International Sources

Northeast India is poised to tap economic potential - Los Angeles Times
NEW DELHI — India’s remote northeast region has been both blessed and cursed by its geography. The region is rich in natural resources but is landlocked and surrounded by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, leaving it impoverished. The eight …

What Bhutanese own by the numbers - Kuensel Online
31 May, 2008 - Watches, radios, rice cookers and choeshams (altars) were among the most widely owned assets by Bhutanese households in both urban and rural areas, according to the 2007 Bhutan Living Standard Survey report. More than 73 percent of the …

Keeping the constitution politically correct - Kuensel Online
31 May, 2008 - Women members of parliament may not be feminists, but they succeeded in driving home the message that gender references in the provisions of the draft Constitution were important. On Thursday, the chairman of the drafting committee …

India aim to raise image in South Asian cup defence - Reuters India
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India, long starved of international matches, begin the defence of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup next week hoping to raise their profile on the Asian stage. Captain Bhaichung Bhutia said on Saturday the team had …

Bhutanese dies in fall from balcony - Bangkok Post
A Bhutanese studying for a masters degree in dentistry jumped to her death from the sixth floor balcony of her apartment in Soi Rang Nam in Ratchathewi district on Thursday. Police were called to the scene about midnight and concluded she committed …

Monks visiting Norman say work absorbs negativity of a community - Daily Oklahoman
NORMAN — Six Tibetan monks have been in Norman since Tuesday and hope their visit will bring lasting peace and love to the community. “People need our help here,” Lobsang Wangchuk said. “We are here to help them redefine happiness and where it’s …

Rough Guide to Ultimate Escapes: Celebs sign up for Channel Five … - Guardian Unlimited
Channel Five is to launch a spin-off of its Rough Guides series in which celebrities including comedian Dom Joly and Green Wing actor Stephen Mangan will undertake adrenaline-fuelled adventures. Rough Guide to Ultimate Escapes will see four …

Northeast India is poised to tap economic potential - Los Angeles Times
NEW DELHI — India’s remote northeast region has been both blessed and cursed by its geography. The region is rich in natural resources but is landlocked and surrounded by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, leaving it impoverished. The eight …

Many unhappy returns, from a ravenous nation - Age
A USTRALIA has a super abundance of happiness, an emotional state that’s hard to measure and impossible to weigh up. Yet social scientists claim it is as valid a measure of a country’s success as the simple indicators used by economists, such as GNP …

Fit or fat? - CNN
Trans fat is under attack, diet pill makers are paying huge fines to the government to settle advertising claims, your salad could be tainted with killer bacteria … so just what can you do to live a healthier life? Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay …

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

2.15 m euros for Austrian-Bhutan bilateral program

Mrs MC Weinberger and Yeshey Dorji signing the document

29 May, 2008 - The Austrian government has committed 2.15 million euros to Bhutan within the bilateral program for this year.

Pasakha plagued by transportation problems

Buses stranded on one side of the Singhi bridge that was closed to heavy vehicles a month ago

29 May, 2008 - The movement of heavy vehicles to and fro the industrial estate of Pasakha has once again become erratic with the Singhi river rising to dangerous levels.

Bhutan Observer

The barks and yelps of a national conscience
The stray dog problem has now evolved into the most inconvenient social issue in recent times. As the issue garners continued highlight in the media and evokes discomforting reactions by our foreign guests here, it tugs furiously
at our collective consciousness.
Despite the government’s best intentions, with just money, limited measures and without a broad societal participation, […]

His Holiness Arrives in Thimphu
His Holiness the Je Khenpo arrived in Thimphu on 29 May, 2008, along with the  central monastic body from their traditional winter residence in Punakha Dzong.

Operators unhappy with Bartsam airport
The construction of a domestic airport in Bartsam, Trashigang, has been given priority by the government much to the dissatisfaction of tour operators. Of the five indentified airports – Bathpalathang and Gyeltsha in Bumthang, Yongphula
and Barstam in Trashigang and Toorsa in Phuentsholin - Bartsam was given priority. The Bartsampas had requested for the airport during […]

Local government
The local government elections will be conducted later in the year, according to the office of the Election Commission of Bhutan.|
Upon the enactment of the electoral bills by the parliament, the ECB will carry out the delimitation
of the constituencies of different local government elections for the preparation of the electoral roll.
The Chief Election Commissioner, Dasho […]

PCS to be reviewed
In view of issues raised on the implementation of the PCS, the Pay Commission will submit a work plan to the cabinet by August 24 addressing issues and making suggestions.
Sonam Tshering, the Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, who is also the Chairperson for the Pay Commission,
said that the Commission will look into […]

Forest Fire in Udzorong
Villagers and forest officials are fighting a forest fire in Udzorong geog in Trashigang that broke out on Tuesday at around 7:30 pm. The fire has already razed about 500 acres of forest, destroying at least 3,000 pine saplings in three days.
Steep terrain and strong winds, which fanned the fire, has posed a major challenge […]

Court sentences “habitual offender”
At the end of a much publicised case, Kelzang Wangyel Tshultim was sentenced to an imprisonment term of nine months by the Thimphu dzongkhag court  yesterday for obstruction of  lawful authority, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
He was also ordered to pay a fine of Nu 18,000.
The charge of battering a police officer and some other […]

PCS disgruntlement
The Position Classification System (PCS) has since inception come under much flak with civil servants disgruntled about how the system is not being followed.
Not only is the implementation of the open competitive exams in question but also the classification system.
Some civil servants complain that the system is not fair due to the principle of vested […]

Struggle for survival
Phuentsholing: Life offers a lot of choices to people but for a night guard in Phuntsholing the struggle for survival literally brings him to his knees. Selling bows and arrows during the day and working as a night guard doesn’t offer him enough to feed his family.|
Dorji Wangchuk came from Trashiyangtse 38 years ago in […]

Lean season power generation
Tsimasham, Chhukha: By the end of November 2008, an additional 67 million units of power will be generated in Chhukha Hydro Power Corporation Ltd (CHPCL), during the lean season. With the completion of additional
power generation from the existing Chhukha Hydro Power Plant (through the diversion of water from Tichhalumchuu to the Chhukha reservoir and Lubichhu […]

International Sources

A look at some of world’s remaining monarchies - Salon
— Bahrain, constitutional monarchy: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. — Bhutan, constitutional monarchy: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Elections in March ended the country’s absolute monarchy, with the king ceding most of his powers …

2.15 m euros for Austrian-Bhutan bilateral program - Kuensel Online
29 May, 2008 - The Austrian government has committed 2.15 million euros to Bhutan within the bilateral program for this year. The indicative financial assistance was finalised when the annual consultations document on Bhutanese-Austrian development …

