Ap - The Morning Wire - by Sarah Naffa -May 28,2025 - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urges Poles to elect a Trump ally; and a resurgence of Boko Haram attacks is shaking Nigeria.

 

ADVERTISEMENT View in Browser Policy changes, but facts endure. AP delivers accurate, fact-based journalism to keep the world informed in every administration. Support independent reporting today. Donate. By Sarah Naffa May 28, 2025 In the news today: The State Department has halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students; U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urges Poles to elect a Trump ally; and a resurgence of Boko Haram attacks is shaking Nigeria. Also, an Oregon man who quit his job to sail to Hawaii with his cat sets his sights on their next destination. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on May 21. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) EDUCATION US stops scheduling visa interviews for foreign students while it expands social media vetting The State Department has halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the U.S. while it prepares to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said. Read more. Why this matters: A U.S. official said Tuesday the suspension is intended to be temporary and does not apply to applicants who already had scheduled their visa interviews. The official spoke on condition of anonymity. A cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by The Associated Press says the State Department plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ COVID vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, Kennedy says   Trump set to pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley of fraud and tax evasion convictions   Trump campaign against law firms dealt another setback as judge blocks executive order   Trump administration asks Supreme Court to halt judge’s order on deportations to South Sudan   Judge temporarily blocks Trump from retaliating against New York over congestion toll   Trump administration sues North Carolina over its voter registration records   US consumer confidence rebounds after five straight months of declines amid tariff anxiety   The US and EU are in a showdown over trade. What does Trump want and what can Europe offer?   US government to have control in Nippon Steel-U.S. Steel deal, Trump and Sen. McCormick say   Trump administration orders Michigan coal plant to stay open   Trump Media says investors will fund a company ‘bitcoin reserve’ through share purchases   The Digital Equity Act tried to close the digital divide. Trump calls it racist and acts to end it   The 2028 podcast primary is underway as Democrats try to reshape their image   Abortions canceled again in Missouri after ruling from state Supreme Court   Wisconsin Supreme Court suspends judge who left court to arrest a hospitalized defendant   California opens track-and-field finals to more girls after success of trans athlete   Virginia’s capital is under a boil-water advisory after more water treatment operations issues   Hawaii’s governor signs new hotel tax legislation to help cope with climate change   US Sen. Tommy Tuberville announces 2026 bid for Alabama governor WORLD NEWS Noem urges Poles to elect Trump ally as CPAC holds its first meeting in Poland The Conservative Political Action Conference, the United States’ premier conservative gathering, held its first meeting in Poland on Tuesday, just five days before a tightly contested presidential election between a liberal mayor and a conservative backed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Read more. Why this matters: The two candidates vying to replace Polish President Andrzej Duda offer starkly different visions for Poland: Rafał Trzaskowski, the pro-European Union liberal mayor of Warsaw, and Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by the Law and Justice party who is skeptical of the EU. “We need you to elect the right leader,” Kristi Noem, the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary and a prominent Trump ally, said in a speech at the event. “You will be the leaders that will turn Europe back to conservative values.” Noem also implied that electing Nawrocki would strengthen the U.S.-Poland relationship. CPAC has reached out to other conservative populists with a stated goal of helping grow a global conservative movement. The group has held gatherings in Japan, South Korea, Mexico City, and Israel. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his staff have become regular speakers. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ A look at the candidates running in Poland’s presidential runoff election UK ambassador: ‘We’ve lived in a fantasy created by the US security guarantee’ Tesla’s monthly sales in Europe plunge by half, signaling backlash against Musk runs deep WORLD NEWS Boko Haram’s resurgence: Why Nigeria’s military is struggling to hold the line A resurgence of Boko Haram attacks is shaking Nigeria’s northeast, raising fears of a possible return to peak Boko Haram-era insecurity despite the military’s claims of successes. Read more. Why this matters: Boko Haram, Nigeria’s homegrown jihadis, took up arms in 2009 to fight Western education and impose their radical version of Islamic law. The conflict has spilled into Nigeria’s northern neighbors and resulted in the death of around 35,000 civilians and the displacement of more than 2 million others, according to the United Nations. Federal lawmakers highlight the extremists’ growing sophistication and advanced weaponry, calling on the government to bolster military capabilities. The Nigerian military didn’t respond to a request for comment. At its peak in 2013 and 2014, Boko Haram gained global notoriety after kidnapping 276 Chibok schoolgirls and controlling an area the size of Belgium. While it has lost much of that territory because of military campaigns, the new surge in Boko Haram attacks has raised fears about a possible return to the past. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ US military shifts messaging in Africa, telling allies to prepare to stand more on their own Nigeria has a food security problem as water for crops is harder to find ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Gaza Strip: One killed, 48 wounded when Israeli forces fired on crowd overruning aid site, Gaza officials say Execution: Iran hangs a man convicted of spying for Israel Cyberattacks: Iranian pleads guilty to ransomware attacks that affected Baltimore, other cities Disputed border area: One killed after Thai and Cambodian soldiers briefly clash Las Vegas: Longtime freelance writer is found dead in a container, police say Grammy Award winner: Rick Derringer, who had a hit with ‘Hang On Sloopy’ and produced ‘Weird Al,’ dies at 77 Today in History: In 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act WATCH Spacecraft failure: SpaceX Starship tumbles out of control during reentry in test flight French Polynesia is next: An Oregon man who quit his job to set sail with his cat arrives to cheering fans in Hawaii Brazil: Nuns go viral for beatboxing and dancing live on TV ‘Harry Potter’: HBO series reveals new generation cast for Harry, Ron and Hermione A CHANGE OF PACE Asters in bloom on Long Island, N.Y. (Jessica Damiano via AP)  Chelsea Chop is the catchy new name for a classic gardening technique What's the deal with the Chelsea Chop? It's a newish term in gardening for an old practice. The chop forces plants to produce bushier growth, which results in sturdier, fuller plants. It also delays blooming, which can benefit the late-summer garden. The time for chopping, however, will vary depending on your climate and conditions. Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Sarah SUPPORT THE AP. DONATE.