U.S. labor market shows resilience with 115,000 jobs added while tech layoffs surge; tariff legal defeats and Middle East tensions roil markets and trade flows.

U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April with unemployment holding steady at 4.3%, though rising male labor force exits and AI-related layoffs are testing social safety nets amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

A federal court dealt another blow to Trump's tariff agenda, ruling against a 10% global import tax imposed after a Supreme Court defeat, undermining his leverage ahead of planned China trade negotiations.

U.S. container imports fell 5.5% in April—the first decline since 2022—as tariff uncertainty and disruptions from the Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz tensions weigh heavily on international trade flows.

Oil prices surged with Brent crude gaining 3% amid escalating Iran-U.S. military tensions, driving broader energy market volatility and contributing to inflation concerns from fuel price hikes in Pakistan and globally.

Tech sector AI integration is eliminating jobs faster than expected, with Cloudflare reporting 1,100 positions made obsolete despite record revenue, while Oracle and other firms resist improved severance negotiations for laid-off workers.

Stock markets reached record highs Friday with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq driven by technology gains and positive jobs data, though geopolitical risks and trade policy uncertainty create underlying volatility in investor sentiment.

Justice Department settled a case against Agri Stats requiring the meat industry data provider to broaden client access and pay fines, aiming to reduce food costs through reduced pricing data monopolization.

Pakistan's government raised petrol prices by Rs14.92 and diesel by Rs15 per liter amid global energy shocks, while the IMF approved a $1.2 billion financing tranche contingent on continued fiscal and energy reforms.

Trump announced plans to fire FDA Commissioner Marty Makary over policy disagreements on vaping, abortion pills, and drug approvals, signaling internal administration conflicts despite the commissioner's broader health movement alignment.

A lawsuit alleges Lucky Strike Entertainment has built a bowling monopoly by driving up prices and degrading customer experiences across multiple states, representing growing antitrust concerns in entertainment leisure sectors.