Democracy is in crisis. Fake news – and fake allegations of fake news – now plagues civil discourse, and political parties have proved increasingly willing to use xenophobia and other malign strategies to win elections. At the same time, revisionist powers like Vladimir Putin’s Russia have been stepping up their efforts to …

Despite some controversies and the occasional chest beating, elections in Bhutan are free and fair and very peaceful compared to the neighborhood. However, the issue is not so much with the process which is accredited and praised by international observers, but on the energies and forces that it unleashes among …

Despite attracting new attention as the strategic heart of the Indo-Pacific, the Bay of Bengal remains one of the world’s least integrated regions, with abysmal levels of connectivity and formidable barriers to cooperation. To overcome these divides and foster regionalism, the countries in the region must invest in multilateralism by …

I have made it a point to be at the National Graduates’ Orientation Programme each year since the age of 21. I am 38 this year, so I have had the privilege of speaking to graduates for many years now, and this opportunity is very precious to me. I have …

Bhutan currently has around 400,000 Facebook accounts according to Facebook which gives this estimated figure to those who want to use its platform for online advertisement in Bhutan. This not only dwarfs all other social media platforms but also makes facebook the largest and most powerful media outlet in Bhutan, …

LONDON – Before the Internet revolutionized how news was gathered and shared, journalists rarely had to worry about the threat of virtual violence. The main risks they faced were in the field: the physical and psychological safety concerns of reporting on disaster and conflict. But today’s media battlefields are increasingly …

There has been much discussion and views expressed on the outgoing cabinet handing over their duty Prado vehicles. The giving up of the duty vehicles entitlement is a recent development as the earlier culture of entitlement saw all classes of senior public servants and even corporate bosses jealously guarding and …

My dear friends, It is the dream of every Bhutanese to serve our beloved nation, a nation we all love dearly, a nation we are proud of. This enduring spirit and love for our nation unites all Bhutanese. Our benevolent monarchs, the life force of our nation, who have ensured …

As elections approach there is a growing drum beat on the issue of youth unemployment by political parties, sections of the media and ‘experts’ on social media. First off, there is no denying that Bhutan faces a youth unemployment issue as it always has been doing. The detailed Population and …

CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA – Politics has a nasty habit of surprising us – especially in a country like China, where there is little transparency and a lot of intrigue. Five months ago, President Xi Jinping jolted his countrymen by abolishing the presidential term limit and signaling his intention to serve for …