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His Majesty The King granted Dhar to the newly elected members of the National Council at the Tashichhodzong today. His Majesty also conferred Dakyen to the new Chairperson of the National Council, Sangay Dorji, who is the National Council Member from Chukha. The National Council elections were held in April this year. 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗡𝘂 𝟭.𝟲𝟵𝗯𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 Hydropower export revenue dropped by over Nu 1.5bn in the first four months of the year compared to the same period last year. According to the Royal Monetary Authority’s monthly statistical bulletin for May, Bhutan exported over two billion ngultrum’s worth of electricity from January to April last year, while the number dropped to about Nu 400 M this year. The Druk Green Power Corporation attributes the drop in revenue to the country receiving less snowfall and decreased river flow. 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗡𝘂 𝟭.𝟲𝟵𝗯𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 Hydropower export revenue dropped by over Nu 1.5bn in the first four months of the year compared to the same period last year. According to the Royal Monetary Authority’s monthly statistical bulletin for May, Bhutan exported over two billion ngultrum’s worth of electricity from January to April last year, while the number dropped to about Nu 400 M this year. The Druk Green Power Corporation attributes the drop in revenue to the country receiving less snowfall and decreased river flow. A forest fire in Benshingmo village in Trashigang’s Udzorong Gewog damaged almost 300 acres of chirpine forest. The fire started yesterday at around 10 pm. The cause of forest fire has not been ascertained. More than 50 people including forestry officials, DeSuups, police and residents are involved in containing the fire. However, they are struggling to contain the fire due to strong wind and rugged terrain. 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 Although the Dungchen Menchu in Dagana is known for its multiple healing power, the stone bath spring, which is believed to have an association with Guru Rinpoche, is not able to attract visitors. This is despite the district administration constructing an access road to the spring, last year. The problem is that the bathtubs the district administration installed a few years ago can barely be used now. 𝗢𝗺𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗜𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹: 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗴, 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗽 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿 Farmers in four chiwogs of Pemathang Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar can finally bid farewell to their water woes as the Omshari Landmark Irrigation Channel has been completed. It was inaugurated on Sunday. The irrigation channel is one of the largest in the country which will ensure that over 1,000 acres of agricultural land will receive a reliable water supply. 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹 The cultivation of oyster mushroom is gaining momentum in Pema Gatshel. Two farmers in Shumar Gewog embarked on a successful trial of oyster mushroom cultivation this year, prompting them to plan for farm expansion. Currently, there are three farmers and a group engaged in oyster mushroom cultivation in the district. 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗭𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 A group of eight determined women completed a month-long baking training programme and are now making waves in Tingtibi Town in Zhemgang. Thanks to their newfound baking skills, these talented women have successfully started selling cakes and are earning a decent income. Their journey began last year when they participated in a bakery and confectionery training course organised by the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship. In the final qualifying match of the Pepsi Bhutan Premier League qualifiers, Tensung FC in green defeated Phuntsholing City FC 4-nil today. With today’s win, Tensung FC on 16 points climbed to the second position, trailing table-toppers Namlha FC by only one point. Joining them in the top four are BFF Academy and Thimphu Raven FC. The four teams will now play in the BoB Bhutan Premier League which will begin next month.

The Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) wishes to notify the public that despite repeated warnings to refrain from participating or promoting the fraudulent Ponzi scheme known as 'Tallwin Life Plan', a certain portion of the general public continues to engage in this illegal activity. As a result, the Financial Intelligence Department of the Authority has frozen multiple bank accounts belonging to individuals involved in promoting the scheme to the general population. These accounts will undergo a thorough investigation by the competent Law Enforcement Agency, in accordance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing of Terrorism Act of Bhutan 2018. Engaging in this scheme is in violation of Section 11 and subject to legal liability under Section 15 of the Financial Service Act of Bhutan 2011. Additionally, operating this fraudulent scheme also violates provisions outlined in the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004. The Royal Monetary Authority emphasizes its previous call for the public to refrain from participating in the scheme in order to avoid potential legal consequences.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

𝗗𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗯𝗴𝘆𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝟭𝟴 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 The DTS ULTIMATE FIVE from Dr Tobgyel school in Thimphu won this year’s National Invitational School under-18 Team Chess Championship. Eight teams from Paro, Thimphu and Wangdue Phodrang participated in the tournament. Bhutan Chess Federation organised the first-ever championship which ended today. 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗙𝗠 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗵𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟯𝟲𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 Considering the need for clean and renewable energy in the country, a Rooftop Solar plant has been installed at the Centenary Farmer’s Market in Thimphu. It is the largest solar installation in the country with a capacity of 250 kilowatts. The project which is implemented by His Majesty’s Secretariat was commissioned today coinciding with the Birth Anniversary of Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen. The plant is expected to generate over 360,000 units of electricity annually. Ten young entrepreneurs who took part in the Youth Entrepreneur Scale-up Support Project were given grant support ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 ngultrum to scale up their businesses in Thimphu yesterday. They were selected among 18 individuals who pitched their business ideas on Wednesday. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment implemented the project in partnership with UNDP and the Loden Foundation. It is to provide upskilling and up-scaling support to young entrepreneurs. It is also to promote the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Bhutan. 𝗦𝗶𝘅 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 “𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱” Six students who excelled in an online mathematics test were awarded the first ever “His Royal Highness Gyalsey Annual Mathematics Award” in Thimphu today. The test was conducted on 1st November last year among interested students of higher secondary and middle secondary schools across the country. The Education and Skills Development ministry launched the award last year in collaboration with the Druk Gyalpo’s Institute. 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 Bhutan Tendrel Party, BTP declared 31-year-old Dhendup as the party’s candidate from Khamaed-Lunana constituency in Gasa. He worked as a social worker and a private businessman. He also contested in the 2018 National Assembly Elections. He has a Bachelor of Economics and Environmental Studies from the Royal Thimphu College. The Bhutan Tendrel Party has declared 33 candidates so far. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗲 𝗞𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗽𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘆𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴 His Holiness the Je Khenpo appointed Khenpo Karma Wangchuk as the new Lam of Wangdue Phodrang’s Phangyuel Samtenchhoeling Monastery at the Tashichoedzong today. His Holiness also conferred khadar to ten new monks who will join the newly established monastic school. 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗸 𝗣𝗵𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺 𝗧𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗴𝗽𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, DPT declared three new candidates in the capital today for the upcoming National Assembly elections. They will represent the party from Dagana, Samtse and Trashigang. With this, the party has revealed five candidates so far. 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗴𝗽𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 The Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa, DTT declared three more candidates in Trashigang today. The party declared the candidates from Samdrup Jongkhar and Trashigang. A prayer ceremony was held at the Grand Kuenrey of the Tashichhodzong this morning, for the victims of the train tragedy that took place in Odhisha, India on Friday. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and members of the Royal Family graced the ceremony and lit 1,000 butterlamps, joined by the Prime Minister, senior government officials, the Indian Ambassador, and senior dignitaries from IMTRAT and DANTAK. Over 280 people lost their lives and thousands more were injured in the tragic incident. His Majesty The King and the Royal Government have expressed condolences to the government and people of India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to inaugurate the Vande Bharat Express, a new high-speed train, on Saturday as part of the government's extensive efforts to modernize India's sprawling railway network and other infrastructure. However, instead of attending the inauguration, he visited the site of one of the most catastrophic rail accidents in the country's history to express his condolences. The accident occurred in Balasore, Odisha state, on Friday, involving a three-way collision between two passenger trains and a freight train. The collision resulted in the tragic loss of over 280 lives and left more than 1,000 people injured. The incident has had a profound impact on India, now the world's most populous nation, reigniting calls for authorities to address safety issues within the railway system, which transports over 13 million passengers daily. Despite recent investments in upgrading the system, years of neglect have led to the deterioration of tracks. The exact cause of the crash