A look at some of world’s remaining monarchies - FOX News
_ Bahrain, constitutional monarchy: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. _ Bhutan, constitutional monarchy: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Elections in March ended the country’s absolute monarchy, with the king ceding most of his powers. _ Brunei …

Study stress suicide - Nation - Thailand
A Bhutanese woman found dead at an apartment in Soi Rangnam on Thursday night left a suicide note citing “tremendous stress”. Mahidol University dentistry student Debeka Lana, 40, was found dead behind an 11-storey apartment block. She had suffered …

Fit or fat? - CNN
Trans fat is under attack, diet pill makers are paying huge fines to the government to settle advertising claims, your salad could be tainted with killer bacteria … so just what can you do to live a healthier life? Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay …

Northeast India is poised to tap economic potential - Los Angeles Times
NEW DELHI — India’s remote northeast region has been both blessed and cursed by its geography. The region is rich in natural resources but is landlocked and surrounded by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, leaving it impoverished. The eight …

A look at some of the world’s remaining ruling monarchies - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Iraqi prime minister to seek debt relief Israeli defense chief says Olmert must step down Ahmadinejad rival gets powerful post in Iran Treaty seeks to ban cluster bombs within 8 years UK police make new arrest after restaurant blast Nepal ended 239 …

Rough Guide to Ultimate Escapes: Celebs sign up for Channel Five … - Guardian Unlimited
Channel Five is to launch a spin-off of its Rough Guides series in which celebrities including comedian Dom Joly and Green Wing actor Stephen Mangan will undertake adrenaline-fuelled adventures. Rough Guide to Ultimate Escapes will see four …

End of an era as another Himalayan kingdom tumbles - Turkish Daily News
For centuries they enjoyed absolute power in their mountain fastnesses, revered by their subjects as incarnations of gods or Buddha, but one by one the monarchies of the Himalayas are falling. Pressure has come from China to the north and India to …

Five sends celebs on extreme holidays - Digital Spy
A spinoff series of Five’s Rough Guide To… will see celebrities including Dom Joly embark on adventure holidays. One episode of Rough Guide To Ultimate Escapes will see Joly explore Nicaragua, attempting to climb an active volcano and ski down its …

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

2.15 m euros for Austrian-Bhutan bilateral program

Mrs MC Weinberger and Yeshey Dorji signing the document

29 May, 2008 - The Austrian government has committed 2.15 million euros to Bhutan within the bilateral program for this year.

Pasakha plagued by transportation problems

Buses stranded on one side of the Singhi bridge that was closed to heavy vehicles a month ago

29 May, 2008 - The movement of heavy vehicles to and fro the industrial estate of Pasakha has once again become erratic with the Singhi river rising to dangerous levels.

Beer going down the tube

29 May, 2008 - Around 1,500 cases of expired Golden Eagle, Haywards 5000, Pils and Royal Challenge beer brands are being dumped at the Phuentsholing city corporation waste disposal site at Pasakha.
According to the customs officials on duty, dumping started on May 24, with six workers who dump about 400 cases a day.
A sales tax of Nu 99 is levied on every case of bottled beer and Nu 190 on each carton of canned beer.

Local artisans under import threat

Kinzang Tobgay: Will his craft prove to be a commercial success?

28 May, 2008 - The beating of a dozen hammers does not distract 19-year old Kinzang Tobgay. A hammer and a chisel in hand, the third year student of the Zorig Chusum institute in Thimphu is fully engrossed in his carving - a mouse drawn on a wooden block.

Bhutan Observer

The barks and yelps of a national conscience
The stray dog problem has now evolved into the most inconvenient social issue in recent times. As the issue garners continued highlight in the media and evokes discomforting reactions by our foreign guests here, it tugs furiously
at our collective consciousness.
Despite the government’s best intentions, with just money, limited measures and without a broad societal participation, […]

His Holiness Arrives in Thimphu
His Holiness the Je Khenpo arrived in Thimphu on 29 May, 2008, along with the  central monastic body from their traditional winter residence in Punakha Dzong.

Operators unhappy with Bartsam airport
The construction of a domestic airport in Bartsam, Trashigang, has been given priority by the government much to the dissatisfaction of tour operators. Of the five indentified airports – Bathpalathang and Gyeltsha in Bumthang, Yongphula
and Barstam in Trashigang and Toorsa in Phuentsholin - Bartsam was given priority. The Bartsampas had requested for the airport during […]

Local government
The local government elections will be conducted later in the year, according to the office of the Election Commission of Bhutan.|
Upon the enactment of the electoral bills by the parliament, the ECB will carry out the delimitation
of the constituencies of different local government elections for the preparation of the electoral roll.
The Chief Election Commissioner, Dasho […]

PCS to be reviewed
In view of issues raised on the implementation of the PCS, the Pay Commission will submit a work plan to the cabinet by August 24 addressing issues and making suggestions.
Sonam Tshering, the Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, who is also the Chairperson for the Pay Commission,
said that the Commission will look into […]

Forest Fire in Udzorong
Villagers and forest officials are fighting a forest fire in Udzorong geog in Trashigang that broke out on Tuesday at around 7:30 pm. The fire has already razed about 500 acres of forest, destroying at least 3,000 pine saplings in three days.
Steep terrain and strong winds, which fanned the fire, has posed a major challenge […]

Court sentences “habitual offender”
At the end of a much publicised case, Kelzang Wangyel Tshultim was sentenced to an imprisonment term of nine months by the Thimphu dzongkhag court  yesterday for obstruction of  lawful authority, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
He was also ordered to pay a fine of Nu 18,000.
The charge of battering a police officer and some other […]

PCS disgruntlement
The Position Classification System (PCS) has since inception come under much flak with civil servants disgruntled about how the system is not being followed.
Not only is the implementation of the open competitive exams in question but also the classification system.
Some civil servants complain that the system is not fair due to the principle of vested […]

Struggle for survival
Phuentsholing: Life offers a lot of choices to people but for a night guard in Phuntsholing the struggle for survival literally brings him to his knees. Selling bows and arrows during the day and working as a night guard doesn’t offer him enough to feed his family.|
Dorji Wangchuk came from Trashiyangtse 38 years ago in […]

Lean season power generation
Tsimasham, Chhukha: By the end of November 2008, an additional 67 million units of power will be generated in Chhukha Hydro Power Corporation Ltd (CHPCL), during the lean season. With the completion of additional
power generation from the existing Chhukha Hydro Power Plant (through the diversion of water from Tichhalumchuu to the Chhukha reservoir and Lubichhu […]

