Digital Payments & Leadership: Mastercard named Zakia Sultana as Bangladesh country manager, with a focus on expanding digital payments and financial inclusion across the region. Transport & Public Service: DIMO helped deliver 134 TATA Xenon Yodha cabs to Sri Lanka Police, boosting mobility for operations in the Northern Province. Regional Finance & Trade Tech: India launched the Land Port Management System (LPMS) “Vinimay” to digitise cargo and passenger processing and cut border delays—aiming to strengthen trade while improving security. Bhutan Tourism Spending Watch: Bhutan’s National Assembly questioned slow tourism fund utilisation under the 13th Five-Year Plan, citing low spending against allocations and ongoing infrastructure gaps. Urban Transport Policy: Bhutan’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is reviewing taxi licensing after a moratorium, as Thimphu faces taxi oversupply pressures, lower off-peak earnings, and congestion. Agrifood Self-Reliance: Bhutan is scaling locally produced biofertilizers and biopesticides to cut dependence on imported chemicals and protect food security amid global supply shocks. Health for Monastic Communities: A stroke-prevention project targets monks and nuns with awareness, early risk detection, and healthier lifestyle support. Co-op Sector Modernisation: India’s National Cooperation Policy-2025 monitoring committee met to push digital transformation and stronger, member-centric cooperatives for rural growth. Cross-Border Payments: Nepal’s NCHL connected to India’s UPI via NPI, enabling 24/7 remittances using VPAs with set transaction limits. Tourism-Culture Link: UP and Bhutan signed a 30-year lease for about two acres in Varanasi to build a Bhutanese monastery and guest house, supporting Buddhist tourism ties.