Keep it real As the 2018 polls come around the corner, I can understand that politicians will want to give it their all. However, they should avoid setting impossibly high standards of piety or overnight development, and in the process raise unrealistic expectations. Democracy is not a silver bullet to …

Damchoe Pem/ Thimphu Bhutan Cancer Society organized a Relay for Life event on 3 June at the Bhutan Athletic Federation ground (commonly known as the YHSS ground). Her Royal Highness Princess Kesang Wangmo Wangchuck graced the event. Around 20 cancer survivors around the country took part in the relay. 12 …

The importance of the Mangdechu tariff negotiations cannot be understated for Bhutan in setting a precedent for Punatsangchu I and II and also deciding the income for Bhutan’s most important source of domestic revenue. All that Bhutan is asking for is a fair tariff rate, based on the cost of …

Kindness is the glue that holds Bhutanese society together. In an often hostile world, we revel in the traditions and glories of this beautiful country. It is a special place in so many ways. As a resident of Thimphu, and a long time observer of Bhutan and the Bhutanese, I …

29 May 2018, Thimphu: His Majesty The King granted Dhar to the members of the National Council, in a ceremony that was also graced by Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen. The third National Council election was held on 20 April 2018.

The loan interest rate reduction reform, carried out by the Central Bank at the request of the government from August 2016, saved an estimated Nu 3.2 bn for borrowers, just in 2017. This is only set to increase in the coming years as the loan base increases. According to feedback …

Bedside Toilet Borrowing program was created at Bhutan Toilet Org in 2017, almost accidentally. We had four units of portable potty, which were bought to be used as guest toilets during Highland Festival in Laya, but after realising that the potties wouldn’t be suitable for huge public events we kept them …

It is the responsibility of the current government to draw up the draft 12th FYP plan and secure in principal donor commitments, so that when a new government comes in it has a ready plan and also donors that it can approach. In that sense, this government must be commended …

When the Arab Spring broke out in the Arab streets in 2010, everyone swore by the benefits of the social media in fostering and strengthening democracy and human rights. Be it Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or other platforms social media was seen as the perfect tool to get beyond the oppressive …

Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen received the Zhung Dratshang at the Lingkana Palace on 16th May. The central monk body moved to Thimphu, their summer residence from Punakha.