THE NATION

The primary technical phase of the geological and mineral mapping project of Bhutan, led by consultants Xcalibur Smart Mapping, has been successfully concluded said Mr. Phuntsho Namgyal, Director General, Department of Geology and Mines (DGM). Utilizing two survey helicopters, the survey teams completed a total of 43,893 line-km. This exceeds …

His Majesty The King granted Royal Kashos (Royal Edicts) to eight new spiritual projects at Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), bringing the total number of approved sacred sites to 22. The Kashos were granted at a ceremony held at Semtokha Dzong, Bhutan’s oldest dzong and a historic seat of Buddhist learning. …

During the Mid Term Review, the Prime Minister, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, mentioned the fact that quite a few ministers and cabinet staff had higher than normal lead levels in their blood after a test. This paper followed up and found that a total of 19 cabinet members and staff were …

The 5th Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) Volunteers, who arrived from 21 to 25 February this year, initiated habitat enrichment activities at the Zombabe waterhole, marking an important step in ongoing conservation efforts in the area. Their work focused on planting elephant-palatable and wildlife-supporting species such as banana, Napier grass, and …

PM asks MoF to explore privatising pool vehicle system During the Mid Term Review of the Finance Ministry, the Prime Minister, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, said that recently the Cabinet, in a meeting, had discussed that ministers should use electric duty vehicles within Thimphu and keep some 3 or 4 good …

The Prime Minister, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, said that the government has asked the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) to relook at its domestic power tariff proposal, keeping affordability in mind. Lyonchhen said that the cost of building future projects cannot be billed to consumers right now, as future projects should be …

Bhutan is moving closer to establishing its 3rd International Internet Gateway (3IIG) following an agreement between Bhutan Telecom and India’s Airtel, supported by a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Bangladesh, says GovTech. The agency has also achieved and is enhancing efforts to improve connectivity. This came during Government …

While international regulators move toward a “zero-added sugar” standard for infants, Bhutanese grocery shelves remain stocked with products containing as much as 35 grams (g) of sugar per 100g. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is moving toward a “zero-added sugar” standard for baby foods targeted at …

As the mango season begins to flood regional markets, a massive crackdown on artificially ripened fruit in India has sparked new concerns over the safety of Bhutan’s imported produce. A recent news from NDTV showed a huge crackdown of 200 kg of artificially ripened mangoes in Hyderabad, India. According to …

Personalised medical screenings and advanced DNA-based health insights will soon be available in Bhutan as part of a landmark three-year collaboration. The Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority (GMCA) and Waive Diagnostics, a leading US-based healthcare technology firm specialising in AI-driven precision health, entered into a strategic partnership to establish world-class diagnostic …