Paro-Thimphu highway receives ACC censure (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - A confidential Anti Corruption Commission report has alleged several mistakes “from the contracting process to procedural irregularities, resulting in losses of up to Nu 10 million” on the Nu 200 million eight-kilometre road widening work between Paro and Thimphu, which was done by four Bhutanese companies.

Progress of India-assisted projects in Bhutan reviewed (Press Trust of India)
Thimphu, Mar 8 (PTI) Indian and Bhutanese officials have reviewed the progress of New Delhi-assisted projects undertaken during the Himalayan country’s 9th Five Year Plan.

60 Bhutanese refugees on way to US, New Zealand (Outlook India)
The process for the resettlement of Bhutan refugees housed in camps in Nepal’s Jhapa and Morang districts was set in motion, with 60 Bhutanese ready to move to their new homes in the United States and New Zealand.

Bhutanese refugees start new life (BBC News)
The first of tens of thousands of refugees from Bhutan begin leaving camps in Nepal for a new life in the West.

UN appeals for more funds for Bhutanese refugee camp in Nepal (AFP via Yahoo! News)
The United Nations said Friday it urgently needed more than half-a-million-dollars’ worth of relief for 10,000 Bhutanese refugees made homeless in a fire in a camp in Nepal last weekend.

A woman wants to make it in Bhutan election (The Hindu)
Thimpu: She’s just 29, a greenhorn in politics and is up against an experienced former Minister in the race to a seat in Bhutan’s National Assembly. But Karma Lhamo is unfazed by these odds and exudes confidence of turning …

60 Bhutanese living in Nepal to settle in US and N Zealand (New Kerala)
Kathmandu, March 9: As many as sixty Bhutanese living in refugee camps in eastern Nepal left for the capital city, on way to the US and New Zealand.

Progress of India-assisted projects in Bhutan reviewed (Hindustan Times)
Indian and Bhutanese officials have reviewed the progress of New Delhi-assisted projects undertaken during the Himalayan country’s 9th Five Year Plan.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy will be smooth: EU (Press Trust of India)
Thimphu, Mar 6 (PTI) In spite of growing instances of mudslinging between the two contesting parties and a low level of awareness among the voters, the European Union has expressed optimism about a successful transition in Bhutan, saying the Himalayan nation has opted for democracy at a perfect time of “unprecedented peace”.

Bhutanese refugees begin their resettlement journey (Nepalnews. com)
The International Organization of Migration (IOM) flew the first lot of Bhutanese refugees to Kathmandu Saturday on a chartered plane for third country resettlement.

Sangay Ngedup persuades the Kabjips

PDP president meets voters in Punakha

8 March, 2008 -

“
It’s in your hands to decide if you want Bhutan’s first elected prime minister to be your chimi.”
The People’s Democratic Party, Sangay Ngedup, posed this choice to the Kabjips as he campaigned in the birthplace of his contestant, Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s Tshering Penjor.

“Arson is involved”

Kerosene filled jerry can

8 March, 2008 - Mounting evidence has convinced forestry officials that the multiple forest fires, which swept through Paro valley in the past two months, destroyed around 4,000 acres of forest and an ancient lhakhang, may have been deliberate.

One-horse-race in Gelephu?
8 March, 2008 - Gelephu, the constituency with the highest number of registered voters for the National Assembly elections, may be casting their vote on a single candidate.

PDP counters DPT allegations
8 March, 2008 - Responding to allegations made against the PDP’s candidate for South Thimphu, Sonam Tobgay Dorji, by DPT earlier this week, PDP will file a counter-allegation against the DPT’s South Thimphu candidate, Yeshey Zimba.

Same old slip-ups
8 March, 2008 - After the poor show of postal ballots during the National Council elections, dzongkhag election officials have again disqualified hundreds of applications for postal ballot for this month’s Assembly election, mainly because the application forms were not properly filled up, while some were not reflected on the eligible postal voter list.

Women outnumber men
8 March, 2008 - A total of 318,465 voters or about 58 percent of the Bhutanese population have registered to vote in the March 24 National Assembly election. This is two percent higher than the number of people who registered to vote in the National Council election.

Finance secretary resigns

Dasho Yanki T Wangchuk

7 March, 2008 - The finance secretary, Dasho Yanki T Wangchuk, Bhutan’s highest-ranking woman civil servant in the bureaucracy, has resigned after 31 years in the government.

