The Parker Solar Probe successfully flew through the sun's upper atmosphere, called ‘corona’, on December 18th, to sample particles and magnetic fields: a goal NASA has been working on for 60 years

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

Oil&gas groups have sued Bureau of Land Management aiming to block a rule that will raise fees for development on federal lands, part of the government's effort to boost returns and address environmental harms stemming from drilling on public lands

The White House said it was imposing stringent curbs on Chinese goods worth $18bn, including a 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles as part of measures to protect US manufacturers from cheap imports; the move is likely to inflame trade tensions