is still unknown, but there is suspicion that a failure in traffic signaling might have been responsible, according to a senior state railway official. The collision occurred when the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express entered a track where a goods train was stationary and collided with it, causing several coaches to derail. Subsequently, the Howrah Express traveling from Yesvantpur to Howrah collided at high speed with the derailed carriages. A superintendent at a train station in Odisha explained that signaling failures can occur due to technical malfunctions or human errors since traffic signals are typically operated by personnel at each station. In response to the incident, a "high-level inquiry" has been ordered by Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Minister of Railways, to determine the causes of the crash. Narendra Modi assured the affected families of the government's support and pledged severe punishment for those found guilty, stating that no effort would be spared. As daylight broke on Saturday, rescue teams and passengers joined forces in a frantic search for survivors amid the wreckage and overturned train carriages. Officials anticipate that the death toll may rise further, as many passengers are believed to be trapped beneath the derailed cars. Sudhanshu Sarangi, the chief of Odisha's fire services, expressed low hopes of finding any survivors amidst the devastation. The government of Odisha, with a population of approximately 44 million, declared a day of mourning in response to the tragedy. Footage and images from the crash site near Bahanaga Bazar rail station depicted scenes of chaos and despair, with dozens of bodies lying beside mangled train cars and survivors and police officers in their vicinity. The carriages exhibited severe damage, with shattered windows, scattered personal belongings, and torn-apart compartments. Eye-witness accounts from survivors revealed the terrifying moments leading up to and following the crash. Passengers described feeling a tremendous jolt and hearing loud crashes, followed by smoke and screams of shock. Many experienced being trapped or witnessing others trapped under the wreckage, with injuries ranging from minor to severe. The rescue operation faced significant challenges due to the weight of the derailed coaches and the need to identify and extricate bodies. India's vast railway network, established over 160 years ago during British colonial rule, currently operates around 11,000 trains daily, covering approximately 67,000 miles of tracks. The system suffers from aging infrastructure and inadequate maintenance, factors often implicated in accidents. Previous accidents, such as a derailment in Andhra Pradesh in 2005 and another in Uttar Pradesh in 2011, have resulted in substantial casualties. Friday's crash has already surpassed the death toll of a notorious 2016 derailment in Uttar Pradesh, where over 140 people lost their lives. In response to such incidents, Modi had previously announced significant investments to improve safety and connectivity in India's railway system. However, in 2021 alone, nearly 18,000 railway accidents claimed the lives of over 16,000 individuals. Falls from trains and collisions between trains and pedestrians on tracks accounted for the majority of these accidents, according to the National Crime Records. The recent crash comes at a time when India is undergoing a major infrastructure overhaul, with substantial investments being made to modernize transport links. Modi himself arrived at the scene in Balasore on Saturday to assess the situation, meet emergency teams, and visit injured passengers in the hospital. The rescue efforts involve more than 115 ambulances, multiple fire service units, and assistance from the Indian army, National Disaster Response Force, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, and state fire services. The tragedy has prompted a massive outpouring of support, with hundreds of people gathering outside local hospitals to donate blood. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other world leaders, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, have expressed their heartfelt condolences for the victims.

In the Women’s National League qualifiers played at the RTC football ground in Thimphu today, Ugyen Academy Women's FC in blue thrashed Bumthang Women’s FC 12-nil. The next match will be played between Gelephu Women's FC and Thimphu Women's FC at Gelephu tomorrow. Six out of the eight teams taking part in the qualifying round will go through to the Women's National League. 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 The number of participants in the 16th edition of the Coronation Marathon conducted in Paro has tripled compared to last year. This year, more than 700 runners took part in the event while last year saw only 200 participants. The event featured five different races including a full marathon of 42 kilometers for men. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝘂 𝗱𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 The construction of the dry port at Gelephu is on track. The construction work started last year and is expected to be ready by the end of next year. The dry port will have warehouses, load transhipment area, cold storage, a dedicated driver dormitory and customs office. 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝟮𝟳 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲-𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘀 The number of the critically-endangered White-bellied Herons in the country has bounced back to 27, after two years. This is according to the Annual Population Survey 2023 conducted in March this year. Out of the 27 herons, three are juveniles. The number of White-bellied Herons had gone down to 22 in 2021 from 27 in 2020. There were 24 as of last year. More than a hundred surveyors were deployed across basins of major rivers and other tributaries in the country to conduct the survey. The White-bellied Herons have been listed as Critically Endangered since 2008 because of their extremely small and rapidly declining population. There are an estimated population of less than 250 White-bellied Herons globally. Bhutan is among the only three countries in the world that host the endangered bird species. Business entities in the country trading with Thailand can now lodge their complaints with the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority formerly known as the Office of Consumer Protection in case of any disputes with their counterparts. The authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with Thailand's Office of Consumer Protection Board in Bangkok on Wednesday. With the signing, consumer grievance redressal is expected to become better. In addition to promoting consumer protection, the MOU will facilitate technical cooperation, information sharing and knowledge exchange between the two organizations. Thailand is among the top trading partners of Bhutan with goods worth around Nu 272 M imported last year. