EDITORIAL

A senior foreign journalist who interviewed several Bhutanese had many good things to say about Bhutan and Bhutanese, but she noted a troubling and deep sense of complacency. It is this sense of complacency that has landed us in all kinds of troubles from mass migration to Australia to the …

In 2006, His Majesty The King, then as a Crown Prince, visited Thailand to inaugurate the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek exposition in Chiang Mai commemorating the 60th Birth anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. In a simple but thoughtful gesture the Crown Prince gave a bow of respect to the revered Thai …

Bhutan saw the advent of electoral democracy in 2008 with all the state institutions like Parliament and Constitutional bodies. However, a big question for Bhutanese democracy was what would it mean for people beyond voting every five years, how would check and balance really work, will democratic culture take root …

For a long time, Bhutan had the high value and low volume tourism policy, but things changed when Bhutan hired McKinsey during the time of the first government. The McKinsey team which had a lot of young Indian graduates studying and prescribing solutions to accelerate Bhutan’s economic development recommended promoting …

From available public records Kuensel in 2021 made a revenue of Nu 150.09 million a good chunk of which was made possible by direct government printing, advertising and other works as pointed to by the current Finance Secretary who said the government subsidizes Kuensel through such jobs. However, the same …

For the first time in many decades, the global tectonic plates of geopolitics are shifting and it will have significant impacts on Bhutan in the years to come. The foreign policy of U.S. President Donald Trump is firstly an isolationist one that withdraws from its global role, and secondly there …

The last week has not been a good one for Bhutan in terms of its international image and diplomacy, with reports of Bhutan falling in the traffic colour lists of the US government. There was a lot of hurt and understandable anger given how Bhutan does not pose a threat …

As a small landlocked country further hemmed in by high mountains and deep valleys, we Bhutanese like to mind our own business and keep to our local affairs. However, in an interconnected and fast changing world it is important for Bhutan to not only keep up to date with international …

You have shopped a few things for the family at Uniqlo, and there is a long line behind you. You wonder if it is wise to use your credit card or international debit card from Bhutan, but you are not carrying much cash and so decide to use a card. …

When one thinks of mining in Bhutan, the visual is often some Stone Quarries, Dolomite and Gypsum mines with trucks plying. Given that the mining sector has come under much criticism from local communities and oversight bodies over the years, one cannot deny the sector does not enjoy a great …