Trump says Coca-Cola agreed to use real cane sugar in US

The S&P 500 hit another record high today as investors cheered strong corporate earnings, but the mood wasn’t all sunshine—former President Trump’s comments about slapping new tariffs on over 150 countries sent the dollar climbing, stirring fresh worries about trade tensions.

Editor’s Note: Markets are riding a wave of optimism from solid earnings, but Trump’s tariff talk is a reminder that geopolitical risks haven’t gone away. For everyday folks, this could mean pricier imports down the line, while investors are left weighing whether the earnings boom can outweigh the potential trade headaches.

A federal judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump's abrupt firing of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner violated the law, siding with arguments that such dismissals can't be politically motivated under the agency's independence protections. The decision reinforces limits on presidential power over independent agencies.

In Mazda's hometown in Japan, voters are feeling pretty pessimistic about getting any relief from tariffs that are hurting the local car industry. Despite hopes for government intervention or trade negotiations, there’s a growing sense that little will change—leaving workers and businesses stuck in a tough spot.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about Mazda—it’s a snapshot of how global trade tensions trickle down to real communities. If tariffs stick around, jobs and local economies could take a hit, and voters are losing faith that leaders can (or will) fix it. For car towns like this one, the stakes are high.

Japan’s inflation rate dipped slightly, giving the Bank of Japan (BOJ) a bit of breathing room. But don’t break out the champagne just yet—food prices are still climbing, and that’s keeping policymakers on edge. It’s a mixed bag: some relief on the horizon, but not enough to call off the fight against rising costs.

Editor’s Note: Inflation cooling down sounds like good news, right? Well, sort of. While the overall trend is easing, everyday essentials like groceries are still pinching wallets, which means the BOJ isn’t out of the woods. This story matters because Japan’s economy has been stuck in a low-inflation rut for years, and now that prices are finally moving, getting the balance right is tricky. Too much tightening could stall growth, but ignoring stubborn food inflation risks leaving households squeezed. It’s a high-stakes tightrope walk.

California is taking legal action against the Trump administration over its attempt to reclaim $4 billion in federal funds previously allocated for the state’s high-speed rail project. The state argues the move is politically motivated and undermines a critical infrastructure initiative, while the federal government claims California failed to meet project deadlines.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about money—it’s a high-stakes clash over who controls major infrastructure projects and whether federal funding can be yanked after it’s been granted. If the feds succeed, it could set a troubling precedent for other states relying on federal dollars for big-ticket projects. For Californians, it’s another hurdle for a rail plan that’s already faced delays and cost overruns, leaving the future of high-speed travel in the state even murkier.