Bhutan Daily News 08-05-23

𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗵𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴

With the border gates now open, drug trafficking cases are on the rise in Phuentshogling. According to records with the Police, Phuentshogling recorded more than 200 drug cases since the border opening in September last year till April this year. This is double the cases recorded before the borders reopened.

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𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝘂 𝟮𝟲𝟳𝗯𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵

The country’s total public debt has increased by Nu 2.56bn in the first quarter of this year according to the finance ministry’s Public Debt Situation report. The total public debt stock as of 31st of March is Nu 267.40bn. The debt stock comprises an external debt of Nu 240.85bn, and a domestic debt of Nu 26.55bn. Despite elevated levels of public debt, the report states that the overall risk of the debt is deemed manageable, and external debt distress is considered moderate.

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𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗶 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

Chimi Dema, a Bhutanese para-athlete has won a silver medal in shot put at the fifth Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship in Bengaluru. Chimi's medal-winning throw on Saturday was a new personal best of 5.71 meters in the women’s shot put F40 category. Chimi's throw was just 17 centimeters short of the gold medal position. This is the fourth time Chimi has participated in an international competition. The thirty-year-old made her international debut in 2019 at the Beijing Grand Prix and participated in the Dubai World Para Athletics Championship in the same year. She also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. Chimi Dema is currently a first-year student at the Royal Thimphu College studying sports and health sciences.

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𝗞𝗮 𝗝𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗵𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀

Vegetable vendors in Punakha are rejoicing over the upgraded sheds they have been provided with at the Ka Ja Throm in Khuruthang town. Although still situated in the same location, the town’s vegetable market has received an uplift which has raised the hopes of the vendors. The improved facilities are expected to bring in more customers.

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𝗦𝗘𝗡 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱

With the Ministry of Education and Skills Development reinstating board examinations for classes six and eight, parents of students with special needs are worried the decision has put undue pressure on their children. But the ministry says special arrangements have been made to accommodate SEN students to sit for board exams.

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Phuntsholing City FC took on South Druk United FC in the Pepsi Bhutan Premier League qualifiers today. While the first half ended goalless, the second half saw South Druk United take the lead.

But Phuentshogling FC equalized in the dying minutes of the match forcing the game into a one-one draw. Tensung FC will play against BFF Academy FC tomorrow. Four teams out of eight will go through to take part in the BOB Bhutan Premier League which is the highest level of professional football in the country.

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𝗔 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

Farmers, a majority of who are women, in Bhutan's remote villages often face the challenge of water scarcity. The problem is especially pervasive in Chubjekha, a village located at an elevation of 2,800 meters above sea level in Paro district. The hamlet, though is home to about 200 people and 24 households, has only 20.393 acres of cultivated land, as water shortages limit farming opportunities.

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𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻

The Phensem Parents Support Group oriented parents, teachers, and Special Education Needs (SEN) Aides to help non-vocal children who are often addressed as Children with Disabilities (CwDs), with alternative modes of communication on 6 May. According to Phensem, many individuals, especially children with autism, are unable to communicate using speech and sound the way most other people do. However, this disability does not necessarily have to limit them from communicating their thoughts and emotions.

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𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘂

For the members of 197 Laya households, Wophu in Gasa will be their winter home after His Majesty The King granted 25 acres of kidu land to the people of Laya gewog.