Hospitality & staffing pressure in Spain: Murcia’s hospitality sector is heading into summer with a growing shortage of qualified workers, with employers relying on rapid, minimal training for new hires to keep up with demand. Local gastronomy recognition: Café Bar Verónicas in Murcia has been named one of Spain’s best bars/restaurants in the inaugural “T de Bares” awards, spotlighting its seafood-led Murcian menu. Food waste action in the Basque Country: Elika and Basque authorities have mapped food waste across the chain (farms to restaurants to households) to tackle the region’s high discard levels. Wine & climate resilience: A spotlight on Murcia’s drought-resistant Monastrell grape highlights how older vines are faring better amid severe drought and tiny 2025 harvests. Clean heat push (incl. food & beverage): The EU selected 65 industrial heat projects for €400m under the Heat Auction, with food & beverage among the covered sectors. Consumer-facing travel rules: Spain and other Mediterranean destinations are tightening dress-code enforcement, with fines if beachwear is worn in towns. Payment scam warning: Spain’s Bank of Spain warns Bizum users about scams exploiting confusion between receiving money and authorising payments. Tap water legal debate: Italy’s top court ruled tap water isn’t a consumer right—relevant for how hotels handle guest water requests. Brand activation in Madrid: Papa Johns is launching “Pizza Planet” pop-ups in Madrid (and other cities) tied to Toy Story 5, plus a limited-time menu.