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Israel Enacts Controversial Death Penalty Law Targeting Palestinians

  Soldiers carry the coffin of Israeli soldier Sergeant Liran Ben Zion, who, according to the Israeli army, was killed in combat in southern Lebanon. Israel’s parliament has approved a controversial new law making the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks, sparking intense criticism from rights groups and international observers. The measure, championed by far‑right members of the governing coalition, is set to take effect within 30 days and has already prompted legal challenges and diplomatic condemnation.  Israel’s parliament has passed a landmark—and highly contentious—law establishing the death penalty as the default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of lethal attacks against Israelis. The bill, long pushed by far‑right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, mandates execution by hanging and requires sentencing within 90 days, with no right to clemency.  The legislation applies spec...
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Market Turmoil: U.S. Stocks Plunge Amid Trump Tariff Fears

 

U.S. stocks experienced a significant decline on Friday as concerns over President Donald Trump's tariff policies spread among businesses and consumers. The S&P 500 fell by 1.7%, marking its worst day in two months, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 748 points, or 1.7%, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 2.2%.

The losses accelerated throughout the day following several weaker-than-expected economic reports. One report suggested that U.S. business activity is close to stalling, with growth slowing to a 17-month low. The preliminary report from S&P Global indicated that activity unexpectedly shrank for U.S. services businesses, with many in the survey reporting slumping optimism due to concerns about Washington.

Additionally, a separate report revealed that U.S. consumers are preparing for higher inflation, partly due to potential tariffs that could raise prices for various imports. The University of Michigan's survey showed that consumers broadly expect prices to be 4.3% higher 12 months from now, a significant jump from their forecast of 3.3% inflation last month.

The stock market's decline was widespread, with stocks of the smallest companies, whose profits are more closely tied to the strength of the U.S. economy, falling more than the rest of the market. The Russell 2000 index of small stocks dropped by 2.9%. Within the S&P 500 index, three out of every four stocks fell, including Big Tech stocks, airlines, and metals companies.

Despite the recent downturn, the U.S. stock market remains up for the year so far and is not far from its all-time high set earlier this week. However, Friday's reports have raised concerns about the resilience of the economy, and the losses on Wall Street were widespread.


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