A three-hanky movie

6 March, 2008 - “
Lay key Thruelwa” or “Fate Cheats” is an tear-jerker, based on fate twisted by scheming individuals into a tragic tale which can stand the test of time.

Ten questions

6 March, 2008 - Sonam Dema, 24, from Wamrong, Trashigang, has been working in Memory photo studio for over a year now. Trained at the studio, today, she knows the basics of developing photographs.

1. Where did you do your schooling from?
I studied in Wamrong middle secondary school up to class X.

From myth to merchandise?

Women of Makrong provide a glimpse into a once exclusive domain

6 March, 2008 - In its pure form, it’s an annual three-hour song and dance custom by the women of Makrong village in Ura gewog to appease their local female deity, Ashi Lham. Men are not allowed to watch.

Paro-Thimphu highway receives ACC censure (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - A confidential Anti Corruption Commission report has alleged several mistakes “from the contracting process to procedural irregularities, resulting in losses of up to Nu 10 million” on the Nu 200 million eight-kilometre road widening work between Paro and Thimphu, which was done by four Bhutanese companies.

Progress of India-assisted projects in Bhutan reviewed (Press Trust of India)
Thimphu, Mar 8 (PTI) Indian and Bhutanese officials have reviewed the progress of New Delhi-assisted projects undertaken during the Himalayan country’s 9th Five Year Plan.

UN appeals for more funds for Bhutanese refugee camp in Nepal (AFP via Yahoo! News)
The United Nations said Friday it urgently needed more than half-a-million-dollars’ worth of relief for 10,000 Bhutanese refugees made homeless in a fire in a camp in Nepal last weekend.

Progress of India-assisted projects in Bhutan reviewed (Hindustan Times)
Indian and Bhutanese officials have reviewed the progress of New Delhi-assisted projects undertaken during the Himalayan country’s 9th Five Year Plan.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy will be smooth: EU (Press Trust of India)
Thimphu, Mar 6 (PTI) In spite of growing instances of mudslinging between the two contesting parties and a low level of awareness among the voters, the European Union has expressed optimism about a successful transition in Bhutan, saying the Himalayan nation has opted for democracy at a perfect time of “unprecedented peace”.

Dysentery hits Bhutanese refugees in Nepal (People’s Daily)
Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal are suffering from dysentery and pneumonia, local leading news website THT Online reported Friday. Dev Narayan Bhattarai, an official of the Health Center at the Goldhap camp of Jhapa district, s …

Women outnumber men (Kuensel)
8 March, 2008 - A total of 318,465 voters or about 58 percent of the Bhutanese population have registered to vote in the March 24 National Assembly election. This is two percent higher than the number of people who registered to vote in the National Council election.

PDP counters DPT allegations (Kuensel)
8 March, 2008 - Responding to allegations made against the PDP’s candidate for South Thimphu, Sonam Tobgay Dorji, by DPT earlier this week, PDP will file a counter-allegation against the DPT’s South Thimphu candidate, Yeshey Zimba.

“Arson is involved” (Kuensel)
8 March, 2008 - Mounting evidence has convinced forestry officials that the multiple forest fires, which swept through Paro valley in the past two months, destroyed around 4,000 acres of forest and an ancient lhakhang, may have been deliberate.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy on track (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - Despite growing instances of mudslinging between the two political parties and other emerging problems, the chief observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Mr Javier Pomes said he was optimistic of a successful democratic transition in Bhutan.

Sangay Ngedup persuades the Kabjips

PDP president meets voters in Punakha

8 March, 2008 -

“
It’s in your hands to decide if you want Bhutan’s first elected prime minister to be your chimi.”
The People’s Democratic Party, Sangay Ngedup, posed this choice to the Kabjips as he campaigned in the birthplace of his contestant, Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s Tshering Penjor.

“Arson is involved”

Kerosene filled jerry can

8 March, 2008 - Mounting evidence has convinced forestry officials that the multiple forest fires, which swept through Paro valley in the past two months, destroyed around 4,000 acres of forest and an ancient lhakhang, may have been deliberate.

One-horse-race in Gelephu?
8 March, 2008 - Gelephu, the constituency with the highest number of registered voters for the National Assembly elections, may be casting their vote on a single candidate.

PDP counters DPT allegations
8 March, 2008 - Responding to allegations made against the PDP’s candidate for South Thimphu, Sonam Tobgay Dorji, by DPT earlier this week, PDP will file a counter-allegation against the DPT’s South Thimphu candidate, Yeshey Zimba.