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗚𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 The farmers of Bartsham Gewog in Trashigang started growing quinoa over the years because of its good price. But marketing the product has become a challenge for them. In the past, the Food Corporation of Bhutan has been purchasing it but this year, the harvest is still lying in the village, unsold. 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗽 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 Local leaders in Samdrup Jongkhar want the Department of Surface Transport to speed up the work to take over the management of the Gewog Centre, GC roads. If not, they want the road maintenance budget increased. The issue was raised during the recent Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag Tshogdu. Currently, Gewog offices in the district are provided Nu 33,000 for the upkeep of one kilometer of road annually. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝘃𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 Although electric vehicles have become increasingly common worldwide, it remains a rarity to witness the creation of one in Bhutan. However, in the town of Samdrup Jongkhar, a historic moment unfolded as a team of Bhutanese students developed their very own electric vehicle. Breaking barriers and pushing boundaries, four ambitious students from Jigme Namgyel Engineering College embarked on a remarkable journey, crafting an electric jeep as their final-year project. 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗵𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 Villagers of Barshong in Thimphu’s Naro Gewog are calling for an additional healthcare worker in their village, preferably a female one. The healthcare center in the village has been recently renovated with several additional facilities, but it has only one male healthcare worker. Residents say the shortage of staff makes it difficult sometimes to avail themselves of health services, especially for women.

𝟰𝗚 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 The introduction of 4G internet connectivity in Arden village of Pema Gatshel has brought about faster network speeds, allowing people to enjoy reliable data speeds and improved voice call quality. But this advancement has posed challenges for those using old phones that do not support 4G. 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻 Bhutan has been promoting sustainable tourism since the first day we officially opened it to tourism. To understand more about sustainable tourism and its benefits to the communities, our producer S.C. Selden spoke with Tshering Choki who is a board member of the Asian Ecotourism Network and a volunteer with the Bhutan Sustainable Tourism Society. She has also served as a steering committee member of the Trans Bhutan Trail. This is a special program supported by GEF Ecotourism Project called “Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation into the Tourism Sector in Bhutan” under the Department of Tourism, MoICE. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 In recent years, Bhutan has made significant progress in expanding its agricultural exports to international markets. The National Organic Flagship programme has played an important role in supporting farmers and promoting organic production. One such success story is the export of asparagus to Singapore, which began in April this year. 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟮,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 More than 2,000 civil servants have resigned from office in less than five months this year. This is almost the same as that of 2022 which saw about 2,600 employees quit. But the Royal Civil Service Commission says they are making necessary recruitment's to ensure the functioning of the offices is not affected. Tsirang FC C have kept their hopes of qualifying for the BOB premier league alive by defeating BFF Academy today. They won the match with a score of 3-2 and remain in the top four with nine points. Thimphu Raven FC will take on South Druk United FC tomorrow. Eight teams are taking part in ongoing Bhutan Premier League qualifiers, but only four teams will go through. 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧(𝐁𝐁𝐒𝐀) 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐎𝐂 The Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association (BBSA) has officially become a member of the Bhutan Olympic Committee after a two-year wait. The announcement was made during the sixth BOC General Assembly held in Thimphu yesterday. According to the association, the membership will enable them to actively contribute to the Olympic movement in the country and promote sports at both the grassroots and elite levels. Started as a community association in 2013, baseball and softball grew into a formal association in 2020. Since then, the number of registered players has increased from around 200 to over 2,000 players. 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐃 𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 In an effort to ensure public safety, drivers with professional driver (PD) licenses are undergoing nationwide drug testing. Within the last two days, 780 individuals with PD licenses have been tested, and no positive cases have been found so far.If anyone tests positive, their license will be immediately suspended or canceled. The individual will be referred to the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital for a comprehensive assessment. If necessary, they will be directed to rehabilitation centers. The testing began on May 29 and will continue for an extended period. 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗵𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 Although watermelon cultivation started on a pilot basis in 2017 in Zhemgang, since then the number of farmers taking up watermelon has grown in the country. The yield has been good and in Zhemgang, farmers are hoping for a lucrative business this year. Among them is 33-year-old Leki Dorji from Goling village who started growing the juicy fruit three years ago. He is now readying his harvest to be transported to Thimphu where a watermelon festival will be conducted this weekend. Govt. approves incentives for long-stay tourists waives SDF for official guests of govt, CSO and FDI promoters, and investors The cabinet approved three different Sustainable Development Fees (SDF) incentives for USD-paying tourists to encourage longer stays and greater exploration of all the 20 dzongkhags.

