Trump hails ‘amazing’ Xi summit, floats nuke testing; Melissa devastates region
President Donald Trump has described his meeting with China’s Xi Jinping as “amazing,” highlighting what he claims are significant wins on trade, technology and fentanyl. However, his warning to potentially resume nuclear testing is raising concern worldwide.
Plus, Hurricane Melissa continues its destructive path through the Caribbean. After hitting Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba, the powerful Category 3 storm is now approaching the Bahamas.
And new arrests in the jewel heist that shocked Paris. Investigators say they’re finally closing in on the crew responsible for the daring theft at the Louvre.
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.
China vows fentanyl crackdown, Trump lowers tariffs in new trade deal
President Donald Trump called his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping “amazing,” saying the two reached several key agreements on trade, fentanyl and tech.
The president says the U.S. will cut tariffs on China from 20% to 10%. Those tariffs were originally imposed earlier this year to punish Beijing for supplying chemicals used to make fentanyl.
The move brings the total tariff rate on Chinese goods down to 47%
However, that wasn’t the only headline from the president’s high-stakes Asian tour.
Just minutes before meeting Xi, Trump threatened on social media to resume nuclear testing for the first time in more than thirty years.
He wrote on Truth Social that he’s instructed the newly renamed Department of War to begin testing America’s nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with other countries
It’s language that analysts say could refer to a non-detonation missile test, though his comments remain vague.
China hasn’t tested a nuclear weapon since 1996, and Russia hasn’t since 1990, though both have been rapidly expanding their nuclear arsenals.
Even amid a nuclear threat, the two leaders moved forward with their trade discussions, starting with rare earth minerals.
“All of the rare Earth has been settled. And that’s for the world, I mean, you know, worldwide. I guess you could really say this was a worldwide situation, not just a U.S. situation,” Trump said. “China is… That whole situation — that roadblock is gone now. There is no roadblock at all.”
Trump also said China has agreed to buy “very large quantities” of American soybeans. He said that the two sides discussed allowing advanced U.S. computer chips to be exported to China, with Nvidia expected to begin direct talks with Chinese officials soon.
The president also announced he’ll travel to China in April, with Xi scheduled to visit the U.S. later this year. He said a formal trade deal could be signed “pretty soon.”
Melissa continues through the Caribbean as 100-mph winds now target the Bahamas
Hurricane Melissa is continuing its deadly march in the Caribbean. The storm is now zeroing in on the central Bahamas with 100-mile-an-hour winds, torrential rain and a life-threatening storm surge.
Residents there remain hunkered down as the storm moves north.
Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, leaving at least four people dead and knocking out power to nearly 80% of the island.
Entire communities have been cut off, with some under a total communications blackout.
Thousands are packed into shelters after the storm ripped apart homes and flooded hospitals, police stations and emergency vehicles.
Even some relief storage facilities were destroyed.
However, the Jamaican government says it plans to reopen airports on Thursday to allow relief flights to land.
In Haiti, at least 23 people have died and dozens more are missing after catastrophic flooding.
And in Cuba, more than 15 inches of rain fell in some areas. Homes collapsed, debris litters the streets, and already crumbling infrastructure has been pushed past its limits.
Prior to the storm, the country was struggling with food and fuel shortages and frequent blackouts. Now, officials expect those crises to worsen.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that the U.S is in close contact with regional governments and is sending rescue teams and emergency supplies to Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
Melissa is expected to pass just west of Bermuda Thursday night and remains a strong Category 3 storm.
Five more arrested in Louvre heist as police hunt for stolen jewels
French investigators have arrested five more suspects in the brazen jewel heist at the Louver Museum in Paris.
Authorities say the stolen crown jewels, worth more than $100 million, still haven’t been found. However, they say one of the newly arrested suspects could be a key figure, after DNA evidence reportedly linked him to the crime scene.
The two suspects arrested last weekend appeared in court on Wednesday and were placed under formal investigation for organized theft and criminal conspiracy.
Prosecutors say both have admitted taking part in the robbery.
Investigators are also looking into whether the thieves had help from inside the museum.
Officials say it took the crew less than eight minutes to break through a window, use power tools to cut into display cases and disappear with the jewels. The theft was one of the boldest art thefts in Paris in decades.
Construction companies behind White House ballroom scrub websites
Several Maryland-based firms involved in demolishing the East Wing and building the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom have taken their websites and social media accounts offline.
That includes Aceco, the demolition firm whose excavators were seen leveling the East Wing.
As CBS News first reported, the firm’s website now reads simply: “This site is under construction.”
Yelp even froze reviews after hostile posts targeted the company.
Another contractor, EAI Rolloff, which hauled debris from the site, replaced its homepage with a simple note: “Undergoing routine maintenance.”
Even McCrery Architects, the design firm Trump named, has reduced its website to a single page — just photos and a generic email address.
Larger companies like Clark Construction continue to highlight their role, but smaller local firms appear to be reducing their visibility amid increasing public backlash over the renovation.
The project — privately financed and valued at roughly $300 million — will replace the former East Wing with what the president calls a “world-class” ballroom.
Former Trump aide launches bipartisan protest site
A former senior homeland security official under Trump is now leading a new online campaign to organize peaceful protests against the administration.
Miles Taylor, the former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff, has launched defiance.org, a self-described “clearinghouse” for Americans who want to “push back peacefully, lawfully and defiantly” against what the group calls “presidential abuses of power.”
The bipartisan initiative involves former national security officials, whistleblowers and former lawmakers from both parties. The launch video for the site shows actor Robert De Niro calling on Americans to “stand up and fight.”
Taylor first gained attention in 2018 after admitting he authored the anonymous New York Times op-ed describing a “quiet resistance” inside the Trump administration.
In April, Trump ordered agencies to investigate Taylor, accusing him of spreading false stories and leaking classified materials — allegations that Taylor denies.
The group behind defiance.org announced it’s forming a nationwide “mutual aid pact” to support those targeted by the administration, from protesters to public officials.
Blue Jays rookie shines in World Series, one win away from title
The Toronto Blue Jays’ rookie pitcher, Trey Yesavage, delivered a jaw-dropping performance Wednesday night in the World Series.
Yesavage, who started the season in Single-A and was only promoted to Triple-A in August, struck out 12 Dodgers over seven innings, shutting down stars like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
At the plate, the Blue Jays wasted no time. Their first two batters hit back-to-back home runs off Dodgers starter Blake Snell.
Toronto went on to win 6-1, taking a 3-2 series lead and a chance to clinch the championship Friday night back home in Toronto.
More from Straight Arrow News:
Gen Z protesters are flying this pirate flag. Here’s what it means.
Young people are rolling up to anti-government protests around the world in increasing numbers. Specific causes vary, but one symbol is increasingly crossing borders and languages.
Many young protesters are rallying beneath a fictional pirate flag from a popular Japanese manga and anime series called One Piece — an expansive franchise with more than 100 volumes of books and well over 1,000 episodes. Read the full story now>
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
