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Europe is preparing for months or years of disruption as the Iran conflict drives up energy costs and strains supply chains. A divided jury leaves unanswered questions in a case tied to the deadly Abbey Gate bombing, while Elon Musk’s testimony against OpenAI exposes a deeper fight over control of AI’s future.

Oil prices are climbing, currencies are sliding, and new research is reshaping where life might begin.

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The Big Read

EU Warns of Long Iran War Fallout

European leaders warned the Iran war’s fallout could stretch on for months or years, with effects likely to linger well beyond the immediate conflict. Rising energy costs and tightening supply chains are already rippling through economies across the region.

Governments are rolling out emergency measures to soften the blow as pressure builds on households and businesses. Support packages are aimed at stabilizing key industries while trying to contain the impact of higher prices.

Officials are increasingly concerned that prolonged instability could deepen both economic and security challenges. The longer the conflict drags on, the greater the risk of sustained disruption across Europe.

Abbey Gate Verdict Splits the Jury

A federal jury in Virginia convicted a Maryland man of providing material support to the Islamic State group, but failed to reach a verdict on the charge linking him to the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul. The attack killed 13 US service members and about 170 Afghan civilians.

Prosecutors said he operated an online recruitment network tied to the ISIS affiliate that claimed responsibility for the bombing. Jurors could not agree on whether his actions directly connected him to the attack itself.

The judge declared a mistrial on that count, leaving the most serious charge unresolved. The Justice Department must now decide whether to pursue a retrial focused solely on the Abbey Gate allegation.

Musk Takes the Stand Against Altman

Elon Musk returned to the stand for a second day in his lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman, revisiting the company’s early days and arguing its nonprofit mission was abandoned. He is seeking to unwind OpenAI’s shift toward a for-profit structure.

The trial has surfaced internal emails and early discussions around ownership and equity, offering a rare look inside the company’s formation. Testimony has focused on how control and incentives evolved as OpenAI grew.

Altman is expected to testify later this week in the San Francisco courtroom. His appearance could directly address Musk’s claims about the company’s direction and leadership decisions.

World View

Russia Trims Its Big Parade

The Kremlin will scale back Moscow's Victory Day parade on May 9, citing the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes. Tank columns and heavy armor are being drastically reduced for the first time in decades.

Ukraine Hits a Russian Oil Hub

A Ukrainian long range drone strike set a major refinery alight in Russia's Perm region overnight, hundreds of miles from the front line. The hit forced an emergency shutdown of operations at one of the country's largest fuel processors.

Mali Airstrikes Caught on Camera

Newly verified footage shows Russian paramilitary aircraft striking targets in northern Mali as Tuareg rebel columns advanced on government positions. Analysts call the operation Moscow's deepest African intervention of the year.

Need To Know

Knife Photo Surfaces in Dinner Plot

Investigators released images appearing to show the suspect in last weekend's White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting posing with a knife hours before the attack. Federal prosecutors are weighing additional terrorism enhancements against the man, who remains in custody.

FDA Clears Infant Formula

A Food and Drug Administration study found US infant formula brands meet federal safety thresholds for heavy metals and pesticide residues. The agency tested 73 products following parental concern over imported batches.

Transponders Coming to NYC Airport Trucks

Ground vehicles at LaGuardia, Kennedy, and Newark will carry tracking transponders under a new Port Authority rule, following the deadly fire truck collision with an Air Canada jet earlier this year. Controllers will see every vehicle's position in real time.

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Money & Markets

Amazon Posts Its Best Quarter

Amazon reported first quarter profits and sales above Wall Street forecasts, with cloud arm AWS booking its fastest growth in 15 quarters. Shares jumped in after-hours trading.

Meta Boosts AI Spending, Shares Slide

Meta lifted its capital spending forecast to ramp up data centers and AI capacity. The stock dropped as investors focused on the hit to near-term profits from heavier spending.