The Dorji Lopen of the Central Monastic Body consecrated the renovated Remu Lhakhang at Shaba Gewog in Paro today. It is believed that the temple was first built in the 18th Century. A private individual and his relatives renovated the temple spending more than Nu 6.5 M. The Shaba Gewog office provided Nu 500,000 in support of the renovation works. According to the villagers, they faced difficulties while conducting rituals in the old Lhakhang but not anymore. 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 – 𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗠 Bhutan is likely to experience a slightly hotter summer this year. The country is expected to receive lesser rainfall than the normal level from June to September this year. This is according to the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology, NCHM’s outlook for precipitation and temperature for this summer. The normal temperature and rainfall are the average temperature and rainfall recorded over the last 26 years. 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝗗𝗙 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 The incentives come into effect for bookings made from June 01, 2023, onwards, and are valid for stays in Bhutan between June 01, 2023, until December 31, 2024. In the ongoing Pepsi Bhutan Premier League qualifiers played at the RTC football ground in Thimphu, Tensung FC in green jersey thrashed Samtse FC 14-nil today, confirming their place in the BoB Bhutan Premier League. Meanwhile, with only one point in 6 games, Samtse FC has failed to qualify for the league. Tomorrow, table toppers BFF Academy FC will take on Tsirang FC. 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗸 𝗚𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗴, 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 In Merak Gewog in Trashigang, the community is struggling without a proper waste disposal site. Currently, the Gewog has two small dumping areas but both are completely filled. With improved road access and an increasing number of shops in the area, the waste issue is growing by the day. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 The country is facing an acute shortage of psychiatrists. Today, there are only three psychiatrists and all of them are stationed at the National Referral Hospital in Thimphu. As a result, patients from other districts are experiencing difficulties in accessing mental health services as they have to travel all the way to Thimphu. Commemorating World No Tobacco Day today, Dr Ugen Dophu, the former health secretary has been conferred with the World Health Organisation South-East Asia Region, WHO SEARO regional director’s special recognition award. The award recognises his efforts towards tobacco control initiatives in the country. According to the health ministry, the special recognition award will help inspire policymakers and implementers to delve into such initiatives. Ugen Dophu was the focal leader of the Tobacco Control Act 2010, where he helped raise awareness on the effects of tobacco, and contributed to tobacco prevention and control strategies across the country. 𝗡𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗣𝗠 The possibility of having a third telecommunications company in the country is not possible. According to the Prime Minister, there isn’t enough room for another telecom operator in the Bhutanese market right now. The Prime Minister shared this during a recent meeting with some members of the private sector in the capital. 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 About five years ago, most schools in the country started giving fortified rice, which is enriched with vitamins and minerals, to its students. Since then, the Education Ministry reported a significant reduction in incidences of malnutrition and an overall improvement in children’s health. With support from the World Food Programme, the ministry has been able to ensure that students receive essential nutrients for their well-being by replacing normal rice with fortified one.