Food Safety Crackdown (India): Maharashtra’s FDA suspended licences of 13 food businesses after a special drive found hygiene and safety lapses, including a McDonald’s outlet and Bombay Presidency Radio Club where inspectors allegedly found flies and dead cockroaches. QSR Expansion (Guam): Pepper Lunch opened a second Guam location in Hagåtña (Agana Shopping Center), drawing early crowds with a free Beef Pepper Rice promo. Global Noodles Push (Japan/US): Toridoll’s Marugame Udon chief is betting thick, chewy udon can become a major global fast-food category as it scales its US presence. F&B Growth Deal (Sri Lanka/Oman): EPSRR and UK’s Axton Capital plan to develop and expand food and beverage concepts in Colombo and Muscat via cafes under the Department of Coffee brand. Luxury Dining (India): Mumbai’s Mercii is spotlighted for ultra-premium menu pricing, including salt-crusted red snapper at ₹10,000 and wheel-served truffle pasta. Beverage Partnership (Azerbaijan): Carlsberg expands its PepsiCo bottling partnership to Azerbaijan from Jan 2027, scaling PepsiCo soft drinks production locally. Hospitality Industry (India): FHRAI’s 56th annual conference “Anant Kashi” kicked off in Varanasi, underscoring India’s hospitality heritage and Gen-Z’s role in tourism. Restaurant Reopening (Singapore): Three-Michelin-star Restaurant Zen in Bukit Pasoh Road reopens Aug 25 after renovation, led by chef Bjorn Frantzen’s team. Street Food Spotlight (US/India): The Chowpati brings Indian street food to Madison Public Market with a grand opening celebration.