When the collateral-free Economic Stimulus Plan (ESP) loan scheme was launched in May 2024 with a tantalizing interest rate of just 4%, there was a palpable buzz of excitement throughout the country. Many aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners saw it as a golden opportunity to realize their dreams and stimulate economic growth. However, the enthusiasm quickly transformed into frustration …

…𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒆𝒄𝒐-𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔, 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒖𝒑𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒚. By Kezang ChodenNgangla Gewog in Zhemgang Dzongkhag is witnessing substantial infrastructure upgrades as part of efforts to promote tourism and strengthen the local economy. With the installation of modern streetlights in Trong Chiwog, and a large-scale project at the …

As we reflect on the recent Royal Tour of Their Majesties the King and Gyaltsuen across Australia, we are reminded of the profound connection that exists between the Bhutanese diaspora and our homeland. In the warmth of those gatherings, emotions ran high as many in the audience shed tears, overwhelmed by the palpable sense of community and belonging. The tears …

…𝑨 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 By Yeshi LhadonA historic moment unfolded as the Bhutanese community in Australia welcomed Their Majesties the King and the Gyaltsuen, and the Royal children during their Royal Tour across the cities of Perth, Canberra, and Sydney. Their Majesties meet with around 27,000 Bhutanese people, …

…𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑮𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝑺𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒓𝒖𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 By Kezang Choden In a significant policy shift, the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development (DCDD) has announced new regulations regarding local Tshechu holidays across the country. Gewogs are now permitted to declare a one-day holiday for their local Tshechus, while the holiday structure for Dzongkhag-level Tshechus remains …

By Kezang Choden A new Homeopathy Healing Center was inaugurated in Metsho Gewog, Lhuentse Dzongkhag, much to the delight of the local community. The centre was established in response to the growing demand for alternative health services in the area, bringing renewed hope for improved healthcare options among residents. The facility will offer a variety of therapeutic services, including herbal …

It is deeply concerning to hear the recent statement from the Thrompen of Phuentsholing Thromde on BBS regarding the potential revival of an incinerator unit. The idea of making such a harmful facility operational again, despite its well-known adverse health effects, is baffling. Studies have consistently shown that incinerators are associated with significant health risks, including cancer, congenital anomalies, infant …

…𝑨 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑬𝒓𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉 By Lhendup Wangmo Bongo Gewog in Chukha Dzongkhag is poised to launch a transformative Rainbow Trout Project on October 16, aiming to bolster local fish farming initiatives in response to the rising domestic demand for this high-value species. Known for its exceptional nutritional value and commercial appeal, Rainbow Trout is …

…𝑩𝒉𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏’𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒎𝒊𝒅 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒍 𝑩𝒊𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒔, 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 By Yeshey LhadonThe World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has sounded a dire warning through its Living Planet Report (LPR) 2024, revealing a catastrophic 73 percent decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations from 1970 to 2020. This sharp decline indicates the growing threats posed by climate change, …

As we observe World Mental Health Day on October 10 every year, it is imperative to reflect on the significance of mental health within Bhutan. Mental health matters profoundly, influencing every aspect of our thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and interactions impacting our ability to cope with stress, build healthy relationships, and make informed decisions.In Bhutan, mental health issues have been increasingly …