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Royal visit fosters stronger ties

The lasting impact of Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida of Thailand’s state visit to Bhutan resonated deeply within both nations, marking a pinnacle in diplomatic relations and cultural exchange.

Apr 30, 2025 5 mins read
Construction of key southern highway in planning

Sarpang—A major highway that could reshape southern Bhutan’s economic and connectivity landscape has entered its preparatory stage, with construction...

Apr 30, 2025 3 mins read
Bhutan condemns Kashmir terror attack

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has strongly condemned the terrorist attack that killed 26 people, including tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India on April 22.

Apr 30, 2025 2 mins read
Private sector seeks stronger role in 13th Plan

The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has submitted a formal proposal to the Prime Minister’s Office and the cabinet, outlining a strategic...

Apr 30, 2025 2 mins read
A green nation caught in South Asia’s smog?

When a Bhutanese woman returned to her home this March after two years in Australia, she was hoping to breathe in the crisp, clear mountain air she had missed. Instead, she found herself under a dull haze that hung over the valley like a curtain.

Apr 30, 2025 3 mins read
Science, engineering, tech conference in Thimphu

An international conference on Science Engineering and Technology (ICSciEnTec) convened yesterday with the aim of bridging distances, inspiring minds...

Apr 30, 2025 2 mins read
Bhutan sets sights on ICC T20 World Cup

The Senior Bhutan National Women’s Cricket Team is currently in Assam, India, for a 10-day training session in preparation for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC)...

Apr 30, 2025 2 mins read
Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand conclude State Visit to Bhutan

After a four-day State Visit filled with various engagements a...

Apr 29, 2025 3 mins read
GMC pushes for tokenisation as new land ownership model

Gelephu—The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) will introduce land tokenisation as a new ownership model to allow affected landowners to benefit from future increases in property value as the city expands.

Apr 29, 2025 2 mins read
Economy to expand to 6.6% this fiscal year

Bhutan’s economy is projected to grow to 6.6 percent in fiscal year 2024-25, up from 4.9 percent growth the previous year, driven by hydropower, mining, construction,...

Apr 29, 2025 2 mins read
Lightning strike kills 15 cattle in remote Samtse village

A lightning strike yesterday morning killed 15 cattle in Bamengang village (Mithun), located along the border between Norb...

Apr 29, 2025 0 mins read
Bhutanese step forward to build GMC Airport

Gelephu— In a show of national pride and unity, Bhutanese from across the country are stepping forward with contributions for the upcoming Gelephu International Air...

Apr 29, 2025 2 mins read
ASF outbreak continues to threaten pig farmers in Lhamoizingkha

Phuentsholing—African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak confirmed through RT-PCR testing on April 13 continues to pose threat to pig farmers in two gewogs under Lhamoizingkha in Dagana.

Apr 29, 2025 2 mins read
Asia-Pacific nations call for sustainable GMC development in Bhutan

Countries across the Asia-Pacific region have agreed to intensify co-operation to drive sust...

Apr 29, 2025 3 mins read
MoIT partners with JICA to upgrade National Drone Strategy

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT) is partnering with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA...

Apr 29, 2025 2 mins read
Tour guides push back against mandatory competency assessment

The Department of Tourism’s (DoT) recent announcement requiring all licensed tours guides to undergo mandatory...

Apr 28, 2025 3 mins read
Elderly woman dead, husband rescued in suspected joint suicide attempt

Punakha—An 81-year-old woman died while her 87-year-old husband was rescued after the couple was swept into the Mochhu River on April 25. The police said the couple, who were living with their son and daughter-in-law, were last seen around 6:30 am, walking near the riverbank with a dog.

Apr 28, 2025 1 mins read
BADRC ramps up efforts to deliver swift dispute resolution

The Bhutan Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (BADRC) has stepped up efforts to enhance its services, training about...

Apr 28, 2025 2 mins read
Artist Registration System launched to support artists and protect copyright

The Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Prope...

Apr 28, 2025 2 mins read
Daza’s Toy

In a quiet corner of her home, amidst a vibrant collection of colourful yarn, 32-year-old Tshering Dema from Lhuentse, orchestrates a symphony of stitches. With nimble fingers and a heart full of passion, she is the driving force behind “Daza’s Toy”.

Apr 28, 2025 2 mins read
Bhutan hosts ICC Level 3 coaching for the first time

Bhutan is hosting the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Level 3 Coaching Course for the first time in Thimphu. Four master educators from the ICC are facilitating the five-day training that began from April 27.

