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Nova Newsletter
November 20, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,739 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Israeli Strike On Lebanon Refugee Camp Kills 13
People gather next to ambulances outside a hospital where they brought the victims of the Israeli strike that hit the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, on Tuesday. Mohammad Zaatari/AP
An Israeli airstrike on the Ein el Hilweh Palestinian camp in southern Lebanon killed 13 people and wounded others, Lebanese officials said Tuesday.
Takeaways
It is the deadliest strike in Lebanon since the 2024 ceasefire.
Israel says it targeted a Hamas training site preparing attacks.
Hamas denies this, claiming the strike hit a sports area near a mosque.
Journalists were blocked from the scene as ambulances evacuated victims.
The drone hit a car in a mosque parking lot inside the crowded refugee camp outside Sidon, according to Lebanon’s state news agency. Hamas fighters restricted media access after the blast.
Israel said it would continue targeting Hamas across the region. Lebanese officials have reported more than 270 people killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire.
The strike underscores how quickly the Israel Hezbollah front could destabilize again. Read More
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2. Pope Leo Warns U.S. Over Migrant Mistreatment
Pope Leo XIV said he is troubled by violent and “extremely disrespectful” treatment of migrants in the United States, urging humane and lawful processes.
Takeaways
The Pope said migrants deserve dignity and access to the justice system.
He affirmed that nations have the right to control their borders.
He criticized violent or degrading treatment of long-time U.S. residents.
U.S. bishops recently denounced mass deportations and dehumanizing rhetoric.
Speaking to reporters at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope said humane treatment and legal due process must guide immigration enforcement. He noted many migrants have lived in the U.S. for decades.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops echoed his concerns, opposing indiscriminate deportations. The Trump administration says more than 527,000 migrants have been deported since January.
The clash highlights widening moral and political divides over U.S. immigration strategy. Read More
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3. Trump Will Sign Bill Releasing More Epstein Files
Donald Trump in the Oval Office on 17 November 2025. Photograph: Will Oliver/Pool/Will Oliver - Pool/CNP/Shutterstock
Donald Trump is set to sign a bill compelling the Justice Department to release additional Jeffrey Epstein records after GOP leaders pushed the measure through Congress.
Takeaways
Trump reversed his long opposition once it was clear the House would pass the bill.
The DOJ says many Epstein materials remain sealed to protect victims.
The bill orders release of investigations, flight logs, associates, internal communications and detention records.
Agencies will have 30 days to comply with redactions for safety and privacy.
Trump previously called efforts to release the files a “hoax,” despite promising transparency during his campaign. His shift cleared the way for swift House and Senate approval.
The DOJ has warned that only limited material can be released without harming investigations or exposing victims. The bill outlines broad disclosure requirements but allows exceptions for sensitive content.
Recently published congressional documents have resurfaced Epstein’s ties with high-profile figures, including Trump, though none indicate criminal involvement.
More disclosures could deepen political tensions as both parties brace for the fallout. Read More
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Quick Headlines
Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2024 Planned Parenthood Of Greater New York Gala, April 16, 2024, in New York. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Megan Thee Stallion is expected to testify in her Miami federal defamation case accusing blogger Milagro Cooper of running a harassment campaign tied to Tory Lanez, who is serving ten years for shooting her in 2020. Read More
President Donald Trump called Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey “piggy” during a White House gaggle over Epstein files, drawing backlash from journalists and advocacy groups as another example of his pattern of demeaning female reporters. Read More
Gustav Klimt’s “Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer” sold for a record $236 million at Sotheby’s New York auction, becoming the most expensive modern artwork sold by the house, while Maurizio Cattelan’s gold toilet “America” also drew $12.1 million. Read More
Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers stepped down from OpenAI’s board after emails revealed frequent communication with Jeffrey Epstein, saying he will step back from public commitments to rebuild trust while continuing his Harvard teaching role. Read More
The FBI is probing a stepsibling of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, found dead on a Carnival cruise ship, with a court filing suggesting criminal charges may be filed as investigators review cabin access, surveillance, and phone records. Read More
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction requiring Texas public schools to remove Ten Commandments displays, siding with families who say the law violates the First Amendment, while the state plans to appeal the decision. Read More
Deep Dive
4. What to Know About the F-35 fighter Jet that Trump is Selling to Saudi Arabia
An F-35A Lightning II sits on the runway at the Florennes Airbase in Florennes, Belgium, Oct. 13, 2025. Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP
President Donald Trump has agreed to sell the F-35A Lightning II, the U.S.’s most advanced fighter jet, to Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over Chinese access to sensitive technology and the aircraft’s impact on Israel’s military edge.
