By Zhang Jun SHANGHAI – Chinese manufacturing has come a long way – and by some measures, it is stronger than ever. Whereas foreign-invested enterprises were the driving force behind China’s manufacturing exports 20 years ago, most of these firms are now leaving China, having lost their market share to …

The phenomenal rise of Bhutan’s ferro silicon sector from a modest beginning in 1990 to a Nu 17.7 billion export powerhouse in 2024 was largely driven by international market cycles, cheap hydro power, and policy support. But today, the country stands at a crossroads with nine new ferro factories coming …

On the sunlit morning of July 8, 2025, amidst the rhythm of machinery and sacred chants, Bhutan witnessed the beginning of a journey that will outlast all of us. With His Majesty The King, Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen and Their Royal Highnesses standing shoulder to shoulder with Desuups and Gyalsups …

By Koichi Hamada NEW HAVEN – Since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, it has been virtually impossible to keep up with all the extreme measures, incendiary rhetoric, personnel changes, policy reversals, and breaches of rules and norms, from intelligence leaks to defiance of court orders. That …

Behind the calm demeanor of Bhutan’s civil service and corporate institutions lies a reality many dare not speak aloud- toxic office environments that are draining morale, creativity, and mental health. In a nation that prides itself on compassion and harmony, this growing toxicity is Bhutan’s silent workplace crisis. Whether in …

By Elina Noor SINGAPORE – Following OpenAI’s public launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, the underpinnings of AI large language models seemed firmly “WIRED”: Western, industrialized, rich, educated, and democratic. Everyone assumed that if LLMs spoke a particular language and reflected a particular worldview, it would be a Western one. …

By Brahma Chellaney NEW DELHI – Israel and the United States have dealt punishing blows to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. “Operation Rising Lion” and “Operation Midnight Hammer” have been portrayed as precision strikes that will stop the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program in its tracks. But whatever the bombings might have achieved …

Ordinary people, the government and Parliamentarians may be happy that the Excise Tax Bill 2025 and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Amendment Bill 2025 will lead to a sharp reduction in vehicles prices from a minimum of around Nu 113,000 to a maximum of Nu 660,000 and even Nu …

The recently adopted Excise Tax Bill 2025 and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Amendment Bill 2025 are undoubtedly a progressive step forward. They promise significant reductions in vehicle prices slashing costs by up to Nu 660,000 for some models. But in a twist of irony, the very laws meant …

This has been one of the most important Parliamentary sessions in recent times with a slew of important tax bills that will have an important impact for years and even decades. The most important of them all is the GST Bill given the fact that it is a new tax …