January of 2025

Archives

With Love from Bhutan

“With Love from Bhutan” is a meditation on fractured family ties, the bitter-sweet pull of home, and the healing power of food.

Jan 31, 2025 3 mins read 1,190 views
ORO Bank to reinvent banking in Gelephu Mindfulness City

ORO Bank, Asia’s first full-reserve bank, is positioning itself as a pillar of trust and transparency in the country’s ambiti...

Jan 30, 2025 2 mins read 4,775 views
Climate Crowd funds projects in Protected Areas

Communities in two protected areas will soon benefit from targeted climate adaptation projects funded by the Climate Crowd Initiative, a global programm...

Jan 30, 2025 3 mins read 836 views
Bhutanese man assaulted in Jaigaon, Indian police officer apologises

Punakha – A 33-year-old Bhutanese man was assaulted by a mob and an Indian police officer...

Jan 30, 2025 1 mins read 904 views
Bhutan faces AI readiness gaps, calls for national strategy

Bhutan has made significant strides in digital governance, including the establishment of secure digital platforms, but critical gaps remain in artificial intelligence (AI) readiness.

Jan 30, 2025 2 mins read 1,222 views
Nu 325M project to restore Zhemgang Dzong

Zhemgang—The restoration of Zhemgang Dzong will begin in the second fiscal year of the 13th Plan, with a budget of Nu 325 million allocated for the project.

Jan 30, 2025 2 mins read 851 views
Toyota Fortuner purchased as pool vehicle, not for personal use: BCCI president clarifies

While the High Court recently ruled in favour of S...

Jan 30, 2025 2 mins read 648 views
Kho Kho: New sport where Bhutan can excel

While the game of Kho Kho is relatively new to Bhutan, Kho Kho Club’s President, Jigme Dorji, believes that Bhutanese have the potential to excel in this sport.

Jan 30, 2025 3 mins read 3,231 views
Faith-based change should work

Long before modern conservation theories emerged, Bhutan and its people championed a form of sustainable living deeply rooted in Buddhism. The power of faith, reflected in a new initiative by the World Wildlife Fund and the Zhung Dratshang, serves as a reminder of these values.

Jan 30, 2025 2 mins read 1,355 views
Who will be DNT’s next president?

Punakha—Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering, former Prime Minister and President of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT), stepping down from politics has left a leadership vacuum, raising questions about who wi...

Jan 29, 2025 3 mins read 704 views
Blending faith and conservation

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Bhutan, in collaboration with the Zhung Dratshang (Central Monastic Body), launched “Enlightened Stewardship: Bhutan’s Faith-Based Long-Term Environmental Plan” yesterday...

Jan 29, 2025 2 mins read 612 views
Replica of Dorji Dhen Choeten to be built in GMC

Gelephu—His Holiness the Je Khenpo presided over the groundbreaking ceremony (Salhang Tendrel) for the Dorden Tashi Gomang, a replica of the Dorji Dh...

Jan 29, 2025 3 mins read 759 views
India doubles scholarship budget to support more Bhutanese students

In what is a major boost to educational opportunities for Bhutanese students, the Indian Ambassador’s Scholarship has been awarded to 1,534 students for the academic year 2024-25, grossing Nu 79.65 million.

Jan 29, 2025 1 mins read 956 views
D-Chen Atelier’s bold fashion journey

A small yet impactful fashion studio in Thimphu is redefining the country’s design craftsmanship. D-Chen Atelier, founded by Dhechen Chodron, is a fashion business that celebr...

Jan 29, 2025 2 mins read 837 views
Gelephu vendors get new market shed

Gelephu—The vendors in Gelephu no longer have to endure the hardships of the deteriorated shed, as the newly constructed Gelephu integrated vegetable market is ready for relocation startin...

Jan 29, 2025 2 mins read 1,369 views
Ed Sheeran in Bhutan

There are some Bhutanese Ed Sheeran fans who worry that the iconic superstar star, used to larger and more vibrant crowds, would have been disappointed by a comparatively lackluster response from the audience at the Friday concert in...

Jan 29, 2025 2 mins read 1,090 views
Big dreams need bold reforms

As Bhutanese, we are proud of our distinct identity. The most common narrative is how we take pride in our history, rich cultural heritage, pristine environment, carbon-negative status, and Gross National Happiness philosophy, among others. Overtime, these characteristics have contributed to building a strong national brand.

Jan 29, 2025 2 mins read 1,238 views
Almost 200 out of 566 schools lack internet connectivity

While the ministry reports the success of the Education Flagship Programme implemented in the 12th plan, there remains substa...

Jan 28, 2025 2 mins read 542 views
RMA pilots central bank digital currency

The central bank, Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), has initiated a pilot programme for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in a controlled and experimental environment, fo...

Jan 28, 2025 2 mins read 4,879 views
Ed Sheeran makes history with landmark show in Bhutan

Bhutan hosted its first-ever international concert, an evening with global superstar Ed Sheeran. The event brought thousands of fans t...

