HEADLINE STORIES

108th National Day The National Day after being celebrated in Trashigang in 2014 was celebrated in Paro in 2015 on the grounds of the Ugyen Pelri Palace. His Majesty the King opened the celebrations with an address to the nation. His Majesty said, “This year, we celebrate the 108th National …

The United States of America’s Secretary of State, John Kerry, sent his congratulations on behalf of President Barack Obama to Bhutan for its 108th National Day celebrations. The public statement, which is the first of its kind from this level, was sent as a press release to media houses in …

A dramatic increase in the number of regional tourists in the last few years has not only caught Bhutan’s tourism sector by surprise, but it now threatens Bhutan’s unique selling proposition (USP) of being an exclusive destination if nothing is done. 2011 saw 16,418 regional tourists compared to 47,610 dollar …

Member of Parliament of Kengkhar Weringla, Rinzin Jamtsho, during the question- hour session in the National Assembly, questioned the Minister of Labour and Human Resources on the authenticity of employment status as claimed by the government. MP Rinzin Jamtsho also highlighted that in the last question-hour, the Labour Minister had …

Earlier this week the Chithuen Phendey Executive Director, Tshewang Tenzin put up a letter on the social media that talked about a HIV positive alcoholic woman sleeping on the streets and being exploited sexually by up to 50 youth and men unaware of her HIV status. It has now been …

The National Council’s (NC) review of the Tourism sector and particularly its observations on possibly reforming the current tariff structure has generated a lot of discussions both inside and outside the Tourism sector. However, the NC’s review and recommendations, while generating debate and new ideas will not be legally binding …

Faced with an increasing shortage of subsidized LPG cylinders across the country, the government is in the process of asking the Government of India (GoI) to allot more subsidized LPG cylinders quota for Bhutan. The Minister for Economic Affairs, Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk said, “We are requesting the GoI to increase …

The National Council in one of its eight recommendations on the review of the hydropower sector recommended that hydropower projects be owned only by the state and not private companies and individuals. This NC recommendation comes in the backdrop of increasing lobbying over the years by some private companies, both …

The Bhutan Medical and Health Council (BMHC) has reversed its earlier decision to bar eminent Dungtsho Sherab Jorden and has asked him to continue with his traditional healing practices. The BMHC in a 13th November 2015 letter addressed to the Dungtsho said that last time around the council had stopped …

The MP from Khar-Yurung constituency, Zangley Drukpa, raised concerns on the farms in Samrang and Yusipang. He said as a Buddhist country, people in Bhutan hold high regard for the spiritual and cultural values of the country, and therefore, establishing of a mega farm by the government hurts the sentiments …