Nova Newsletter
November 18, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,738 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Massive Fire Burns at Decommissioned Texas Power Plant
Firefighters battle a massive blaze, November 16, 2025, that broke out at a decommissioned power plant near Galveston, Texas.
A massive fire tore through a decommissioned power plant near Galveston, Texas, sending a huge black smoke plume across multiple cities.
Takeaways:
The blaze ignited early Sunday at the old plant off Highway 146 and spread to two cooling towers and nearby power lines.
No injuries were reported, but residents were urged to avoid the area and limit smoke exposure.
Fire crews from multiple agencies contained the fire by Sunday afternoon, though spot fires continued to flare.
Air quality readings remained safe, but officials maintained warnings due to thick smoke.
Fire officials expect the site, shut down since the 1990s, to be fully extinguished within hours. The cause remains under investigation. Read More
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2. Gunmen Abduct 25 Schoolgirls in Northwest Nigeria
Gunmen seized 25 girls from a boarding school in Kebbi state before dawn Monday, killing at least one staff member.
Takeaways
• Attackers stormed the Maga school around 4 a.m. and overpowered guards.
• Police say the gunmen used sophisticated weapons and fled on motorcycles.
• A search and rescue operation is underway across nearby forests.
• No group has claimed responsibility.
Authorities say the assailants exchanged fire with school guards before forcing the girls from their dorm. One person was killed and another injured, though locals report a second death.
Nigeria’s northwest has seen repeated student kidnappings as armed bandit groups profit from ransom schemes. More than 1,500 students have been abducted since the 2014 Chibok attack.
Officials say recent security measures reduced school raids, but this incident shows major security gaps remain.
More updates are expected as rescue teams advance. Read More
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3. House Explosion in Chino Hills Injures 8 People
This image taken from video provided by KABC shows damaged homes and vehicles as firefighters work on the scene in Chino Hills, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025.
A powerful house explosion in Chino Hills, California injured eight people and damaged nearby homes Sunday.
Takeaways
• Blast reduced the home to rubble and damaged two neighboring houses.
• Fire crews evacuated 16 homes and later stopped a gas leak.
• Four victims were hospitalized, while four others sought care on their own.
• Cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Firefighters say they will stay on scene as overhaul work and inspections continue. Photos showed total structural collapse at the blast site.
Witnesses described people, including crying children, running from the destroyed home moments after the explosion.
Residents whose homes were not impacted were eventually allowed to return. Officials have requested input from the Southern California Gas Company as part of the probe.
Authorities expect more information as investigators work through debris. Read More
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Quick Headlines
People rally against federal immigration enforcement after agents were seen making arrests in multiple locations across Charlotte. (AP video: Erik Verduzco)
Federal agents arrested more than 80 people in Charlotte during an immigration crackdown, sparking protests and fear in Latino communities as reports of aggressive tactics spread across churches, apartments, and businesses. DHS says “sanctuary” policies prompted the surge, while local leaders decry rights violations and community disruption. Read More
Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity over a deadly 2024 student uprising. India refuses extradition. The verdict ignited protests, arson, and heavy security nationwide. Hasina calls the ruling political revenge, while the interim government and rivals hail it as justice. Read More
Ukraine signed a letter of intent with France to obtain up to 100 Rafale warplanes over 10 years, alongside air defence systems, munitions, and drones. The deal aims to strengthen Ukraine’s defences against Russian attacks, with financing potentially via EU programs and frozen Russian assets. Operational training for pilots will take time. Read More
Medicare Parts A and B premiums, deductibles, and copayments will increase in 2026 with Part B premiums up $17.90 to $202.90 and Part A hospital deductible rising $60 to $1,736, affecting millions of beneficiaries including higher-income earners facing additional Part D charges. Read More
Indian investigators identified Umar Un Nabi as the alleged driver of the car that exploded near Delhi’s Red Fort last week, killing 10 and injuring 32, while his family home in Kashmir was demolished and relatives detained during the probe. Read More
Austin Robert Drummond is set for his first court appearance in Lake County after being indicted for killing four relatives and kidnapping a baby in Tiptonville, Tennessee, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty if convicted. Authorities say he evaded capture for a week before being arrested in Jackson. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Trump reverses stance on Epstein files as House GOP prepares revolt
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has managed to outmaneuver the president despite Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson trying to hold him off for months. | Anna Rose Layden for POLITICO
President Donald Trump reversed his opposition to releasing Justice Department records on Jeffrey Epstein as House Republicans gear up to defy his instructions.
