Health Education & Research Boost: India and Bhutan signed a new MoU between AIIMS and Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences to strengthen medical education and health research, alongside a broader health cooperation push during the 5th India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks in Thimphu. Concessional Funding for Health & More: The two sides also exchanged a concessional Line of Credit worth ₹4,000 crore (Nu 40 billion) to support Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan, with 12 new Project Tied Assistance projects approved (₹332 crore) spanning sectors including healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, urban amenities and disaster management. Mental Health in Focus: A report highlights rising mental health needs among older Bhutanese, with psychiatrists at the national referral hospital seeing new elderly patients monthly for conditions like dementia, depression, anxiety and alcohol-related disorders—often worsened by chronic illness and loneliness. Heat & Health Risk: A World Bank report warns extreme heat is already harming productivity and jobs across South Asia and could cut the region’s economy by nearly 7% by 2050, with Bhutan included among the affected countries—raising concerns for worker protection and health systems. Wildlife Safety & Community Care: In Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, a resident’s quick reporting helped rescue an Asiatic black bear trapped in a wire snare; rescuers used sedation to remove the snare and return the animal to the wild.