Same old slip-ups
8 March, 2008 - After the poor show of postal ballots during the National Council elections, dzongkhag election officials have again disqualified hundreds of applications for postal ballot for this month’s Assembly election, mainly because the application forms were not properly filled up, while some were not reflected on the eligible postal voter list.

Women outnumber men
8 March, 2008 - A total of 318,465 voters or about 58 percent of the Bhutanese population have registered to vote in the March 24 National Assembly election. This is two percent higher than the number of people who registered to vote in the National Council election.

Finance secretary resigns

Dasho Yanki T Wangchuk

7 March, 2008 - The finance secretary, Dasho Yanki T Wangchuk, Bhutan’s highest-ranking woman civil servant in the bureaucracy, has resigned after 31 years in the government.

A three-hanky movie

6 March, 2008 - “
Lay key Thruelwa” or “Fate Cheats” is an tear-jerker, based on fate twisted by scheming individuals into a tragic tale which can stand the test of time.

Ten questions

6 March, 2008 - Sonam Dema, 24, from Wamrong, Trashigang, has been working in Memory photo studio for over a year now. Trained at the studio, today, she knows the basics of developing photographs.

1. Where did you do your schooling from?
I studied in Wamrong middle secondary school up to class X.

From myth to merchandise?

Women of Makrong provide a glimpse into a once exclusive domain

6 March, 2008 - In its pure form, it’s an annual three-hour song and dance custom by the women of Makrong village in Ura gewog to appease their local female deity, Ashi Lham. Men are not allowed to watch.

Paro-Thimphu highway receives ACC censure (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - A confidential Anti Corruption Commission report has alleged several mistakes “from the contracting process to procedural irregularities, resulting in losses of up to Nu 10 million” on the Nu 200 million eight-kilometre road widening work between Paro and Thimphu, which was done by four Bhutanese companies.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy will be smooth: EU (Press Trust of India)
Thimphu, Mar 6 (PTI) In spite of growing instances of mudslinging between the two contesting parties and a low level of awareness among the voters, the European Union has expressed optimism about a successful transition in Bhutan, saying the Himalayan nation has opted for democracy at a perfect time of “unprecedented peace”.

Dysentery hits Bhutanese refugees in Nepal (People’s Daily)
Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal are suffering from dysentery and pneumonia, local leading news website THT Online reported Friday. Dev Narayan Bhattarai, an official of the Health Center at the Goldhap camp of Jhapa district, s …

Bhutan’s transition to democracy on track (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - Despite growing instances of mudslinging between the two political parties and other emerging problems, the chief observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Mr Javier Pomes said he was optimistic of a successful democratic transition in Bhutan.

NEPAL: Fire-affected Bhutanese refugees face hardship (AlertNet)
Source: IRIN About 8,000 Bhutanese refugees are struggling to cope after the fire which destroyed most of their homes at Goldhap camp in eastern Nepal on 2 March.

Bhutan’s democratic bid promising: EU (NDTV)
To read the biggest stories of the day on your mobile, type mobile.ndtv.com on your phone browser.

BOC’s unspent millions (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - While the rest of the world is actively engaged in the final stages of their preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, an accountant of the Bhutan Olympic Committee in Thimphu is in the process of returning to the government around Nu 5.4 million of unused Olympic funds.

Thousands homeless after fire hits Bhutanese refugee camp (USA Today)
About 10,000 Bhutanese refugees were without shelter after a fire razed their camp in southeastern Nepal, an official said.

NEPAL: Thousands of Bhutanese refugees ready to resettle in third countries (IRIN)
KATHMANDU, 5 February 2008 (IRIN) - The international community is working actively with the Nepalese government to help resettle thousands of Bhutanese refugees in Europe and North America, with the USA alone accepting at least 60,000 refugees, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

ECB clears PDP’s South Thimphu candidate of allegations (Kuensel)
1 March, 2008 - The Election Commission of Bhutan has reprimanded the People’s Democratic Party’s South Thimphu candidate, Sonam Tobgay Dorji, for his failure to conduct himself in a manner expected of a candidate but has cleared him of allegations that he had donated Nu 200,000 to a lhakhang in his constituency in August last year.