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗴-𝗡𝗴𝗮𝗴-𝗖𝗵𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗴, 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘁𝘀𝗲 The residents of Sang-Ngag-Chhoeling Gewog in Samtse are unhappy with recent road maintenance work over their gewog center road. The GC road, considered one of the country’s oldest, was repaired a few months ago. However, residents are disappointed as the road is already showing signs of deterioration. 𝗧𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗰𝗵𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗽 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 As small as Tshangchhelu town in Samdrup Jongkhar may be, it is also grappling with its own waste management issues. The problem is that the town, which has around one thousand residents, does not have a waste disposal site. However, help is on the way. The Gewog office is planning to construct a landfill within the next one year. In a significant move to aid Bhutan's economic recovery and promote growth, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to give a loan of more than USD 42 M or Nu 3.5bn to Bhutan. The loan agreement was formally signed today between Finance Minister Namgay Tshering and JICA Chief Representative Tomoyuki Yamada. According to JICA, this Official Development Assistance or ODA loan is one of the largest concessional lendings from the Government of Japan. The loan is expected to help strengthen fiscal policy, promote green growth with a focus on renewable natural resources, enhance self-reliance and stabilize the economic situation. 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗡𝗣𝗣𝗙 𝗖𝗘𝗢 With a fund size of over Nu 50bn, the National Pension and Provident Fund (NPPF) has invested in assets like loans and bonds, term deposits with banks, and real estate among others. According to the chief executive officer of the NPPF, the organisation has invested over 90 per cent of its total fund size. However, the CEO says diversifying NPPF’s investment is a challenge given the limited investment avenues in the country. The Thimphu Police found a body of a 33-year-old man near the Chubachu City Bus stop early this morning. According to the police, a passerby saw the body and immediately alerted them. The body was sent to the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital for a post-mortem. The police have yet to ascertain the cause of the death. According to the police, preliminary observations suggest no signs of foul play but they said they cannot rule out the possibilities. The police are currently investigating the case. Phuntsholing City FC's dreams of making it to the BoB Bhutan Premier League is all but over after losing 2-3 to Namlha FC today. Namlha FC, on the other hand go level on points with BFF Academy in second position securing their place in the BoB Bhutan Premier League. Tomorrow, Tensung FC will take on Samtse FC at 2pm at the RTC football ground in Thimphu. An 81-year-old mother and her 55-year-old daughter died when the Bolero pickup truck they were traveling in veered off the road in Punakha. The accident occurred at around 5:15 am today in Nyadulum of Barp Gewog. The driver and his wife were referred to the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu from Wangdue Phodrang Hospital. The vehicle, carrying vegetables and four people, was en route to Thimphu from Dagana. Police suspect drowsy driving as a possible cause of the accident. Half of the world's children are exposed to tobacco smoke daily, leading to the premature deaths of 65,000 kids every year. Let's create a smoke-free world for our children. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗴: In the heart of Karmaling Gewog, Dagana, amidst a relentless downpour, a remarkable scene unfolds. A group of dedicated farmers from Semchumthang village can be seen tirelessly toiling away, armed with spades and sickles. Despite the adverse weather conditions, they are fervently engaged in clearing bushes and filling up potholes along a recently constructed farm road. This committed group, known as the Sanam Thuenlam Tshogpa, boasts the remarkable attendance of every single member for this crucial task. However, this level of commitment and unity was not always the norm.

