Phuentsholing Thromde Polls: Thrompon candidate Tashi Wangchuk says he’ll make the border city cleaner and safer with better water supply, stronger sanitation, and upgraded drainage and emergency readiness ahead of monsoon risks. Local Governance: Another candidate, Deepen Ghallay, is also campaigning on 24/7 safe drinking water and faster Local Area Plan implementation in Phuentshogling. Tourism & Environment: Gangtey-Phobji is facing a waste crisis as the local landfill has filled up, with tourism growth outpacing disposal capacity. Disaster Preparedness: In Trongsa’s Uesa village, residents received a fire hydrant after a nearby village fire highlighted how fast clustered wooden homes can burn. Travel Services: Drukair has launched a Meet and Assist Service at Paro, Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi, Guwahati and Dubai, and reduced fuel surcharge in fares. Regional Payments for Travelers: At a SAARCFINANCE meeting in Paro, central bank leaders backed a multilateral digital payment network; Bhutan highlighted QR payments via India’s UPI and plans to expand connectivity. Weather Watch: El Niño conditions are expected to strengthen and peak in the second half of the year, with possible impacts on Bhutan’s tourism, water and hydropower.