Nova Newsletter
December 30, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,857 words for you today - 10 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. China Launches Taiwan War Games After US Arms Deal
A ship fires a weapon during drills east of Taiwan, in this screenshot from a video released by the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army on Monday. Eastern Theater Command/Reuters
China’s military began large-scale war games around Taiwan on Monday, mobilizing air, naval, ground, and rocket forces to warn against Taiwan independence and foreign interference, following a major US arms sale.
Takeaways
Drills dubbed “Justice Mission 2025” simulate blockade, port control, and precision strikes.
Taiwan condemned the moves as military intimidation and put forces on high alert.
The exercises follow an $11.1 billion US-Taiwan arms deal that angered Beijing.
China said the drills include live-fire exercises across five zones encircling Taiwan and aim to test readiness to deny external military access. Taiwan reported 89 Chinese warplanes and 28 vessels operating nearby, though none crossed into territorial airspace or waters.
Flights were disrupted, with over 100,000 travelers affected as airspace closures took effect.
The escalation underscores how Taiwan remains the sharpest flashpoint in US-China relations. Read More
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2. Pipe Bomb Suspect Admitted Targeting Both Political Parties
A man accused of planting pipe bombs outside US party headquarters told the FBI he targeted both parties because he believed the 2020 election was stolen and felt someone needed to “speak up,” prosecutors said in a new memo.
Takeaways
Brian J. Cole Jr. allegedly placed two pipe bombs outside the RNC and DNC on Jan. 5, 2021.
He told investigators he was disillusioned with both parties and viewed them as “in charge.”
Prosecutors say bomb-making materials were found at his home and argue he poses a public safety risk.
Cole initially denied involvement but later confessed, according to the Justice Department. He said he planted the devices at night and was relieved they did not explode, claiming he did not want to kill anyone.
Authorities say the lack of detonation was luck, not lack of intent, and note the bombs endangered civilians, law enforcement, and senior political leaders.
The case marks a major breakthrough in a nearly five-year investigation tied to Jan. 6. Read More
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3. Russia Launches Three Iranian Satellites Into Orbit
In this photo released by Roscosmos State Space Corporate on Friday, July 25, 2025, a Soyuz rocket lifts off from a launch site in Vostochny in far eastern Russia carrying an Iranian satellite along with Russian satellites into orbit. Ivan Timoshenko/Roscosmos State Space Corporate via AP
Russia launched three Iranian satellites into orbit from eastern Russia, marking the second such mission this year and underscoring deepening Moscow Tehran space ties, Iranian state media reported.
Takeaways
A Russian Soyuz rocket launched the satellites from Vostochny Cosmodrome into a 500-kilometer orbit.
The satellites are named Paya, Kowsar, and Zafar-2, with Paya the heaviest Iran has ever deployed.
The mission highlights a growing strategic partnership between Russia and Iran amid Western scrutiny.
Iranian officials said the satellites can capture high-resolution images up to 3 meters, supporting agriculture, water management, and environmental monitoring, with an expected five-year lifespan.
Russia previously launched Iran’s Nahid-2 satellite in July, continuing a pattern of cooperation that has expanded since the two countries signed a strategic partnership treaty in January.
The US has criticized Iran’s satellite program, arguing it overlaps with ballistic missile capabilities, despite UN missile sanctions expiring in 2023.
The launches signal closer alignment as geopolitical pressure on both countries intensifies. Read More
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Quick Headlines
Coral Expeditions
The Australian-flagged Coral Adventurer ran aground on a reef off PNG’s eastern coast Saturday, leaving 80 passengers and 44 crew unharmed, and authorities will fly them back to Cairns after refloating attempts failed. The vessel has been temporarily deemed unseaworthy, but no damage or pollution was reported. Read More
A rupture in a 34-inch gas line near Castaic, Los Angeles, forced shelter-in-place for 14,900 residents and closed Interstate 5 for hours on Saturday, though no injuries or explosions were reported. Authorities stopped the leak overnight and are investigating the cause, noting significant land movement near the pipeline. Read More
Two helicopters collided midair near Hammonton, New Jersey, killing both pilots, 71-year-old Michael Greenberg and 65-year-old Kenneth L. Kirsch, after the aircraft plunged to the ground, with one catching fire. The crash occurred Sunday around 12:25 p.m., authorities said, as police and EMS extinguished the flames. Read More
Ahmed al Ahmed tackled one of the shooters at a Hanukkah event in Bondi Beach, Australia, helping stop further killings in the attack that left 15 dead and 40 injured. Shot several times himself, al Ahmed has been hailed a hero and received A$2.5 million from the community for his bravery. Read More
Thailand says over 250 drones crossed from Cambodia, violating a newly signed ceasefire after deadly border clashes that displaced nearly one million people. Cambodia called it a minor border drone incident, while Thailand warns it may reconsider releasing 18 Cambodian soldiers held since July. Read More
At least 13 people died and 98 were injured after Mexico’s Interoceanic Train derailed in Oaxaca, with 36 hospitalized and hundreds rescued by naval and army personnel. The 250-passenger train was traveling between Veracruz and Salina Cruz, and authorities have launched an investigation into the cause. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Trump And Zelensky Test Fragile Path Toward Ukraine Peace Deal
US President Donald Trump welcomes Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 28, 2025. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Sunday in Palm Beach, Florida, to press forward a tentative plan to end Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine.
