Northern Ireland leaders reached an agreement to sustain their troubled Catholic-Protestant government following all-night talks in Belfast. The deal will allow Northern Ireland to avoid cutting welfare payments as sharp as the rest of the United Kingdom. 

 

With two days to go before Christmas, Palestinian protesters dressed as Santa Claus clashed with Israeli forces in Bethlehem. Waving Palestinian flags, the Santa Claus-clad protesters chanted anti-occupation slogans in front of Israeli troops who responded by firing tear gas. 

 

A program funded by private and corporate donations is giving music students at a Chicago elementary school achance to connect with their Hispanic heritage through mariachi. The program isrun by the Mariachi Heritage Foundation and hopes to expand to more schools inthe area in the New Year. 

 

Matthew Burgoyne, the Associated Press with AP News Minute.