Nova Newsletter
November 27, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,705 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Magnitude 4.6 Quake Shakes Hawaii’s Big Island
This image from video by the United States Geological Survey shows lava erupting from Kilauea volcano on Nov. 25, 2025, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii.
A 4.6 magnitude earthquake struck southeast Hawaii’s Big Island late Wednesday near the south flank of Kilauea, according to the USGS.
Takeaways
No tsunami threat and no reported damage, officials said.
Quake occurred about 3 miles deep, per USGS data.
Seismic event not linked to recent Kilauea eruptions.
Hawaii’s emergency agency said the quake hit just before midnight local time and was centered in a region where quakes commonly occur due to Kilauea’s shifting south flank.
USGS noted the event followed the end of a lava-fountaining episode by 10 minutes but showed no signs of influencing Kilauea or Mauna Loa.
Officials continue monitoring volcanic activity amid ongoing eruptions. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
2. Fire Engulfs Hong Kong High-Rises Killing At Least 14
A massive fire tore through multiple residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens.
Takeaways
Blaze spread across seven of eight blocks in Wang Fuk Court.
Firefighter among the dead; many residents still unaccounted for.
Strong winds and bamboo scaffolding accelerated the fire’s spread.
Tai Po highway section closed; schools shut down Thursday.
Firefighters struggled to reach upper floors as intense heat and heavy smoke engulfed the 32-story towers. The complex, home to 2,000 units, had been wrapped in bamboo scaffolding mid-renovation.
Reports came in at 2:51 p.m., and officials raised the alarm to the city’s highest level by early evening. Frames of scaffolding collapsed as crews battled advancing flames.
Hong Kong’s chief executive called an emergency meeting, while China’s president ordered an “all-out effort” to contain the disaster.
Hong Kong now faces its deadliest fire since 1996. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
3. Australia to Enforce Under-16 Social Media Ban Despite Court Fight
A logon screen for Facebook and the new Meta policy are photographed in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Australia will move ahead with its Dec. 10 social media ban for children under 16 even as a rights group challenges the law in the High Court.
Takeaways
Digital Freedom Project filed a constitutional challenge Wednesday.
Government says platforms like Meta, TikTok and Snapchat must block under-16 users or face AU$50M fines.
Case brought on behalf of two 15-year-olds.
Meta has already begun warning young users to delete accounts.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government “will not be intimidated” and plans to enforce the age restriction as scheduled.
Rights advocates argue the law violates young people’s right to political communication and shifts parental oversight to the government.
Malaysia recently announced a similar under-16 ban set to begin in 2026.
Australia’s ruling will test how far governments can push age verification online. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
Quick Headlines
This combination of photos provided by the Virginia State Police shows Travis L. Turner, a southwest Virginia high school football coach who went missing and has been charged with possession of child pornography. (Virginia State Police via AP)
Virginia State Police are searching for Union High football coach Travis Turner, who disappeared before his undefeated team’s playoff run and is now wanted on 10 charges tied to child sexual abuse material and solicitation. Read More
NASA’s Perseverance rover captured 55 crackling electrical discharges during dust storms and dust devils, offering the strongest evidence yet of “mini lightning” on Mars and opening a new frontier for atmospheric research. Read More
A coalition of 19 attorneys general and two governors sued the Trump administration to block major cuts and new conditions on HUD’s Continuum of Care program. The changes shift funding from permanent housing to transitional housing and could affect up to 170,000 people, states argue. Read More
A Michigan lawsuit claims Campbell Soup executive Martin Bally insulted Indian workers and called the company’s products food for poor people during a recorded 2024 meeting with analyst Robert Garza, who was later fired; Campbell has put Bally on leave and Florida officials are reviewing product quality. Read More
Italy’s parliament passed a law recognizing femicide as a crime punishable by life in prison, alongside tougher measures on stalking and revenge porn, following 106 femicides in 2024 and growing public outcry over gender-based violence. Read More
China launched the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft to dock at the Tiangong space station and assist three astronauts stranded after a damaged Shenzhou 20 craft, marking another step in Beijing’s rapidly expanding space program. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Trump Signals Openness to Short-Term Obamacare Subsidy Extension
The White House had earlier this week floated a two-year extension, but President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday he didn't support that. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Donald Trump indicated Tuesday that extending Obamacare subsidies may be necessary to give Congress time to craft changes, even as he criticized the Affordable Care Act.