𝗗𝗧𝗧 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 The Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa declared three more candidates in Phuentshogling today for the National Assembly elections. They will represent three constituencies of Chhukha and Samtse. With this, the party has declared thirty-four candidates so far. 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴 The integration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curricula has sparked new efforts to understand and implement this approach effectively in schools in the country. Its impact on students’ problem-solving abilities, creativity and critical analysis was evident at the recent Science Innovation Tournament at Wangdue Primary School in Wangdue Phodrang funded by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗽 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴𝘀 With More than 700 youth arrested last year for drug-related cases in the country, the highest number in the last five years, interventions to keep the youth away from drugs have become crucial. One of the interventions is sensitising young minds about the ill effects of substance abuse. That’s what the Chituen Phendhey Association is doing in Samdrup Jongkhar, a district which shares its borders with neighbouring Indian towns and is prone to smuggling of drugs. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗴: 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Barshong village at Naro Gewog in Thimphu, grapples with recurrent power outages, leaving its residents in prolonged darkness. According to villagers, the disruptions are due to fallen trees on electrical poles caused by windstorms, snowfall, and landslides. Normally, the Bhutan Power Corporation clears the surroundings of the poles, but in Barshong, the area falls within the jurisdiction of the Jigme Dorji National Park, preventing clearance operations. The residents eagerly await a viable solution to address this issue. 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗵𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗵𝘂 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 The approach road connecting Tsimasham town with the Phuentshogling-Thimphu highway is in dire need of maintenance. Over the years, the condition of the four-kilometre road has deteriorated. It is now riddled with potholes and the blacktop has worn off. But maintenance works are expected to be carried out as the Chhukha Hydro Power Corporation (CHPC) will hand over the road to the Chhukha district administration in July this year. In the Pepsi Bhutan Premier League qualifiers played at the RTC football ground in Thimphu today, Thimphu Raven FC defeated Tsirang FC 4-2. The win takes Thimphu Raven FC to fourth in the points table. The club is now only a win away from qualifying for the BoB Bhutan Premier League. Tomorrow, Namlha FC will take on Phuentshogling City FC. 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐡𝐮, 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐚 The Punakha Police has fished out a body of a man from the Mochhu below Punakha Hospital after receiving information from a man. The body was fished out on Friday. Upon investigation, it was found out that the body was that of a 36-year-old man from the hospital's medical record. However, the deceased's birthplace could not be traced. According to police, the deceased was once found lying on the roadside with a cut on his head at Gumkarmo a few weeks ago and was taken to Punakha Hospital. However, the man was discharged on the same night after treatment and a 90-minute observation. Since then there was no information on his whereabouts. The body remains unclaimed in the hospital's mortuary. Bhutan has come third in the Indian Martial Arts Sansthan Karate Championship. The event was held over the weekend at Jaipur in Rajasthan. Seven out of the nine Bhutanese karate athletes who took part in the championship won a medal each including a gold, 3 silvers and 3 bronzes. Passang Tobgay secured the gold while Pema Dorji, Deki Lhazom and Sonam Sangay Choden picked up silvers in their respective categories. Similarly, Passang Wangchuk, Rinchen Jamtsho and Karma Tandin Pem won a bronze each. 150 participants from Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Nepal took part in the annual championship. China faces a new Covid wave that could peak at 65 million cases a week

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 In this digital age, we often marvel at the wonders of technology and how it has revolutionized even the simplest tasks. But amidst all this, it’s important to consider the risks it poses. In this story, Philip Victor, a cybersecurity expert with over 30 years of experience, will shed light on why cybersecurity is crucial at both national and individual levels. 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 Finding a reliable market is one of the major challenges farmers and entrepreneurs across the country face today. To help farmers and entrepreneurs network with potential customers and build new business relationships by showcasing their products, the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives organized an Agriculture Fair at Paro on Friday. About 30 entrepreneurs took part in the fair showcasing various products. 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 Over 75 international runners along with 120 runners from the country took part in the Thunder Dragon Marathon organized by The Blue Poppy Tours and Treks in Paro, today. The annual event was suspended for a few years owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲: 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘄𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗭𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 Goling village in Nangkor Gewog, considered the rice bowl of Zhemgang, is transplanting its off-season spring paddy. The village is the only one in the district, which has continued its age-old tradition of spring paddy cultivation. The practice passed on for generations, has helped Goling farmers to be self-sufficient and utilize their scarce wetland by growing rice twice a year. 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗽𝘀, 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗱𝘀 An alternative to sanitary pads is menstrual cups. Menstrual cups are changing period care by offering several benefits when it comes to cost reduction and feminine hygiene. However, the majority of girls and women are unaware of the benefits the cups provide. At the Apollo Bhutan Institute of Nursing in Thimphu, students are learning about the benefits of using menstrual cups. 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀; 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗛 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 In a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and menstrual hygiene management, Red Dot Bhutan in collaboration with various partners celebrated the inauguration of eight inclusive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in the country. At Khuruthang Middle Secondary School in Punakha, an inclusive toilet was unveiled marking this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day. In the ongoing Women’s National League qualifiers played today, RTC Women’s FC defeated Bumthang Women’s FC 16-0. While RTC Women’s FC is leading the game with the highest goal difference, Bumthang Women’s FC has not won even a single match. The next match will be played between Ugyen Academy FC and Bumthang Women’s FC on June 3 at the Ugyen Academy football ground. Six out of eight teams taking part in the qualifying round will go through to the Women’s National League. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗙 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Despite the erstwhile Labour Ministry making it mandatory for all private companies to join the provident fund or PF scheme with an authorized financial institution last year, some private employees allege their employers of not having joined the scheme. This is despite their companies deducting five per cent of their salary for supposed contributions to the scheme. In the last five years, authorities registered 110 cases related to non-payment of post-retirement benefits from which 39 were forwarded to the court. 304 rural households to benefit from solar PV system To diversify energy and empower rural households, the Department of Energy (DoE) is preparing to install three-kilowatt (Kw) grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in 304 households in 11 villages across three dzongkhags—Lhuntse, Pemagatshel, and Dagana—where households can sell surplus energy.

