Bhutan Daily News 21-06-23

Bhutan’s men’s basketball team is into the finals of the Five Nation Championship after defeating Nepal in dramatic fashion.

Bhutan’s Sonam Tshering Jattu hit a 3-point buzzer beater in the last quarter to cap off a memorable win with Nepal almost running away with a 2-point lead. The match ended 61–60 in favor of Bhutan. Bhutan will now face Bangladesh in the final.

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𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐩 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫-𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐢

Due to heavy rain this morning, the road at Moshi has been completely washed away. As a result, the Samdrup Jongkhar-Trashigang Highway is now completely cut off. Moshi is located about nine kilometers away from Wamrong town, towards Samdrup Jongkhar. The road is closed to traffic and efforts to clear the road will resume tomorrow.

𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿?: 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀

The National Assembly today held a thorough deliberation on whether to retrench or give for private sector takeover of the underperforming state-owned enterprises. The Economic and Finance Committee revealed that out of the 13 State-Owned Enterprises, ten have experienced substantial losses.

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𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗣𝗠𝗦 𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀

At the Question Hour session today, issues were raised about people still having to use the Check Post Management System (CPMS) at the border gates while entering and exiting the country. To this, the Home Affairs Minister said the CPMS will remain a necessity at the borders due to its crucial role in upholding national security.

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𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁

Increasing the export of ferrosilicon is one of several strategies the government is looking at to offset the country’s negative balance of trade. This was shared by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade at the National Assembly question hour session today. The minister was questioned on the government’s plans and strategies regarding the growing trade deficit. A trade deficit occurs when the value of a country’s imports exceeds the value of its exports.

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𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝟱𝟬 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀, 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The National Mushroom Centre has confirmed 50 mushrooms in the country to be poisonous, while thousands more are being studied for identification. And with mushroom foraging season just around the corner, the centre is cautioning people to avoid the consumption of unidentified mushrooms. Currently, the centre has sent around 5,000 mushroom samples to Japan and Europe for identification.

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𝗥𝗡𝗥 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆

Addressing the challenge of finding markets for local products, relevant stakeholders are taking different initiatives. In Gelephu, a day-long RNR products fair was held during the weekend. It was to promote and showcase products derived from locally available resources, benefiting both producers and consumers while boosting the local economy.

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𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝

Two-storied traditional house has collapsed in Shumar Gewog’s Shali village in Pema Gatshel. The incident happened this morning at around 8 AM. The houses were occupied by a family consisting of four members. Officials from the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan, District Disaster Office, and the Gewog Administration assessed the extent of the damages. The district disaster office provided tarpaulin to the affected family for temporary shelter. No casualties have been reported so far. The exact cause of the incident has not yet been confirmed.

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RCSC to introduce the provision of Annual Leave, alongside existing leave options from the 1st of next month. This is to promote periodic rejuvenation and work-life balance for civil servants.

“As per sections 24 and 26 of the Pay Structure Reform Act of Bhutan 2022, the earned leave and LTC will be prorated per month and included as a part of the Monthly Variable Compensation (MVC) under the Variable Pay w.e.f 1st July 2023. The Annual Leave is not a replacement of Earned Leave.”

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𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗠𝗼𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿

The National Digital Identity system will ensure digital inclusion, accessibility and equity for persons with disabilities in availing themselves of the service. The Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment, Karma Dorji who is also the member-in-charge of the National Digital Identity Bill 2023 shared some of the alternatives that have been prepared to address the concern. National Council members shared accessibility concerns about the system for persons with disabilities during the introduction of the Bill today. Bhutan National Digital Identity uses cutting-edge technology to provide citizens with secure and verifiable identity credentials, ensuring the privacy and protection of personal information.