Nova Newsletter
November 24, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,628 words for you today - 8 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Fifty Children Escape Mass Abduction in Nigeria
AFP via Getty Images
Fifty of the 315 children kidnapped from St Mary’s School in Niger State, Nigeria, have escaped and been reunited with their families, authorities said.
Takeaways
265 children and 12 teachers remain missing; a military-led search is underway.
Nigerian states including Kebbi, Niger, Katsina, Yobe, and Kwara ordered schools to close.
The abduction surpasses the 2014 Chibok kidnapping of 276 girls.
The pupils escaped between Friday and Saturday in a risky attempt to flee armed captors. Local police said the school was stormed around 2 a.m., with students taken from boarding facilities despite prior intelligence warnings.
Authorities warned the region remains dangerous as criminal gangs and jihadist groups target schools for ransom. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu postponed foreign trips to address security concerns.
The incident intensifies global attention on school abductions in Nigeria and the ongoing threat from militant groups. Read More
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2. Israel Strikes Gaza After Ceasefire Violation
At least 24 people were killed and 54 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on Hamas positions in Gaza on Saturday, the latest challenge to the ceasefire that began on Oct. 10.
Takeaways
• Strikes hit vehicles and homes across Gaza City, Nuseirat, and Deir al-Balah, including children among the casualties.
• Israel said attacks responded to armed militants crossing into Israeli-held territory and firing on troops.
• The violence complicates a U.N.-backed plan to stabilize Gaza and oversee a transitional authority.
• Gaza Health Ministry reports that casualties could rise as some wounded remain in critical condition.
One vehicle strike in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood killed 11 and wounded more than 20. Additional strikes hit homes near Al-Awda Hospital and Nuseirat camp, killing at least 10 more.
The attacks follow a pattern of Israeli responses to ceasefire violations, while Gaza’s Health Ministry continues to report tens of thousands of casualties since the war began in October 2023. Read More
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3. Grizzly Bear Attacks School Group in British Columbia
A grizzly bear attack has been reported Thursday in the small, remote community of Bella Coola along the Central Coast of Canada's British Columbia province. NPS/Jim Peaco
Eleven people, including children, were injured in a grizzly bear attack in Bella Coola, British Columbia, on Thursday. Four victims were hospitalized, and seven were treated at the scene.
Takeaways
• The attack occurred along a trail where a school group had stopped, with teachers intervening using bear spray and a bear banger.
• Three children were among those hospitalized, and all four patients remain under care.
• The bear has not been caught, and officials warned residents to stay indoors and avoid local trails.
• Preliminary reports suggest the bear may have been previously injured, according to authorities.
Acwsalcta School, run by the Nuxalk Nation, closed Friday following the incident. Premier David Eby praised the teachers for their “heroism” in confronting the animal.
British Columbia is home to an estimated 15,000 grizzly bears, over half of Canada’s total population. Read More
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Quick Headlines
AFP via Getty Images
A 14-year-old was killed and eight others injured in two shootings near downtown Chicago’s Christmas tree lighting, with no suspects in custody as police investigate multiple victims treated at local hospitals. Read More. Read More
Israel says it killed Hezbollah Chief of Staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai in southern Beirut, marking the first airstrike on the city in months, killing five and injuring 28, as tensions rise over Hezbollah’s military buildup. Read More
DPope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Spanish Bishop Rafael Zornoza, 76, under investigation for allegedly abusing a seminarian in the 1990s, marking the first known case of the pontiff removing a bishop accused of sexual misconduct. Read More
Tatiana Schlossberg revealed she has terminal acute myeloid leukemia and criticized cousin RFK Jr.’s cuts to mRNA research, saying her prognosis is about one year after multiple treatments since her 2024 diagnosis at age 34. Read More
The Justice Department asked a Florida court to unseal 2005–2007 grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein’s first federal investigation, citing the new Epstein Transparency Act and a 30-day compliance deadline while planning redactions for victims’ privacy. Read More
Two University of Alabama at Birmingham football players were hospitalized after a stabbing by a third teammate, who is now in police custody, while authorities continue investigating; both injured players are in stable condition. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Texas A&M Professor Fired after Classroom Confrontation over Gender Identity Coursework
Texas A&M Campus, just outside Rudder Tower, is seen Friday, Feb 12, 2016, in College Station, Texas. (Timothy Hurst/College Station Eagle via AP, file)
A Texas A&M University professor was terminated after a video surfaced showing a student confronting her over teaching gender identity topics in a children’s literature class. The move sparked political pressure and drew national attention to academic freedom in the state.
