U.S. stocks closed at an all-time high Friday, another milestone in the market’s remarkable recovery from a springtime plunge caused by fears that the Trump administration’s trade policies could harm the economy. The S&P 500 rose 0.5%, finishing above its previous record set in February. The key measure of Wall Street’s health fell nearly 20% from February 19 through April 8. The market’s complete turnaround from its deep swoon happened in about half the time that it normally takes, said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. “Investors will breathe a sigh of relief,” he said. The Nasdaq composite gained 0.5% and set its own all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1%.

President Trump on Friday claimed he saved Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from an “ugly” and “ignominious” death after the U.S. bombed three Iranian nuclear sites last Saturday. “Why would the so-called ‘Supreme Leader,’ Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, of the war torn Country of Iran, say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the War with Israel, when he knows his statement is a lie, it is not so,” Trump wrote in a lengthy post on Truth Social. “His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life,” he continued.

Asked in the Oval Office about the potential of a ceasefire deal between Israel and leaders in Gaza, Trump said that one could go into effect “within the next week.” “It’s a terrible situation,” he said, adding, “We think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire.” The president also told reporters, “I just spoke with some of the people involved,” but didn’t specify who he spoke with.

Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday, reacting to Khamenei’s declaration that Iran had triumphed in its conflict with Israel. Using his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Khamenei of fabricating a narrative of victory and disclosed that he had been exploring lifting sanctions on Iran—an effort he abandoned in light of the Ayatollah’s remarks.
“Why would the so-called ‘Supreme Leader,’ Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, of the war torn Country of Iran, say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the War with Israel, when he knows his statement is a lie, it is not so,” Trump wrote.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday scoffed at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s heated warning to the U.S.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said he’s immediately suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue

President Trump delivered an unexpected blow to trade relations with Canada on Friday, declaring that he would be halting all negotiations in response to Canada’s decision to implement a tax targeting American tech giants.
“We have just been informed that Canada … has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He accused Canada of mimicking policies from across the Atlantic: “They are obviously copying the European Union, which has done the same thing, and is currently under discussion with us, also. Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately.”

President Donald Trump said Friday that he’s suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue with its tax on technology firms, which he called “a direct and blatant attack on our country.” Trump, in a post on his social media network, said Canada had just informed the U.S. that it was sticking to its plan to impose the digital services tax, which applies to Canadian and foreign businesses that engage with online users in Canada. The tax is set to go into effect Monday. “Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately. We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period,” Trump said in his post.

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett delivered a striking and sharply worded dismissal of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dissent in a major case on birthright citizenship, surprising many who closely follow the court’s inner dynamics. In the ruling, which curtailed the ability of lower courts to issue sweeping injunctions, Barrett offered a blunt critique of Jackson’s reasoning.
“We will not dwell on Justice Jackson’s argument, which is at odds with more than two centuries’ worth of precedent, not to mention the Constitution itself,” Barrett wrote, forcefully rejecting the basis of Jackson’s stance. “We observe only this: Justice Jackson decries an imperial Executive while embracing an imperial Judiciary.”

President Trump on Friday urged Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to be honest about his country’s defeat, stating that he was thoroughly overpowered by both the United States and Israel. He also issued a stern warning that if Iran resumes uranium enrichment at troubling levels, American forces would respond with further military action.“I said, ‘Look, you’re a man of great faith, a man who is highly respected in his country, you have to tell the truth. You got beat to h—,’” Trump told reporters, ridiculing the supreme leader’s assertion of victory in the recent confrontation.

In a forceful statement issued today, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz declared that Israel’s recent military campaign, Operation Am KeLavi, was merely a prelude to a new Israeli security doctrine in the wake of October 7 — and warned the Iranian regime that its perceived immunity is over.
Katz’s message, delivered in a post summarizing the achievements of the 12-day operation, praised the success of the campaign and expressed gratitude for Divine assistance. “We concluded Operation Am KeLavi after 12 days of brilliant action that will be remembered as a glorious chapter in the history of Israel — and in the annals of modern warfare,” Katz wrote.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz sharply criticized Haaretz for what they called a “blood libel,” responding to a report that claimed IDF soldiers had been instructed to shoot at civilians trying to obtain humanitarian aid.
“These are vicious lies designed to discredit the IDF — the most moral army in the world,” the two declared in a joint statement, rejecting the allegations outright.
Despite the strongly worded condemnation, the IDF has acknowledged that it has launched a senior-level internal investigation into the claims outlined in the article.

A Republican plan to expand private school vouchers nationwide was dealt a major setback Friday when the Senate parliamentarian said the proposal would run afoul of procedural rules. The years-in-the-making plan would have created a federal tax credit supporting scholarships to help families send their children to private schools or other options beyond their local public schools. But in an overnight announcement, the Senate parliamentarian advised against including the proposal in President Donald Trump’s tax cut and spending bill.

Iranian authorities have detained over 700 individuals since the launch of Operation Rising Lion, citing alleged connections to Israel, according to a report released Thursday night by Association Femme Azadi, a women’s rights group made up of Iranian exiles.
“Reports confirm the arrest of rabbis and religious leaders in Tehran and Shiraz, accused, without evidence, of ties to Israel,” the organization posted on its social media platforms.
KAN News, Israel’s public broadcaster, stated that six more people have been put to death in Iran over accusations of working with Mossad.
KAN also noted that, so far in 2025, a total of nine people have been executed in Iran on charges of spying.

The Supreme Court preserved a key part of the Affordable Care Act’s preventive health care coverage requirements on Friday, rejecting a challenge from Christian employers to the provision that affects some 150 million Americans. The 6-3 ruling comes in a lawsuit over how the government decides which health care medications and services must be fully covered by private insurance under former President Barack Obama’s signature law, often referred to as Obamacare. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the court’s majority. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, joined by Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch. The plaintiffs said the process is unconstitutional because a volunteer board of medical experts tasked with recommending which services are covered is not Senate approved.

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