Amazon has ordered its near-300.000 employees to return to the office full-time 5 days a week and announced plans to cut a number of manager positions; experts consider the move a key test case for the future of workplace flexibility in corporate America

Three Southern California wildfires torched over 105.000 acres of scrub and forest ( 1/3 the size of Los Angeles), dozens of homes and a ski resort so fa, forcing thousands to evacuate; the Bridge Fire, the largest, destroyed 19.000 hectares in 48 hours

The father of the author of the high school shooting in Georgia - four people died - has been arrested on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two of second-degree murder and eight of cruelty to children; the rifle of his son was his Christmas gift

1.006 personnel are working on two major forest fires in New Mexico, with still no containment of either one; rain brought high humidity and helped curb fire growth while efforts are focused on making firelines to protect homes and critical infrastructure

The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unvaried postponing expected rate cuts to perhaps as late as December; policymakers envisage an economy that remains virtually unchanged for 2024