By Kinley Tenzin Wangchuk Whenever I drive in the Thimphu city traffic, I’m reminded of a song The Pretender by Jackson Browne which is about settling for less than our dreams, feeling stuck in the mundane routines of life. I’m gonna rent myself a house In the shade of a …
Read More »Right To Privacy
The media for a while now has been complaining of access to information and rightly so as government officials even refuse to share public information meant for the public. Ironically, when government agencies want information from the public then there are no limits at all, including private information. The private …
Read More »Orange Homecoming
By Tandin Wangchuk The past two years felt like a storm, sometimes destructive, sometimes cleansing, always forcing me to grow. I arrived in Perth in July 2023 with two suitcases, a borrowed student visa, and a CV I stretched like taffy. The IELTS certificate-6.5 bands, was the only real part …
Read More »Govt says 10% tax on fixed deposit interest to prevent passive wealth accumulation but public not happy
Last Saturday on 31st May The Bhutanese did a story on the Income Tax Bill 2025 pointing to its various features like reductions in Personal Income Tax (PIT) slab, 30% Business Income Tax (BIT) being done away with and it now being brought under PIT, reduction in Corporate Income Tax …
Read More »Information Pollution Is Undermining Climate Progress
BERLIN – The devastation caused by the 2024 flash floods in Valencia, Spain, was so surreal that some images sparked a global debate over their authenticity. In an era when AI technology can produce hyper-realistic fakes, photos showing cars piled haphazardly atop one another in narrow, mud-filled streets seemed almost …
Read More »NA and NC calls for stronger alcohol and drug policies
Bhutan’s two legislative Houses, the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council (NC) have raised an urgent and unified call for stronger policies and coordinated efforts to tackle the growing threats of crime, alcohol abuse, and substance misuse particularly among the country’s youth. Deliberations in both houses this week highlighted …
Read More »Bhutan as a higher education hub
As Bhutan reimagines its economic future in the 21st century, education is emerging not just as a foundational pillar but as a strategic compound for national transformation. The country’s 21st Century Economic Roadmap places educational services at the heart of its development agenda, envisioning a globally competitive, resilient, and values-driven …
Read More »NC says several provisions of Penal Code needs to change
The Interim Report on the Amendment of the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004 presented by Legislative Committee identifies several issues with the Bhutan Penal Code. Dzongkha-English Harmonization The Penal Code of Bhutan (PCB) was enacted in both Dzongkha and English, While this bilingual approach is intended to uphold inclusivity and …
Read More »NA EAC Report on ESP says more should be allocated to Concessional Credit
The National Assembly’s (NA) Economic and Finance Committee (EFC) has come up with its Report on the Implementation of the Economic Stimulus Program (ESP) of Nu 15 bn. With a total funding envelope of Nu. 15 billion (bn), the ESP aimed to revive the economy through a mix of concessional …
Read More »A progressive Tax Reform
Traditionally, in the eyes of public officials one of the biggest sins a businessman could commit is to drive an expensive car. Another fact is that many public servants favor SOEs over private companies and see the SOE fulfilling a national role, while private companies are regarded as not being …
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The Bhutanese Leading the way.