Takeaways
Trump called on House Republicans to vote for disclosure, framing it as a way to move past a “Democrat Hoax.”
Bipartisan momentum led by Rep. Thomas Massie has made a floor vote nearly inevitable despite White House pressure.
Roughly 100 House Republicans are expected to break ranks, reflecting waning Trump influence on the chamber.
Democrats coordinate with Senate allies, keeping pressure on GOP leaders who have not committed to a vote.
The episode underscores Trump’s political vulnerability on ethically sensitive issues and the growing importance of post-2028 calculations for GOP lawmakers.
Months of maneuvering collapsed as Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson failed to block a measure compelling the Justice Department to release Epstein files. Trump publicly attacked Massie and spurned allies like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, yet Republican defections only grew.
Massie’s bipartisan coalition includes conservative hard-liners, moderates, and swing-district Republicans, signaling broad support. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a senior Rules Committee member, said she supports a vote, citing transparency: “I’m a big full disclosure person. I have nothing to hide.”
Democratic coordination intensifies the pressure. Sen. Jeff Merkley is working with Massie on the Senate side, while Sen. Chuck Schumer urged Trump to release the files directly. GOP leaders fear a House passage could force a politically awkward vote in the Senate.
Trump’s struggle illustrates his eroding control over the House. Republicans have recently resisted his demands on key legislation and nominees, and the Epstein vote shows that ethical concerns can override loyalty in red districts.
The vote expected Tuesday could redefine internal GOP dynamics and set a precedent for accountability in politically sensitive investigations. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. New York Police Seek Suspect in Shooting of Jets' Kris Boyd
New York Jets' Kris Boyd (17) participates during an NFL football practice in Florham Park, N.J., Thursday, May 29, 2025. AP Photo/Seth Wenig
New York police are searching for a suspect after Jets cornerback and special teams standout Kris Boyd was shot in midtown Manhattan. Boyd remains in critical but stable condition.
Takeaways
• Shooting occurred just after 2 a.m. Sunday on West 38th Street near Seventh Avenue.
• Boyd, 29, was shot in the abdomen and taken to Bellevue Hospital.
• Police released surveillance images of a suspect; no arrests have been made.
• Motive is under investigation, and it’s unclear if Boyd was targeted.
Police say the gunman fired two shots after a dispute with Boyd and fled in a BMW X8 SUV, with a Mercedes-Maybach also leaving the scene. Boyd has not played this season after a shoulder injury placed him on season-ending injured reserve.
Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson asked fans to pray for Boyd’s recovery on X. Authorities continue their search for the shooter. Read More
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6. Man Jailed in Singapore for Grabbing Ariana Grande
A 26-year-old Australian man, Johnson Wen, was sentenced to nine days in prison for grabbing Ariana Grande at the Asia premiere of Wicked: For Good in Singapore.
Takeaways
• Wen jumped barriers and grabbed Grande’s shoulders while jumping up and down.
• He has a history of disrupting concerts and celebrity events, including Katy Perry and The Weeknd shows.
• Prosecutors called him a “serial intruder” seeking online attention; maximum penalty under Singapore law is three months or a fine.
• Grande has not commented, while co-star Cynthia Erivo helped restrain Wen at the event.
Wen attempted to breach the premiere twice, posting videos online afterward. Police arrested him the next day; he pleaded guilty. Security measures and legal action in Singapore reflect strict enforcement of public nuisance laws. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
On This Day — November 18
Push-Button Phones, 1963 – Bell Systems introduces push-button telephones in the United States, replacing rotary dials and modernizing home and business communication.
Jonestown Mass Suicide, 1978 – Over 900 members of the Peoples Temple cult die in Jonestown, Guyana, in a mass suicide and murder orchestrated by leader Jim Jones.
One Direction Debut Album, 2011 – British-Irish group One Direction releases their first album "Up All Night" in Ireland and the UK, launching their international pop career.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
𖣘 💡 Use a Pillowcase to Clean Ceiling Fans
Dusty ceiling fans driving you crazy? Slip an old pillowcase over each blade before wiping. As you slide the pillowcase along, the dust stays trapped inside instead of falling all over the room. It’s a simple trick that makes fan cleaning cleaner and quicker.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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