Monthly Archives: December, 0

Digital transaction is continuously gaining popularity among the public. Between January and June this year the Central Bank recorded close to 30 million domestic retail payment transactions amounting to almost Nu 81bn. The average monthly transactions had increased from 3.1 million transactions per month in 2019 to 4.9 million transactions per month in 2020.

Globally, approximately 150 rangers lose their lives in the line of duty each year protecting wildlife and national parks. The World Ranger Day is celebrated on July 31 to honour these rangers along with those serving on the frontline of conservation.

Bad housing conditions affect health and may have long-term effects on incomes and employment. Efforts to reduce poverty need to consider limiting rent costs and maintaining good housing conditions. This is exactly what Tarayana Foundation under the auspices of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck has been doing for years now.

The promised farm road to the people of Khamedtabthang under Darla Gewog in Chhukha some two years ago is yet to materialise according to the locals. They say as an increasing number of villages in the country is connected with farm road, the facility has now become more of a necessity.

Coinciding with the World Ranger Day celebration, a book detailing recorded bird species in Samtse was released, today.

Amid the emerging evidence of airborne transmission of the coronavirus under certain conditions, officials from the testing centres in the country are confident to handle the tests in the existing labs. To handle any pathogens, different level of labs are used based on the risk of pathogens. For coronavirus, Biosafety Level 2-lab is used at the testing centres in the country where the virus is handled inside a biosafety cabinet.

After the Dzongkhag Court dismissed the petition submitted by three Tshogpas from Trashigang to relook into the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement's directive to blacktop the Merag Gewog Centre road from Khardung overturning the Trashigang Dzongkhag Tshogdu's decision to do it from Chaling, the Tshogdu also agreed to blacktop the GC road from Khardung.

On average, about 60 patients are referred for treatment outside the country in a month. Come COVID-19, and the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) could refer only one patient in the last four months.

If the livestock insurance scheme comes into effect, it will cover 60 per cent of the loss of livestock lost to wild animals. However, farmers will have to pay a certain annual premium and insure their cattle. According to the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS), the draft scheme is with the cabinet for finalisation.

Enduring the harsh weather conditions on the high mountains for months, the country’s Cordyceps collectors are back at the auction yard with hopes of getting compensated for their sacrifice like in the past years. But they were left disappointed with poor buyer-turnout and low price.