BIMSTEC Diplomacy: BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey pushed back on comparisons with SAARC, saying they’re “misleading and misplaced,” and stressed BIMSTEC’s own mandate on Bay of Bengal development and security. Regional Finance: BIMSTEC also finalised an action plan to curb illicit financial flows, alongside an MoU on capacity building to fight money laundering and terrorist financing, with a 2026-28 work plan and plans to operationalise a contact point network for FIUs. BIMSTEC Summit 2027: Pandey said Bangladesh, as chair, may host the 2027 summit to mark BIMSTEC’s 30th anniversary. Bhutan Energy Investment: Bhutan’s Ministry of Finance issued the implementation framework for renewable energy tax exemptions under the 2026 Act, offering time-bound relief on customs duty, excise tax and GST for approved projects to attract investors. Tourism Numbers: Bhutan recorded 25,195 tourist arrivals in June, up 118.6% year-on-year, with Indian visitors still the largest share. Education PPP Check: A Tsirang college under a PPP model remains at the exploratory stage, with no formal proposal submitted yet. Food Prices Watch: A new study flags Bhutan’s egg prices as the highest in South Asia, linking it to import policy limits on competition. Food Security: Bhutan’s Food Balance Sheet 2024 shows heavy reliance on imports for staples like cereals, oils and sugar despite strength in some crops. Wildlife & Livelihoods: WWF-Bhutan-supported Snow Leopard Women’s Groups in Nubri are helping document livestock attacks to improve responses to human-wildlife conflict.