International Sources

Bhutanese dance to Indian Ocean’s tunes - Screen India
They went, they performed and the Bhutanese went frenzy. Fusion band Indian Ocean’s debut act in the Himalayan country attracted an impressive audience that swayed and hummed and was literally drenched. The concert was organised by the Indian Embassy …

Indian Idol blown away by Bhutanese reception - Kuensel Online
28 May, 2008 - The show kicked off three hours late. Most chairs were empty. Tickets were expensive and one of the performers, Charu, missed her flight. Despite all that, Prashant Tamang’s show in Thimphu, though not a roaring commercial success …

A look at some of world’s remaining monarchies - Forbes
Nepal ended 239 years of royal rule on Wednesday. The last time a monarchy was abolished was in May 2007 when Samoa’s king died. Some of the world’s remaining ruling monarchies: _ Bahrain, constitutional monarchy: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa …

Buddhist paintings, sculpture from Bhutan featured in rare exhibit - Ashland Daily Tidings
HONOLULU — Assistant curator John Johnston scaled steep cliffs for seven hours to reach a bronze sculpture of a Buddha at a small Himalayan monastery 13,000 feet above sea level. And where there was no trail, he and two companions grabbed trees to …

Rough Guide to Ultimate Escapes: Celebs sign up for Channel Five … - Guardian Unlimited
Channel Five is to launch a spin-off of its Rough Guides series in which celebrities including comedian Dom Joly and Green Wing actor Stephen Mangan will undertake adrenaline-fuelled adventures. Rough Guide to Ultimate Escapes will see four …

End of an era as another Himalayan kingdom tumbles - Reuters India
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - For centuries they enjoyed absolute power in their mountain fastnesses, revered by their subjects as incarnations of gods or Buddha, but one by one the monarchies of the Himalayas are falling. Pressure has come from China to the …

Controlling precursor chemicals - Kuensel Online
29 May, 2008 - Potassium permanganate purifies water but can also purify cocaine. Acetic anhydride is used in the pharmaceutical, textile and leather industries but can also be misused to manufacture heroin. Such chemicals are known as precursor …

Northeast India is poised to tap economic potential - Los Angeles Times
NEW DELHI — India’s remote northeast region has been both blessed and cursed by its geography. The region is rich in natural resources but is landlocked and surrounded by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, leaving it impoverished. The eight …

A look at some of the world’s remaining ruling monarchies - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Iraqi prime minister to seek debt relief Israeli defense chief says Olmert must step down Ahmadinejad rival gets powerful post in Iran Treaty seeks to ban cluster bombs within 8 years UK police make new arrest after restaurant blast Nepal ended 239 …

Kicking China’s 3bn-a-day plastic bag habit - RTE Online
China is about to try to kick a 3 billion-a-day plastic bag habit. But breaking the addiction, in a bid to save energy and protect the environment, will be easier said than done. This Sunday, the world’s most populous nation will join a growing list …

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

2.15 m euros for Austrian-Bhutan bilateral program

Mrs MC Weinberger and Yeshey Dorji signing the document

29 May, 2008 - The Austrian government has committed 2.15 million euros to Bhutan within the bilateral program for this year.

Pasakha plagued by transportation problems

Buses stranded on one side of the Singhi bridge that was closed to heavy vehicles a month ago

29 May, 2008 - The movement of heavy vehicles to and fro the industrial estate of Pasakha has once again become erratic with the Singhi river rising to dangerous levels.

Beer going down the tube

29 May, 2008 - Around 1,500 cases of expired Golden Eagle, Haywards 5000, Pils and Royal Challenge beer brands are being dumped at the Phuentsholing city corporation waste disposal site at Pasakha.
According to the customs officials on duty, dumping started on May 24, with six workers who dump about 400 cases a day.
A sales tax of Nu 99 is levied on every case of bottled beer and Nu 190 on each carton of canned beer.

Local artisans under import threat

Kinzang Tobgay: Will his craft prove to be a commercial success?

28 May, 2008 - The beating of a dozen hammers does not distract 19-year old Kinzang Tobgay. A hammer and a chisel in hand, the third year student of the Zorig Chusum institute in Thimphu is fully engrossed in his carving - a mouse drawn on a wooden block.

Bhutan Observer

The Bhutan Goenpa – reaching out to all
Legend has it that three decades ago, a renowned administrator from India visited Phuentsholing. The administrator did not have any children as his wife was unable to conceive. He was advised by the late Gyelyum Phuntsho Choden to offer prayers at the Phuntsho Choeling Goenpa at Kharbandi. He did and nine months later, his wife […]

Do you think MP’s sitting fees should be waived?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Culture club: is Bhutanese heritage alive?
After sitting in on meetings at the Centre for Bhutan Studies, and many a school debate, I noticed one recurring theme over and over again. Even on BBS, these debates are televised. I just wonder how deep a thought has gone into the subject. The subject I am addressing, which is constantly debated, is the […]

Bollywood does get to you
As a little kid growing up in Phuentsholing, I probably saw more Indians than Bhutanese. They were everywhere. The milkman with the aluminium pot and kettle was Indian; the man who sweetened my tooth with cotton candy was an Indian. I went to school and was taught by teachers from India.
And then the Indian movies […]

Back in school wearing a smile and a kira
Observer’s Jurmi Chhowing follows up on the Geisha of Purple Lounge and finds a transformed young student who wants to continue her education.
It’s been about two weeks since Dechen Seldon, “The Geisha of Purple Lounge,” was reinstated back in school. She now attends Shari HSS, in a kira. I’m back in Paro looking for her. […]

‘Ginseg’ conducted in Taksang
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche  conducted a 10-day Fire ‘Ginseg’ Puja for the conclusion of the Vajrakilaya retreat in Taksang with about 150 devotees from across the country.

