A suitcase and clothing purported to have belonged to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress and obtained by a World War II veteran from western New York have been sold at an auction for more than $5,000.
The Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester reports (http://bit.ly/qx8NTc ) Mussolini's uniform and Claretta Petacci's dress sold for $5,500 during Sunday's auction in Dallas. The auctioneer had estimated the items would fetch $10,000 to $15,000.

Manchester United beat title rival Chelsea 3-1 Sunday for its fifth straight victory in the Premier League, and Manchester City squandered a two-goal lead in a 2-2 tie at Fulham.
Wayne Rooney added to goals by Chris Smalling and Nani before missing a penalty kick, helping United (5-0) maintain its perfect start to the defense of its title. United won its 18th consecutive Premier League game at Old Trafford.

Lea Michele and Julianna Margulies shot for red-carpet fashion heights with their statement gowns at Sunday night's Emmy Awards, but there's something about movie stars that tends to upstage TV stars — even on TV's biggest night.
Kate Winslet and her red-as-the-carpet, cap-sleeve Elie Saab seemed the understated, sophisticated look until she flashed the significant cleavage on the bust line, and Gwyneth Paltrow, in a black-sequin number by Emilio Pucci, pulled off a belly baring outfit that would have made the new "Charlie's Angels" trio jealous.

Sunday's rain at Chicagoland Speedway forced NASCAR to postpone the opening race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
NASCAR rescheduled the race for Monday at noon Eastern.

The Bureau of Land Management says a fossil found by employees on federal land represents the earliest record of living beavers in North America.
The pair of teeth was found on BLM land in northeast Oregon.

Iranian state television is reporting that authorities have arrested five people for working for the BBC's Farsi-language service.
Monday's report on the channel's website says the group provided the British Broadcasting Corp. with video and negative news reports on Iran. The report did not identify them by their full names.

British police on Monday arrested seven people as part of a large intelligence-led anti-terror operation in the central city of Birmingham.
West Midlands police said six men were arrested overnight and were being held under anti-terror legislation. A woman was also arrested Monday morning for failing to disclose information that may be relevant. All seven suspects are aged between 22 and 32.

Hollywood — long considered the land of excess— is becoming more cost-conscious, as movie executives rethink what they're willing to pay to make a blockbuster.
After years of beefing up budgets to meet audience expectations, movie studios are cutting back and canceling projects that are too costly. Half-baked, expensive movie ideas that would have received approval a few years ago are now under scrutiny. For movies that are made, producers have to settle for toned-down special effects, cheaper actors and fewer locations for shoots.

European Union finance ministers are debating a tax on financial transactions that could raise money for the EU as well as make banks share bailout burdens with taxpayers.
But European internal markets Commissioner Michel Barnier said after a meeting Saturday "there's no consensus" on the tax, which would take a tiny fraction from a wide range of financial dealings.

President Barack Obama signed into law Friday a major overhaul of the U.S. patent system, a measure designed to ease the way for inventors to bring their products to market. "We can't afford to drag our feet any longer," the president said.
Passed in a rare display of congressional bipartisanship, the America Invents Act is the first significant change in patent law since 1952. It has been hailed as a milestone that would spur innovation and create jobs.