Takeaways
Trump left the door open to a narrow, short-term extension of ACA subsidies, but rejected a proposed two-year extension.
His preferred alternative would divert federal funds from insurers to individuals via Health Savings Accounts, letting them pay deductibles or co-pays directly.
Enhanced subsidies, set to expire at year-end, have cut premiums for millions during the pandemic; their expiration would reverse these benefits.
The proposal exposes a split within the GOP, balancing concerns about rising premiums with opposition to Obamacare.
A 10-year extension would cost $350 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Trump told reporters on Air Force One that an extension “may be necessary to get something else done,” framing the ACA as a “disaster.” He reiterated support for channeling funds directly to enrollees rather than insurers, a plan echoing proposals from Sen. Bill Cassidy. HSAs could not pay premiums directly but would cover deductibles and co-pays, leaving Americans exposed to higher premium costs if subsidies lapse.
Enhanced subsidies were introduced under Biden in 2021, lowering premiums and expanding eligibility above 400 percent of the poverty level. Republicans opposed these measures, and current law sets them to expire at year-end, reverting subsidies to 2010 levels.
Senate Republicans agreed to a December vote on the issue as part of the recent government reopening deal, but internal divisions remain. Many GOP lawmakers pushed back on the White House’s previously planned two-year extension.
The debate highlights a delicate balancing act: providing relief to millions of enrollees while reshaping ACA spending to fit Republican priorities. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
On Our Radar
5. Warner Music Launches AI Venture After Settling Suno Lawsuit
Warner Music Group's artists include popstar Dua Lipa
Warner Music Group will start an AI music platform with start-up Suno after settling a lawsuit over the firm’s use of artist voices and likenesses.
Takeaways
Warner will allow opt-in artists to have their voices and images used in AI-generated music.
Suno will roll out licensed AI models in 2026 requiring payment for downloads; free playback remains.
Settlement resolves litigation with Suno and ends legal disputes with other major labels over AI-generated content.
Warner calls the deal a “first-of-its-kind partnership” ensuring creators are compensated.
The venture comes amid widespread debate over AI music, with critics warning it could undercut human songwriters.
Artists retain full control over whether their work, likeness, and voice are used on the platform.
The partnership positions Warner to explore new frontiers in music creation while addressing legal and ethical concerns. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
6. Tara Reid Alleges She Was Drugged at Hotel Bar in Illinois
Actress Tara Reid filed a police report claiming she was drugged at a DoubleTree Hotel bar in Rosemont, Illinois, and is willing to prosecute.
Takeaways
Reid says she blacked out after a stranger allegedly tampered with her drink and woke up hours later in a hospital.
The incident occurred during her visit to Chicago for Comic Con; authorities are reviewing hotel surveillance footage.
Reid alleges the influencer she met later sent her videos, which she perceived as extortion.
The Rosemont Public Safety Department confirmed the investigation is ongoing.
According to Reid, she had ordered wine before meeting a man identified as Sean P., who later allegedly left a napkin on her drink.
Video from the scene shows Reid disoriented, assisted into a wheelchair, and then taken by paramedics.
She returned to Los Angeles after the hospital visit, warning others to remain cautious with unsupervised drinks. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
8. 🎉 This day in history
On This Day — November 27
Washing Machine Patent, 1894 – Mildred Lord was granted a patent for a washing machine on November 27, 1894, revolutionizing household chores and transforming domestic life with greater efficiency and convenience.
First Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1924 – New York City hosts the inaugural parade, originally called the "Macy's Christmas Parade," featuring employees and zoo animals, establishing a Thanksgiving tradition watched by millions each year.
Assassination of Harvey Milk, 1978 – Gay-rights activist and one of the first openly gay elected officials, Harvey Milk, is assassinated in San Francisco, galvanizing the LGBTQ+ movement and leaving a lasting mark on U.S. civil rights and politics.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🌊🫙 Always Carry a Whistle on Your Keychain
Want a simple way to stay safe? Attach a whistle to your keychain. In an emergency, it’s much louder and more attention-grabbing than yelling. It’s a small tool that can make a big difference in alerting others quickly.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
Share The Nova: Forward this email!
Let us know how we did on the newsletter today!
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