Follow the money
On the 15th of May, the Government of India approved a total fund of Nu 2610.14 crores for the extended ninth plan. The fund was meant for Indian Companies to participate in major projects and strengthen goodwill for India in Bhutan. The package assistance under ‘Aid to Bhutan’ was provided by the Ministry of External […]

Policeman’s leg crushed
A Paro policeman, whose leg was crushed by a jeep driver in a fit of rage on May 10, was amputated twice at the JDWNR Hospital. The driver, Daza, a Paro based businessman, was detained after the incident.
The incident occurred on Saturday night after 2 am, when Gopa Dorji and colleagues were on patrol at […]

Enforcing the law brutally?
The law is clearly defined on paper but what about its enforcement?
Is there too much force used by the enforcers, defying the written law itself? The issue is about police brutality.
There is no denying that it happens nationwide but such cases have always been kept out of the media. Not anymore.
People are now coming forward […]

Uniform signboards out
Uniform signboards are out even as the Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) is still confused about the issue and file-searching for the notification issued sometime in 2005.
The draconian rule was buried by the Minister of MOWHS, LyonpoYeshi Zimba, in a meeting held with TCC officials last week. There will be no Nu.1, 000 penalty a day […]

International Sources

A look at some of world’s remaining monarchies - Salon
— Bahrain, constitutional monarchy: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. — Bhutan, constitutional monarchy: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Elections in March ended the country’s absolute monarchy, with the king ceding most of his powers …

A look at some of world’s remaining monarchies - FOX News
_ Bahrain, constitutional monarchy: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. _ Bhutan, constitutional monarchy: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Elections in March ended the country’s absolute monarchy, with the king ceding most of his powers. _ Brunei …

Bhutanese dance to Indian Ocean’s tunes - Screen India
They went, they performed and the Bhutanese went frenzy. Fusion band Indian Ocean’s debut act in the Himalayan country attracted an impressive audience that swayed and hummed and was literally drenched. The concert was organised by the Indian Embassy …

Nepal’s lawmakers abolish country’s monarchy - Everett Herald
KATMANDU, Nepal — Nepal’s lawmakers have abolished the monarchy and declared the country a republic, ending 239 years of royal rule in the Himalayan nation. The newly elected assembly adopted the resolution at its first meeting Wednesday by an …

Blog Central - Tri-City Herald
Nepal ended 239 years of royal rule on Wednesday. The last time a monarchy was abolished was in May 2007 when Samoa’s king died. Some of the world’s remaining ruling monarchies: - Bahrain, constitutional monarchy: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa …

Buddhist paintings, sculpture from Bhutan featured in rare exhibit - Ashland Daily Tidings
HONOLULU — Assistant curator John Johnston scaled steep cliffs for seven hours to reach a bronze sculpture of a Buddha at a small Himalayan monastery 13,000 feet above sea level. And where there was no trail, he and two companions grabbed trees to …

BHUTANESE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF THEIR NEW PARLIAMENT - Inter Press Service
APRIL 2008 (IPS) - Expectations are high among the people of Bhutan for the new government to deliver on its promises, especially once the new constitution is adopted in early May when the parliament convenes, writes Francoise Pommaret, Bhutan’s …

Local artisans under import threat - Kuensel Online
28 May, 2008 - The beating of a dozen hammers does not distract 19-year old Kinzang Tobgay. A hammer and a chisel in hand, the third year student of the Zorig Chusum institute in Thimphu is fully engrossed in his carving - a mouse drawn on a wooden …

Constitution to be tabled on Thursday - Kuensel Online
28 May, 2008 - “On 17 December 1907, the whole body of the lamas, the state councillors, the chillahs of different districts, and representatives of the people met at Punakha, and unanimously elected King Ugyen Wangchuck as the hereditary king of …

Politics and polemics in Nepal - New Nation
Nepal looks set for a new historical phase in its existence as a Himalayan nation, an under-developed country sandwiched between China and India. Ahead of the scheduled first national Assembly meet on 28 May, Nepalese authorities have banned rallies …

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Local artisans under import threat

Kinzang Tobgay: Will his craft prove to be a commercial success?

28 May, 2008 - The beating of a dozen hammers does not distract 19-year old Kinzang Tobgay. A hammer and a chisel in hand, the third year student of the Zorig Chusum institute in Thimphu is fully engrossed in his carving - a mouse drawn on a wooden block.

Constitution to be tabled on Thursday

28 May, 2008 - “On 17 December 1907, the whole body of the lamas, the state councillors, the chillahs of different districts, and representatives of the people met at Punakha, and unanimously elected King Ugyen Wangchuck as the hereditary king of Bhutan. All declared their allegiance to serve him and his heirs loyally and faithfully to the best of their ability.”

Report questions runway quality

Pebbles coming off the runway

28 May, 2008 - A recent inspection of the Nu 130 million newly-paved Paro airport runway by the department of civil aviation (DCA) found that it was lacking quality in many areas.

Indian Idol blown away by Bhutanese reception

28 May, 2008 - The show kicked off three hours late. Most chairs were empty. Tickets were expensive and one of the performers, Charu, missed her flight.

Lhuentse’s Little Leap Forward

Lhuentse has not changed in decades

27 May, 2008 - The face of Lhuentse town is up for a major overhaul.

Replacing the cluster of small shacks, built of planks and tin sheets, which has made up the district’s urban centre for decades, will be permanent structures, an internal road network, proper drainage, adequate water supply and street lighting.

Parliament apparel

26 May, 2008 - One recent occasion that showcased the best of Bhutan’s rich weaving traditions was the opening day of the joint session of the new parliament.

Bhutan Observer

The Bhutan Goenpa – reaching out to all
Legend has it that three decades ago, a renowned administrator from India visited Phuentsholing. The administrator did not have any children as his wife was unable to conceive. He was advised by the late Gyelyum Phuntsho Choden to offer prayers at the Phuntsho Choeling Goenpa at Kharbandi. He did and nine months later, his wife […]

Do you think MP’s sitting fees should be waived?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Culture club: is Bhutanese heritage alive?
After sitting in on meetings at the Centre for Bhutan Studies, and many a school debate, I noticed one recurring theme over and over again. Even on BBS, these debates are televised. I just wonder how deep a thought has gone into the subject. The subject I am addressing, which is constantly debated, is the […]

Bollywood does get to you
As a little kid growing up in Phuentsholing, I probably saw more Indians than Bhutanese. They were everywhere. The milkman with the aluminium pot and kettle was Indian; the man who sweetened my tooth with cotton candy was an Indian. I went to school and was taught by teachers from India.
And then the Indian movies […]

Back in school wearing a smile and a kira
Observer’s Jurmi Chhowing follows up on the Geisha of Purple Lounge and finds a transformed young student who wants to continue her education.
It’s been about two weeks since Dechen Seldon, “The Geisha of Purple Lounge,” was reinstated back in school. She now attends Shari HSS, in a kira. I’m back in Paro looking for her. […]

‘Ginseg’ conducted in Taksang
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche  conducted a 10-day Fire ‘Ginseg’ Puja for the conclusion of the Vajrakilaya retreat in Taksang with about 150 devotees from across the country.