Jan 28, 2025 2 mins read 671 views
NCD epidemic grips Bhutan

A nationwide health screening conducted by the Ministry of Health (MoH) has unveiled an alarming picture of the country’s battle against non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Jan 28, 2025 2 mins read 818 views
Punakha introduces night and evening rafting adventure

Punakha— As the calm waters of the Punatshangchhu shimmer under the moonlight, tourists enjoy a unique experience—night and evening...

Jan 28, 2025 2 mins read 598 views
Highland students embrace creativity and learning at winter camp

Dechencholing Higher Secondary School in Thimphu, January 27— Children are busy sketching scenes from...

Jan 28, 2025 3 mins read 565 views
On the right step

The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has taken a commendable stride by initiating a comprehensive plan to engage the private sector in the 13th Plan. This move aligns with the broader vision of transforming governance and foster...

Jan 28, 2025 2 mins read 1,347 views
Ed Sheeran electrifies Thimphu with historic concert

On January 24, Ed Sheeran took the stage at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, greeted by loud cheers from the crowd.

Jan 27, 2025 3 mins read 581 views
Indian community celebrates 76th Republic Day

The Indian community in Bhutan celebrated the 76th Republic Day of India at the Indian Embassy in Thimphu yesterday.

Jan 27, 2025 2 mins read 622 views
DRC looks at modernising customs operations

The Department of Revenue and Customs (DRC) observed the International Customs Day 2025 with a ceremony at the Regional Revenue and Customs Office in Samtse yesterd...

Jan 27, 2025 2 mins read 702 views
SC sentences Korphu gup for embezzlement

The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the High Court’s decision, convicting Sangay Khandu, the former Gup of Korphu, Trongsa, of embezzling Nu 620,403 from the Gewog Environment...

Jan 27, 2025 1 mins read 613 views
Restoring Changyuel Galem’s house

Punakha: Funding for a long-awaited Changyuel Galem’s house restoration project is finally expected to be disbursed by the end of the first quarter of 2025, with Euro 130,000 (approximately Nu 10 million) pledged by a donor agency last year.

Jan 27, 2025 4 mins read 5,981 views
Bridging interest and action in education gap

The mentoring programme initiated by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is an amb...

Jan 27, 2025 2 mins read 1,309 views
At 9.9 percent, industry growth falls short of plan’s target

The industry sector’s growth rate is estimated at 9.9 percent in the 13th Plan, which is lower by 0.3 perce...

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read 4,085 views
Study reveals mentoring programme boosts interest in STEM and TVET

The mentoring programme initiated by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD),...

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read 607 views
Private sector drafting proposal to align with 13th Plan

The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), with support from the European Union-funded Voice for Green Change Partnership (V4GCP) project, is leading an initiative to craft a comprehensive proposal for private sector engagement in the 13th Plan.

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read 712 views
Trouble of harnessing alternative energy

After more than three years of inactivity, one of the two wind turbines in Rubesa is now operational, while the other remains non-operational due to the pending arrival of p...

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read 677 views
New measures to streamline exports from Samdrupjongkhar

Samdrupjongkhar—Authorities in Samdrupjongkhar are cracking down on illegal mandarin exports to prevent market disruptions and l...

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read 2,424 views
A path to healing and well-being

For the first time in Bhutan, Chithuen Phendey Association (CPA) in collaboration with East Tennessee State University, USA conducted training for four days on Trauma-Informed Care and Adverse Chil...

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read 636 views
Tenzin Zepa wins Youth Centre Chess Championship

Tenzin Zepa from the Changjiji Youth Centre (YC) won the 2025 Youth Centre Chess Championship for Beginners in Thimphu yesterday.

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read 2,410 views
Bhutan’s climate resilience: Ten years of partnership and path forward

In the heart of the Himalayas, Bhutan, the kingdom that pioneered Gross Natio...

Jan 25, 2025 4 mins read 1,298 views
The Decadal Tenure as a tool for Judicial Transformation

The Constitution of Bhutan equips the judiciary to foster transformative justice. The High Court (HC) and Supreme Court (SC),...

Jan 25, 2025 3 mins read 924 views
Ed Sheeran in Bhutan: A harmony of aspirations

Bhutan witnessed an extraordinary event that left its mark not just on those who attended, but also on the nation as a whole. Ed Sheeran, one of the world’...

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read 1,307 views
Ensuring that GMC is rabies-free

Gelephu—Sarpang is leading the way in rabies prevention with a collaborative effort between the Livestock Department and de-suups to sterilise cats and dogs.

Jan 24, 2025 3 mins read 596 views
Punakha crematorium faces urgent waste and sanitation concerns

Punakha—Located north of the Punakha Dzong, the Punakha Duethre (crematorium), is the only cremation in tow...

Jan 24, 2025 2 mins read 1,446 views
Multiple forest fires in western region

Forest fires broke out yesterday afternoon in three locations in the western region: Katsho in Haa, Neyphu in Paro, and Damchu in Chukha.

Jan 24, 2025 2 mins read 1,510 views
Samdrupjongkhar residents push for new ICP

Samdrupjongkhar— Congestion at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Samdrupjongkhar has become a daily ordeal, with trucks, cars, two-wheelers, and pedestrians competing...