Apr 28, 2025 2 mins read
Historic Royal visit of King of Thailand

In a special gesture of welcome, Their Majesties the Druk Gyalpo and Gyaltsuen personally received Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand at the Paro International A...

Apr 26, 2025 1 mins read
CBS research pool raises concerns over civil service initiative’s sustainability

Four years after an ambitious initiative to streng...

Apr 26, 2025 5 mins read
Relocation underway for Gelephu international airport project

Gelephu—With just two months remaining before the development of the Gelephu International Airport begins, 51-...

Apr 26, 2025 3 mins read
Civil service steps into digital era with new generative AI guidelines

Recognising the potential of AI, the civil service has taken a major step into the digital era with the release of the Generative Artificial Intelligence Usage Guidelines for Civil Service 2024.

Apr 26, 2025 2 mins read
Stepdaughter accuses stepfather of physical abuse and sexual harassment

Punakha—Punakha police are investigating a complaint filed by a 17-year-old girl...

Apr 26, 2025 2 mins read
Forest fires cost over Nu 500 million in timber losses in five months

Forest fires in the country have resulted in an estimated Nu 520 million worth loss in...

Apr 26, 2025 3 mins read
Lhop community’s traditional paper craft faces market decline

Dorokha, Samtse—A desho paper production centre in Jigme village, Dophuchen gewog, run by the Lhop commu...

Apr 26, 2025 2 mins read
Filmmaking as an act of great empathy

A good story contains a sacred space within. Or lets call it a scared scene in this particular case as I am talking about a film. There is nothing extraordinary about that scene. But, that it’s local. We live in there.

Apr 26, 2025 4 mins read
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Bhutan hosts ICC Level 3 coaching for the first time

Bhutan is hosting the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Level 3 Coaching Course for the first time in Thimphu. Four master educators from the ICC are facilitating the five-day training that began from April 27.

Apr 28, 2025 2 mins read
CBS research pool raises concerns over civil service initiative’s sustainability

Four years after an ambitious initiative to strengthen the civil service through research capacity building, the Centre...

Apr 26, 2025 5 mins read
Relocation underway for Gelephu international airport project

Gelephu—With just two months remaining before the development of the Gelephu International Airport begins, 51-year-old M...

Apr 26, 2025 3 mins read
Civil service steps into digital era with new generative AI guidelines

Recognising the potential of AI, the civil service has taken a major step into the digital era with the release of the G...

Apr 26, 2025 2 mins read
Stepdaughter accuses stepfather of physical abuse and sexual harassment

Punakha—Punakha police are investigating a complaint filed by a 17-year-old girl alleging physical assault and sexual ha...

Apr 26, 2025 2 mins read
Forest fires cost over Nu 500 million in timber losses in five months

Forest fires in the country have resulted in an estimated Nu 520 million worth loss in timber over a five-month period s...

Apr 26, 2025 3 mins read
Lhop community’s traditional paper craft faces market decline

Dorokha, Samtse—A desho paper production centre in Jigme village, Dophuchen gewog, run by the Lhop community, is facing...

Apr 26, 2025 2 mins read
Filmmaking as an act of great empathy

A good story contains a sacred space within. Or lets call it a scared scene in this particular case as I am talking about a film. There is nothing extraordinary about that scene. But, that it’s local. We live in there.

Apr 26, 2025 4 mins read
“Bhutan has given me perspective and presence”

There are so many moments that will stay with me, but some of the most memorable ones happened when Bhutan began emergin...

Apr 26, 2025 4 mins read
Bhutan to host first-ever fashion week

Bhutan is set to launch its first-ever Fashion Week this October, a landmark event that will spotlight local creativity, elevate traditional textiles, and position Bhutan on the global fashion map.

Apr 26, 2025 3 mins read
What are we hiding?

In recent months, Kuensel and other media outlets have raised critical questions about the government’s Nu 15 billion Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP). These inquiries focus on who benefits from the fund, how much has been disbursed to specific sectors, and where and how this substantial sum is being utilised.

Apr 12, 2025 2 mins read
Building stronger shield against forgery

A  quiet but powerful step is being taken to strengthen Bhutan’s national security. Fifteen police officers from across the country are undergoing specialised training to detect forged documents and improve investigative techniques. This tr...