Iran's Rial Hits Bottom

Iran's currency slid to a record low against the dollar despite the ceasefire holding, with traders citing capital flight and frozen oil sales. The slide tests Tehran's reserves at a fragile moment.

Future Frontiers

Study Suggests Cold Origins for Life

Scientists identified a process that forms key building blocks of life in freezing conditions. The findings widen the search for life to icy environments once considered unlikely.

Japan Airlines Hires Robots

Japan Airlines is testing humanoid robots as ground handlers at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, with two prototypes already loading cargo and pushing wheelchairs. Officials say the trial could scale to other hubs by next year.

ChatGPT Logs Surface in Murder Case

A suspect in the killing of two University of Florida graduate students searched ChatGPT for body disposal tips before fleeing to Bangladesh, prosecutors revealed in court. Records of the chatbot exchange will be entered as evidence.

The Score

Salah Eyes a Late Season Return

Liverpool confirmed Mohamed Salah is on track to return before the Premier League season ends, ending speculation he might miss the run-in. The Egyptian forward has been sidelined six weeks with a hamstring tear.

Justin Simmons Calls It a Career

Two time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons announced his retirement on Wednesday after nine NFL seasons, eight of them in Denver. The Broncos timed the announcement for the tenth anniversary of drafting him in the third round.

Sinner Books Madrid Quarterfinal Spot

World tennis number one Jannik Sinner beat Spanish teenager Rafael Jódar 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Madrid Open quarterfinals. Sinner has not dropped a set on clay this season and meets Casper Ruud on Friday.

Life & Culture

Streep and Hathaway, Still Sharp

Critics gave a warm reception to The Devil Wears Prada 2, released Wednesday, calling Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep undimmed two decades on. Box office tracking suggests a $40 million opening weekend.

Spielberg's UFO Drama Lands Friday

Steven Spielberg's UFO drama Disclosure Day premieres Friday, with star Josh O'Connor crediting the director with a still electric set. Early reviews praise its restraint over spectacle.

Julia Wolf Wants Her Song Back

Alt-pop singer Julia Wolf is asking fans to stop using her ballad In My Room as a viral TikTok sound, calling its appropriation a slap in the face given the song's roots in personal trauma. Her label is reviewing copyright takedowns.

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Deep Dive

Why Europe Is Bracing for a Long Iran Shock

Europe is once again confronting the fragility of its energy system as the Iran conflict threatens to trigger a prolonged economic shock. Officials are preparing for sustained volatility in fuel markets, with higher oil and gas prices feeding into transportation, manufacturing and household costs. The concern extends beyond an initial spike, as lingering instability could keep inflation elevated and weigh on an already uneven recovery.

Governments are moving to contain the immediate impact through coordinated measures, including tapping fuel reserves and supporting energy-intensive industries. These interventions aim to prevent abrupt shutdowns and limit job losses as costs rise. Still, the longer they remain in place, the more they risk stretching public finances already burdened by defense spending, Ukraine support and slower growth.

The crisis is also reshaping how policymakers think about energy security across the bloc. Efforts to accelerate renewables, expand nuclear capacity and strengthen domestic supply are gaining urgency. What had often been framed as climate policy is now being treated as a core economic safeguard.

Even if the conflict proves short-lived, the policy response is likely to outlast it. Governments may push for deeper coordination on energy reserves, supply chains and state aid rules to better withstand future disruptions. The result could be a more interventionist and security-focused energy strategy across Europe.

Extra Bits

- A Wisconsin recycling center posted a hyper-specific 17.3 mph speed limit that turned a routine safety sign into a viral curiosity.

- A Colorado Springs neighborhood spotted a black bear napping in a tree as wildlife sightings increase this season.

- Billie Eilish has turned a Manchester arena residency into a 3D concert film shot with cameras that move with each song's mood, hitting theaters in August.

Today’s Trivia

Despite being the largest planet in the solar system, how long is a single day on Jupiter?

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