The US economy added 115,000 jobs last month, more than double economists’ expectations, but consumer confidence hit (yet another) record low.

The ultra-strong hiring performance was once again driven by the healthcare industry, which reflects the US’s aging population. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Although job growth significantly exceeded forecasts… there were some losses too. Federal payrolls decreased for the 19th straight month, and information employment, which includes telecommunications, publishing, and data processing, is now down 11% from its peak in November 2022 (when ChatGPT was released).

Despite unemployment holding steady, quite a few Americans still don’t feel stable in the current economy. In April:

And, worst of all, Americans are feeling even more bitter about the economy this month. Consumer sentiment fell to a record low largely thanks to soaring gas prices, which are at their highest level since 2022 (see previous briefing), and are adding to growing cost-of-living stress.

There could be a silver lining: Given the overall strength of the labor market, inflation data could be the deciding factor for the Federal Reserve’s upcoming interest rate decision, potentially paving the way for an interest rate cut, though the situation in Iran may muddle things.

We’re tracking this issue live on NextGen+. Click the button below to see its status, momentum, and other key developments.

Canvas, a digital education platform, went offline for hours last week after its parent company got hit with a massive cyberattack, timing that couldn’t have been worse with finals underway.

The series of cyberattacks was the result of a targeted assault by the ransomware group known as ShinyHunters, who claimed responsibility for the incident late last week (who are ShinyHunters?).

Instructure, the company behind Canvas, is one of the most widely used online learning platforms in the US and serves more than 40% of colleges and universities. It was a big deal:

After dealing with the initial security issues on Wednesday, officials shut the platform down on Thursday after a ransom note suddenly appeared on students’ screens (see here).

What data does ShinyHunters have? Instructure said that the hackers were able to access some student IDs, names, email addresses, and messages exchanged on Canvas, and that they could be compromised.

Will the data be leaked? ShinyHunters reportedly warned some school officials that they would need to negotiate a settlement by today or the stolen data would be released.

Yesterday, President Trump announced that the ongoing ceasefire between the US and Iran is on "life support" after rejecting the country’s newest peace proposal, raising concerns of further conflict.

Iran’s latest counteroffer, which Trump described as “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” reportedly demanded an end to all sanctions, war reparations from the US, and complete control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, President Trump maintains that the month-old ceasefire is still holding as both parties manage peace talks, despite a recent series of strikes:

What else is going on? The US is also blockading Iran’s ports in the Strait of Hormuz, an initiative known as “Project Freedom” (see press release), which aims to protect commercial ships in the crucial waterway. While the US is continuing to blockade Iran’s ports in an attempt to cut off 90% of Iran’s oil export capacity and force the country to the negotiating table, President Trump recently paused the initiative amid peace talks.

Not to mention… a leaked CIA report stated that Iran could sustain itself for up to four months under a US naval blockade before it faces extreme economic pressure.

We’re tracking this issue live on NextGen+. Click the button below to see its status, momentum, and other key developments.

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As tech stocks continue to dominate the market, AI-adjacent companies have parlayed some of that success into their own historic run.

Outside of the obvious AI giants, like Nvidia, Seagate, AMD, and the Magnificent Seven, some (relatively) smaller firms semi-removed from the AI sphere are experiencing a more than memorable breakthrough:

Thanks (in part) to Samsung, South Korea has been on a tear: The country’s benchmark index, the Kospi, is up 78% this year versus 8% for the S&P 500, which is the US’s benchmark index. The rally also pushed Seoul past the UK and Canada to become the seventh-largest stock market in the world.

But, there are some warning signs… Bloomberg’s Jonathan Levin says the Kospi is starting to look like a “single-industry index,” since electronics dominate the market. Not to mention, Samsung and its main competitor, SK Hynix, make up more than 40% of it.

After a hantavirus outbreak hit an Atlantic cruise ship carrying nearly 150 people, many passengers, including Americans, have now returned home. However, some have come back showing symptoms of the lethal virus, leaving some worried about a potential second pandemic.

Since the MV Hondius left Argentina last month, three passengers have died, and several others have gotten sick, with at least 13 hantavirus cases now confirmed across four countries.

Now, as almost all of the passengers of the MV Hondius have disembarked, at least 18 Americans have returned home, some with symptoms. Infections from the disease are uncommon, and there are typically fewer than 1,000 cases per year in the US.

How does the virus work? People typically contract hantavirus by coming into contact with rodent droppings or inhaling contaminated particles, but the rare Andes strain is the only known version capable of spreading between humans. The virus can take up to eight weeks to show flu-like symptoms, and there are currently no targeted treatments available.

So is this the next COVID-19? Likely not. Health experts say there’s little risk of a hantavirus pandemic since it doesn’t spread easily between people and doesn’t mutate as rapidly as COVID did. Researchers say warmer temperatures may be boosting rodent populations, as decades-long efforts to develop a vaccine continue.

> A proposed lawsuit filed in California is accusing food manufacturer Cento Fine Foods of "tomato fraud," alleging the company falsely labels its products as certified San Marzano tomatoes.

> New research reveals that dinosaur parents were remarkably nurturing and potentially brought their hatchlings "baby food" like fruit and soft plants while the adults ate tougher, lower-quality vegetation.

> A growing number of young people in South Korea and China are undergoing cosmetic procedures to make their ears more prominent, a look known as "elf ears" that is believed to make the face appear slimmer and more youthful.

> New research shows that the unconscious brain is capable of “listening" and understanding complex language while under general anesthesia, even without a patient's memory or awareness of the event.

> United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby was recently spotted flying in American Airlines First Class on a trip to Dallas, sparking online criticism. However, Kirby said he received lifetime personal travel benefits on American after he departed the company in 2016.