independence, and the Chinese have their own mantra, Tibet is part of China," the Nobel Peace laureate said in an interview, according to a post on the website of the Tibetan government-in-exile on Saturday. 

The Times of India

Gulf well test could exceed 48 hours: BP executive

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A critical test on BP Plc's blown-out Gulf of Mexico oil well could last beyond the original 48-hour deadline as pressure continued to rise very slowly, a company executive said on Saturday.

The pressure test is intended to show whether the blowout damaged the piping and cement inside the stricken well, which could allow oil and natural gas to leak out the sides and possibly breach the seabed.

Reuters Canada

Johnny Rotten: 'Don't call me a national treasure'

In 1975, the Sex Pistol’s lead singer was the angriest man in the UK. Now living in LA, John Lydon is still furious – and as entertaining as ever. He talks to Guy Adams about insulting Hollywood’s elite, why he’s chosen gardening over amphetamines, and the real reason he didn’t make Malcolm McLaren’s funeral

John Joseph Lydon, the singer better known as Johnny Rotten, lives in a ramshackle brick house next to Venice Pier in Los Angeles, which is where a lot of very eccentric people tend to hang out and is therefore one of the few places in the Western world where he might actually blend in.

The Independent

Bulgarian Deputy Parliament Speaker Optimistic on 2 in 1 Elections

There are very strong signs Bulgarian Members of the Parliament will reach an agreement to hold the upcoming 2011 local and presidential elections in one day, the Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, Ekaterina Mihaylova, says.

Novinite

Murder trials must follow Shariah law: Court

However, experts fear this could mean long delays in some trials

The Federal Supreme Court has ruled that the judges in capital murder cases must follow Shariah law without exception, but experts say the decision could mean long delays in some trials, according to a report onThe National website.

The requirements of Shariah state that the victim’s relatives must accept or decline blood money in court.

Emirates Business