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Religion

Bhutanese arts and crafts at the risk of losing authenticity

Bhutanese traditional arts and crafts are more than just artistic expressions; they embody the country’s identity, values, and spiritual principles. However, despite their authenticity, these crafts face a growing threat from commercialisation, which risks eroding traditional craftsmanship.

Mar 25, 2025 4 mins read
Browse Archives
Thimphu Thromde outsources cleaning to keep core city spotless

In a move to improve urban hygiene and livability, Thimphu Thromde has outsourced its street sweeping and drain cleaning services to Green Bhutan Service (GBS), a local waste management company.

May 05, 2025 2 mins read
Chimi Dema sets new record, winning fifth Mountain Bike Challenge title

Chimi Dema, a 28-year-old cyclist from Punakha, added another victory to her record yesterday by winning the female’s 10...

May 05, 2025 3 mins read
Bhutan’s press freedom tumbles to historic low, ranking 152nd globally

Bhutan’s press freedom ranking has plunged to its lowest level in decades, according to the 2025 World Press Freedom Ind...

May 03, 2025 5 mins read
White-Bellied Heron population ticks up, offering hope

In a glimmer of hope for one of the most endangered bird species in the world, Bhutan has recorded a modest but meaningf...

May 03, 2025 2 mins read
Income tax revenue up by 16 percent

Tax revenue from personal income tax (PIT), business income tax (BIT), and corporate income tax (CIT) has surged by 16.81 percent for the income year 2024 as of April 18 compared to the same period of last year.

May 03, 2025 3 mins read
GMC domestic bond attracts over Nu 18M subscription on first day

The 10-year Gelephu Mindfulness City’s Nation Building Bond (GNBB) has seen a robust start, attracting subscriptions wor...

May 03, 2025 2 mins read
Stigma in silence: The hidden struggles of living with HIV

When a 50-year-old woman walked into the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) last month for a rout...

May 03, 2025 3 mins read
Ministry steps up vaccination efforts in remote Laya

To strengthen immunisation coverage in remote regions, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Gasa dzongkhag admi...

May 03, 2025 2 mins read
Yarju open-air prison to open in 2027: A new model of rehabilitation

Wangdue-Spanning 437 acres in Hebisa village in Gasetsho Wom, Wangdue, the Yarju Open-Air Prison (OAP) is expected to op...

May 03, 2025 3 mins read
Tarayana Fair celebrates two decades of grassroots change

The 19th Tarayana Annual Fair opened yesterday at the Centenary Park in Thimphu, commemorating Tarayana Foundation’s 22...

May 03, 2025 2 mins read
Finance ministry revises hospitality and entertainment budget

Following recommendations by Royal Audit Authority (RAA), the finance ministry has revised the guidelines for the hospit...

Feb 15, 2025 3 mins read
Two textile startup ideas awarded

Two Bhutanese textile startup ideas were awarded Nu 50,000 each for their business ideas during a recent 15-day Basic En...

Feb 15, 2025 2 mins read
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 a...

Jan 30, 2025 2 mins read
RMA pilots central bank digital currency

The central bank, Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), has initiated a pilot programme for a central bank digital currency (C...

Jan 28, 2025 2 mins read
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 percent than the g...

Jan 25, 2025 2 mins read
Tuberculosis: Growing threat demands urgent action

Tuberculosis (TB) seems to be quietly spreading across the country, posing a serious public health issue. Despite medica...

Mar 24, 2025 2 mins read
Real dangers over our heads

For years, the Royal University of Bhutan’s conference hall in Thimphu has hosted policymakers, intellectuals, and exper...

Mar 22, 2025 2 mins read
Need to fast-track approval of new FDI rules

A  foreign direct investment (FDI) company has been navigating the bureaucratic corridors for more than a year now tryin...

Mar 21, 2025 2 mins read
Safeguarding our agricultural future

Bhutan’s agricultural exports have shown impressive performance, generating Nu 3.51 billion last year. Cardamom, oranges...

Mar 20, 2025 2 mins read
Us and the US

Much to the relief of Bhutan and its citizens, the United States has upgraded Bhutan to its “yellow” category under revi...

Mar 19, 2025 2 mins read

Recents

Deferred loans signal deeper economic trouble

As the nation takes stock of its economic health, a troubling figure demands urgent attention. As of now, loans worth Nu 33 billion remain under deferment. Nearly 6,000 borrowers—ranging from large hotel chains to small business owners—are unable to meet their repayment obligations. Of that total, a staggering Nu 13 billion is tied to the hotel and tourism sector alone. For a country with a GDP of

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Beskop Tshechu 2025: Bigger, bolder, more Bhutanese

The Beskop Tshechu Film Festival returns this year with a renewed sense of purpose. For the first time in its history, all screenings will take place at the City Cinema Hall, a conscious move aimed at improving accessibility and sparking deeper engagement through post-screening conversations and Q&A sessions.

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eDNA lab cuts costs, transforms biodiversity research

Since the launch of the Environmental Deoxyribonucleic Acid (eDNA) laboratory at the College of Natural Resources (CNR), the country has been saving between USD 200 and USD 300 per sample on analysis costs, funds that would otherwise have been spent on laboratories overseas.

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