Follow the money
On the 15th of May, the Government of India approved a total fund of Nu 2610.14 crores for the extended ninth plan. The fund was meant for Indian Companies to participate in major projects and strengthen goodwill for India in Bhutan. The package assistance under ‘Aid to Bhutan’ was provided by the Ministry of External […]

Policeman’s leg crushed
A Paro policeman, whose leg was crushed by a jeep driver in a fit of rage on May 10, was amputated twice at the JDWNR Hospital. The driver, Daza, a Paro based businessman, was detained after the incident.
The incident occurred on Saturday night after 2 am, when Gopa Dorji and colleagues were on patrol at […]

Enforcing the law brutally?
The law is clearly defined on paper but what about its enforcement?
Is there too much force used by the enforcers, defying the written law itself? The issue is about police brutality.
There is no denying that it happens nationwide but such cases have always been kept out of the media. Not anymore.
People are now coming forward […]

Uniform signboards out
Uniform signboards are out even as the Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) is still confused about the issue and file-searching for the notification issued sometime in 2005.
The draconian rule was buried by the Minister of MOWHS, LyonpoYeshi Zimba, in a meeting held with TCC officials last week. There will be no Nu.1, 000 penalty a day […]

International Sources

BHUTANESE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF THEIR NEW PARLIAMENT - Inter Press Service
APRIL 2008 (IPS) - Expectations are high among the people of Bhutan for the new government to deliver on its promises, especially once the new constitution is adopted in early May when the parliament convenes, writes Francoise Pommaret, Bhutan’s …

Forex Converter - Economic Times
Currency you want to convert from Afghanistan Afghani Albanian Lek Algerian Dinar Andorran Franc Andorran Peseta Angolan Kwanza Angolan New Kwanza Argentine Peso Armenian Dram Aruban Florin Australian Dollar Austrian Schilling Azerbaijani Manat …

Hotels to be rated with stars - Kuensel Online
26 May, 2008 - Hotels in the country will soon graded on a star rating, based on a new classification system introduced by the tourism council of Bhutan (TCB), which will replace the existing lettering system. “The proposed system incorporates all …

Register » - Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Comment on stories on this website and on all other Johnston Press newspaper websites. See a list of our websites here. Set up a personalised homepage featuring content from any Johnston Press newspaper website or from any site with a RSS feed …

Colombian rebels say leader dies of heart attack - Seattle Post Intelligencer
Foto de archivo de Manuel Marulanda, alias Tirofijo y máximo líder de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), que murió en marzo de un paro cardíaco, según informó el grupo guerrillero el domingo 25 de mayo de 2008.(AP foto …

While India sleeps, Chinese threat grows - Rediff
N ew Delhi’s portrayal of the humiliating defeat at the hands of Chinese in 1962 as ‘betrayal’ and ’surprise’ is untrue. The pacifist Indian leadership that was crying hoarse from rooftops for friendship at any cost remained blind to Communist China …

Caution urged as B.C. Typhoid cases soar - Vancouver Sun
The incidence of typhoid and paratyphoid fever is on pace to shatter all previous records, with 44 cases diagnosed so far in B.C. this year. Nearly all are in the Fraser health region among Indo-Canadians who picked up the disease while visiting …

FACTBOX-Plastic not fantastic? — bag bans around the world - Reuters AlertNet
May 27 (Reuters) — China will become the latest country to outlaw ultra-thin plastic bags, when a ban takes effect on Sunday, in a bid to cut pollution and save resources. The ban, announced by the State Council in January, halts the production of …

Smoking and Your Social Network - Health and Age.com
Over the past 30 years, the prevalence of smoking in the United States has decreased substantially. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, quitting smoking is heavily influenced by spouses and friends Using a densely …

Police crackdown on chorten robbers - Kuensel Online
26 May, 2008 - The royal Bhutan police (RBP) have stepped up its hunt for chorten robbers, following a crackdown on what they describe as one of the most brutal desecration cases at Shera Drangu lhakhang in Paro on February 17. On May 16, the …

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Lhuentse’s Little Leap Forward

Lhuentse has not changed in decades

27 May, 2008 - The face of Lhuentse town is up for a major overhaul.

Replacing the cluster of small shacks, built of planks and tin sheets, which has made up the district’s urban centre for decades, will be permanent structures, an internal road network, proper drainage, adequate water supply and street lighting.

Parliament apparel

26 May, 2008 - One recent occasion that showcased the best of Bhutan’s rich weaving traditions was the opening day of the joint session of the new parliament.

.

26 May, 2008 -
Picture story: Students in Paro waiting to welcome the Indian prime minster Manmohan Singh on May 16. Students from all government schools lined the Paro-Thimphu highway with flags .

Make your own travel scrabble!

Materials

Old bottle tops – 100 beer or cola caps, with some spares
Patterned fabric – 50×50 cm
Plain light coloured fabric – 50×50 cm
Any other fabric scrap - 20×20 cm (of a light duty material)
White paint – any white paint
Small pot paint or permanent marker – black or any dark colour
Fabric paint – small pot in at least 2 colours
Paint brushes – small
Paint thinner, nail polish remover
String, old shoelaces, 2 bits – one 30cm long, one 50cm long
Sewing cotton/thread and needle
Scissors

Positively Disciplining children

26 May, 2008 - In the process of learning and becoming independent, children explore, experiment, and test the limits. This often results in behaviour that frustrates and challenges parents. It is the parent’s job to be role models of good behaviour and teach children how to behave in a positive way.

Ten question

26 May, 2008 - Karsang, 35, from Ngatshang Ugyenste, Samtse has been a taxi driver for six years now. He shares his thoughts on his life with City Bytes.

1. How did you become a taxi driver?
I thought I’d make a living by being a taxi driver.

Tales from the storm

Pema Yangki with her children at her home

26 May, 2008 - On the night of April 12, Pema Yangki, 25, and her family had retired for the night in their one-roomed bamboo hut in Lhakhangzor in Moshi, about 95 km south of Trashigang town. While her two children dozed off to sleep, Pema Yangki and her husband remained awake, engrossed in a conversation.

Bhutan Observer

The Bhutan Goenpa – reaching out to all
Legend has it that three decades ago, a renowned administrator from India visited Phuentsholing. The administrator did not have any children as his wife was unable to conceive. He was advised by the late Gyelyum Phuntsho Choden to offer prayers at the Phuntsho Choeling Goenpa at Kharbandi. He did and nine months later, his wife […]

Do you think MP’s sitting fees should be waived?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Culture club: is Bhutanese heritage alive?
After sitting in on meetings at the Centre for Bhutan Studies, and many a school debate, I noticed one recurring theme over and over again. Even on BBS, these debates are televised. I just wonder how deep a thought has gone into the subject. The subject I am addressing, which is constantly debated, is the […]

Bollywood does get to you
As a little kid growing up in Phuentsholing, I probably saw more Indians than Bhutanese. They were everywhere. The milkman with the aluminium pot and kettle was Indian; the man who sweetened my tooth with cotton candy was an Indian. I went to school and was taught by teachers from India.
And then the Indian movies […]

Back in school wearing a smile and a kira
Observer’s Jurmi Chhowing follows up on the Geisha of Purple Lounge and finds a transformed young student who wants to continue her education.
It’s been about two weeks since Dechen Seldon, “The Geisha of Purple Lounge,” was reinstated back in school. She now attends Shari HSS, in a kira. I’m back in Paro looking for her. […]

‘Ginseg’ conducted in Taksang
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche  conducted a 10-day Fire ‘Ginseg’ Puja for the conclusion of the Vajrakilaya retreat in Taksang with about 150 devotees from across the country.

