K-Local Food Push in Korea: South Korea’s Korea Tourism Organization is rolling out “K-Local Food Hunters 33,” bringing 33 international influencers to hunt hyperlocal regional cuisine beyond Seoul, betting on digitised word-of-mouth to turn provincial food into a global lifestyle draw. Heritage Dining in Singapore: Beng Hiang, a long-running Hokkien favourite, has reopened at Shangri-La Singapore’s Garden Terrace with its core recipes intact and a handful of new dishes for the temporary residency. Food Hall Expansion in California: OC Vibe’s Katella Commons is building a $4bn entertainment district with a 5,500-seat concert hall and a major food hall planned to open in early 2027, with dozens of chef-led concepts and bars. Bird Flu Watch for Chicken Supply: Australia’s KFC operator Collins Foods says it’s prepared for worsening H5 bird flu risks, noting no local cases in its chicken supply while biosecurity measures ramp up. Thailand Crackdown on Illegal World Cup Gambling: Thailand blocked 13,888 illegal online gambling pages using AI-backed monitoring and warned businesses against unauthorised live broadcast use. Taiwan Invoice Lottery: Four NT$10m prizes and three NT$2m prizes remain unclaimed, with winners’ collection deadline set for July 6. Japan Drink Culture Spotlight: A Tokyo visit to a barley tea maker explains mugicha is brewed from barley (not tea leaves), as demand rises with summer heat. Packaging for Beverage Logistics (China): Multiple supplier promos highlight a shift toward reusable, moisture-resistant plastic packaging for industrial and beverage supply chains, positioning corrugated plastic solutions as more durable than paper in humid conditions.