The party which was till now known as Social Democratic Party has now taken birth with a new name, “Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa,” a people- centered party that values every individual’s voice and choice in pursuit of the country’s development and progress. The party unveiled its logo and ideology on 5th May which was considered to be an auspicious day for the …
Read More »Bhutan’s press freedom index ranking drops by six places
MoIC surprised with the new ranking The France-based international non-governmental organization, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) which conducts an annual ranking comparing each nation’s state of press freedom, has placed Bhutan at 70th, six places down in the rung from last year’s 64th. This has caused a certain amount of surprise in relevant authorities. Information and …
Read More »Fuel outflow affects country’s balance of payment
Post INR-crunch, Indians, especially having vehicles and living in the border towns are milking the cow while they can. With an abundance of Ngultrum in their custody, they pass into Bhutan and buy fuel paying in BTN while many of them hoard diesel and petroleum in jerry cans and containers, take the petroleum products back home and sell them so they …
Read More »Top secret govt task force formulates strategy to solve rupee crisis
The task force’s still-confidential report recommends a series of monetary, tax, government expenditure and trade related measures to deal with the rupee crisis. Many of the steps being taken by the government and the central bank like restricting imports or tightening credit to address the rupee crisis are part of …
Read More »GNH Center master plan changed, to be completed next year
Prime Minister, Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley’s vision is finally taking shape. The construction of Baeyul Dewaling or Gross National Happiness (GNH) Center at Bumthang’s sacred Chhoekhar valley will start by the end of the year and is scheduled to be completed by 2013. However, the master plan for the GNH …
Read More »Scholarship students will be sent only to third countries to ease rupee outflow
This year, the Scholarship and Student Support Division (SSSD) under Adult and Higher Education Department (AHED) with the Ministry of Education (MoE) has decided not to send any students funded by the government to study in India, in order to “ease the flow of rupee,” according to division officials. Unlike …
Read More »7 dead in three car accidents
Three Indians from West Bengal and two Bhutanese nationals were killed in a car accident in Taktikotey in Chukha around 5 pm yesterday. The Santro car carrying five passengers including the driver were heading towards Phuntsholing from Thimphu. According to police officials, the car fell about 200 meters below the …
Read More »MPAB alters modus operandi for film awards
This was to steer clear of controversies which arose last year during the 10th National Film Awards Motion Picture Association of Bhutan (MPAB) has amended the procedure to nominate films for the 11th National Film Awards which will be held today evening at the Royal Thimphu College (RTC) auditorium after …
Read More »Civil servants’ vehicle quota drains govt. coffers by Nu 900 mn from 2002-2011
The task force on rupee shortage recommends the vehicle quota for civil servants be done away with, ‘green tax’ of 40% be imposed on all imported vehicles, and five percent green tax on fuel imports The task force to study the reasons behind the rupee shortage and suggest solutions was …
Read More »FCB asks for Nu 1.3 mn a week to import essential vegetables after ban
The Prime Minister’s statement on national television that there will be a ban on vegetable imports from 5 May has now been considerably modified. As per the latest reports, the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) will be withholding rupee for vegetable imports from 19 May, 2012. In the meantime, the Department …
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The Bhutanese Leading the way.