Rice Value-Add Push (Malaysia): Malaysia’s agriculture ministry says concerns about local white rice can be solved by turning it into higher-margin downstream products, debuting the first white-rice snack “Jati Chom Chom” to help farmers reach wider markets. AI + Consumer Wellness (Supplements): PureHealth Research spotlights rising consumer interest in lymphatic wellness and botanicals like burdock root and echinacea, as companies lean into “evidence-based” ingredient messaging. Funding for AI Security (Startups): Innefu Labs raises $30M to expand AI-powered intelligence and cybersecurity offerings and pursue an eventual public listing. Reusable Packaging Symbol (Sustainability): PR3 unveils a new global reuse mark meant to cut single-use packaging and emissions, positioning reuse as bigger than recycling alone. Food Safety & Consumer Rights (India): Activists in Hanamkonda urge vigilance against adulteration and misleading discounts, calling for tougher enforcement. Energy Costs Pressure (UK): A new UK energy price-cap rise is set to hit major suppliers, with households warned to lock in cheaper fixed deals. Retail Restructuring (South Africa): TFG flags store closures after profit falls sharply despite revenue growth, pointing to weak spending and trading pressure. AI’s Resource Strain (UN warning): A UN University report warns AI data centers could sharply increase water and energy demand by 2030. Global Trade/SMEs (US): A FedEx index finds US small businesses are adapting for global uncertainty via inventory boosts, multi-supplier sourcing, and more nearshoring/reshoring.