Follow the money
On the 15th of May, the Government of India approved a total fund of Nu 2610.14 crores for the extended ninth plan. The fund was meant for Indian Companies to participate in major projects and strengthen goodwill for India in Bhutan. The package assistance under ‘Aid to Bhutan’ was provided by the Ministry of External […]

Policeman’s leg crushed
A Paro policeman, whose leg was crushed by a jeep driver in a fit of rage on May 10, was amputated twice at the JDWNR Hospital. The driver, Daza, a Paro based businessman, was detained after the incident.
The incident occurred on Saturday night after 2 am, when Gopa Dorji and colleagues were on patrol at […]

Enforcing the law brutally?
The law is clearly defined on paper but what about its enforcement?
Is there too much force used by the enforcers, defying the written law itself? The issue is about police brutality.
There is no denying that it happens nationwide but such cases have always been kept out of the media. Not anymore.
People are now coming forward […]

Uniform signboards out
Uniform signboards are out even as the Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) is still confused about the issue and file-searching for the notification issued sometime in 2005.
The draconian rule was buried by the Minister of MOWHS, LyonpoYeshi Zimba, in a meeting held with TCC officials last week. There will be no Nu.1, 000 penalty a day […]

International Sources

Bhutanese parliamentarians appreciate Indian prime minister - Kuensel Online
22 May, 2008 - As the joint sitting of the National Assembly resumed on Tuesday, members of parliament expressed their gratitude to the Indian government and the prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, who addressed the joint sitting on Saturday and …

Hotels to be rated with stars - Kuensel Online
26 May, 2008 - Hotels in the country will soon graded on a star rating, based on a new classification system introduced by the tourism council of Bhutan (TCB), which will replace the existing lettering system. “The proposed system incorporates all …

BFF name 20-member final squad for SAFF Championship: Bangladesh team … - New Nation
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Monday announced a 20-member final squad for the 5th SAFF Championship to be held June 3-14 with Sri Lanka and the Maldives as co-hosts. Custodian Aminul Haque has been named the captain of Bangladesh team …

Nepal’s first Roman Catholic priest visits here - Sierra Vista Herald
SIERRA VISTA — He may be unique in his homeland of Nepal, but the Rev. Silas Bogati envisions an increase in native Nepalese becoming Roman Catholic priests like himself. In a nation of more than 27 million people, about 7,000 are Catholics. The 43 …

Humanitas: Images of India by Fredric Roberts - Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
Roberts pictures various people from India, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bhutan, Thailand, and China as they go about their lives selling water or herding camels. Simultaneously, this exhibition illuminates the quiet corners that often don’t have witnesses …

Colombian rebels say leader dies of heart attack - Seattle Post Intelligencer
Foto de archivo de Manuel Marulanda, alias Tirofijo y máximo líder de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), que murió en marzo de un paro cardíaco, según informó el grupo guerrillero el domingo 25 de mayo de 2008.(AP foto …

Monday, June 2 - PR Inside
Today is Monday, June 2, the 154th day of 2008. There are 212 days left in the year. Highlights in history on this date 637 BC - Arab Muslim army vanquishes Persians at battle of Al-Qadisiyya, opening Persia to Arab conquest. 1815 - Napoleon …

Register » - Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Comment on stories on this website and on all other Johnston Press newspaper websites. See a list of our websites here. Set up a personalised homepage featuring content from any Johnston Press newspaper website or from any site with a RSS feed …

Cincinnati project: Many needs served - El Paso Times
Developing the Cincinnati Avenue entertainment district is a cooperative project that should result in multi-faceted positives. It’s the nightclub hub of the West Side that abuts the University of Texas at El Paso campus. A joint city/UTEP plan calls …

India’s inflation rate may be revised to 10 pc - Daily Pioneer
India’s inflation rate may be revised to 10 per cent from the latest estimate of 7.82 per cent as data for prices of different commodities is updated, London-based publication The Economist has said. “Delays in data collection in India can mean big …

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Parliament apparel

26 May, 2008 - One recent occasion that showcased the best of Bhutan’s rich weaving traditions was the opening day of the joint session of the new parliament.

.

26 May, 2008 -
Picture story: Students in Paro waiting to welcome the Indian prime minster Manmohan Singh on May 16. Students from all government schools lined the Paro-Thimphu highway with flags .

Make your own travel scrabble!

Materials

Old bottle tops – 100 beer or cola caps, with some spares
Patterned fabric – 50×50 cm
Plain light coloured fabric – 50×50 cm
Any other fabric scrap - 20×20 cm (of a light duty material)
White paint – any white paint
Small pot paint or permanent marker – black or any dark colour
Fabric paint – small pot in at least 2 colours
Paint brushes – small
Paint thinner, nail polish remover
String, old shoelaces, 2 bits – one 30cm long, one 50cm long
Sewing cotton/thread and needle
Scissors

Positively Disciplining children

26 May, 2008 - In the process of learning and becoming independent, children explore, experiment, and test the limits. This often results in behaviour that frustrates and challenges parents. It is the parent’s job to be role models of good behaviour and teach children how to behave in a positive way.

Ten question

26 May, 2008 - Karsang, 35, from Ngatshang Ugyenste, Samtse has been a taxi driver for six years now. He shares his thoughts on his life with City Bytes.

1. How did you become a taxi driver?
I thought I’d make a living by being a taxi driver.

Tales from the storm

Pema Yangki with her children at her home

26 May, 2008 - On the night of April 12, Pema Yangki, 25, and her family had retired for the night in their one-roomed bamboo hut in Lhakhangzor in Moshi, about 95 km south of Trashigang town. While her two children dozed off to sleep, Pema Yangki and her husband remained awake, engrossed in a conversation.

