The distributors of Francesca a film that refers to Mussolini's granddaughter as a "bitch who wants to kill all the Romanians" have agreed to cancel screenings pending a court decision on her complaint, news reports said yesterday.
The film's storyline is, about a Romanian who dreams of moving to Italy to open a kindergarten, screened twice at the Venice film festival and was to have been shown in public cinemas in the area between yesterday and today.
Alessandra Mussolini, 45, lodged a complaint last week over the film, in which Francesca's father also refers to Verona Mayor Flavio Tosi as the "shit mayor" of the northern city.
Mr Tosi has also taken legal action.
"The entire work will be defended as well as the author's freedom of expression," said Domenico Procacci spokesman of the film's distributors, Fandango.
"We intend to release the film in its entirety at the end of October," he told the daily La Repubblica.
Mr Procacci told the Corriere della Sera however that "if the judge obliges us to modify something I think we will find a solution with the director". (AFP)
Sarkozy bullet threats probe
French police have released without charge 11 people arrested last week over death threats sent to President Nicolas Sarkozy in letters stuffed with bullets, sources close to the probe said yesterday.
A tobacconist and veteran of the French Foreign Legion from the southern Montpellier region was allowed to walk free late Saturday, two days after his arrest along with that of 10 others.
Threatening letters signed by an unknown group - The Combatants of Cell 34 - have been sent to Mr Sarkozy and eight of his ministers and political allies since late 2008.
In the latest, an envelope containing a large calibre hunting bullet and addressed to Mr Sarkozy was discovered last month in a Montpellier mail sorting station.
French anti-terrorism police questioned the shop owner, who is also the editor of a far-left publication, and 10 others including a dentist and architect said to be involved in far-left groups, a source said. (AFP)
Abductor Garrido's mum speaks
The elderly mother of Phillip Garrido, who is accused of abducting Jaycee Lee Dugard in 1991 and holding her prisoner for 18 years, said yesterday she was told the girl was her granddaughter.
Patricia Garrido, 88, told Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper that her son introduced Ms Dugard as "Allissa", his daughter by a former lover - and had no idea of her plight until police raided their California home last month.
"She always seemed happy to be there. I thought she was my granddaughter. I don't know what's happened to her now but I love her. I hope she's OK." Patricia said. (AFP)
Swine flu rap song
The musical doctor's homespun rap song is one of 10 finalists in a US Department of Health competition for best swine flu health warning.
"H1N1, showing hate, never pity,/nicknamed swine flu, coz it ain't ever pretty," Dr Clarke raps. "H1N1 is in the hood./ Use hand sanitiser and/wash your hands good."
The song, which appears on http://www.youtube.com/user/USGOVHHS, is one of more than 200 submissions in the competition, closing September 16.
Dr Clarke, a real life doctor who is medical director for the Long Island Rail Road, told the Daily News he was happy "the US government is actually endorsing a hip-hop video!"
An unusual disease seems to call for unusual measures.
As the doctor raps: "H1N1 is in your section/so get with prevention for your protection." (AFP)
Armless man's thumbprint
A man who sought to cash his wife's check at her bank ran into an unusual problem: the teller wanted his thumbprint. Problem was, the man had no arms.
Steve Valdez, a resident of Tampa, Florida, went into a Bank of America branch in his home town to cash the check on his wife's request, local media reported.
The teller told him that a person without an account at the bank has to give a thumbprint to cash a check.
Mr Valdez, 54, uses prosthetic arms since he was born armless.
"She said, Obviously you aren't going to be able to give us a thumbprint," Mr Valdez told the St Petersburg Times newspaper, which serves the Tampa Bay area of Florida.
Mr Valdez showed the bank teller two picture identification cards, but the teller was not swayed.
She consulted the manager, who said that in order to cash the check Mr Valdez could open his own account, or bring his wife. Mr Valdez did neither and left.
Bank of America apologised.
"We should have offered alternative requirements if an individual is not able to give a thumbprint," the bank said in a statement. (AFP)
Racing world mourns jockeys
Leading jockeys from the world of racing have led tributes to two of the sport's future stars who died in an apparent arson attack.
Jamie Kyne, 18, and 19-year-old Jan Wilson perished in the blaze over the weekend in Norton, near Malton in North Yorkshire. They were having a party at the time. A local man in his 30s was arrested and questioned by detectives and has been released on bail.
Leading jockey Kieren Fallon spoke of his sadness at the teenagers' deaths: "It is very sad and my hearts go out to the family, friends and relatives of the poor kids. It is something you don't like to see in racing or in any other sport." (Reuters)