𝗧𝗼𝗲𝗱𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 The farmers of Toedtsho Gewog in Trashi Yangtse have been without an agriculture extension supervisor for almost two years now. Without a dedicated official, besides the farmers, the gewog office is also facing difficulties in planning and implementing agriculture-related development activities. Though Khamdang Gewog’s agriculture Extension supervisor has been temporarily monitoring activities in Toedtsho Gewog, farmers say they still face inconveniences. 𝗕𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆- 𝗣𝗵𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 With the approach of monsoon season, the Phuentshogling Dungkhag and Thromde officials are looking at preventive measures for landslides. Today the officials along with volunteers planted over three thousand bamboo saplings in about three acres of the area below the Rinchending Monastery. 𝗚𝗼𝗺𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 As summer approaches, residents living along the Nyera-Amachhu in Gomdar Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar find themselves in a dangerous situation. Despite their decade-long request for a flood protection wall, their safety remains at stake. With the constant fear of losing properties to flooding and swollen river, the people are calling for immediate action. 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐢 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 The Phuentshogling Police apprehended an Indian taxi driver for trafficking drugs at the border gate yesterday. The Indian national from Dalsingpara in Alipur, India was found in possession of more than 3,000 pieces of Spasmo Proxyvon Plus or SP Plus capsules inside his van. According to police, the drugs were concealed in a white sack and hidden under the front passenger seat. The police are trying to find possible accomplices involved in the crime. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐮 𝐌𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐡𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 The Dorji Lopen of the Zhung Dratshang is presiding over the sixth annual Moenlam Chhenmo which began at the Kuensel Phodrang in Thimphu today. More than a hundred monks are performing the Moenlam Chhenmo. Thousands of devotees are attending the week-long prayer ceremony which will end on the 4th of June coinciding with Lord Buddha’s Parinirvana. His Holiness the Je Khenpo instituted Moenlam Chhenmo in all the 20 districts since 2000. Drug test for professional driving license holders and commercial drivers Press release: “Recognizing the increasing trend of behavioral and mental health disorders triggered by substance use, His Majesty has called for urgent action to eradicate this threat and ensure no one falls prey to substance use.” 𝗗𝘂𝘁𝘆-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 Bhutanese can now purchase duty-free gold from the Bhutan Duty Free outlets in Phuentsholing and Thimphu. This is according to a news release issued by Bhutan Duty Free Limited earlier today. However, the price will be payable in US dollars only. This is a part of the company’s strategy to expand duty-free product offerings to Bhutanese as well, according to the news release. The company also stated that it shall determine the quantity of gold a person can buy. Currently, 20 grams of gold cost around Nu 110,000. In March this year, the company started selling duty-free gold to eligible tourists. 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗸𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗲 As much as DrukRide, the online public transport ticket booking platform is helping ease the hassles of booking bus tickets in person, it is also not glitch-free. Some users have come across situations where the tickets they booked online had already been issued to other passengers. Some of them had to be refunded but many times, this leaves the users disappointed. 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹: 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Bhutan is transforming its sports culture, blending modern sports with its traditional games. Alongside traditional sports like archery and darts, Bhutan is now embracing baseball and softball. Leading this transition is the Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association (BBSA), which actively promotes and organizes training, tournaments, and competitions.