Bhutan Observer

The Bhutan Goenpa – reaching out to all
Legend has it that three decades ago, a renowned administrator from India visited Phuentsholing. The administrator did not have any children as his wife was unable to conceive. He was advised by the late Gyelyum Phuntsho Choden to offer prayers at the Phuntsho Choeling Goenpa at Kharbandi. He did and nine months later, his wife […]

Do you think MP’s sitting fees should be waived?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Culture club: is Bhutanese heritage alive?
After sitting in on meetings at the Centre for Bhutan Studies, and many a school debate, I noticed one recurring theme over and over again. Even on BBS, these debates are televised. I just wonder how deep a thought has gone into the subject. The subject I am addressing, which is constantly debated, is the […]

Bollywood does get to you
As a little kid growing up in Phuentsholing, I probably saw more Indians than Bhutanese. They were everywhere. The milkman with the aluminium pot and kettle was Indian; the man who sweetened my tooth with cotton candy was an Indian. I went to school and was taught by teachers from India.
And then the Indian movies […]

Back in school wearing a smile and a kira
Observer’s Jurmi Chhowing follows up on the Geisha of Purple Lounge and finds a transformed young student who wants to continue her education.
It’s been about two weeks since Dechen Seldon, “The Geisha of Purple Lounge,” was reinstated back in school. She now attends Shari HSS, in a kira. I’m back in Paro looking for her. […]

‘Ginseg’ conducted in Taksang
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche  conducted a 10-day Fire ‘Ginseg’ Puja for the conclusion of the Vajrakilaya retreat in Taksang with about 150 devotees from across the country.

Follow the money
On the 15th of May, the Government of India approved a total fund of Nu 2610.14 crores for the extended ninth plan. The fund was meant for Indian Companies to participate in major projects and strengthen goodwill for India in Bhutan. The package assistance under ‘Aid to Bhutan’ was provided by the Ministry of External […]

Policeman’s leg crushed
A Paro policeman, whose leg was crushed by a jeep driver in a fit of rage on May 10, was amputated twice at the JDWNR Hospital. The driver, Daza, a Paro based businessman, was detained after the incident.
The incident occurred on Saturday night after 2 am, when Gopa Dorji and colleagues were on patrol at […]

Enforcing the law brutally?
The law is clearly defined on paper but what about its enforcement?
Is there too much force used by the enforcers, defying the written law itself? The issue is about police brutality.
There is no denying that it happens nationwide but such cases have always been kept out of the media. Not anymore.
People are now coming forward […]

Uniform signboards out
Uniform signboards are out even as the Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) is still confused about the issue and file-searching for the notification issued sometime in 2005.
The draconian rule was buried by the Minister of MOWHS, LyonpoYeshi Zimba, in a meeting held with TCC officials last week. There will be no Nu.1, 000 penalty a day […]

International Sources

Rare Bhutan art gets tour - AZCentral.com
HONOLULU - Assistant curator John Johnston scaled steep cliffs for seven hours to reach a bronze sculpture of a Buddha at a small Himalayan monastery 13,000 feet above sea level. And where there was no trail, he and two companions grabbed trees to …

Colombian rebels say leader dies of heart attack - Kansas City Star
Foto de archivo de Manuel Marulanda, alias Tirofijo y máximo líder de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), que murió en marzo de un paro cardíaco, según informó el grupo guerrillero el domingo 25 de mayo de 2008. Manuel …

Bhutanese parliamentarians appreciate Indian prime minister - Kuensel Online
22 May, 2008 - As the joint sitting of the National Assembly resumed on Tuesday, members of parliament expressed their gratitude to the Indian government and the prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, who addressed the joint sitting on Saturday and …

Tacoma, WA - - Tacoma News Tribune
Foto de archivo de Manuel Marulanda, alias Tirofijo y máximo líder de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), que murió en marzo de un paro cardíaco, según informó el grupo guerrillero el domingo 25 de mayo de 2008

Getting 10,000 MW under the belt - Kuensel Online
As part of this, the government is proposing to use Nu 40 billion of the Nu 100 billion committed by India for this purpose. A hydro power policy is also being framed that proposes to allow FDI, private sector, public sector and government to …

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State visits Nepal - Xinhua News Agency
KATHMANDU, May 24 (Xinhua) — The United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Evan A Feigenbaum arrived in Kathmandu Saturday on a three-day visit, said a press release from the U.S. Embassy. Feigenbaum plans …

Pakistani band Junoon plays in India’s Kashmir - Earthtimes
New Delhi - Thousands of people gathered on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar, the capital of India’s Jammu and Kashmir state, on Sunday for a performance by Pakistani band Junoon, news reports said. India and Pakistan have been locked in a …

India to press for changes in WTO proposals - Daily Pioneer
Determined to protect interest of its farmers and nascent industries, India will press for changes in the latest WTO proposals on agriculture and industrial goods as hard negotiations begin on Monday in Geneva on the much-delayed Doha Round. India …

Humanitas: Images of India by Fredric Roberts - Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
Roberts pictures various people from India, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bhutan, Thailand, and China as they go about their lives selling water or herding camels. Simultaneously, this exhibition illuminates the quiet corners that often don’t have witnesses …

RBI responsible for slowdown - Daily Pioneer
The tight monetary policy stance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has caused a decline in industrial growth, according to a study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). “The tight monetary policy stance taken by the …

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

 Punatsangchu: Possible dam relocation

25 May, 2008 - In what may be a major change to the 1095 MW Punatsangchu I project, the Punatsangchu hydroelectricity project authority (PHPA) has proposed a new dam location, that will be stabler and generate more power.

Elephants damage crops in Sipsu

25 May, 2008 - Even as this article was being written late last evening, a group of six elephants entered a maize field in lower Hungay, Sipsu, as farmers helplessly watched from a safe distance. It was raining heavily.

Indian Ocean makes waves

25 May, 2008 - The Thimphu crowd immersed into the Indian Ocean as the fusion music band hurled waves of sensational music towards the enthralled crowd.

Retiring to Gelephu

Dasho Dujay with his wife and his 107-year-old mother-in-law

23 May, 2008 - Had it not been for the troubled situation in the neighbouring Indian state of Assam and the southern problem of the 1990s, Gelephu town might have grown to become a major commercial centre.

The Gangola shed is green for go

A retail outlet for fresh farm produce

23 May, 2008 - It is a bright sunny morning in Wangbari village in Chali gewog, Mongar and farmer Pema Yangdon, 50, emerges from her house, carrying on her back a cane basket filled with fresh beans and coriander leaves.

Lhuentse’s labour of love

The jangchub chorten to be ready by June end

23 May, 2008 - Lhuentse dzongkhag, ancestral home of the monarchs, is building a 29 by 58 foot jangchub chorten (stupa) near the dzong to commemorate the centenary celebrations.

