■ United States
Convict loses lotto winnings
A convicted drug dealer ran out of luck when a Texas appeals court ruled he can't keep his lottery winnings because he bought the ticket with drug proceeds. Jose Luis Betancourt -- a Mexican citizen -- was convicted in 2003 of conspiracy and two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The jury ruled then that Betancourt should forfeit half of his lottery jackpot -- about $5.5 million -- because the ticket was purchased with ill-gotten gains. On Wednesday, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals said the government can seize all property and proceeds obtained from drug trafficking. It also upheld Betancourt's conviction and his sentence of more than 24 years in prison.
■ Italy
Pope forgets blessing
Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged on Wednesday that he was absent-minded after forgetting to bless the hundreds of pilgrims who attended his weekly audience at his Castel Gandolfo summer residence. He said his mind was already in Cologne, where he was to participate in the 20th World Youth jamboree. The crowd gathered in the palace courtyard was surprised to see the Pope return to his window several moments after leaving, and after greeting the pilgrims in several languages. "I ask for your forgiveness, but I have forgotten the most important greeting, the greeting to the pilgrims in the Italian language," he told them. He went back inside the palace, only to return shortly. "I omitted the most important thing: the benediction," he said.
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