Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,063 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• India and Pakistan conflict heats up

• Stock market trends up

• World Food Photography Awards

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Big Story

The Bone Collector

Scientists have discovered a bizarre carnivorous caterpillar dubbed the "bone collector" that raids spider webs, eats trapped insects, and wears their dismembered body parts as camouflage.

• The newly documented species from Hawaii's Wai'anae Mountains decorates its silk case with insect remains, carefully examining each potential body fragment with its mandibles, then chewing larger pieces down to the perfect size.

• The caterpillar creates this grisly disguise to trick spiders into overlooking it as it moves through their webs. When spiders detect vibrations, they rush out only to find what appears to be already-consumed prey or parts of themselves, allowing the caterpillar to feed on trapped insects undisturbed.

• The caterpillar is exceptionally rare, with researchers finding only 62 specimens over 22 years of fieldwork, all confined to a tiny 15-square-kilometer area on Oahu. It belongs to the moth genus Hyposmocoma, which has over 600 species that spin protective cases, but the bone collector is the only one known to exclusively use insect body parts.

Big Story

“Vladimir, STOP!”

Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Kyiv's residential areas, killing at least 12.

• The attack included nearly 70 missiles and approximately 150 attack drones targeting multiple Ukrainian districts. At least 80 people were wounded, and rescue workers are still digging through the rubble of residential buildings searching for survivors.

• President Trump responded by publicly demanding, "Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!" on Truth Social. He later told a reporter he thinks Putin would heed his call.

• The strike comes during intensified peace negotiations, with White House officials reportedly pressuring Ukraine to accept a plan that might include ceding territory in Crimea to Russia.

• President Zelenskyy, who cut short his trip to South Africa following the attack, stated he doesn't see signs of strong US pressure on Russia.

Big Story

India-Pakistan Tensions

A deadly attack killing 26 mostly Indian tourists near Pahalgam in Indian-controlled Kashmir has triggered a severe diplomatic crisis between India and Pakistan.

• India immediately blamed Pakistan (without publicly producing evidence), while a previously unknown group called "Kashmir Resistance" claimed responsibility for the Tuesday attack.

• In response to the attack, India has implemented harsh measures, including downgrading diplomatic ties, suspending the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, revoking visas for Pakistani nationals, and reducing diplomatic staff. Pakistan retaliated by canceling Indian visas, suspending all trade, and closing its airspace to Indian aircraft.

• The water treaty suspension could be a potentially dangerous escalation - Pakistan warned Thursday that any attempt to stop or divert water flow would be considered an "act of war."

• The confrontation adds to a history of violence between the nuclear-armed neighbors who have fought two wars over Kashmir. (Read about the history of the conflict here)

Quick Stories

US News

• The USDA has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have required poultry companies to limit salmonella bacteria in their products by testing for six strains most associated with the illness. (More)

• Federal Judge Kollar-Kotelly blocked Trump's administration from requiring citizenship proof for voter registration, calling it an attempt to bypass Congress's deliberative process. (More)

• A court sentenced Robert Crimo III to life in prison without parole for killing 7 and injuring dozens in a 2022 mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois. (More)

World

• Indonesia's free school meal program isn’t going according to plan as nearly 80 students from two high schools in Cianjur fell ill this week. The initiative was introduced to help prevent stunting, a condition caused by malnutrition. (More)

• The European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of three French women who were raped as teens, agreeing that French authorities failed to protect them. The verdict intensifies France's national debate on including consent in sexual offense laws. (More)

• Two Belgian teens face sentencing on May 7 after Kenyan authorities caught them with 5,000 ants worth €8,000, intended for European and Asian markets. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Thursday (S&P +2.03%, Nasdaq +2.74%, Dow +1.23%). Tech stocks fueled market gains while the S&P has finished higher for three straight sessions. (More)

• The housing market recorded its worst March since 2009, burdened by high borrowing costs and weak consumer confidence. Home sales dropped 5.9% from February to an annualized rate of 4 million units. (More)

• US spirit exports hit a record $2.4 billion in 2024, driven by tariff concerns and global trade disputes. Exports to the EU jumped 39% as distillers rushed shipments before the potential return of a 50% American whiskey tariff in 2025. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Tennessee Titans selected former Miami Quarterback Cameron Ward with the first pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Jacksonville traded up to take two-way Heisman winner Travis Hunter from Colorado. (See complete draft list here)

• Five-star basketball prospect and USC commit Alijah Arenas was placed in a medically-induced coma after his Tesla Cybertruck crashed into a fire hydrant and tree Thursday. Arenas is the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas. (More)

• Shannon Sharpe will temporarily step aside from ESPN to fight a $50 million rape lawsuit, calling the allegations "false and disruptive." He plans to return for NFL preseason coverage. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Chess.com celebrated its 20th birthday by surpassing 200 million members. The platform hosts over 6 million daily chess games. (More)

• New research shows exercise protects brain function even when the body can't produce ketones, a critical energy source for cognition. (More)

• Scientists discovered a magma cap at Yellowstone National Park that acts as a lid, trapping pressure and heat below the surface. The cap prevents a massive eruption in one of the world's largest active volcanic systems. (More)

Extra Credit

🐟️ Why are people paying $300K for a fish?

📸 Check out the 2025 World Food Photography Awards shortlist. 

🍎 Watch: How bad data led to the myth of the healthy “blue zones.”

🏋️‍♂️ Your exercise routine could be hurting your sleep.