Jan 24, 2025 3 mins read 1,319 views
Bhutan’s first MMA fighter Tsheltrim Rabgyel excels in Canada

For decades, Bhutan has not been able to enter the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). The country’s first MMA fighter, Tsheltrim Rabgyel, broke the deadlock and proved that with a strong mentality, hard work, determination, and consistency, nothing is impossible.

Jan 24, 2025 2 mins read 1,859 views
Fire accidents demand urgent action from All

Forest fires in Thimphu have become an alarming, recurring issue. The destructive fires not only threaten the delicate ecological balance of the country’s forest...

Jan 24, 2025 2 mins read 1,369 views
Trump orders US exit from Paris Agreement, halts foreign climate funding

A day before the official launch of the International Year of Glaciers Preser...

Jan 23, 2025 3 mins read 1,593 views
Dealers struggle as confusion mounts over green tax refund process

Confusion among vehicle owners over the Green Tax refund process has left dealers inundated wit...

Jan 23, 2025 2 mins read 2,367 views
Money multiplier to hit a record high of 5.01

The money multiplier in the country is expected to reach a new high of 5.01 at the end of June this year, indicating that the ngultrum is generating more money than before.

Jan 23, 2025 2 mins read 1,835 views
Hotels in Bumthang struggle to stay afloat

Bumthang—Following the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, the hotel industry has been grappling with a major shortage of workers, as many employees laid off during the lockdowns have not returned.

Jan 23, 2025 3 mins read 1,323 views
Browse Archives
Cost of complacent breathing

Bhutan’s clean air is becoming a comforting myth—pleasant to repeat, dangerous to believe. For years, we have worn the reputation for pristine air like a badge of honour. Snow-fed rivers, forested hills, and low industry made that pride justified. But pride, like smoke, can cloud judgment. Recent air quality readings in Thimphu show sharp and worrying spikes within a single day.

Dec 20, 2025 2 mins read 1,635 views
Entrepreneurs need support, not slogans

We love to talk about innovation, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance. In fact, we use these words in excess in policy documents, speeches, and conferences. Yet, on the ground, the conditions required for innovative ideas to take root an...

Dec 19, 2025 2 mins read 1,583 views
A common destiny, a collective future

The 118th National Day of Bhutan, celebrated in the sacred Bumthang Valley at the historic Wangduechoeling Palace grounds, was more than a commemoration of nationhood. It was a moment of collective reflection and renewed purpose, s...

Dec 18, 2025 3 mins read 1,994 views
A historic National Day

Some historic events are planned, others unfold as if by destiny, arriving at the opportune time for a profound reason. Today, as His Majesty the King addresses the nation from the Wangduec...

Dec 17, 2025 2 mins read 1,231 views
The true measure of public service

The civil service is the backbone of our nation’s development. From remote gewogs to the capital, civil servants have played a key role in keeping the government running and serving citizens every day. The Royal Civil Serv...

Dec 16, 2025 2 mins read 1,226 views
Impact Finance Forum: A promising start

The recently concluded SDG Impact Finance Forum showed the potential for global investments in the country.

Dec 15, 2025 2 mins read 1,224 views
Restore or lose it altogether

The country’s plan to restore 50,000 hectares of degraded forests, farmlands, and urban lands is not simply an environmental initiative. It is a national ultimatum. We are standing at a point where the land...

Dec 13, 2025 2 mins read 1,453 views
Zero tolerance for online crimes

This week, Australia enforced the ban on social media access for children under 16. This is unprecedented and bold. While some critics have labelled the ban harsh and even draconian, this new law is anchored in the p...

Dec 12, 2025 2 mins read 1,591 views
Will our education transformation be equitable?

The government’s allocation of Nu 30 billion for education transformation in the 13th Plan, second only to the economic...

Dec 11, 2025 2 mins read 1,266 views
The never-ending tourism debate

The discussion on tourism policy is like Atsara Phentho’s chham. In other words, a lot of motion without progress. On Monday, members of Parliament demanded accountability for the reforms they recommended after re...

Dec 10, 2025 2 mins read 1,894 views
Ready to take off from GMC

The launch of the Gelephu–Kolkata international air route marks far more than the addition of a new flight on the countr...

Dec 09, 2025 2 mins read 1,167 views
Why we must invest in Research & Development

Bhutan is not short of ideas, intellect or institutions. What it lacks is a strong, working bridge between research, pol...

Dec 08, 2025 2 mins read 1,494 views
To eat meat or not!

In passing the Livestock Bill of Bhutan,  2025, National Assembly members engaged in a good debate, a meaty one, even if...

Dec 06, 2025 2 mins read 1,941 views
Disaster preparedness is our best defence

The National Council this week questioned the government on the country’s disaster preparedness. This is a pertinent iss...

Dec 05, 2025 2 mins read 1,239 views
Equity in education merits discourse

During a recent Question Hour session in the National Assembly, Members of Parliament (MP) called for an open debate on...

Dec 04, 2025 2 mins read 1,451 views

No data available