SAFF Championship 2026 (Sports & Travel): The draw for the SAFF Championship 2026 was held in Thimphu, Bhutan, placing India with Maldives and Pakistan in Group B, while Bhutan and hosts Bangladesh sit in Group A—good news for football fans planning regional trips around the Nov 4–17 tournament in Dhaka. US Visa Rules (Travel Access): The US has made its visa bond programme permanent for B1/B2 business and tourism visas, with deposits up to $20,000 for citizens of 50 countries (including Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan), effective Monday—another factor travellers may need to plan for before booking. Maldives–India Payments (Cross-border Convenience): The Maldives’ Favara instant payment system is now integrated with India’s UPI, enabling real-time person-to-person transfers from Maldivian banks to UPI-enabled Indian accounts—useful for travellers and families managing trips and remittances. Bhutan Hospitality (Tourism Industry): Bhutan’s hotel owners are pushing for clearer, more workable hotel classification and subsidy rules; meanwhile, only 25 hotels have qualified so far for the Economic Stimulus Programme interest subsidy, raising concerns about eligibility during off-season demand. Food & Leisure in Thimphu: Le Méridien Thimphu is bringing back its monthly Sunday Brunch at Latest Recipe on Aug 2, a simple weekend plan for visitors and locals.