Takeaways
Melissa McCoul, a senior English lecturer with over a decade of experience, was fired following calls from Republican lawmakers, including Gov. Greg Abbott.
University leadership cited course content not matching catalog descriptions, though McCoul’s attorney disputes this.
The firing prompted an audit of courses across the 12-campus Texas A&M System.
Faculty groups and PEN America criticized the move as a threat to academic freedom and due process.
The controversy echoes broader debates in Texas over gender identity and LGBTQ+ content in classrooms, even at higher education levels.
The dispute escalated after state Rep. Brian Harrison posted a video and recordings online, calling the professor and university president “culpable for indoctrination.” In the recording, a student objects to gender identity content, citing religious beliefs and an executive order recognizing two sexes. McCoul responds that the material is not illegal.
University President Mark A. Welsh III directed the firing and removed the dean and department head from their administrative roles, framing the decision as a matter of academic responsibility, not freedom. McCoul’s attorney, Amanda Reichek, said the professor is appealing and exploring legal action.
Critics warn the case signals a shrinking space for academic discourse in Texas, with political pressure influencing curricula. PEN America called it the “death of academic freedom,” while the Texas AAUP highlighted violations of due process.
The case illustrates a growing tension between state policy, political influence, and university autonomy, raising questions about how far oversight can go in shaping course content. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Man Who Rushed Ariana Grande at Singapore Premiere Deported
Getty Images
An Australian man, Johnson Wen, who rushed Ariana Grande during the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good, has been deported after serving a nine-day jail sentence. Singapore authorities also barred him from re-entering the country.
Takeaways
Wen, 26, jumped a barricade and put his arm around Grande before being stopped by co-star Cynthia Erivo and security.
He was charged with being a public nuisance and sentenced by Judge Christopher Goh, who cited a pattern of attention-seeking behavior.
The jail term was below the maximum penalty of three months or $1,500 fine.
Wen apologized in court and promised not to repeat the act.
The incident underscores ongoing security challenges at high-profile entertainment events worldwide. Read More
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6. Mexico’s Fatima Bosch Wins Miss Universe After Controversial Walkout
Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch, 25, was crowned Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok, ending a season marked by scandal. Earlier in November, she walked out after being publicly berated by a Thai pageant official, sparking judge resignations and accusations of rigging.
Takeaways
Bosch beat out Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh and Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali for the title.
The pageant faced turbulence with two judges resigning, alleging pre-selection of finalists, claims rejected by the Miss Universe Organization.
Thai organizer Nawat Itsaragrasil publicly scolded Bosch, leading to international attention and support from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
The event highlighted cultural and leadership tensions between Miss Universe’s Thai and Mexican management.
The win sparked debate online, with some applauding Bosch’s resilience and others questioning if the crown was influenced by the earlier controversy. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
On This Day — November 24
Barbed Wire Patented, 1874 – Joseph Glidden patents commercially successful barbed wire, transforming land management in the American West and reshaping agriculture, property boundaries, and rural development.
FBI Crime Lab Opens, 1932 – The FBI inaugurates its Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory in Washington, D.C., pioneering forensic science in criminal investigations and setting a standard for modern evidence-based policing.
Oswald Shot by Jack Ruby, 1963 – Two days after President Kennedy’s assassination, accused gunman Lee Harvey Oswald is fatally shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby in Dallas City Hall, an event broadcast live that fueled lasting conspiracy theories.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
👟 🍵 Put Tea Bags in Shoes Overnight
Shoes starting to smell? Tuck a couple of used tea bags inside them overnight. The tea absorbs moisture and neutralizes odors naturally. By morning, your shoes will smell fresher without any harsh chemicals.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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