[00:00s-00:17s]: This message comes from NPR sponsor, Ravensburger. Jingle all the way to holiday memories with Ravensburger jigsaw puzzles. This holiday season, bond with loved ones and make memorable moments piece by piece. Find the perfect gift on Amazon.com.

[00:18s-00:38s]: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. The Pentagon says the US military sank three vessels in the Red Sea after a container ship came under attack by Houthi Rebels. In his Nina Krovinsky has more US Central Command reported the Houthi Rebels came within 20 meters of the Merseq container ship and attempted to board it.

[00:38s-01:24s]: The boats fired at responding US helicopters with returned fire sinking three of the four boats and killing their crews. The military says the fourth boat fled the area. The US military says there have been more than 20 Houthi attacks on international shipping since November 19th. The Houthis have said their attacks on container ships are a response to Israel's offensive in Gaza. Along with the war in Gaza, Israel is fighting on its northern border with another Iranian-backed militant group, Hasbola. These tensions have stoked fears that the war in Israel and Gaza could develop into a larger regional conflict. Nina Krovinsky and PR News, Tallahweev.

[01:24s-01:45s]: Tallahweev reports not everyone celebrating in the United Arab Emirates with fireworks and cheers.

[01:45s-02:17s]: Sharja's police say 1300 security personnel are being deployed on the streets to ensure compliance with the ban. While the rest of the UAE is carrying on with celebrations, the ban in Sharja is significant. It points to how the country's rulers, centered in Abu Dhabi, have had to balance between close security ties with Israel and growing anger at Israel over the war. In other major cities, activists called on people to use the New Year's Eve countdown to demand a ceasefire and hold up banners in support of Palestinians. Aebel Trawey and PR News, Dubai.

[02:17s-02:58s]: Police responded to a Houth's emergency call at the residents of Maine Secretary of State, Shana Bellows on Friday. Bellows was drawn into the national spotlight for ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state's Republican primary ballot. Maine Public Radio's Carol Busque has more state police say the call was made by an unknown man who said he had broken into Bellows home in Manchester. Nobody was in the house when police arrived and nothing suspicious was found. Bellows has come under fire for her decision to prevent former President Donald Trump from appearing on Maine's Republican primary ballot because of his role in the January 6 attack on the Capitol two years ago.

[02:58s-03:15s]: In a Facebook post, Bellows said her home address had been made public online prior to the swatting call and she encouraged followers to de-escalate the rhetoric for NPR News. I'm Carol Busque in Portland, Maine. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[03:15s-04:01s]: A California law banning people from carrying firearms in most public places will take effect tomorrow, even as a court case continues to challenge it. A judge blocked the law on December 20th, but yesterday a Federal Appeals Court put a hold on that ruling, allowing the law to take effect while the legal fight continues. That law bans people from carrying concealed guns in 26 places, including parks, playgrounds, churches, banks, and schools. In 2023, people in parts of the US were inundated with choking smoke from Canadian wildfires. It was a glimpse of climate changes growing risks to people's health, even in places that have never been affected before. In Pierce, Alejandra, Buranda has more.

[04:01s-04:11s]: When the skies turned orange in New York City in June, emergency department asthma visits jumped 44%. Kai Chen led that analysis. He's a climate health expert at Yale.

[04:11s-04:18s]: Now this year has been made very clear, so climate is a problem.

[04:18s-04:40s]: Wildfire smoke has long been considered a Western North America problem, but 2023 showed it's a risk to millions more across the continent. Its health risks are also becoming clearer. Christi Ibi is a climate and health expert at the University of Washington. The research coming out clearly shows that wildfire smoke is more toxic than air pollution from other sources.

[04:40s-04:50s]: She says the best way to cut the risk of smoke hurting millions more like this year is to stop human cause climate change. Alejandra Buranda, NPR News.

[04:50s-04:57s]: And I'm Janine Herbst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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