Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic attempt to pass a bill banning bump stocks following a recent Supreme Court ruling. Bump stocks convert semi-automatic rifles to fire rapidly. The Senate remains divided over the issue, with some Republicans supporting a ban, and Democrats advocating for it as a safety measure. (CNN)
Two employees of the US Agriculture Department were attacked and briefly detained by assailants in Michoacan, Mexico. Inspections of avocado and mango deliveries were suspended, and the US ambassador to Mexico described additional safety measures as necessary before rebooting them. (AP)
Nvidia has become the most valuable publicly traded company in the world, beating out rival Microsoft. The company’s shares rose by 3.2% during midday trading on Tuesday, bringing its market capitalization to $3.33tn. Nvidia’s success has been attributed to the increasing use of artificial intelligence, with the company providing around 80% of the chips used by data centers. (UPI)
Los Angeles’ board of education has voted in favor of banning smartphones in schools for 429,000 students. The move aims to insulate young people from distractions and social media that harm mental health and reduce academic performance. (Reuters)
The Congressional Budget Office projects a federal budget deficit of $1.9 trillion for the fiscal year, $400 billion higher than earlier estimates. By 2034, the national debt is expected to reach $57 trillion, with spending on Social Security, Medicare, and interest payments increasing while revenues lag. (CNN)
