China Trade Deal, Taco Bell, & Government Cheese Cache

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
October 27, 2025

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington and Beijing have reached a “framework” deal to avoid a 100% US tariff on Chinese goods set for Nov. 1, following two days of talks with China’s top trade negotiators.
Trump and Xi are expected to meet in person this week in South Korea, where they’ll discuss the agreement and US concerns over Chinese restrictions on rare earth minerals. The talks could mark a turning point in trade relations after months of tariff threats.
Bessent said the deal may also include Chinese commitments on fentanyl controls and US agriculture purchases. Trump, who is touring Asia, signaled optimism, saying he expects future meetings with Xi in both Beijing and Washington.

Taco Bell is rapidly expanding its Live Más Café concept — a drink-focused format inside existing restaurants where “bellristas” serve blended coffees, churro chillers, and fruity refrescas. The chain aims to open 30 locations by year’s end across California and Texas as part of a push toward a $5 billion drink business by 2030.
Early results show strong demand: the Irvine location sells more than 900 drinks daily, with over a third of orders including a café beverage. Taco Bell has sold more than 600 million beverages this year, up 16% from last year.
The beverage push targets Gen Z's 'little treat culture,' where younger consumers visit restaurants for specialty items as a form of self-indulgence. Younger generations are more willing to pay for premium drinks and customization than older consumers, who expect fast food to be budget-friendly.

French prosecutors said suspects were arrested Saturday in connection with last week’s theft of crown jewels worth €88 million ($102M) from the Louvre, including one man caught trying to flee the country from Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The four-member crew broke into the museum’s Galerie d’Apollon using a cherry picker and angle grinders, cut through display cases, and escaped on scooters along the Seine river—all in just four minutes. The stolen haul included tiaras, necklaces, and earrings once owned by Queen Marie-Amélie, Queen Hortense, and Empress Eugénie.
Over 100 investigators remain mobilized to recover the jewels. Officials have not confirmed whether any have been found, but said more arrests could follow.

A Navy helicopter and fighter jet from carrier USS Nimitz crashed separately in the South China Sea on Sunday, with all five crew members rescued safely. (More)

Flights to Los Angeles were halted Sunday for nearly two hours as air traffic controllers working without pay called in sick during the shutdown. (More)

California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris both said they're considering 2028 presidential runs. (More)

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces claimed they captured the army headquarters in el-Fasher, giving them control of all five Darfur state capitals in the two-year civil war. (More)

Mexico raised its sugary drink tax to 21 cents per liter to combat obesity, with 39% of adults obese and Mexicans drinking 44 gallons of soda yearly. (More)

Catherine Connolly won Ireland's presidency with 63% of votes, delivering an upset as an independent leftwing candidate against the ruling party's pick. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Friday (S&P +0.79%, Nasdaq +1.15%, Dow +1.01%). Stocks hit record highs after inflation data showed prices cooling, making investors think the Federal Reserve will keep cutting interest rates. (More)

Novartis is nearing a deal to buy Avidity Biosciences for more than $70 a share, valuing the RNA drug developer at over $7 billion. (More)

Ground coffee hit $9.14 per pound, up 41% from last year, as Trump tariffs on Brazil and bad weather squeezed global supply and raised cafe prices. (More)

Yoshinobu Yamamoto became the first pitcher since 2001 to throw back-to-back playoff complete games, leading the Dodgers past Toronto 5-1 to even the World Series. (More)

Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo dislocated his right ankle Sunday against Philadelphia and was carted off. (More) | Raven’s running back, Derrick Henry’s passed Walter Payton for fifth all-time in rushing TDs. (More)

LSU told coach Brian Kelly he'll be fired Sunday after the Tigers lost three of four SEC games, with the school owing him $54 million in buyout money. (More)

Doctors are writing formal nature prescriptions to help stressed patients, with studies showing that outdoor time lowers blood pressure and reduces stress hormones. (More)

Scientists found the first-ever proof that some dinosaurs had hooves, discovered on two mummified duck-billed dinosaurs from Wyoming's Badlands. (More)

OpenAI is developing a music generator that responds to text prompts, letting users add soundtracks to videos or instruments to songs. (More)

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