Apr 11, 2025 2 mins read
Beware of get-rich-quick scams

It is said that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many Bhutanese who have fallen victims to the QNet scam are painfully realising the wisdom behind this old adage. After Kuensel’s recent...

Apr 10, 2025 2 mins read
What plans for urban roads?

The Thimphu-Babesa expressway is undergoing a facelift, perhaps to welcome a VIP. While this may be welcome news , the traffic disruptions it causes indicate that there is something seriously wrong wit...

Apr 09, 2025 2 mins read
Prevention must lead our health response

Bhutan is facing a silent but dangerous health crisis. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions—have quietly become the leading cause of death in the country.

Apr 08, 2025 2 mins read
Investing in food security

Food prices in Bhutan have been rising steadily, making it harder for families to afford what they need. Recent data shows that food inflation reached 5.45 percent in February this year, with the co...

Apr 07, 2025 2 mins read
Saving our crafts

There are growing concerns in the arts and craft business. Those in the business are increasingly alarmed by the influx of cheaper—sometimes better-finished—imported craft...

Apr 05, 2025 2 mins read
Scamming at next level

A banker in Turkey died after the Covid-19 pandemic. His “head of finance" is reaching out to people so that she can share the fortune, as the banker had no children or  kith or kin to c...

Apr 04, 2025 2 mins read
Address teacher shortage issue urgently

The shortage of over 1,100 teachers in our schools is not just a staffing issue—it is a crisis threatening the country’s education system and, by extension, our future. The Ministry of Education and Skills Development has launched a nati...

Apr 03, 2025 2 mins read
Ensuring quality of public infrastructure

Public infrastructure serves as the backbone of national economy, influencing everything from economic productivity to social well-being. Yet, for too long, quality control has been an afterthought rather than a fundamental principle guiding i...

Apr 02, 2025 2 mins read
Building startups for Gelephu Mindfulness City

After a four-year hiatus, the National Startup Weekend is back, aiming to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with essential sk...

Mar 13, 2025 3 mins read
Smartphone imports hit record high of Nu 2.7 billion, raising eyebrows

Smartphone imports spiked to Nu 2.72 billion in 2024, a sharp increase from Nu 2.2 billion in 2023. This jump propelled...

Mar 08, 2025 2 mins read
BDBL receives almost 4,000 loan applications under ESP Window-I

Bhutan Development Bank Limited (BDBL) has received 3,969 loan applications across its 35 branches nationwide, totaling...

Feb 20, 2025 2 mins read
Card payment and SWIFT transfers drive international transactions

Bhutan’s international payment systems showed mixed trends in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, recording a sharp increas...

Feb 20, 2025 2 mins read
Hydropower generation spikes by 11 percent in 2024

The country’s total hydropower generation increased by 11 percent, reaching 11, 699.68 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electrici...

Feb 20, 2025 2 mins read
Media must first hold itself accountable

The media serves as a watchdog of society, holding institutions and individuals accountable for their actions. It plays...

Apr 01, 2025 2 mins read
Waste problem demands urgent action

We are at a crossroads in our fight against waste. The country, known for its pristine environment and Gross National Ha...

Mar 31, 2025 2 mins read
Clearing speedbumps along the EV road

The call for privatising or establishing a public-private partnership (PPP) to develop and maintain electric vehicle (EV...

Mar 29, 2025 2 mins read
Urgent need for more EV charging stations

Bhutan’s ambitious target of replacing 70 percent of its vehicles with electric ones by 2035 is a visionary step towards...

Mar 28, 2025 2 mins read
Investing in our children’s future through play

In Bhutan, where strong family values and community ties form the foundation of society, the way we raise our children d...

Mar 27, 2025 2 mins read

Recents

Looking beyond the numbers

Bhutan’s economic outlook for the next fiscal year appears positive. According to the World Bank’s latest South Asia Development Update, the economy is projected to grow by 6.6 percent in fiscal year 2024-25, a significant rise from the 4.9 percent growth recorded the previous year.

Read More

Royal visit fosters stronger ties

The lasting impact of Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida of Thailand’s state visit to Bhutan resonated deeply within both nations, marking a pinnacle in diplomatic relations and cultural exchange.

Read More

A green nation caught in South Asia’s smog?

When a Bhutanese woman returned to her home this March after two years in Australia, she was hoping to breathe in the crisp, clear mountain air she had missed. Instead, she found herself under a dull haze that hung over the valley like a curtain.

Read More

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