Top 10 News

Staff Reporter The SAARC Development Fund (SDF) today handed over the USD 1 million (Nu 73.31 million) to the Ministry of Health as COVID-19 emergency grant. Officer-in-Charge of SDF, Mr. Anuj Goel, presented a cheque of USD 0.5 million (Nu 36.66 million), the first tranche/50 percent of the grant amount, to Health Secretary Dr. Pandup Tshering. The remaining amount would …

By Sonam Choki In a recent change of stance against the much-debated uses of the weed, Foreign Affairs minister Dr Tandi Dorji said the government is exploring ways to legalise marijuana for medicinal use in the country. The Foreign Affairs Minister said this when the Member of Parliament (MP) from Dramedtse-Ngatshang constituency quizzed him as to when the Narcotic Drugs, …

By Chimi Wangmo The Ministry of Health (MoH) in partnership with UNDP and JICA, and fund support from the Government of Japan, launched mobile cardiotocography devices, or iCTG this week. The introduction of mobile iCTG is a part of the Health Ministry’s initiative, “Reaching every pregnant woman with quality gynaecological and obstetric services”, which is a gift and blessing from …

The Economic and Finance Committee calls for a balance in the pendulum swing By Tashi Namgyal The much touted National Credit Guarantee Scheme (NCGS) has invited criticism from the lower house of the parliament, with members widely pointing out the imbalance in the distribution of NCGS projects across the country. From a total of 81 business projects which were approved …

By Sonam Choki In an unsavory development in the ongoing parliament, t he Agriculture and Forests Minister Yeshey Penjor revealed that the Food Corporation of Bhutan Limited (FCBL) had incurred losses of more than Nu 100 M from farm shops across the country in the last four years. While presenting the Review Report on Farm Shops at the National Assembly, …

Some members of the National Council shared their concerns over government’s decision to revise customs duty to uniform 10 % By Tandin Wangchuk Notwithstanding the government’s move to levy a uniform 10% customs duty on all goods imported from third countries, some members of the NC expressed their concerns over the government’s decision. They said this untimely move by the …

The Education Reform document will outline the challenges and issues faced, aspirations and potentials of the way forward for education in line with the Royal Kasho. By Chimi Wangmo Drawing inspiration from the Royal Kasho, Education Minister Jai Bir Rai during the ongoing parliamentary session said the ministry has developed the Education Roadmap for the 21st century which is about …

The man, known by the alias Penjore Penjore, is seeking answers per se the Constitution on what legal grounds has he been detained by the OAG and without a court warrant. By Tashi Namgyal Even after 16 days being out of the detention centre, the one question which pertinently lingers in the mind of Penjore is the grounds on which …

It was a difficult move for the venture as they looks to offset COVID-19 impacts and for the long-term continuity of the company By Phurpa Wangmmo The Impact of COVID- 19 is being felt by individuals, businesses, and countries all around the world. In Bhutan, Mountain Hazelnuts Ventures Pvt. Ltd. is the latest company to take a hit from the …

By Tashi Namgyal The government’s proposal to do away with import duty on sanitary products is a direct kick in the teeth of local entrepreneurs who are already faced with stiff competition from third countries. The offer to do away with 30 percent import duty imposed on sanitary products may sound heartfelt, but the impending consequences are imminent as local …