ATHENS, Greece — Kimberly Guilfoyle, the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Greece and a prominent figure in President Donald Trump’s inner circle, met with Archbishop Ieronymos II, the head of Greece’s Orthodox Church, on Thursday. This marked one of her first significant engagements since assuming her diplomatic role in Athens. Guilfoyle, a former California prosecutor and Fox News host who was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr., expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve in Greece, emphasizing the importance of strengthening U.S.-Greece relations. During the meeting, she revealed that Archbishop Ieronymos was the first person she contacted after her nomination, describing the conversation as a spiritually enriching experience. The 56-year-old ambassador, who presented her credentials to Greece’s president on November 4, highlighted her commitment to fostering a blossoming relationship between the two nations. Archbishop Ieronymos extended his appreciation to President Trump for the opportunity to enhance bilateral ties and offered prayers for the U.S. leader. Guilfoyle’s visit underscores the significance of religious and diplomatic collaboration in advancing mutual goals.
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Nigeria cancels mother-tongue teaching in primary schools and reverts to English
The Nigerian government has decided to scrap a contentious education policy that mandated the use of indigenous languages for teaching in early schooling, reinstating English as the primary medium of instruction. Introduced three years ago by former Education Minister Adamu Adamu, the policy aimed to enhance learning by teaching children in their mother tongue, a method supported by UN studies on early childhood education. However, current Education Minister Tunji Alausa announced the policy’s immediate cancellation, citing its failure to deliver expected academic outcomes. Data from key examination bodies, including the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO), and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), revealed significant academic underperformance in regions that adopted the mother-tongue approach. The decision has sparked mixed reactions. While some, like education expert Dr. Aliyu Tilde, support the reversal, arguing Nigeria lacks the resources and trained teachers to implement such a policy effectively, others believe the policy was abandoned too soon. Critics, including social affairs analyst Habu Dauda, contend that the initiative required more time, investment, and support to succeed. The debate underscores Nigeria’s struggle to balance its linguistic heritage with the practical demands of a globalized economy where English proficiency is paramount. The policy reversal highlights broader challenges in Nigeria’s education system, including poor teaching quality, inadequate resources, and low teacher pay, which have contributed to high dropout rates and millions of children out of school.
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Single checkpoint, 6 countries: ‘One-stop’ GCC air-travel system explained
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has introduced a groundbreaking ‘one-stop’ air-travel system, set to revolutionize intra-regional travel for Gulf citizens. This innovative initiative, which merges immigration and security checks into a single checkpoint, aims to simplify travel across the six GCC member states: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. The system will be piloted between the UAE and Bahrain starting December 2025, with plans for full implementation across the region.
The ‘one-stop’ system allows eligible passengers to complete all necessary checks—including immigration, security, and potentially customs—before departure. Upon arrival, travelers can collect their baggage and exit the airport without further formalities, mirroring the experience of domestic flights. This streamlined process is designed to eliminate redundant checks and enhance travel efficiency.
While the initial phase is limited to Gulf nationals, officials have hinted at the possibility of expanding eligibility to resident expatriates in future phases. The system complements the upcoming unified GCC tourist visa, which will enable international visitors to travel freely across all six member states with a single entry permit.
Unlike country-specific e-gates or smart gates, the ‘one-stop’ model represents a collaborative effort among GCC countries to create a seamless travel experience. Operational details, such as dedicated lanes and signage, will be announced closer to the rollout. The pilot phase will focus on international airports in the UAE and Bahrain, with expansion to other GCC states contingent on the success of the initial trial.
This initiative underscores the GCC’s commitment to fostering regional integration and boosting tourism, making travel within the Gulf as effortless as moving between cities in the same country.
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K-pop group NewJeans returns to label ADOR; ex-CEO Min Hee Jin assures support
In a significant development within the K-pop industry, all five members of the globally acclaimed group NewJeans have opted to return to their label, ADOR, following a court ruling in late October 2025. The decision comes after a tumultuous period marked by legal disputes and public revelations about the group’s relationship with their former CEO, Min Hee Jin, who was ousted from her position in 2024. The conflict escalated when NewJeans attempted to form an independent group under the name NJZ, prompting ADOR to seek a legal injunction. The South Korean court ultimately ruled in favor of ADOR, leading to the group’s return. On November 12, ADOR confirmed that the two youngest members, Haerin and Hyein, had decided to rejoin the label after consultations with their families. Shortly after, the remaining members—Minji, Hanni, and Danielle—also announced their return. Min Hee Jin, who has been a maternal figure to the group, publicly supported their decision, emphasizing the importance of unity among the five members. She praised their courage and expressed her commitment to their happiness, urging fans to continue supporting the group. Min also addressed the ongoing legal battles between herself and HYBE, as well as between ADOR and NewJeans, describing it as a challenging period but clarifying that these issues are separate from the group’s future. She remains optimistic about her own path forward, vowing to uncover the truth through her legal efforts.