Takeaways
Saudi Arabia’s top trading partner is China, fueling worries that F-35 tech could be compromised.
The F-35 is used by 19 nations, including Israel, which deployed it in a 12-day war against Iran in June.
Program costs are enormous: individual jets hit $77 million in 2023, with a total $2 trillion lifecycle cost for 2,470 planes.
Operational readiness lags expectations, with the aircraft performing about 55% of tasked missions in 2023 due to maintenance and supply issues.
Lockheed Martin defends the program, citing combat-proven performance, over 1 million flight hours, and global deployment to allies.
The F-35, developed since the 1990s, was designed to replace multiple aging fighter platforms across the Air Force, Navy, and Marines. It integrates stealth coatings, advanced radar, sensors, and networking capabilities, allowing pilots to shift seamlessly from bombing to air-to-air combat.
Critics point to high costs, maintenance intensity, and program delays. Dan Grazier of the Stimson Center said the F-35 “does a lot of things kind of well, but it doesn’t do anything great,” highlighting challenges with stealth coatings and situational awareness cameras.
Despite concerns, analysts like Bradley Bowman argue that the F-35 remains America’s most advanced fighter and that technological upgrades counter any intelligence compromises from past Chinese cyber activity.
Trump’s decision aligns with geopolitical strategy in the Middle East, but it could stir tensions with Israel and Congressional skeptics over security and cost. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Singer D4vd Named Suspect After Teen Found Dead in Tesla
David Anthony Burke, aka D4VD (Antoine Flament/Getty Images)
Los Angeles police now consider singer D4vd a suspect after a 15-year-old girl’s body was found decomposing in the trunk of his Tesla in September.
Takeaways
The victim, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was missing for a year and found dismembered, sources say.
Investigators believe multiple people may have been involved in the dismemberment and disposal.
D4vd, 20, is not cooperating with LAPD, according to sources.
No arrests yet as officials await the Medical Examiner’s cause of death ruling.
Officers discovered the body on Sept. 8 after a foul odor was reported at a Hollywood tow yard. The Tesla had been abandoned on a city street for two days before being impounded.
Police searched a Los Angeles home tied to D4vd the night the victim was identified. The singer canceled the remaining dates of his world tour after the discovery.
Authorities say the cause of death will determine charges and accelerate the case. Read More
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6. Two Miss Universe Judges Quit, One Alleging Rigged Selection
Two members of the Miss Universe judging panel have resigned days before Friday’s pageant in Bangkok, with one claiming the competition’s finalist selection is pre-rigged.
Takeaways
Judge Omar Harfouch alleges an “impromptu jury” secretly chose 30 finalists without the official panel present.
French manager Claude Makélélé also resigned, citing personal reasons.
Miss Universe Organization denies any external group is selecting finalists.
The pageant has faced weeks of turmoil after contestants walked out over a Thai official’s conduct.
Harfouch claimed individuals with conflicts of interest were pre-selecting finalists, but offered no details on how this group would override the real jury. Miss Universe officials said he likely misinterpreted Beyond the Crown, a separate social-impact program with its own committee.
Makélélé praised the pageant’s mission but said stepping down was necessary.
The organization has already deployed international executives to stabilize operations after earlier controversies. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
Windows 1.0
On This Day — November 20
Windows 1.0 Launch, 1985 – Microsoft debuts Windows 1.0, its first graphical user interface operating system, laying the foundation for decades of personal computing.
Princess Diana Interview, 1995 – Diana, Princess of Wales, publicly admits to an affair with another man during a televised interview, shocking the world and intensifying scrutiny of the royal family.
Robert F. Kennedy Justice Building Dedication, 2001 – President George W. Bush officially dedicates the US Department of Justice headquarters as the Robert F. Kennedy Justice Building, honoring the late senator on what would have been his 76th birthday.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🚿💧 Soak Shower Heads in Vinegar Using a Tied-Up Ziplock Bag
Dealing with a clogged or weak shower spray? Fill a Ziplock bag with vinegar, slip it over the shower head, and secure it with a tie or rubber band. Let it soak for a few hours to dissolve mineral buildup without any scrubbing. It’s a hands-free cleaning trick that leaves your shower running strong again.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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