Bhutan Charts a Path to Food Self-Reliance and Economic Growth Through Modernized Agriculture

KINZANG DORJI TSHERING | Thimphu Bhutan is setting ambitious targets to double its GDP from the current USD 2.5 billion to USD 5 billion by 2029, with the agriculture sector playing a central role in achieving this goal. Alongside this, the...

Protecting Brand Bhutan: Lyonchhen calls for cleaner environment, stronger governance, and GNH pride

At the Friday Forum held at the RUB Convention Hall in Thimphu on 17th October, the Prime Minister, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, delivered a keynote address on “Brand Bhutan” as part of the 12th anniversary special of the Royal Institute for Governance...

Strength, passion and purpose define Mr Bhutan 2025 Championship

The capital city came alive last weekend as the 14th Bodybuilding & Fitness Championship 2025 turned Thimphu’s Clock Tower Square into a powerful display of strength, dedication, and national pride. Beneath the glowing lights, Bhutan’s finest...

The Price of Hubris: India lost friends, Air bases, and credibility

DND Special Report The slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy once said, “Victory has a hundred fathers, and defeat is an orphan.” His phrase is rooted in the Stoic era. The famous historian Tacitus once remarked, “This is an unfair thing about war:...

Druk Sokchop programme brings life-saving skills home, trains over 1,000 healthcare providers

From neonatal to advanced cardiac life support, the Druk Sokchop or Bhutan Lifesavers programme has trained over 1,000 healthcare providers and 500 instructors. In the past, such specialised skills training required travel abroad, but it is now...

Excess, Moderation, and Skillful Means: Bhutanese Dharma Leadership in a Changing World

Mural painting of Trulku Jigme Choedra in his privy monastery, Namdroling, in eastern Bhutan. Image courtesy of Dendup Chophel Bhutan is often upheld as the last sovereign Vajrayana Buddhist country in the world. Here, the kingdom’s development...

Master programme in Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Bhutan reduces need for overseas studies

With the introduction of the Master Programme in Acupuncture and Moxibustion at the Faculty of Traditional Medicine, the government is now able to save millions without having to send students abroad. The programme was started in August with 15...

Factors for Remittance Differ

Australia remains the largest source of remittances to Bhutan, according to recent data released by the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA). While this is not unexpected, given the sizable Bhutanese diaspora in the country, conversations with Bhutanese...

Pittsburgh-area Hindus ‘pray for peace, harmony, good health’ in Carrick

Editor’s note: This story was first published in a Pittsburgh’s Public Source neighborhood zine. Look for our printed zines now in Brookline, Carrick, Overbrook and Oakland. Hinduism has always been important to Tek Nepal, president of Carrick’s...

Bhutanese pharmacies confirm imported cough medicines are safe amid India’s cough syrup deaths

Reports from India linking at least 20 deaths to a cough syrup brand called Coldrif have raised public concern about the safety and quality of medicines in Bhutanese pharmacies. This concern stems from the fact that most medical supplies,...

Infectious disease hospital reaches 56 percent completion

The construction of the Royal Centre for Infectious Diseases (RCID) in Gidakom, Thimphu, is progressing rapidly in preparation for future public health emergencies. You must be logged in to make comments. Don't have an account yet? Register here

Colombo Declaration unites South-East Asia for healthy ageing

By Divya Thotawatte WHO South-East Asia Regional Office Officer-in-Charge Dr. Catharina Boehme Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa Health and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe Uniting around the goal of promoting...

Didi Wants Bhutan to Check Water to Stop Flood in Bengal

Kolkata: After demanding compensation from Bhutan for the recent disaster in northern parts of West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday sought the neighbouring country to check the release of water so that the region would not get...

Breast cancer on rise: health workers urge women to prioritise early detection

One of the key highlights of a recent breast cancer awareness programme in Gelephu was a concerning shift in Bhutan’s cancer landscape. Cervical cancer, once considered the most feared and dominant cancer among Bhutanese women, is now being...

Child protection services become faster and more responsive in Bhutan

Since the establishment of protection services in June 2023, the PEMA Secretariat has handled more than a thousand child protection cases. The secretariat ensures that services are activated within 5 hours for severe cases and within 24 hours for...

Bhutan could face ripple effects of INR’s depreciation against USD, warn economists

The Indian rupee continues to fall against the US Dollar, weakened by a strong dollar and uncertainties over the India–US trade deal. The Indian rupee depreciated from 85.8 in January this year to 88.75 today. Since the ngultrum is pegged to the...

Self-Sovereign Identity Goes National: Inside Bhutan's Ethereum Transition

The Kingdom of Bhutan made waves in the blockchain world this week, announcing its decision to migrate its national digital identification system from Polygon to Ethereum. The move, scheduled for completion by Q1 2026, positions the Himalayan...

Bhutan Toast: History of Bhutan’s spirits

In 1956, His Late Majesty the Third King envisioned a new industry that would transform the kingdom’s economy. Under this vision, the Bhutan Central Distillery was set up in Samchi, Southern Bhutan. the Kira shifted at locked content strategic Yak...

Bhutan launches National Mental Health Strategy to transform mental healthcare

Mental health challenges are rising worldwide, and Bhutan is no exception. Today, the nation takes a step forward with the launch of its first-ever National Mental Health Strategy 1.0 at the Third Annual PEMA Symposium. It marks a bold move to...

World News | WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee Session Begins in Colombo with Focus on Equity, Resilience, Health for All

Colombo [Sri Lanka], October 13 (ANI): The 78th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Committee began on Monday in Sri Lanka's Colombo, with health leaders from across the region reaffirming their commitment to...