Nova Newsletter
December 18, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,732 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Bondi Beach Hero Receives over $1M Donations
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits Ahmed al Ahmed, the man who charged at one of the gunmen and seized his shotgun during the deadly attack on a Jewish event at Bondi Beach, at St George Hospital in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 16, 2025. Australian Prime Minister's Office/Handout/REUTERS
Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian-Australian shop owner, was hailed as a hero after disarming a gunman during a deadly Hanukkah attack at Bondi Beach, Australia.
Takeaways
Al Ahmed tackled one of the shooters, wrestled his shotgun, and turned it on the attacker, stopping further killings.
He suffered gunshot wounds and faces at least six months of recovery but will not face medical bills under Australia’s national healthcare system.
A fundraising campaign raised over $1.5 million from 40,000 donors, including billionaire William Ackman.
World leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.S. President Donald Trump, hailed his bravery.
Al Ahmed, 44, was shot multiple times but has already undergone surgery, with more operations scheduled. He is married with two young daughters and had previously served in Syrian police and central security forces.
His heroic act saved numerous lives during one of Australia’s deadliest hate-fueled attacks, which killed 15 people celebrating Hanukkah.
The incident has made Al Ahmed a symbol of courage and humanity in the face of terror. Read More
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2. States Sue Uber Over Alleged Deceptive Subscriptions
Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland joined a multistate lawsuit accusing Uber of manipulating users through its Uber One subscription service.
Takeaways
21 states and D.C. sued Uber alongside the FTC, alleging deceptive enrollment and billing practices.
The lawsuit claims users were charged during free trials and signed up without consent.
Attorneys general say Uber failed to deliver promised savings and made cancellation difficult.
The amended complaint follows an FTC lawsuit filed in April 2025 and seeks penalties under the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, which requires clear subscription terms.
Regulators allege Uber charged users who never agreed to subscribe and did not honor advertised perks like $0 delivery fees and $25 monthly savings.
The suit also claims canceling Uber One required 12 actions across seven screens, trapping consumers in recurring charges.
The case could set a sharper standard for how tech platforms run subscription trials and cancellations. Read More
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3. Dana-Farber Agrees To $15 Million Research Fraud Settlement
Photo by Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will pay $15 million to resolve federal allegations tied to falsified research data and grant misuse in Boston.
Takeaways
Settlement covers research misconduct from 2014 to 2024, involving misused images and data.
14 scientific journal articles contained duplicated or altered images, according to prosecutors.
Six NIH grants were improperly spent, and four additional grants relied on flawed research.
Federal investigators said Dana-Farber researchers reused, rotated, magnified, or stretched images to represent different experiments, misleading journals and grant reviewers.
The institute admitted a supervising researcher failed to provide proper oversight, allowing incorrect data to be published and cited in funding applications.
Officials stressed the allegations did not involve clinical trials or patient care, and said Dana-Farber fully cooperated and strengthened internal research integrity controls.
The case underscores rising federal scrutiny of data integrity tied to publicly funded research. Read More
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Quick Headlines
This view of a region called Syrtis Major is from the 100,000th image captured by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using its HiRISE camera. Over nearly 20 years, HiRISE has helped scientists understand how the Red Planet’s surface is constantly changing. NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured its 100,000th HiRISE image after nearly 20 years at Mars, spotlighting dunes and mesas in Syrtis Major near Jezero Crater. The ultra-sharp camera has tracked shifting dunes and avalanches while guiding future human missions. Read More
Bexar County deputies say a woman lost $36,000 after a caller posing as an attorney claimed her son was jailed after a crash and demanded bond payments via a Bitcoin ATM. A bank teller flagged the fraud before another $20,000 was sent. Read More
Louvre employees voted to prolong a strike over understaffing, pay, and see-saw management as scrutiny intensifies after an October crown jewels heist exposed security failures at the Paris museum. Lawmakers and auditors are now probing leadership as visitors face disruptions. Read More
President Trump is expected to sign an executive order shifting marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, easing federal restrictions and expanding research access without full legalization. The move could affect medical use, banking access, and state policy flexibility, with signing expected Thursday. Read More
President Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, escalating pressure on Nicolás Maduro and targeting the country’s main economic lifeline. Venezuela called the move reckless and illegal, as blockades are widely viewed under international law as an act of war. Read More
Hyundai and Kia agreed to repair about 9 million U.S. vehicles under a multistate settlement led by Minnesota, offering free anti-theft fixes costing up to $500 million. The deal covers models from 2011 to 2022 after thefts surged as much as 836 percent in some cities. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Trump Expands Travel Ban to 39 Countries
Note: Data as of December 16, 2025. The proclamation includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, among others. Source: The White House Graphic: Lou Robinson and Annette Choi, CNN
President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a proclamation expanding US travel restrictions from 19 to 39 countries, citing deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing. The move adds seven new countries to the full ban and 15 to partial restrictions, affecting travelers worldwide.
Takeaways
Full travel bans now include Laos, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria.
Partial restrictions apply to 15 nations, including Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania.
Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents now face limitations, while Turkmenistan visa rules are partially lifted.
Exceptions exist for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, and entries deemed in US national interest.
The expansion follows the Washington, D.C. National Guard shooting, which Trump cites to justify his broad immigration crackdown.
Trump’s proclamation extends his first-term travel ban, originally targeting seven majority-Muslim nations and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2017. While President Biden repealed the prior ban in 2021, Trump’s new expansion reflects a broader shift toward restricting foreign entry, affecting both asylum seekers and green-card holders.
The White House frames the expansion as a national security measure, targeting countries with “severe deficiencies” in information-sharing. Critics argue the policy generalizes entire populations, echoing earlier concerns over Trump-era immigration policies.
The proclamation signals an escalation in US immigration control, with potential diplomatic and economic repercussions for affected nations. Read More
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On Our Radar
Tucker Genal (Maury Phillips/Getty Images)
Social media influencer Tucker Genal died in Los Angeles, his family confirmed in a joint statement shared Monday on Instagram.
Takeaways
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled Genal’s death a suicide on Dec. 11, 2025.
Genal had 2.6 million TikTok followers and nearly 350,000 on Instagram.
His brothers, Carson and Connor Genal, asked for privacy as the family mourns.
In an Instagram post, Genal’s brothers remembered him as “the kindest person” and a lifelong role model, sharing photos from their time together.
Genal was known for documenting daily life and challenge-style videos with his brothers, building a large following through relatable content.
Tributes poured in from fans and creators, including influencer Bryce Hall, who called him “one of the nicest dudes” he met in Los Angeles.
The loss underscores growing mental health concerns within creator communities under constant public pressure. Read More
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6. Lizzo Wins Dismissal Of Fat-Shaming Claims
Pop star Lizzo scored a legal victory as a judge dismissed fat-shaming allegations from a 2023 lawsuit filed by three former dancers.
Takeaways
Judge found no evidence Lizzo fired dancers over weight gain, citing privacy violations instead.
Lawsuit continues over separate sexual harassment claims, including pressure to attend sex shows.
Lizzo called the dismissed claims “haunted” her for two years and celebrated the legal win on social media.
The dancers had claimed they were fired for gaining weight, but Lizzo said they were let go for sharing a private recording without consent.
Her legal team emphasized that 18 witnesses refuted the dancers’ fat-shaming claims, while no corroborating testimony supported the allegations.
The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of workplace conduct in entertainment, with remaining sexual harassment claims set to proceed to trial. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
John William Draper
On This Day — December 18
First Female Portrait Photograph, 1839 – John William Draper captures the first portrait of a female face in the United States, marking a milestone in early American photography and portraiture.
Piltdown Man Discovery, 1912 – Charles Dawson announces the finding of Piltdown Man in England, a fossil later revealed as one of the most infamous scientific hoaxes in anthropology.
Calvin Klein Sells Fashion Brand, 2002 – Designer Calvin Klein sells his company to Phillips-Van Heusen for $430 million, ending decades of personal control over the iconic American fashion label.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🍽️ 🍛 Use a Muffin Tin for Condiments
Hosting snacks or a party this holiday season? Use a muffin tin to serve condiments. Each cup is perfect for sauces, dips, or toppings, keeping everything organized and easy to grab. It’s a simple, mess-free way to serve multiple options at once.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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