WÒRDS FÒR YÒU

In a proactive move toward creating a safer and more responsible hospitality environment, the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP), in collaboration with the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan (HRAB), conducted an extensive awareness and sensitisation session on June 6 at Hotel Thimphu Residency. The session, held at HRAB’s request, brought together hotel owners, managers, and staff from key districts including Thimphu, Paro, Wangdue, and Chukha. The initiative aimed to address the growing concerns around crime and drug-related issues within the hospitality industry and to equip stakeholders with the knowledge and responsibilities required to mitigate such challenges. Key Topics and Discussions The sensitisation program covered a range of critical topics, such as: Crime and drug-related issues affecting hotels and surrounding communities Common challenges faced by the hotel sector and strategies for prevention Responsibilities of hotel management in promoting a saf...

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has sparked controversy by claiming that his influence was instrumental in securing Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential win. In a response to a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote: “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House, and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.” The bold claim arrives at a time of mounting tensions between Musk and Trump, sparked by disagreements over a recently passed domestic policy bill. Reacting to Musk’s comments, President Trump expressed his dismay during a press briefing on Thursday: “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot. He said the most beautiful things about me, and he hasn’t said bad about me personally, but I’m sure that’ll be next.” Trump also insinuated that Musk’s criticism of the bill was politically motivated and only surfaced after its passage, suggesting it stemmed from frustrations over cuts to electric vehicle (EV) subsidies. Musk, however, ...

In a stunning announcement from the White House on June 4, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump declared the reactivation of a sweeping travel ban targeting citizens from 19 nations — a move already sending ripples through international and humanitarian communities. Effective Monday at 12:01 a.m., the ban outright bars entry to travelers from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. In addition, seven more countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela — will face tightened entry restrictions. Trump cited national security threats, referencing a recent terror incident in Colorado and findings from the Department of Homeland Security’s annual report. He emphasized high visa overstay rates and what he called “inadequate vetting infrastructure” in the affected nations.  “This is not about politics. It’s about protecting American lives,” Trump...

Starlink, the satellite internet service from Elon Musk's SpaceX, has made its debut in both India and Bhutan, but the pricing is quite different between the two countries. India's Affordable Entry In India, Starlink is gearing up to launch with enticing promotional monthly plans starting at around ₹850 (about $10), which includes unlimited data. This attractive pricing strategy is aimed at drawing in a large number of users, particularly in rural and underserved regions. The hardware is expected to cost around ₹29,700. Bhutan's Premium Offering On the flip side, Bhutan sees Starlink offering its services at a higher price point. The standard residential plan comes in at Nu 4,200 per month, delivering speeds ranging from 25 to 110 Mbps with unlimited data. There’s also a more budget-friendly 'Residential Lite' option available for Nu 3,000 per month, which offers similar speeds but with slightly less performance. The initial hardware setup will set you b...

In a groundbreaking development for the global tourism and cryptocurrency industries, Bhutan has partnered with Binance Pay to launch the world’s first national-level crypto payment system tailored for tourism. This partnership with Binance Pay and Bhutan's fully digital DK Bank marks a transformative step in modernizing the travel experience through secure, seamless, and decentralized transactions. The newly launched system enables tourists with Binance accounts to conduct cashless transactions across Bhutan. From booking flights and paying visa fees to purchasing local goods from remote vendors, travelers can now enjoy an end-to-end crypto-powered experience. Over 100 merchants across Bhutan are already equipped to accept Binance Pay via static QR codes, making even small roadside transactions effortlessly digital. Binance Pay, the cryptocurrency payment feature integrated into the Binance app, supports more than 300 cryptocurrencies and serves over 40 million active ...

In a sharp escalation of the ongoing trade tensions, China has imposed a sweeping 125% tariff on a wide range of U.S. goods, retaliating against the United States’ recent decision to levy 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. The move marks a significant deepening of the US-China trade war, with analysts warning of serious consequences for global supply chains and international commerce. Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a stern warning against unilateralism, calling for “global cooperation against bullying” and urging a shift toward mutual respect and dialogue. “China remains committed to win-win cooperation,” Xi stated, emphasizing that sustainable bilateral relations must be built on mutual trust and fairness. The International Trade Centre’s Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, raised alarm over the growing risks to global trade, forecasting an 80% decline in US-China trade if tensions continue unabated. “With 40% of traded goods classified as intermediate products, ...

Southern Africa is taking a landmark step to fortify its defenses against climate-driven health threats and future pandemics through a comprehensive new initiative spanning eight countries and backed by $35 million in international support. Eight countries— Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe — have launched a three-year program aimed at boosting emergency health preparedness across the region. The effort is funded by the Pandemic Fund , with technical leadership from the World Health Organization (WHO) and collaboration from key regional and global health partners. This wide-reaching program is designed to build stronger, more responsive health systems by focusing on early warning mechanisms , disease surveillance , laboratory diagnostic capabilities , and developing a resilient health workforce . The initiative also emphasizes climate adaptation , recognizing the urgent need to equip health systems to withstand and respond to the gr...

A tourist helicopter carrying a family from Spain crashed into the Hudson River on Wednesday afternoon, killing all six people aboard, including three young children. Heliport and crashed off River Drive in Hoboken Photo courtesy: NBC News The Bell 206 operated by New York Helicopters, went down at 3:17 p.m. shortly after departing from the Wall Street Heliport. The crash occurred off River Drive in Hoboken, New Jersey, less than 20 minutes into its flight — the helicopter’s sixth of the day. Among the victims were the 36-year-old pilot and a family from Barcelona: Agustin Escobar, a Siemens executive; his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal; and their children, aged 4, 5, and 11. The family had reportedly been in New York for a sightseeing trip. Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene as the helicopter appeared to fall out of the sky with no visible rotor blades and flipped upside down before hitting the frigid waters of the Hudson. Cellphone video footage circulated online shows the airc...