Mohammed bin Salman White House F-35 Deal, US College International Student Drop, Cloudflare Outage, Nigeria Schoolgirls Kidnapped

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Summarized Transcript: 

Good morning, everyone. It is Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Here are the stories we’re praying about today:

1. Saudi Crown Prince MBS Visits White House Amid F-35 Sale Announcement

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Washington today, for his first White House visit in seven years, aiming to rebuild U.S.-Saudi ties on security, energy, and technology. President Trump confirmed the U.S. will sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, despite Pentagon concerns over technology risks to Israel and potential Chinese access. The talks include multibillion-dollar AI infrastructure investments and civil nuclear cooperation. The deal underscores America's strategic partnership amid Middle East tensions.

2. U.S. Universities Face 17% Drop in New International Student Enrollment

New international student enrollments at U.S. universities fell 17% this fall, the steepest non-pandemic decline in over a decade, according to the Institute of International Education's November 17, 2025, report surveying 825 institutions. Visa delays, denials, and Trump administration policies are primary factors, with 57% of schools reporting decreases. The drop threatens cultural diversity, financial stability, and economic contributions, estimated at $43 billion annually. While overall enrollment dipped only 1%, experts warn of long-term impacts for 2026-2027.

3. Cloudflare Outage Disrupts Major Services Including ChatGPT and X

Cloudflare resolved a global outage today that disrupted services like ChatGPT, X (formerly Twitter), League of Legends, Spotify, Shopify, and New Jersey Transit, with thousands of reports on Downdetector. The issue stemmed from a configuration change in Cloudflare's bot mitigation service, causing Error 500s and connectivity failures. Platforms like OpenAI and Riot Games confirmed impacts but reported full recovery. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in shared internet infrastructure.

4. Gunmen Abduct 25 Girls from Nigerian Boarding School, Kill Vice Principal

Armed gunmen raided a girls' boarding school in Maga, Kebbi State, Nigeria, on November 17, 2025, abducting 25 female students and killing the vice principal around 4 a.m., police reported. The attackers exchanged fire with guards using sophisticated weapons before fleeing; no group claimed responsibility. This incident echoes the 2014 Chibok kidnapping, amid rising bandit abductions in northwest Nigeria for ransom. The government vowed to secure the girls' release and bring perpetrators to justice.

So let’s pray…

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Sources: 

1. Saudi Crown Prince MBS Visits White House Amid F-35 Sale Announcement 
2. U.S. Universities Face 17% Drop in New International Student Enrollment 
3. Cloudflare Outage Disrupts Major Services Including ChatGPT and X
4. Gunmen Abduct 25 Girls from Nigerian Boarding School, Kill Vice Principal