There are stories that disturb, and then there are stories that indict. The recent reports from Norbuling Rigter College fall firmly in the latter category. In the first case, a young student lies in a hospital bed, his speech reduced to typed words, his future uncertain after a brutal assault …

When I arrived in Bhutan during 2016, I was excited to learn more about this peaceful little town among the mountains shrouded in mist and the valleys full of beauty with a feeling of curiosity and discomfort. The experience at that time left me with a strong and lasting impression …

By Laura Carvalho NEW YORK—The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered what the International Monetary Fund calls a “global yet asymmetric” rupture, disrupting the flow of roughly one-quarter of oil, one-fifth of liquefied natural gas, and one-third of fertilizer supplies. Energy and fertilizer prices have risen, supply chains …

By Phub W. Dorji Let me begin with what should be an uncontroversial observation: the debate triggered by Dr. Ahmad’s article in The Bhutanese last week, is not really about GST. It is about something deeper — the growing distance between how our economic policies are designed and how ordinary …

There can be no doubt about the sincerity and good intentions of the two Governments, the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue and Customs and the GST project team in introducing the GST. These are patriotic and dutiful Bhutanese public servants working very hard to make GST a success so …

By Simon Johnson and Amir Kermani WASHINGTON, DC/BERKELEY—The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is having devastating consequences worldwide. The price of oil is up sharply, liquefied natural gas has become much more expensive in key markets, the cost of fertilizer is likely to remain high throughout the planting season, …

The current fuel shock and huge fuel subsidies of Nu 1.3 bn a month will hit Bhutan’s finances hard. It exposes in many ways the economic fragility of Bhutan and also areas where we can improve on. For a long time, Bhutan enjoyed cheap fuels prices from April 2023, in …

By Dr. Haqnawaz Ahmad Bhutan has always taken pride in pursuing economic policies that balance revenue needs with social well-being but the recent rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has triggered a question many ordinary citizens are now asking in tea shops, markets, and homes: is this policy …

By Brahma Chellaney NEW DELHI—In a rambling address to the American people on April 1, US President Donald Trump claimed that the US war against Iran has been a success, vowing to “finish the job … very fast.” It was a statement in obvious conflict with the facts. Trump is …

The government’s decision to subsidise diesel under the National Fuel Price Smoothening Framework (NFPSF) comes as both a relief and a warning. Relief, because soaring global fuel prices, driven by geopolitical tensions are already pushing up the cost of living. Warning, because such relief comes at a steep and unsustainable …