Louise Schiavone

people within the Skagit River's floodplains have been ordered to evacuate across the state.

Flooding is near historic levels.

I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a defense forum at the Ronald Reagan Library last night that the Trump administration's strikes on alleged drug traffickers will continue.

He was asked at the forum about reports that in one recent strike, he ordered that everyone on a boat in the Caribbean be killed.

Hegseth says the strikes are part of a strategy to defend the Western Hemisphere.

Democrats have called the military strikes illegal and several have called for full video of the strikes to be released.

Senator Mark Warner is the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

He told NPR.

He says that Hegseth should resign.

After two years of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Christmas celebrations are returning to Bethlehem.

Palestinians are hoping the festivities marking the traditionally acknowledged birthplace of Jesus will be another building block for peace.

Bethlehem's Mayor Meher Kanawati spoke in Manger Square.

Crowds there cheered the lighting of a towering Christmas tree.

as businesses hoped that prosperity would return.

Waymo, the autonomous ride-hailing service, plans to file a software recall after some of its cars illegally passed, stopped school buses.

NPR's Jeff Brady reports that a federal investigation is also underway into the vehicles.

This is NPR.

A senior official in Benin's government says a coup declared by a group of soldiers has been quashed.