In 2008 the then PHPA MD convinced the cabinet to shift the P-1 dam location to the current site which in all eventuality will now have to be abandoned with billions in losses. Nobody thought to ask if adequate studies had been done on the new site. Bhutanese hydro officials …

STANFORD/BOSTON/PARIS – The arrival of COVID-19 vaccines is giving the world hope of ending the pandemic, but many countries remain consumed by the virus’s spread. So, as we wait for widespread availability and distribution of the vaccines, preventive health measures such as social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand-washing will remain critical …

Last year when the nation was celebrating the 40th birth anniversary of His Majesty The King there was little inkling of the tumultuous year ahead. However, COVID-19 made its first appearance in March 2020 with the first COVID-19 case and since then His Majesty has led Bhutan’s fight against the …

NEW YORK – Joe Biden has been president of the United States for just a few weeks, but the central elements of his approach to the world are already clear: rebuilding at home, working with allies, embracing diplomacy, participating in international institutions, and advocating for democracy. All this puts him …

Standing on the cusp of the twentieth century, Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck saw the importance of modern education in preparing Bhutan for what lay ahead. Despite the daunting challenges of his time, he established schools in Bhutan and sent Bhutanese children to study in India. Realising the importance of advanced monastic …

Thuchen Choeki Gyalpo Ngawang Namgyal laid the foundation of Bhutan’s public service in Punakha Dzong nearly four centuries ago. Since then it has played a critical role in providing administration, dispensing justice, conducting foreign relations, and defending our sovereignty. It has provided continuity in governance and stability when our country …

If there is one thing that marks out His Majesty The King, it is the vision and ability to bring about great and far reaching reforms all the way back from 2006. These include poverty alleviation through land reform, land kidu and resettlement; better corporate governance and performance through DHI; …

HONG KONG – Since the Chinese authorities suddenly halted fintech conglomerate Ant Group’s planned initial public offering in autumn 2020, its parent company, e-commerce king Alibaba, has been facing harsh regulatory scrutiny. On Christmas Eve, China’s antitrust authority announced that it was investigating the firm’s exclusive business practices. And Alibaba’s founder, Jack Ma, recently …

The Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) has sent out a letter to all DHI Owned and Controlled companies saying that this year the annual two-month bonus will not be given. The bonus would have been for 2020. This is in line with what the nation is going through with the …

As the nation comes out of the second national lockdown and more than 300 cases of local COVID-19 transmission, mainly in Thimphu and Paro, the words of His Majesty, as relayed by the Prime Minister, should ring clear and loud. His Majesty advised the government to be cautious, alert and …