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The Federal Reserve is under a lot of scrutiny right now, especially with Trump’s public pressure to cut interest rates. While some officials might push back internally, the article suggests the Fed is unlikely to bend to political demands—at least not yet.

Editor’s Note: The Fed’s decisions on interest rates affect everything from your mortgage to the stock market. If they cave to political pressure, it could shake confidence in their independence—so this isn’t just inside baseball for economists. It’s about whether the central bank can stay focused on the economy, not the noise.

A tragic shooting in a prominent Midtown Manhattan skyscraper has left five people dead, according to authorities. The high-rise houses offices for major companies like Blackstone, the NFL, and KPMG, though it’s unclear if the attack was targeted or random. Police are actively investigating the scene.

Editor’s Note: Shootings in high-profile business districts shake public confidence and spotlight ongoing debates about gun control and workplace safety. When violence hits a hub of corporate power like Midtown Manhattan, it reverberates beyond the immediate tragedy—raising questions about security in seemingly secure spaces and the broader societal toll of gun violence.

Investors are snapping up Japan’s two-year government bonds like hotcakes—demand just hit its highest level since October. Why? Because yields (the returns you get) are creeping close to their highest point in 15 years, making these bonds a lot more tempting than they’ve been in a while.

Editor’s Note: When bond demand jumps like this, it’s a sign investors see value in locking in these higher returns, even if it’s just for a couple of years. For Japan, it’s a vote of confidence in its debt market, but it also hints that folks are bracing for interest rates to stay higher for longer. If you’re watching global finance, this is a pulse check on how investors feel about risk and reward right now.

China is rolling out a new nationwide program that gives parents a one-time payment of $1,500 per child, marking its first-ever cash incentive aimed at encouraging more births. The move comes as the country faces a shrinking population and aging workforce, with birth rates hitting record lows despite scrapping its strict one-child policy years ago.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about handing out cash—it’s a sign of how serious China’s demographic crunch has become. With fewer young people to support an aging population, the government’s scrambling to avoid long-term economic slowdowns. But whether $1,500 is enough to change anyone’s mind about having kids… well, that’s the big question.

Tak Niinami, the head of Suntory Holdings, weighs in on the new U.S.-Japan trade deal, which slaps a 15% tariff on Japanese imports like cars while securing a $550 billion Japanese investment in the U.S. and more purchases of American farm goods. He’s talking about how this could shake things up for Japanese businesses—some sectors might struggle with higher costs, while others could benefit from smoother trade ties.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about tariffs—it’s a big reshuffle in how Japan and the U.S. do business. For Japanese companies, especially automakers, those new import taxes could sting. But the deal also opens doors for investment and agriculture trade, which might soften the blow. Niinami’s perspective matters because he’s a major player in Japan’s corporate world, and his take hints at how businesses might adapt (or push back). If you’re watching global trade, this is another ripple in the post-Trump, post-Ishiba economic landscape.