■ Brazil
Cocaine for Christmas
Police said on Friday that they discovered a batch of Santa Claus dolls filled with a surprise Christmas gift: cocaine. The police discovered the 144 5cm Santa figures stuffed with the illegal narcotic in a Rio de Janeiro slum after being tipped off in a telephone call. "All the materials were in the street packed in plastic bags," police spokesman Vania Ferreira said. Police said that, around Christmas time, Rio dealers like to package their drugs with a small present to "reward" clients and attract new ones. Police had not yet weighed the amount of cocaine the Santas carried because of their own holiday celebrations.
■ United States
Military abuse still rampant
Sexual assaults and harassment remain significant problems at US military academies despite recent scandals that triggered intensive training to prevent such problems. Up to 6 percent of the women at the Army, Navy and Air Force academies said they had experienced sexual assault during the 2004-2005 school year, and about half or more said they were sexually harassed, according to a Defense Department survey released on Friday. The academies are where the services educate and train most future career officers. More than two years ago a sex abuse scandal rocked the Air Force Academy, which led to a purge in the academy's leadership.
■ United States
Leader's death marked
The US on Friday marked the death of an imprisoned leader of the Baha'i faith in Iran by blasting Tehran for the "systematic oppression" of religious minorities. Deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said Washington condemned the persecution of Zabihullah Mahrami, who died of unknown causes on Dec. 15 after 10 years in prison. He was 59. Ereli said Mahrami's detention was not unique, with the hardline Islamic regime "engaged in the systematic oppression of its citizens, including the persecution of individuals for religious, political and other reasons."
■ United States
Jesus Christ: it's official
A Manhattan man's holiday spirits soared to celestial heights on Friday when a judge gave him permission to change his name to Jesus Christ. Jose Luis Espinal, 42, said he was "happy" and "grateful" that the judge approved the change. Espinal said he was moved to seek the name change about a year ago when it dawned on him, "I am the person that is that name. You're dealing with the real deal." Manhattan Civil Court Judge Diane Lebedeff said she was "satisfied that this application is neither novel, nor would granting it pose practical problems." She cited a 2001 Utah case in which a man legally changed his name to "Santa Claus."
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