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World University Presidents Forum in Hangzhou discusses AI in education
The 2025 World University Presidents Forum, held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, brought together over 170 leaders from academia, government, and industry across 40 countries to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. Co-hosted by the China Association of Higher Education and Zhejiang University (ZJU), the forum emphasized the need for innovation, ethical considerations, and global collaboration in integrating AI into teaching, learning, and university governance. Vice-Minister of Education Ren Youqun highlighted the importance of risk prevention, expanded data access, and ethical rationality as AI continues to evolve. A key outcome of the forum was the launch of the Global University Collaborative Mechanism for Innovation in AI Education and Teaching, which includes 78 founding member universities from China and abroad. This initiative will publish a white paper on AI literacy, develop global open courses, and introduce ‘AI+X’ micro-programs under the STEP (Start, Train, Explore, Progress) framework. ZJU President Ma Yanming shared insights into the university’s AI STEP Initiative, which aims to foster AI-empowered education and cultivate students as innovators. Concurrently, the 2025 International Forum on Higher Education released the Hangzhou Initiative, advocating for human–machine collaboration in talent cultivation, intelligent research paradigms, AI-enhanced governance, and global innovation in education. Ren Shaobo, Chairman of the ZJU Council, reiterated the university’s commitment to nurturing innovative talent and exploring AI-driven governance models. UNESCO’s Shahbaz Khan underscored the broader societal impact of AI, emphasizing its potential to support equity, sustainability, and peace. The forum marked a significant step toward reshaping global higher education in the AI era.
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Dubai becomes key US investment hub, supporting 184,000 American jobs
Dubai has solidified its position as a pivotal hub for American investments, supporting approximately 184,000 jobs in the United States, according to UAE government estimates. This significant figure underscores Dubai’s growing role as a gateway for US businesses expanding into the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and beyond. The findings were highlighted during the Dubai Business Forum – USA in New York, which attracted around 700 attendees and showcased the deepening economic ties between Dubai and the US. A report by Dubai Chambers further revealed that trade between the two regions has surged, with Dubai’s exports to the US increasing by 76% from $5.2 billion in 2018 to $9.3 billion in 2024, while imports grew by 34% to $22.3 billion. Over the past decade, the US has become Dubai’s top source of foreign direct investment (FDI), with $21.7 billion channeled into 1,474 projects across sectors such as tourism, IT, business services, and communications. Dubai’s strategic advantages, including its world-class logistics, connectivity, and business-friendly policies, have made it an attractive destination for American companies. Additionally, Dubai’s leadership in digital transformation and blockchain regulation has drawn significant interest from US tech firms and entrepreneurs, further cementing its status as a global innovation hub.
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Apple launches Digital ID feature in Wallet for US customers
Apple has launched a groundbreaking Digital ID feature in its Wallet app, enabling US customers to create and present a digital identification using their passport information. This innovation, currently in beta, is initially accepted at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints across over 250 US airports for domestic travel. While the feature offers a secure and convenient way to carry identification on iPhones or Apple Watches, Apple emphasizes that it does not replace physical passports and is not valid for international travel or border crossings.
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Bridge to a Shared Future: Carrying on the Snow legacy to bridge China and US
The documentary ‘Bridge to a Shared Future,’ which premiered on November 7 and 8 in Los Angeles, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah, revisits the historic journey of Edgar Snow, Helen Foster Snow, and other international friends who documented China’s societal transformations during the 1930s amid the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). Through the lens of Adam Foster, chairman of the Helen Foster Snow Foundation and a modern-day torchbearer of the Snows’ legacy, the film retraces their path, highlighting the enduring spirit of cross-cultural understanding and cooperation. The event underscores the importance of fostering mutual respect and collaboration between China and the United States, building on the Snows’ pioneering efforts to bridge the two nations. The documentary serves as a timely reminder of the power of shared narratives in strengthening international ties.
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Salik’s net profit jumps 39% due to higher toll usage, fines
Salik Company, Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, has announced a significant 39.1% increase in net profit for the first nine months of 2025, reaching Dh1.14 billion. This growth is attributed to higher toll usage fees, increased fines, and new tag activations. Total revenue for the same period rose by 38.6% year-on-year to Dh2.275 billion, with a 36.9% increase in Q3 2025 alone. EBITDA also saw a substantial 42% growth, amounting to Dh1,583.7 billion, resulting in a margin of 69.6%. The company’s core tolling business recorded 470.5 million chargeable trips, with 152.2 million completed in Q3 2025. Toll usage fees surged by 41.5% year-on-year to Dh2.01 billion, driven by the new variable pricing structure introduced in January 2025 and the addition of two new toll gates. Revenue from fines increased by 18.2% year-on-year to Dh206.7 million, with Q3 2025 fines growing by 23.3% to Dh72.4 million. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, attributed the strong performance to Dubai’s economic growth and the company’s resilient business model. Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad, CEO, highlighted the success of strategic initiatives and digital partnerships in driving ancillary revenues.
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Police offer bounty for clues about 2 Taiwan online influencers
Authorities in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, have announced a reward for information leading to the capture of two Taiwanese online influencers accused of promoting national division and separatist activities. The individuals in question, Wen Tzu-yu (known as Pa Chiung) and Chen Po-yuan (known as Minnan Wolf), are alleged to have disseminated rhetoric advocating Taiwan’s independence from mainland China and reliance on the United States. The police have offered rewards ranging from 50,000 to 250,000 yuan ($6,880 to $34,400) for credible information aiding their apprehension. Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, emphasized that the duo’s actions have a ‘vile influence,’ targeting mainland policies and individuals supporting peaceful cross-Strait relations. This move follows a similar bounty issued in October by Xiamen police targeting 18 members of Taiwan’s military psychological warfare unit for their involvement in separatist activities. The authorities have called on citizens on both sides of the Strait to oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ and assist in maintaining national unity.