LOCAL NEWS

By Dr Ugyen Tshewang Modern healthcare in Bhutan began only in the early 1960s, at a time when the country had limited health infrastructure and very few trained health professionals. A defining milestone in Bhutan’s healthcare history was achieved in 1962 when Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother, Azhi Kesang Choden …

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT) says it is mobilizing funds to support critical infrastructure development in Damphu Town’s Local Area Plan (LAP) areas, where private construction activities have remained stalled for years due to infrastructure gaps and planning delays. The response came during the 27th Meet-the-Press session held …

The country’s inflation rate rose to 6.07 percent in March 2026, driven largely by sharp increases in fuel prices, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF). The increase marks one of the highest inflation levels recorded in recent months, with food inflation reaching 7.07 percent and non-food inflation at 6.51 …

Concerns over rainfall and Thorthomi International climate research agencies forecast that global temperatures could spike up this year, as experts say there is a high chance of a ‘super’ El Niño’. This developing phenomenon is expected to bring higher temperatures to India and the Hindu-Kush Himalayas (HKH), raising concerns over …

On Thursday  afternoon, the Prime Minister chaired the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the 13th Five-Year Plan for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT). The Ministry’s roadmap is centered around enhancing national connectivity by land and air, and significantly improving the livability of our settlements. The review highlighted substantial progress …

The government informed that fuel import costs have continued to increase, with the rise in diesel prices being of particular concern. This is especially significant because diesel is a critical input for transport, construction, distribution and other key economic activities, and as such, it has a direct impact on the …

India is facing a major petrochemical shortage following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, with industries dependent on oil and gas feeling the impact. The hardest hit are petrochemical sectors, particularly downstream industries such as plastics and agrochemicals. According to The Economic Times, major petrochemical companies and producers, …

The Cabinet has approved a 4 percent Economic Stimulus Program (ESP) subsidy for hotels for a one-year period, but implementation has taken longer than expected as multiple agencies work to finalize the framework. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE), Ministry of Finance (MoF), and Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) …

For grocers and shopkeepers, every plastic bag handed to a customer for “free” is a direct hit to their struggling businesses. While shoppers view these bags as a basic convenience, small-scale vendors in Thimphu are facing rising costs and a lack of effective plastic policy, forcing some to hike product …

In the quiet corners of Thimphu’s buildings, humble doma (betel leaf with areca nut and lime paste) shops, also known as “pan” shops, are facing a harsh reality. For owners like Karma, soaring rents and the introduction of GST are turning small-scale entrepreneurship into a daily struggle, forcing some to …