Capital Markets: RSEB trading value jumped 32% in August as shares traded rose to 1.21 million, but activity thinned with executed trades and market users both falling—an uneven signal for Bhutan’s market depth. Climate & Risk Management: Bhutan’s GLOF emergency warning facility in Wangdue Phodrang is running round-the-clock monitoring for glacier-lake hazards, underscoring how Nepal’s recent disaster keeps Bhutan’s own glacier risk front and centre. Hydropower & Disaster Economy: Nepal’s Rasuwa floods have pushed the death toll to 1,369 with 5,132 missing, while recovery planning shifts toward hydropower tunnel work and temporary housing needs—an economic shock that also affects regional power trade. Clean Energy for Households: A clean cooking pilot in Chhumey Gewog is distributing subsidised electric stoves to about 100 households, aiming to cut firewood use and indoor air pollution. Food Systems & Resilience: Bhutan hosted the first Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Paro, drawing nearly 400 participants to discuss how culture and values can strengthen food security alongside policy and technology. Digital Payments & Cross-Border Trade: India’s UPI push for global expansion is back in focus, with cross-border links and regulatory differences highlighted as key hurdles—relevant for Bhutan’s regional payments future. Tourism Policy: Thailand’s visa-free stay for Indians is being cut from 60 to 30 days from Sept. 15, a move that could ripple into travel flows across the region.