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By Kinley Yonten Despite the ban of tobacco sales in the country, Bhutan has the highest number of adolescent tobacco users in South-East Asia. This was highlighted in a World Health Organization regional report on mental health status of adolescents. Bhutan has 24.6 percent smokers and 29.3 percent of adolescents using other tobacco products in the region. According to the …

By Tshering A total of 80 youth, 40 male and 40 female along with eight escort teachers from 20 dzongkhags are in the capital Thfor the 10th Golden Youth Award Camp. Organised by the Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF), the weeklong Golden Youth Award camp started from July 5. The participants are the representatives from 20 dzongkhags who will be …

  By Kinley Yonten The judge will not be sitting on a high raised throne intimidating the litigants. The judge will be able to see the litigants through a glass partition, but not the litigants. The court room is filled with books and toys. This is the child bench at the Thimphu district court. To provide care and safeguard the …

BMF launches news website and Apps By Kinley Yonten Bhutanese who wants to stay up to date with current affairs and issues in the country can now do so with the launch of news websites and Apps. Two apps-Bhutan news and Radiola were launched on June 29, on both android and iSO platform for free. With the launch of the …

By Tshering Given the social menace HIV/AIDS is causing, the national HIV?AIDS commission was reconstituted after 13 years. It was endorsed during the 133rd session of the Lhengye Zhungtshog last month. The vision of the commission is to make the HIV and AIDS no longer a public health problem in the country and to provide exemplary leadership in effective prevention, …

Disease attributed to contaminated private water source By Tshering As of Friday, the health ministry has confirmed 23 cases of para typhoid in Changzamtok, Thimphu. The first case was reported on June 21 where three individuals residing in the same building were diagnosed with typhoid and admitted at the National Referral hospital. After the admission of three patients, Royal Centre …

Drug abuse and illicit trafficking of controlled substances is a growing issue in the country By Kinley Yonten Bhutan is facing rising cases of cannabis users, while pharmaceutical opioids remain the second most commonly used drug in Bhutan, according to the World Drug Report. This is recognized as Bhutan joined the international community in observing the Day against Drug Abuse …

By Tshering The newly opened Business Incubation Unit (BIU) will help promote employability among the graduates of TTIs and IZCs and further consolidate the skills and knowledge of trainees at the Thimphu Institute for Zorig Chusum (IZC). BIU has become increasingly common for stimulating local development through fostering the growth of small-business in many parts of the world. Since the …

East-West highway to be completed by 2018 By Kinley Yonten The first stretch of 65 kilometer of Northern East-West Highway from Simtokha to Wangdue was inaugurated on June 28. The Foreign Minister, Damcho Dorji and the Works and Human Settlement Minister, Dorji Choden inaugurated the 65-kilometre Simtokha-Wangdue upgraded highway at Semtokha. Widening and up-gradation work on 510km East-West Highway, which …

First workshop between the judiciary and media By Kinley Yonten To have better understanding between the judiciary and media, Drangpons from the judiciary, legal professionals and journalist from different media houses attended a two-day workshop to share expectation from each other. It was the first workshop for representatives from the media conducted by the judiciary to help understand reporting on …