Nova Newsletter
Oct 1, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,605 words for you today - 8 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Israeli Strikes Kill 31 as Trump Plan Looms
Palestinians watch buildings burn after an Israeli strike in Jabaliya, northern Gaza. Photograph: Bashar Taleb/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli forces killed at least 31 Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday, even as President Donald Trump unveiled a controversial peace proposal.
Takeaways
Trump’s plan offers aid and reconstruction but demands Hamas disarm.
Gaza would remain under international oversight with no path to statehood.
Palestinians widely view the proposal as surrender, not peace.
Israel supports the plan, while skepticism runs deep on both sides.
Hospitals in Gaza reported mass casualties after Israeli troops opened fire near an aid corridor and struck displaced families in tent camps. The military said it targeted Hamas fighters and infrastructure.
Hamas said it will review Trump’s plan, though past disarmament demands have been rejected. Palestinians across Gaza and the West Bank denounced the plan as colonial and one-sided.
The Gaza war has killed more than 66,000 people, with 90% of residents displaced.
Peace still looks distant despite U.S. pressure and regional backing. Read More
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2. Texas Casino Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 5 Hurt
A gunman opened fire in the parking lot of the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, killing two people and wounding five, authorities said.
Takeaways
Suspect Keryan Rashad Jones, 34, was arrested after a police chase.
He faces two counts of capital murder and five counts of assault.
The motive remains under investigation by tribal police.
The casino has been closed while the probe continues.
Jones was arrested Sunday morning near Stockdale, about 180 miles from Eagle Pass, following a traffic stop and pursuit. Officials have not said where he is being held or if he has an attorney.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said investigators are still piecing together what led to the shooting.
The attack adds to rising concerns about public safety at large entertainment venues. Read More
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3. Prosecutors Push 11-year Sentence for Diddy
Sean "Diddy" Combs listens as lawyer Alexandra Shapiro argues during a hearing over his bid to overturn his conviction on charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, at a courtroom in New York, U.S., September 25, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
U.S. prosecutors asked a Manhattan judge to give Sean “Diddy” Combs more than 11 years in prison after his conviction on prostitution-related charges.
Takeaways
Combs was convicted of transporting prostitutes but acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Prosecutors say he abused girlfriends and fueled encounters with drugs.
Defense seeks 14 months, citing acquittals and time served.
Sentencing is set for Friday in federal court.
Jurors found Combs guilty of arranging interstate “Freak Offs,” where he coerced girlfriends into sex acts while he recorded. Testimony described physical violence, threats, and drug use.
Prosecutors argue his power and abuse warrant a lengthy term despite acquittals on more serious charges. His lawyers say the court should not punish him for allegations the jury rejected.
The sentencing will be a defining moment in the downfall of a once-celebrated mogul. Read More
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Quick Headlines
Rescuers search for dozens missing after Indonesia school collapses
Indonesian school collapse kills three, dozens trapped as a two-story Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, gave way during prayers, killing three, hospitalizing 99, and leaving 38 still trapped under unstable concrete slabs. Read More
US deporting 120 Iranians under Tehran deal as flights routed through Qatar mark a rare cooperation with Tehran, with more than 400 expected to be removed under the phased agreement. Read More
Argentina narco-femicide sparks nationwide protests after three women, including a 15-year-old, were tortured and killed in Buenos Aires, with the attack live-streamed to 45 viewers and linked to a drug gang. Read More
6.9 magnitude quake hits central Philippines near Bogo, Cebu, triggering a tsunami warning, damaging a stone church, cutting power in Daanbantayan, and rattling residents already reeling from a deadly storm. Read More
Tropical Storm Imelda kills 2 in Cuba, striking Santiago de Cuba, forcing 42,000 evacuations, and closing schools across the northern Bahamas as forecasters warn it may intensify into a hurricane. Read More
Starbucks to close 100+ North American stores, targeting locations in New York, California, Texas, and Virginia, disrupting neighborhoods where its coffeehouses have long served as community hubs. Read More
Deep Dive
4. US Begins Phasing Out Paper Checks for Social Security, Tax Refunds
President Donald J. Trump’s name is printed on a stimulus check issued by the IRS to help combat the adverse economic effects of the new coronavirus outbreak in San Antonio, April 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
The U.S. government starts phasing out paper checks for Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and tax refunds this week, shifting most payments to electronic methods.
