Move Over Beer, Swiss Landslide, & Beat Boxing Nuns

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Adam Rogers
May 30, 2025

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Nonalcoholic beer is set to overtake ale as the world's second-largest beer category this year.

While overall beer sales declined last year, nonalcoholic beer grew 9% worldwide and is projected to continue outpacing traditional categories, according to industry tracker IWSR. The rapid growth reflects a fundamental shift in drinking habits among younger consumers.
The shift is driven by younger consumers embracing "sober curious" and "damp lifestyle" trends, with Gen Z drinking less than previous generations and millennials representing the largest share of no-alcohol drinkers. Major brewers have responded by investing heavily in zero-proof alternatives, with practically every major brand from Guinness to Budweiser launching nonalcoholic versions in recent years.
The category generated $17 billion in global retail sales in 2023, with Athletic Brewing leading the US market after growing from 4% to 17% market share since its creation in 2018. The startup was valued at $800 million in its latest funding round and now outsells nonalcoholic offerings from Budweiser and Heineken.

Chinese students in the US are scrambling after new visa restrictions target their community.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that the US will revoke visas for some Chinese students, including those studying in "critical fields" and those with "connections to the Chinese Communist Party." The policy could affect part of the 270,000+ Chinese students currently in the US, the second-largest international student group behind India.
Students are now afraid to leave the country and are changing major life plans out of fear they won't be allowed back. One University of Chicago student canceled plans to work abroad after graduation, while prospective students in China anxiously await visa decisions with no clear timeline for when the revocations will begin.
Hong Kong universities are capitalizing on the uncertainty, with several institutions actively recruiting affected students and promising streamlined applications. Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, told lawmakers the city would welcome students facing "unfair treatment" from American policies, calling it an opportunity for the territory.

A federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated Trump's tariffs one day after they were blocked.

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an "immediate administrative stay" Thursday, reversing a Wednesday ruling that found Trump exceeded his authority in imposing sweeping global tariffs. The stay reimposes Trump's 10% global tariffs, 25% duties on Canadian and Mexican products, and a 20% tariff on Chinese goods.
The appeals court said the stay will remain until it decides the administration's request to keep the tariffs in place during the broader legal challenge, likely running through at least mid-June. A separate federal district judge also ruled against the tariffs Thursday, but that case will proceed through different appeals courts.
The competing rulings mean tariffs are currently in effect but face multiple ongoing legal challenges, leaving businesses and trading partners uncertain about which trade rules will ultimately prevail.

Elon Musk ended his role as "special government employee" on Wednesday but remains Trump's unofficial adviser. SGEs are limited to working 130 days in a 365-day period. He left on good terms. (More)

The Georgia Supreme Court upheld a state law banning most people under 21 from carrying handguns in public, rejecting a constitutional challenge from 20-year-old Thomas Stephens. (More)

The Supreme Court unanimously backed a Utah oil railroad expansion, scaling back environmental law requirements. The decision could have sweeping impacts on environmental reviews nationwide under Trump. (More)

Wildfires in Manitoba, Canada, have forced 17,000 evacuations, prompting a state of emergency. Premier Wab Kinew says it's the province’s largest evacuation in decades. (More)

A massive rock and ice landslide from a Swiss glacier destroyed 90% of an Alpine village. Authorities evacuated residents, but a 64-year-old man is missing. (More)

A South African court sentenced a mother to life in prison for kidnapping and selling her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, for $1,100. The child has been missing since February. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Thursday (S&P +0.40%, Nasdaq +0.39%, Dow +0.28%). Broader gains were held down by investor caution over flip-flopping tariff policy. (More)

Amazon has created a new ZeroOne devices team led by former Microsoft Xbox executive J Allard to develop breakthrough consumer products from conception to launch. (More)

United Airlines will return to JFK Airport through its Blue Sky partnership with JetBlue Airways, allowing customers to earn frequent-flyer miles and share loyalty benefits between both airlines. (More)

The Knicks beat the Pacers 111-94 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals to force a Game 6, finally holding a lead in a series full of blown advantages. Jalen Brunson scored 32 points. (More)

MLB made a first-of-its-kind investment in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, launching June 7, providing joint marketing efforts and broadcasts on MLB Network to support women's softball. (More)

A former assistant testified under the pseudonym "Mia" in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex-crimes trial, alleging he physically and sexually abused her and ex-girlfriend Cassie. (More)

The Trump administration canceled $766 million awarded to Moderna for developing H5N1 bird flu and pandemic influenza vaccines. (More)

Researchers discovered 50+ bird fossils from 73 million years ago in Alaska, making it the oldest evidence of polar nesting and pushing back the timeline by 25 million years. (More)

Victoria's Secret paused online orders and shut down its website on Wednesday due to a cyberattack. Physical stores remain open while the company works with cybersecurity experts. (More)

Beatboxing nuns go viral on TV.

Turkey will fine airplane passengers who stand up too early.

Watch a Chinese paraglider survive death death-defying extreme altitude flight.

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