Takeaways
No breakthrough, but momentum held. After three hours of talks, both leaders said progress continues, though major gaps remain.
Territory is the core dispute. The unresolved final 10% of the plan centers on land concessions and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
Putin loomed large. Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin for over an hour before the meeting and plans another call soon.
Zelensky shows flexibility. Kyiv is now open to a national referendum on a peace deal, contingent on a ceasefire.
Europe stays wary. Allies fear a deal that shifts costs and security burdens onto Europe.
Trump praised Zelensky after the meeting, striking a notably warmer tone than earlier encounters. “We’re getting very close,” Trump said, while cautioning that talks remain “very complicated.”
Behind the scenes, negotiations hinge on whether Ukraine yields territory in the Donbas, where Russia controls roughly 90%, and how to manage the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility. Trump suggested concessions now could prevent further Russian advances, noting Moscow seized 12 to 17 square kilometers per day in 2025.
Zelensky countered by signaling openness to democratic approval of any deal. Ukraine’s constitution requires a referendum for border changes, but Kyiv insists a ceasefire must come first. Russia has rejected that condition outright.
Trump’s confidence in Putin unsettled some allies. He said the Russian leader “wants to see it happen,” even as Moscow continues missile and drone strikes and rejects temporary truces.
The Mar-a-Lago setting softened optics but not substance. With talks continuing into January, the window for a deal is narrow and closing fast.
The bottom line: Peace may be closer than ever, but the hardest choices remain unresolved. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Brigitte Bardot, French Screen Icon, Dies at 91
Iconic French actor Brigitte Bardot dies at 91 / The Associated Press
Brigitte Bardot, the legendary French actress and animal rights activist, died Sunday at her home in southern France, according to her foundation. She was 91.
Takeaways
Bardot became a global sensation after “And God Created Woman” (1956).
She later reinvented herself as a high-profile animal rights activist.
Her outspoken far-right views sparked repeated controversy and convictions.
She was a lasting symbol of French culture and 1960s liberation.
Bardot starred in nearly 50 films, embodying a new, provocative image of femininity that reshaped postwar European cinema. In 1969, she was chosen as the face of Marianne, France’s national emblem.
After retiring from acting at 39, she devoted her life to animal protection, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and campaigning worldwide. Her activism earned honors but also public backlash for anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Bardot’s legacy remains both iconic and polarizing, blending cinematic myth with fierce conviction. Read More
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6. Anthony Joshua Injured in Deadly Nigeria Car Crash
Anthony Joshua, the Nigerian-British boxing star, was injured Monday in a car accident in Lagos, Nigeria, that killed two other passengers, officials said.
Takeaways
Two male foreign nationals died at the scene, according to Ogun state officials.
Joshua was hospitalized with undisclosed injuries, police confirmed.
Investigators say speeding and an overtaking maneuver caused the crash.
The incident comes days after Joshua’s win over Jake Paul in Miami.
Authorities said the vehicle lost control and collided with a stationary truck on a major highway linking Ogun state to Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub.
Photos circulating online show Joshua being pulled from the wreckage, visibly in pain, as emergency crews responded.
The former heavyweight champion has been seeking a return to title contention and was in talks for a potential 2026 bout with Tyson Fury.
The crash injects uncertainty into Joshua’s comeback timeline. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
On This Day — December 30
Telephone Patent Milestone, 1867 - Johann Philipp Reis is issued an early patent for a modern-type telephone, laying critical groundwork for voice transmission technology that would later be refined by Alexander Graham Bell and transform global communication.
Kennedy Half Dollar Authorized, 1963 - Congress approves the creation of the Kennedy half dollar, moving swiftly to honor the slain president just weeks after his assassination and cementing his legacy in everyday American currency.
Nixon Halts Vietnam Bombing, 1972 - President Richard Nixon orders a halt to U.S. bombing of North Vietnam and announces renewed peace talks, signaling a major de-escalation as the long-running war moved toward its final phase.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🍷 🧂 Club Soda for Wine Stains
Spilled red wine on the carpet or upholstery? Pour some club soda over the fresh stain. The carbonation helps lift the wine from the fibers, making it easier to blot away. Gently dab with a clean cloth, and repeat as needed to reduce the stain.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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