SUMMARY: The Senate is poised to approve the HALT Fentanyl Act, aimed at imposing harsher prison sentences for fentanyl traffickers. With bipartisan support, the bill has passed the House and is championed by Majority Leader John Thune, who emphasizes its role in empowering law enforcement against drug distribution. The act would permanently classify all fentanyl variants as Schedule 1 substances, increasing criminal convictions for their distribution. Critics argue it overlooks addiction’s root causes and may perpetuate outdated “war on drugs” tactics, potentially disrupting communities and research efforts. The legislation responds to the fentanyl crisis, linked to numerous overdose deaths.

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SUMMARY: Asian markets rose on Friday, ignoring declines in Wall Street, with significant gains in China spurred by directives for state-run banks to enhance consumer spending. Hong Kong’s benchmark surged 2.5%, while the Shanghai Composite increased 1.9%. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 climbed 0.9%. Meanwhile, Wall Street experienced a sell-off as President Trump’s trade war escalated, marked by a 1.4% drop in the S&P 500 and a 1.3% fall in the Dow. Despite mixed economic signals, such as mild inflation and steady job applications, stocks related to AI faced increased pressure. Oil prices and U.S. dollar values rose slightly.

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SUMMARY: A second man, 23-year-old Daddy Esquire III, has been charged in the death of 3-year-old Ryo Yansy, who was shot last summer while going down a slide at a Fort Lauderdale park. Tyler Hollands, 20, was charged with first-degree murder earlier. Investigators believe the shooting was part of a drive-by incident involving two cars. While the family is grateful for the arrests, they remain heartbroken and seek justice. Authorities are still searching for other suspects involved and are offering a reward of up to $110,000 for information leading to further arrests.

CBS News Miami’s Anna McAllister has the latest on the arrest and how the family is still dealing with heartache eight months after the fatal shooting.

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