Climate & Risk: ICIMOD’s HKH Monsoon Outlook 2026 flags below-average monsoon rain across Nepal, India, Bhutan and Pakistan, but warns disaster risk stays high due to short, intense downpours that can trigger flash floods and landslides. Bhutan Land Tech: Bhutan’s National Land Commission Secretariat has launched a digital consent mechanism tied to the national digital ID to streamline land ownership verification, cut fraud in property transfers, and pilot DrukRef23 mapping for better surveying accuracy. Tourism Spend Watch: Bhutan’s National Assembly questions slow tourism infrastructure spending under the 13th Five-Year Plan, citing low utilisation of allocated funds and persistent gaps like toilets and parking. Transport Policy: Bhutan’s MoIT is reviewing taxi licensing after a moratorium, amid concerns of oversupply in Thimphu and rising fuel costs squeezing operator earnings while worsening congestion. Agrifood Self-Reliance: Bhutan is scaling locally produced biofertilizers and biopesticides to reduce imports of synthetic farm chemicals and strengthen food security under the Agrifood Sector Strategy 2034. Finance & Credit: Bhutan’s government is exploring ways to reduce lending rates as banks still charge around 11% despite a lower MLR, with MPs pointing to high non-performing loans and farmer exposure. Energy/Industry Link: ADB hosted business opportunities seminars in Dhaka highlighting procurement and private-sector participation in ADB- and World Bank-financed projects. Border Trade Systems: India inaugurated the Land Port Management System (LPMS) “Vinimay” to digitise cargo and passenger workflows across land ports, aiming to speed trade and improve border security.