U.S. Lawmakers Targeted in Deadly Shooting Incident

Astronomers have observed two exceptionally powerful X-ray jets emerging from ancient supermassive black holes, illuminating light from the afterglow of the Big Bang, according to Jaya Maithil, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The discovery was presented at the 246th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Anchorage, Alaska. Data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array revealed that each jet spans approximately 300,000 light-years, nearly three times the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy, and originates from quasars located around 11.6 and 11.7 billion light-years away. These jets were observed during a period when the universe was about 3 billion years old. The study suggests that the jets are capable of transforming cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation into X-rays, making them visible across vast distances, despite their proximity to the brilliant cores of their respective quasars. This work offers new insights into the growth of galaxies and their supermassive black holes during the universe's nascent phases.

President Donald Trump recently vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters on June 15, 2025. The decision underscores the administration's aim to avoid escalating tensions with Iran absent imminent threats to American lives. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, indicated that top U.S. officials have maintained ongoing communications with Israeli authorities following a significant military strike by Israel aimed at curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions. Reports suggest that Israel believed it had an opportunity to eliminate Khamenei, but Trump decisively rejected the proposal. One senior administration official remarked, "Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we're not even talking about going after the political leadership." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when questioned about the alleged conversations in a Fox News interview, described numerous reports as false but affirmed Israel’s intent to act in its national interest. The developments come amid stalled negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, further complicated by Israel's recent military actions.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed that state Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in their home on Saturday. The incident is currently being investigated as a politically motivated attack, raising concerns over the safety of public officials. Authorities have not disclosed specific details regarding the circumstances of the shooting, but the police have indicated that they believe the motivation behind the attack was related to Hortman's political role. “This tragic event highlights serious issues regarding violence against politicians and public figures,” Governor Walz stated in a press release. Hortman, who served as the state representative for the 36B district, made significant contributions to Minnesota's legislative environment. Local and state officials are calling for a thorough investigation and increased security measures for lawmakers in light of this incident. As this story develops, more information regarding the investigation and any potential suspects is expected to be released in the coming days.