lazzybee

1. Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on rapid-fire rifle bump stocks

- The Supreme Court struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks, rapid-fire gun accessories, in a ruling that threw firearms back into the nation’s political spotlight.

- The Trump administration overstepped when it changed course from predecessors and banned bump stocks, which allow a rate of fire comparable to machine guns. 

- The decision came after a gunman in Las Vegas attacked a country music festival with assault rifles equipped with the accessories.

2. Putin offers truce if Ukraine exits Russian-claimed areas and drops NATO bid

- Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to “immediately” order a cease-fire in Ukraine and start negotiations if Kyiv began withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO. 

- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected what he called an ultimatum by Putin to surrender more territory.

- Putin’s remarks came as Switzerland prepared to host scores of world leaders to try to map out first steps toward peace in Ukraine.

3. NASA will put a 'new star' in the sky in 1st-of-its-kind mission

- A first-of-its-kind NASA mission aims to put a new "star" in the sky to help solve a wide range of the universe's biggest mysteries. 

- The satellite will be equipped with eight lasers that will enable it to mimic almost any type of star or supernova from across the cosmos when viewed by ground-based telescopes. 

- This will help astronomers improve how they study the real versions of these objects.