Kuensel

18/10/2025

His Majesty The King visited the Gyalsung Academies in Khotokha and Jamtsholing today to meet the Gyalsups of the Second Cohort of the 2025 Batch currently in training.

The training for the Second Cohort of the 2025 Batch began on 1 August 2025 across four academies, with a total of 2,013 Gyalsups. Since its launch in September 2024, 6,331 young Bhutanese have completed Gyalsung— Bhutan’s National Service.

Source: His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

18/10/2025

Editorial: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿
High in the Himalayas, against a backdrop of towering snow-clad mountains, the Changlimithang stadium in Thimphu is a hive of quiet activity. Here in Bhutan, a nation known for measuring growth by Gross National Happiness, carpenters and masons are not preparing for a typical concert or sporting event. They are building the stage for a different kind of gathering—one with a profound and urgent purpose.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/the-world-needs-a-peace-prayer

18/10/2025

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗲𝘀
About 80 percent of regional tourists enter Bhutan via Bagdogra, India
Neten Dorji
With airfare to Bhutan among the highest in the region, tour operators say increasing numbers of tourists are reconsidering their travel plans—many now choosing to enter the country by road through India rather than flying directly to Paro.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/high-airfares-drive-tourists-away-from-bhutans-skies

18/10/2025

𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆
Dechen Dolkar
Experts confirmed that the 1,020 MW Tala hydropower Plant dam sustained no structural damage after a recent overtopping incident caused by flash floods. An official from the Tala Hydropower Project said that preliminary assessments and inspections by the project’s engineers and the original equipment manufacturer indicate that the power packs and hydraulic cylinders for the dam’s hoisting mechanism can mostly be repaired. Crucially, the radial gates remain undamaged.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/tala-dam-structurally-sound-after-flood-overtopping-experts-say

Experts confirmed that the 1,020 MW Tala hydropower Plant dam sustained no structural damage after a recent overtopping incident caused by flash floods.

18/10/2025

𝗜𝗻𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗵𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹
DoI is studying the revival of the struggling industries
KP Sharma
Phuentsholing—As the economy gradually recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, several inactive industries at the Pasakha Industrial Estate have begun reviving their operations, signaling a potential turnaround for one of the country’s oldest industrial hubs.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/inactive-industries-at-pasakha-show-signs-of-revival

18/10/2025

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗵𝘂
YK Poudel
Market competition ensures fair prices, better quality, and efficient markets. Yet, investigations by the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (CCAA) have found systematic price coordination among members of the Bhutan Meat Vendors Association (BMVA), resulting in uniform meat prices across vendors in Thimphu.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/uniform-meat-prices-raise-concerns-over-competition-in-thimphu

18/10/2025

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿
October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month worldwide
Lhakpa Quendren
Gelephu—When 32-year-old Tshering Dema was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in March, she faced uncertainty about her “new normal.” What could have been a moment of despair became a turning point through self-advocacy and support for others.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/making-strides-against-breast-cancer

18/10/2025

𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝟭𝟱-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁
Chencho Dema
Punakha—A 36-year-old farmer from Punakha has been charged with allegedly ra**ng and impregnating a 15-year-old girl, an incident believed to have occurred in February and reported to police on May 19.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/alleged-rape-leaves-15-year-old-child-pregnant
**e

18/10/2025

Perspective: 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The judiciary's credibility is tested not only inside courtrooms but also in the court of public opinion. The recent decision on sexual harassment is one example where the public has sparked intense debate online. Following the judgment, social media erupted with polarised reactions. While many criticised the decision, others defended it. Similarly, discussions are erupting over other decisions by the court. However, it would be wrong for the public to assume on the basis of a few bits and pieces of information. Without actually analysing the judgments it could only spread misinformation and emotion dominate public discourse.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/judicial-wisdom-in-an-era-of-misinformation

The judiciary's credibility is tested not only inside courtrooms but also in the court of public opinion. The recent decision on sexual harassment is one example where the public has sparked intense debate online. Following the judgment, social media erupted with polarised reactions. While many crit...

18/10/2025

𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗢𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗮, 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻
Showcases GNH and sustainable wellbeing on global stage
Staff reporter
Bhutan concluded its participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, under the national theme, “Saving Lives for a Happy Future,” inspired by Bhutan’s unique development philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) on October 13, 2025.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/bhutan-concludes-participation-at-expo-2025-osaka-japan

18/10/2025

𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟰𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
Dorji Choden
The European Union (EU) and Bhutan celebrated 40 years of friendship and cooperation at a special reception attended by Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and the largest-ever high-level EU delegation to visit the country.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/bhutan-and-the-european-union-celebrate-40-years-of-friendship

The European Union (EU) and Bhutan celebrated 40 years of friendship and cooperation at a special reception attended by Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and the largest-ever high-level EU delegation to visit the country.

18/10/2025

𝗘𝗦𝗣 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
Jigmi Wangdi
The Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) is quietly reshaping Bhutan’s creative landscape, giving artists, musicians, and creators new platforms to thrive under the support of the Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property (DOMCIIP). What was once a struggling sector with limited resources is now finding its rhythm.
https://kuenselonline.com/news/esp-boosts-creative-renaissance

The Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) is quietly reshaping Bhutan’s creative landscape, giving artists, musicians, and creators new platforms to thrive under the support of the Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property (DOMCIIP). What was once a struggling sector with limite...