Finance secretary resigns

Dasho Yanki T Wangchuk

7 March, 2008 - The finance secretary, Dasho Yanki T Wangchuk, Bhutan’s highest-ranking woman civil servant in the bureaucracy, has resigned after 31 years in the government.

A three-hanky movie

6 March, 2008 - “
Lay key Thruelwa” or “Fate Cheats” is an tear-jerker, based on fate twisted by scheming individuals into a tragic tale which can stand the test of time.

Ten questions

6 March, 2008 - Sonam Dema, 24, from Wamrong, Trashigang, has been working in Memory photo studio for over a year now. Trained at the studio, today, she knows the basics of developing photographs.

1. Where did you do your schooling from?
I studied in Wamrong middle secondary school up to class X.

From myth to merchandise?

Women of Makrong provide a glimpse into a once exclusive domain

6 March, 2008 - In its pure form, it’s an annual three-hour song and dance custom by the women of Makrong village in Ura gewog to appease their local female deity, Ashi Lham. Men are not allowed to watch.

Workshop relocation - The clock is ticking
6 March, 2008 - The deadline for the Changzamtog automobile workshops to shift to their new location in Chang Olarongchhu has been postponed to April 30.

One drug bust every two days

‘Medicine’ that’s meant to kill not cure

6 March, 2008 - At least one person was arrested every two days in a drug-related case since the start of the new year, according to Royal Bhutan Police records.

Three fatalities in two road accidents
6 March, 2008 - Two teachers were killed on the spot when the Alto car they were travelling in veered off the road near Kurizampa, about 4.5 km from Gyelpoizhing in Mongar, at around 3:30 PM on March 2.

318,465 voters on the electoral roll
March 5, 2008 A total of 318,465 voters have registered to vote in the March 24 general election according to the final electoral roll which was released by the Election Commission this afternoon.

On the Mongar menu: Age and gender

5 March, 2008 - The five gewogs that make up Mongar constituency - Chali, Drepong, Mongar, Tsamang and Tshakaling - are a closely-knit rural community where everyone seems to know everyone else by name or by sight. Until recently it was barely a blip on the national scene.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy on track

Members of EU election observation mission address the media

5 March, 2008 - Despite growing instances of mudslinging between the two political parties and other emerging problems, the chief observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Mr Javier Pomes said he was optimistic of a successful democratic transition in Bhutan.

Paro-Thimphu highway receives ACC censure (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - A confidential Anti Corruption Commission report has alleged several mistakes “from the contracting process to procedural irregularities, resulting in losses of up to Nu 10 million” on the Nu 200 million eight-kilometre road widening work between Paro and Thimphu, which was done by four Bhutanese companies.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy will be smooth: EU (Press Trust of India)
Thimphu, Mar 6 (PTI) In spite of growing instances of mudslinging between the two contesting parties and a low level of awareness among the voters, the European Union has expressed optimism about a successful transition in Bhutan, saying the Himalayan nation has opted for democracy at a perfect time of “unprecedented peace”.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy on track (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - Despite growing instances of mudslinging between the two political parties and other emerging problems, the chief observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Mr Javier Pomes said he was optimistic of a successful democratic transition in Bhutan.

NEPAL: Fire-affected Bhutanese refugees face hardship (AlertNet)
Source: IRIN About 8,000 Bhutanese refugees are struggling to cope after the fire which destroyed most of their homes at Goldhap camp in eastern Nepal on 2 March.

Bhutan’s democratic bid promising: EU (NDTV)
To read the biggest stories of the day on your mobile, type mobile.ndtv.com on your phone browser.

BOC’s unspent millions (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - While the rest of the world is actively engaged in the final stages of their preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, an accountant of the Bhutan Olympic Committee in Thimphu is in the process of returning to the government around Nu 5.4 million of unused Olympic funds.

Thousands homeless after fire hits Bhutanese refugee camp (USA Today)
About 10,000 Bhutanese refugees were without shelter after a fire razed their camp in southeastern Nepal, an official said.

NEPAL: Thousands of Bhutanese refugees ready to resettle in third countries (IRIN)
KATHMANDU, 5 February 2008 (IRIN) - The international community is working actively with the Nepalese government to help resettle thousands of Bhutanese refugees in Europe and North America, with the USA alone accepting at least 60,000 refugees, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

ECB clears PDP’s South Thimphu candidate of allegations (Kuensel)
1 March, 2008 - The Election Commission of Bhutan has reprimanded the People’s Democratic Party’s South Thimphu candidate, Sonam Tobgay Dorji, for his failure to conduct himself in a manner expected of a candidate but has cleared him of allegations that he had donated Nu 200,000 to a lhakhang in his constituency in August last year.

