Iraq Shia defiance

Baghdad, Dec. 24 (Reuters): Triumphant Iraqi Shias dismissed allegations that fraud helped them win last week’s election.

They accused their opponents of being sore losers and insisted that the country’s next prime minister should come from within their own Shia ranks.

Lanka hunt

Colombo (Reuters): Troops combed Sri Lanka’s northwest to root out suspected rebels on Saturday after a series of ambushes raised fears of a return to civil war

Japan shield

Tokyo (Reuters): Japan will step up its efforts to build a next-generation missile shield with the US after cabinet approved to move a joint research project to the development stage.

Jesus name

New York (AP): A Manhattan man’s holiday spirits soared to celestial heights when a judge gave him permission to change his name to Jesus Christ.