Takeaways
Roughly 400,000 recipients, less than 1% of Social Security and SSI beneficiaries, still rely on paper checks.
Direct deposit or Direct Express cards will replace paper checks, though the SSA will make exceptions where no digital option exists.
Advocates warn the phase-out may harm unbanked, unhoused, or digitally underserved Americans.
The move is intended to reduce fraud, speed up processing, and cut costs, according to the Trump administration.
The transition follows an executive order signed in March, which seeks to modernize government payments. SSA officials stress that paper checks will still be issued when no other options exist, but recipients must proactively set up alternative payment methods.
Experts say the shift disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. Kathleen Romig of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities notes many affected individuals avoid banks due to mental health issues or insufficient funds to open accounts. Jennifer Burdick, an attorney representing SSI claimants, adds that some only learned of the change through legal aid, highlighting communication gaps.
Advocates caution that even a small fraction of affected beneficiaries represents thousands of Americans who cannot risk missed payments. Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, calls the transition “potentially devastating” if not carefully managed.
The government’s push signals a broader shift toward digitizing federal payments but raises urgent questions about accessibility for those most at risk. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Separate after 19 Years
Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman backstage at a benefit concert in North Carolina last year. John Shearer/Getty Images
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have separated after nearly two decades of marriage, CNN confirmed.
Takeaways
The couple married in 2006 and share two daughters, ages 17 and 14.
They had been based in Nashville, which Kidman called home just last week.
Neither Kidman nor Urban has publicly commented on the split.
TMZ first reported the separation, which comes as Kidman continues film projects and Urban tours.
Kidman was previously married to Tom Cruise, with whom she shares two adopted children.
The breakup ends one of Hollywood’s longest-running A-list marriages. Read More
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6. Scientists Grow Human Embryos from Skin Cells
US researchers at Oregon Health and Science University have created early-stage human embryos using DNA from skin cells and sperm, marking a potential breakthrough for infertility treatment and same-sex parenthood.
Takeaways
Study produced 82 functional eggs; some developed into embryos but none beyond six days.
Technique uses mitomeiosis to reduce chromosomes, but success rate is low at around 9 percent.
Could allow genetically related children for couples lacking viable eggs or sperm, including same-sex partners.
Researchers inserted nuclei from skin cells into donor eggs stripped of DNA and triggered chromosome reduction before fertilization. The process is still experimental, with random chromosome loss and skipped DNA-crossing steps raising safety concerns.
Experts say the method is promising for older patients and those with infertility caused by disease or cancer treatment. Same-sex couples could also see new options for genetically related children.
Prof Shoukhrat Mitalipov called it a first step and emphasized the need for refinement and public discussion.
The research signals a major shift in reproductive science but clinical use remains at least a decade away. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
Battle of Alexander versus Darius by Pietro da Cortona
On This Day – October 1
Alexander the Great Triumphs, 331 BCE – At the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia, marking the downfall of the Persian Empire.
Yosemite National Park Created, 1890 – The U.S. Congress establishes Yosemite National Park, which grows into one of America’s most iconic and visited natural wonders.
Walt Disney World Opens, 1971 – The Walt Disney World Resort in Florida welcomes its first guests, becoming a world-famous hub of imagination and adventure.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🔥🔶 Doritos Fire Starter
Need to start a fire fast? Grab some Doritos! The oils and starch inside make them catch easily and burn steadily, giving you a handy fire starter when you’re out of kindling.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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