Nepal Refugee Camp Destroyed by Fire, 10,000 Bhutanese Homeless (Bloomberg.com)
March 3 (Bloomberg) — More than 10,000 Bhutanese refugees are homeless after a fire swept through their camp in southeastern Nepal.

A three-hanky movie

6 March, 2008 - “
Lay key Thruelwa” or “Fate Cheats” is an tear-jerker, based on fate twisted by scheming individuals into a tragic tale which can stand the test of time.

Ten questions

6 March, 2008 - Sonam Dema, 24, from Wamrong, Trashigang, has been working in Memory photo studio for over a year now. Trained at the studio, today, she knows the basics of developing photographs.

1. Where did you do your schooling from?
I studied in Wamrong middle secondary school up to class X.

From myth to merchandise?

Women of Makrong provide a glimpse into a once exclusive domain

6 March, 2008 - In its pure form, it’s an annual three-hour song and dance custom by the women of Makrong village in Ura gewog to appease their local female deity, Ashi Lham. Men are not allowed to watch.

Workshop relocation - The clock is ticking
6 March, 2008 - The deadline for the Changzamtog automobile workshops to shift to their new location in Chang Olarongchhu has been postponed to April 30.

One drug bust every two days

‘Medicine’ that’s meant to kill not cure

6 March, 2008 - At least one person was arrested every two days in a drug-related case since the start of the new year, according to Royal Bhutan Police records.

Three fatalities in two road accidents
6 March, 2008 - Two teachers were killed on the spot when the Alto car they were travelling in veered off the road near Kurizampa, about 4.5 km from Gyelpoizhing in Mongar, at around 3:30 PM on March 2.

318,465 voters on the electoral roll
March 5, 2008 A total of 318,465 voters have registered to vote in the March 24 general election according to the final electoral roll which was released by the Election Commission this afternoon.

On the Mongar menu: Age and gender

5 March, 2008 - The five gewogs that make up Mongar constituency - Chali, Drepong, Mongar, Tsamang and Tshakaling - are a closely-knit rural community where everyone seems to know everyone else by name or by sight. Until recently it was barely a blip on the national scene.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy on track

Members of EU election observation mission address the media

5 March, 2008 - Despite growing instances of mudslinging between the two political parties and other emerging problems, the chief observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Mr Javier Pomes said he was optimistic of a successful democratic transition in Bhutan.

Party recruitment suspended
5 March, 2008 - Even as political parties make a last ditch effort to guarantee their vote base by way of membership, the Election Commission of Bhutan has issued a notification that the two political parties should suspend recruiting party members till the end of the National Assembly elections.

Paro-Thimphu highway receives ACC censure (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - A confidential Anti Corruption Commission report has alleged several mistakes “from the contracting process to procedural irregularities, resulting in losses of up to Nu 10 million” on the Nu 200 million eight-kilometre road widening work between Paro and Thimphu, which was done by four Bhutanese companies.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy on track (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - Despite growing instances of mudslinging between the two political parties and other emerging problems, the chief observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Mr Javier Pomes said he was optimistic of a successful democratic transition in Bhutan.

NEPAL: Fire-affected Bhutanese refugees face hardship (AlertNet)
Source: IRIN About 8,000 Bhutanese refugees are struggling to cope after the fire which destroyed most of their homes at Goldhap camp in eastern Nepal on 2 March.

BOC’s unspent millions (Kuensel)
5 March, 2008 - While the rest of the world is actively engaged in the final stages of their preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, an accountant of the Bhutan Olympic Committee in Thimphu is in the process of returning to the government around Nu 5.4 million of unused Olympic funds.

Thousands homeless after fire hits Bhutanese refugee camp (USA Today)
About 10,000 Bhutanese refugees were without shelter after a fire razed their camp in southeastern Nepal, an official said.

NEPAL: Thousands of Bhutanese refugees ready to resettle in third countries (IRIN)
KATHMANDU, 5 February 2008 (IRIN) - The international community is working actively with the Nepalese government to help resettle thousands of Bhutanese refugees in Europe and North America, with the USA alone accepting at least 60,000 refugees, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

ECB clears PDP’s South Thimphu candidate of allegations (Kuensel)
1 March, 2008 - The Election Commission of Bhutan has reprimanded the People’s Democratic Party’s South Thimphu candidate, Sonam Tobgay Dorji, for his failure to conduct himself in a manner expected of a candidate but has cleared him of allegations that he had donated Nu 200,000 to a lhakhang in his constituency in August last year.

