Bhutan Daily News 05-06-23

Bhutan's recent national branding endeavor, known as "Bhutan Believe," has emerged victorious in two prestigious international award competitions.

The brand secured a bronze award in the "rebranding" category at the ADC Annual Awards held in New York, as well as the D&AD wood pencil award in the "branding/brand refresh category," which recognizes excellence in advertising, design, craftsmanship, cultural impact, and overall achievement. These awards were granted following meticulous evaluation by esteemed panels of judges.

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Thirty-three percent of the Himalayan glaciers are projected to disappear even if immediate emission reduction measures are implemented.

However, if current emission levels persist, two-thirds of the glaciers will vanish by the end of the century. These alarming circumstances compelled Bhutanese environmentalist Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk to assume a sense of responsibility and purpose during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Wangchuk has been actively advocating for climate change awareness. On World Environment Day, we commemorate his journey.

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Due to the failure of various government projects aimed at providing water to Pachhudrag village in Chhukha's Phuentshogling Gewog, the villagers have resorted to electric water pumps.

While this alternative offers hopes of improved water access, concerns have arisen regarding the subsequent electricity bills, which are anticipated to be substantial.

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The district of Dagana in Bhutan is renowned for its pilgrimage sites and cultural heritage.

However, some sacred locations are at the brink of disappearance and lack basic facilities for visitors. Thankfully, the Mawong Yuetsen project, a rural development initiative, has played a pivotal role in preserving and revitalizing these sites. Launched as a pilot project in Tsirang and Dagana in September of the previous year, the project has been instrumental in this regard.

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In the ongoing BOB Bhutan Premier League qualifiers, Namlha FC achieved a resounding victory over Samtse FC with a score of 13-1.

This match served as the final encounter for both teams and the penultimate match of the competition. Namlha FC has already secured their place in the top league, currently leading the qualifiers with 17 points. The other three teams qualifying for the Bhutan Premier League are BFF Academy, Tensung FC, and Thimphu Ravens FC. The final match of the qualifiers between Tensung FC and Phuntsholing City FC will take place tomorrow. A total of eight teams competed for the four available positions in the BOB Bhutan Premier League.

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The Ability Bhutan Society (ABS) is undertaking a noteworthy initiative by organizing a week-long Medical Assessment Camp in Samtse, aimed at dismantling barriers to healthcare access for individuals with disabilities.

Besides the ambitious goal of reaching over 1,300 persons with disabilities in the district, this initiative seeks to provide timely medical checkups and interventions to those facing difficulties in accessing essential healthcare services.

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Following a tragic vehicle accident in Samdrup Jongkhar, the rescue team has successfully recovered the bodies of five individuals involved.

Today, the bodies were returned to their respective families. The accident occurred yesterday at approximately 4:30 PM between Shikpashing and Tokaraong in Samdrup Jongkhar when a Creta vehicle, carrying three females and two males, veered off the road and fell around 200 meters below. Two of the victims were students studying at Samdrup Jongkhar Higher Secondary School and Jigme Namgyel Engineering College. The cause of the accident remains unknown.

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Hydropower generation has experienced a decline of 7.5 percent between January and April due to the shutdown of the Tala hydropower plant and unfavorable hydrological conditions.

Concurrently, domestic consumption has increased by 40 percent, leading to an over 80 percent reduction in electricity exports.

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In 1999, Bhutan implemented a ban on plastic bags, but progress has been hindered by various obstacles.

In 2019, the National Environment Commission introduced fines of Nu 500 and Nu 1000 for businesses involved in the sale or use of plastic pouches to wrap doma, aiming to discourage the use of plastic carry bags and promote the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives.