HEADLINE STORIES

String beans from Indian sold as local product Consumers across Bhutan are raising concerns over the exorbitant prices of imported chillies from India, which closely resemble the locally grown varieties. Vendors, especially in the Kaja Throm, in Thimphu have been marketing these chillies as premium local produce, misleading buyers into …

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) recently announced the recruitment of resigned regular teachers on a consolidated contract basis. “The initiative aims to address teacher shortages, maintain education quality, and fill vacancies created by retirements, resignations, and increasing student enrollment,” said MoESD. However, the decision has drawn criticism …

Bhutan is on a draft ‘Red List’ along with 11 other countries for a complete travel ban to the USA. This is according to a news report by The New York Times (NYT) on the issue. The overall list is targeting the citizens of as many as 43 countries as …

It has now emerged that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MoFAET) failed to alert or inform the Department of Immigration (DoI) to stop the former BNB Bank teller charged with embezzling Nu 7.9 million (mn) from leaving for Australia via Paro Airport. The Office of the Attorney …

A 43-year-old Sonam Tobgay from Haa was apprehended on 17th December 2024 by Chinese border authorities while trying to smuggle in a tightly packed consignment into Tibet (China). It now appears that the consignment was around 900 grams or almost a kilo of ‘brown-sugar’ or heroin. The type of drugs …

In the last issue of this paper, we did a story on how the Department of Geology and Mines (DGM) has hired two especially equipped Australian helicopters to do aerial surveys of the country using magnetometer and LiDAR or laser scanning to map areas in Bhutan at or under 10,000 …

MoH prepares new measures to address neonatal mortality Infant mortality remains a pressing health concern in Bhutan, particularly neonatal deaths, which account for nearly 70% of all infant fatalities. Neonatal deaths are those that occur in the first month of the baby’s life after birth. The Ministry of Health (MoH) …

The Department of Geology and Mines (DGM) and its geologists, surveyors and staff have been keeping very busy in recent times looking for Gold, Tungsten, Copper, Graphite, Limestone, Iron Ore, Lead, Zinc, Coal, Rare Earth Minerals and anything else they can find in major field surveys, including ongoing tests of …

In November 2023, the BNB Paro Branch found that a teller had embezzled Nu 7.9 million (mn) over a period of time from the daily cash handed over to her for transactions. It was alleged that she created some fake withdrawals to cover up for her withdrawals and she used …

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has charge-sheeted the Trashigang rape case of a minor victim to Trashigang District Court on 18th February 2025 charging the accused medical professional with rape of child above 12 years of age. The Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) charge-sheeted the case to OAG, charging …