Nepal Refugee Camp Destroyed by Fire, 10,000 Bhutanese Homeless (Bloomberg.com)
March 3 (Bloomberg) — More than 10,000 Bhutanese refugees are homeless after a fire swept through their camp in southeastern Nepal.

Fire destroys 1,300 Bhutanese refugees’ homes in Nepal; 10,000 left homeless (AP via Yahoo! Singapore News)
Relief agencies rushed aid Monday to about 10,000 Bhutanese refugees who were without shelter after a fire razed their camp in southeastern Nepal, officials said.

Fire destroys 1,300 Bhutanese refugees’ homes in Nepal; 10,000 left homeless (Charleston Daily Mail)
KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Relief agencies rushed aid Monday to about 10,000 Bhutanese refugees who lost their shelter and nearly all their belongings when a fire razed their camp in southeastern Nepal, officials said.

318,465 voters on the electoral roll
March 5, 2008 A total of 318,465 voters have registered to vote in the March 24 general election according to the final electoral roll which was released by the Election Commission this afternoon.

On the Mongar menu: Age and gender

5 March, 2008 - The five gewogs that make up Mongar constituency - Chali, Drepong, Mongar, Tsamang and Tshakaling - are a closely-knit rural community where everyone seems to know everyone else by name or by sight. Until recently it was barely a blip on the national scene.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy on track

Members of EU election observation mission address the media

5 March, 2008 - Despite growing instances of mudslinging between the two political parties and other emerging problems, the chief observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Mr Javier Pomes said he was optimistic of a successful democratic transition in Bhutan.

Party recruitment suspended
5 March, 2008 - Even as political parties make a last ditch effort to guarantee their vote base by way of membership, the Election Commission of Bhutan has issued a notification that the two political parties should suspend recruiting party members till the end of the National Assembly elections.

‘Election’ calendar recalled
5 March, 2008 - Dzongkhag election officials have asked the People’s Democratic Party candidates to withdraw the PDP calendars, that were circulated as campaign material in their constituencies.

More than an information gap
5 March, 2008 - Bhutan is taking steps to truly launch itself into the information age. Actually this is not a new initiative but it is becoming more urgent. Apart from the information gap and digital divide that is visible in our society, the Constitution now guarantees the people the right to information.

PDP shocked by severity of action taken
5 March, 2008 - The Election Commission of Bhutan’s notification, banning the two parties from recruiting new party members until election day, came a bit too early for the People’s Democratic party (PDP).

DPT miffed at mild penalty
5 March, 2008 - The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa has called the Election Commission’s decision on the Chimithangkha case involving the People’s Democratic Party’s South Thimphu candidate, Sonam Tobgay Dorji, as “unjust and unsatisfactory”.

Paro-Thimphu highway receives ACC censure

Under the scanner: Soil, stone, wood and rock

5 March, 2008 - A confidential Anti Corruption Commission report has alleged several mistakes “from the contracting process to procedural irregularities, resulting in losses of up to Nu 10 million” on the Nu 200 million eight-kilometre road widening work between Paro and Thimphu, which was done by four Bhutanese companies.

19 new HIV cases
5 March, 2008 - The total number of HIV/AIDS infected people in the country increased to 144 with the health ministry detecting 19 more HIV cases in the last five months.

Thousands homeless after fire hits Bhutanese refugee camp (USA Today)
About 10,000 Bhutanese refugees were without shelter after a fire razed their camp in southeastern Nepal, an official said.

ECB clears PDP’s South Thimphu candidate of allegations (Kuensel)
1 March, 2008 - The Election Commission of Bhutan has reprimanded the People’s Democratic Party’s South Thimphu candidate, Sonam Tobgay Dorji, for his failure to conduct himself in a manner expected of a candidate but has cleared him of allegations that he had donated Nu 200,000 to a lhakhang in his constituency in August last year.

