Food Politics: An investigation into Colombia’s ultra-processed food lobbying says companies helped fund 40% of political party donations in 2022, including to a presidential candidate who vowed to scrap the ultra-processed food tax. Airport Retail & Dining: Avolta won a 12-year deal to expand Norfolk International Airport with nine new retail and food & beverage outlets, including hybrid dining-and-shopping concepts. Trade Shows: THAIFEX-ANUGA ASIA opened in Bangkok with 3,590 exhibitors and a focus on emerging brands, innovation, and alternative proteins. Food Safety: South Africa’s school nutrition system faces calls for tighter safeguards after experts warned about hygiene, storage, and monitoring gaps. Restaurant Closures: Boston’s Clover Food Lab will shut all 11 locations and end meal-box delivery, blaming inflation and thin margins. Convenience Retail: Circle K is rolling out a limited-time Butterfinger bakery lineup and a “$3 Bakery Meal Deal.” Food Insecurity: New York Fed research flags a sharp rise in Americans struggling to put food on the table, tied to lower consumer sentiment. Sustainability & Ingredients: Protein Industries Canada backs a project turning brewers’ spent grain into new high-value ingredients via Terra and Great Western Brewing. Local Governance: Janesville, Wisconsin approved a downtown outdoor drinking ordinance via a DORA zone, with alcohol only from participating businesses.