BBSCL

The National Health Survey 2023 reveals that areca nut consumption among Bhutanese aged 15 to 69 rose to nearly 60 per cent last year, marking a three per cent increase since 2019. The health ministry attributes the rise to the product being cheap, easily available and culturally accepted in the country. To address this, the ministry plans to introduce measures...

The Department of Labour recorded four deaths at workplace in the fiscal year 2023-2024 with two cases each in Thimphu and Wangdue. An additional 13 injuries were reported from seven other districts. A significant discrepancy is observed between the number of cases reported to the department and the one reflected in the Annual Health Bulletin which noted over 21,000 injury...

STEM education will become a key curriculum when the implementation of the National Education Policy begins. The curriculum will incorporate cutting-edge concepts such as Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. The Cabinet endorsed the policy last week, paving the way for its implementation. It is aligned with His Majesty The King’s Royal Kasho on Education Reform, issued in 2020. Spanning early childhood...

Non-performing loans or NPLs with the financial institutions surged to a staggering more than Nu 8bn by October this year. This is a jump of over Nu 1.16bn in just a year. Of the sectors, trade & commerce tops the list while the forestry and logging sector saw a sharp decline. Any loans that are overdue by 91 days or...