NEPAL: Thousands of Bhutanese refugees ready to resettle in third countries (IRIN)
KATHMANDU, 5 February 2008 (IRIN) - The international community is working actively with the Nepalese government to help resettle thousands of Bhutanese refugees in Europe and North America, with the USA alone accepting at least 60,000 refugees, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Nepal Refugee Camp Destroyed by Fire, 10,000 Bhutanese Homeless (Bloomberg.com)
March 3 (Bloomberg) — More than 10,000 Bhutanese refugees are homeless after a fire swept through their camp in southeastern Nepal.

Fire destroys 1,300 Bhutanese refugees’ homes in Nepal; 10,000 left homeless (AP via Yahoo! Singapore News)
Relief agencies rushed aid Monday to about 10,000 Bhutanese refugees who were without shelter after a fire razed their camp in southeastern Nepal, officials said.

Fire destroys 1,300 Bhutanese refugees’ homes in Nepal; 10,000 left homeless (Charleston Daily Mail)
KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Relief agencies rushed aid Monday to about 10,000 Bhutanese refugees who lost their shelter and nearly all their belongings when a fire razed their camp in southeastern Nepal, officials said.

NEPAL: Emergency relief for fire victims at Bhutanese camp (AlertNet)
Source: IRIN Aid agencies, the government and the Nepal Army (NA) are rushing to provide emergency relief to some 7,000 Bhutanese refugees who were left without homes, clothing and food after an accidental fire at their camp in eastern Nepal on 1 March, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Bhutan Telecom Chooses Abovenet’s IP Transit To Bring Internet Connectivity Over Optical Fiber To Bhutan (FiberOpticsOnline)
AboveNet Communications UK Ltd., a leading provider of fiber optic connectivity solutions for business and carriers and a subsidiary of AboveNet Inc., recently announced the successful provisioning of a new IP Transit service for Bhutan Telecom. By providing this IP Transit, AboveNet is enabling Bhutan Telecom’s customers to experience fast, reliable Internet connectivity over fibre optic …

Fire destroys 1,300 Bhutanese refugees’ homes in Nepal; 10,000 left homeless (AP via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
About 10,000 Bhutanese refugees were without shelter Sunday after a fire razed their camp in southeastern Nepal, an official said.

Media comes up to speed on politics (Kuensel)
3 March, 2008 - Bhutanese journalists say they are better prepared to cover Bhutan’s first general election after going through a rigorous training on covering elections this week.

Photo Ops: The Feasibility of Photography as a Profession

4 March, 2008 - You can feel the happiness that exudes from the smile of an old woman whose eyes are on a hen, that’s feeding off grains of corn on her outstretched palm.

A bridge too far gone …

Lifeline to be given a new lease of life

4 March, 2008 - At this time of year, Jasabi village in Lhuentse is calm and quiet. There is not much activity as farmers serenely prepare for the spring season which heralds yet another busy farming cycle.

Bittersweet Bewitching
3 March, 2008 - Asked a man: “Is this class
twelve science?” and the
boys bellowed back, “Yes!” Then a girl with a red bag entered. The whole class fell silent; as she walked in, she sparked the air she touched. Everybody said that everything they saw about her that day was special, the day she walked into my heart.

The Future Concern
contd.

3 March, 2008 - H
enceforth Bhutanese may
once again see a throwback to the hoary past when there was internecine conflict between regional warlords.

Significant rise in PIT returns

Making a personal contribution to the general well being

3 March, 2008 - Personal Income Tax (PIT) collection is expected to see a significant increase for the 2007 income year, with the 86th session of the erstwhile Assembly reverting the tax rates, in December 2006, to its previous structure.

Media comes up to speed on politics

Look out! The watchdogs of democracy are trained and raring to go

3 March, 2008 - Bhutanese journalists say they are better prepared to cover Bhutan’s first general election after going through a rigorous training on covering elections this week.

Postal ballot extended to tourism industry
3 March, 2008 - The hoteliers and tour operators, after much deliberation with the Election Commission, have finally been permitted the privilege of postal ballots for their staff.

.

3 March, 2008 - Her Majesty Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck launches “100 years of Monarchy” in Thimphu yesterday. The commemorative book, published by Rabsell Media Services, is dedicated to the centenary of the Monarchy.
The book is a collection of rare photographs with contributions from the royal family.

Greater voter turnout envisaged
NA ELECTIONS 3 March, 2008 - Pema, 37, from Mongar Drametse, is a taxi-driver in Thimphu, who has decided to travel for two days so that he can cast his vote during the National Assembly (NA) election on March 24.