National News

WFP study on the impact and plan of action for potential earthquakes is the first ever model in Bhutan for humanitarian planning By Tashi Namgyal The Himalayan region has amongst the highest earthquake risk globally, with recent moderate-sized events resulting in tens of thousands of casualties. Despite this, understanding of earthquake risk in the region is limited, particularly in Bhutan, …

While the two parliament houses remain on a deadlock, exporters shout-out for their provisional rights over the mining sector By Tashi Namgyal By the look of things, the much disputed Mines and Minerals Bill 2020 will have to take a hefty ride down the tunnel to be resolved for good. While the National Assembly (NA) favors a private-sector induced mining …

By Phurpa Wangmo Even as the Prime Minister assured the nation that all eligible population will be given the second jab of vaccination within the next four weeks, the country’s southern border towns have seen heightened pace of covid-19 infections over the days. The country, as of yesterday, had 261 active cases with majority of the cases or more than …

The Multidimensional Vulnerability Index for Bhutan reveals a host of stark realities for Bhutan that need to be considered immediately By Chimi Wangmo The Multidimensional Vulnerability Index 2021 published by the GNHC and UNICEF Bhutan Country Office has revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic is changing people’s lives in multiple ways. It has now become clear and more precise that the …

Compiled by Phurpa Wangmo Aum Kinzangmo, 36, lives with her three children, husband, and her parents in the heart of Buli village in Bhutan’s Zhemgang Dzongkhag district. As a progressive farmer, Aum Kinzangmo cultivates a variety of vegetables in her 30 decimal kitchen garden. This enables her to earn a decent income by selling her produce to the nearby dratshang (monastic school), …

Staff Reporter With the horrors of the Covid-19 pandemic etching closer by the day, His Majesty King personally continues to lead the battle against the dreaded virus by making numerous tours across vulnerable regions and border settlements. After spending almost a month in the south where His Majesty walked to the most remote border outposts, His Majesty The King returned …

Candidates launched for the upcoming bye-elections in Mongar and Nganglam constituencies By Tashi Namgyal Come 29th of June, the bye-elections will witness a plethora of talents on display. A fresh face, a diplomat, an old-hat and a rural expert is all set to lock horns for two seats in the parliament. The two political parties have finally fielded their candidates …

Among others the GoI will also support the construction of Sarpang Dzong for which a budget of Nu/Rs 275 has already been earmarked Compiled by Sonam ChokiThimphu Government of India this week provided a grant of Nu./Rs. 810.22 million towards key development projects in BhutanOn Friday, the Government of India has released an amount of Nu./Rs. 810.22 million to the …

By Chimi WangmoThimphu As the Office of the Attorney General published their annual report 2020, Attorney General Lungten Dubgyur stated that the year 2020 was out of the ordinary due to the Covid-19 pandemic.He said it created a scenario that is unprecedented and necessitated not just Bhutan, but the world, to adjust to a new normal. Service delivery transitioned from …

Bitumen left spilling over Thujidra stream. Who takes the blame? By Tashi NamgyalThimphu In the name of storage, thousands of barrels containing bitumen has been left rather unattended along the banks of Thujidra stream near the double turning in Motithang.A major tourist trail and a geographically, environmentally and aesthetically fragile area, the area (stockyard) where the toxic elements are piled …