Bhutan Observer

Culture club: is Bhutanese heritage alive?
After sitting in on meetings at the Centre for Bhutan Studies, and many a school debate, I noticed one recurring theme over and over again. Even on BBS, these debates are televised. I just wonder how deep a thought has gone into the subject. The subject I am addressing, which is constantly debated, is the […]

Bollywood does get to you
As a little kid growing up in Phuentsholing, I probably saw more Indians than Bhutanese. They were everywhere. The milkman with the aluminium pot and kettle was Indian; the man who sweetened my tooth with cotton candy was an Indian. I went to school and was taught by teachers from India.
And then the Indian movies […]

Back in school wearing a smile and a kira
Observer’s Jurmi Chhowing follows up on the Geisha of Purple Lounge and finds a transformed young student who wants to continue her education.
It’s been about two weeks since Dechen Seldon, “The Geisha of Purple Lounge,” was reinstated back in school. She now attends Shari HSS, in a kira. I’m back in Paro looking for her. […]

‘Ginseg’ conducted in Taksang
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche  conducted a 10-day Fire ‘Ginseg’ Puja for the conclusion of the Vajrakilaya retreat in Taksang with about 150 devotees from across the country.

Follow the money
On the 15th of May, the Government of India approved a total fund of Nu 2610.14 crores for the extended ninth plan. The fund was meant for Indian Companies to participate in major projects and strengthen goodwill for India in Bhutan. The package assistance under ‘Aid to Bhutan’ was provided by the Ministry of External […]

Policeman’s leg crushed
A Paro policeman, whose leg was crushed by a jeep driver in a fit of rage on May 10, was amputated twice at the JDWNR Hospital. The driver, Daza, a Paro based businessman, was detained after the incident.
The incident occurred on Saturday night after 2 am, when Gopa Dorji and colleagues were on patrol at […]

Enforcing the law brutally?
The law is clearly defined on paper but what about its enforcement?
Is there too much force used by the enforcers, defying the written law itself? The issue is about police brutality.
There is no denying that it happens nationwide but such cases have always been kept out of the media. Not anymore.
People are now coming forward […]

Uniform signboards out
Uniform signboards are out even as the Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) is still confused about the issue and file-searching for the notification issued sometime in 2005.
The draconian rule was buried by the Minister of MOWHS, LyonpoYeshi Zimba, in a meeting held with TCC officials last week. There will be no Nu.1, 000 penalty a day […]

Make IT accessible to all
Many people with eyesight problems are now able to enjoy a wealth of information because of the growth of the “worldwide web.” With the help of software programmes like JAWS (Job Access With Speech), even completely blind people can use the internet. However, the web pages should be written in a compatible format to make […]

Disabled but happy
Life is always challenging for people with physical disabilities. There are, however, those who not only overcome the challenges but inspire others to live a productive and normal life.
Disability is particularly harsh on people living in remote villages. Yet some get on with indefatigable courage. Chhoejay Wangdi, 60, from Denchi village in Shumar gewog in […]

International Sources

Rare Bhutan art gets tour - AZCentral.com
HONOLULU - Assistant curator John Johnston scaled steep cliffs for seven hours to reach a bronze sculpture of a Buddha at a small Himalayan monastery 13,000 feet above sea level. And where there was no trail, he and two companions grabbed trees to …

Rare exhibit of Bhutan art - PR Inside
HONOLULU (AP) - Assistant curator John Johnston scaled steep cliffs for seven hours to reach a bronze sculpture of a Buddha at a small Himalayan monastery 13,000 feet (3,962 meters) above sea level. And where there was no trail, he and two companions …

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State visits Nepal - Xinhua News Agency
KATHMANDU, May 24 (Xinhua) — The United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Evan A Feigenbaum arrived in Kathmandu Saturday on a three-day visit, said a press release from the U.S. Embassy. Feigenbaum plans …

JIM DODSON: Doing Her Bit to Rescue Earth - pilot.com
Gloria Williams is out to save the planet. You might not realize this if you met her, say, in line at the Harris Teeter or Lowes Foods. She’s an attractive, youthful grandmother from New Jersey with a quiet-spoken way about her that scarcely suggests …

Training on participatory approaches, Bhutan - IRC
In October and November 2007, IRC trained 20 engineers from the Public Health Engineering Division in Bhutan with the aim to contribute to the capacity development of the intermediate level in the country. The training was funded by NUFFIC under the …

The Dragon`s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan - Sify
Image: A gilded cast copper sculpture with cold gold pigments and turquoise shows the future Buddha Maitreya in this undated photo provided by the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Even in Bhutan, the public rarely gets chances to see the centuries-old …

Hull’s top flight delight - SkySports
Hull City reached England’s top tier for the first time in their 104-year history after a 1-0 Championship play-off final success over Bristol City. Tigers manager Phil Brown has already spoken of his hope that he will receive financial backing from …

Register » - Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Comment on stories on this website and on all other Johnston Press newspaper websites. See a list of our websites here. Set up a personalised homepage featuring content from any Johnston Press newspaper website or from any site with a RSS feed …

Sky Sports.com - SkySports
Get the Adobe Flash Player to view this content . Leagues & Competitions —– Premier League Championship Champions League Scottish Premier League One League Two Domestic Cups Internationals Euro 2008 UEFA Cup Primera Division Serie A …

Robotics pioneer Weisel dies in Fort Myers - News-Press
Walt Weisel, a robotics pioneer and chief executive officer of Paro Robots U.S., died Monday in Fort Myers. Weisel, 67, went to the hospital Monday because he wasn’t feeling well and suffered a heart attack, said Sandra Brooks, a 25-year …

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Retiring to Gelephu

Dasho Dujay with his wife and his 107-year-old mother-in-law

23 May, 2008 - Had it not been for the troubled situation in the neighbouring Indian state of Assam and the southern problem of the 1990s, Gelephu town might have grown to become a major commercial centre.

The Gangola shed is green for go

A retail outlet for fresh farm produce

23 May, 2008 - It is a bright sunny morning in Wangbari village in Chali gewog, Mongar and farmer Pema Yangdon, 50, emerges from her house, carrying on her back a cane basket filled with fresh beans and coriander leaves.

Lhuentse’s labour of love

The jangchub chorten to be ready by June end

23 May, 2008 - Lhuentse dzongkhag, ancestral home of the monarchs, is building a 29 by 58 foot jangchub chorten (stupa) near the dzong to commemorate the centenary celebrations.

By August they must
Workshop stakeholders nailed down to final deadline

The congested workshops in Changzamtog

22 May, 2008 - After missing two deadlines and raising controversy between landowners and workshop owners, the final relocation of Changzamtog automobile workshops to Olarongchu is now finalized for August.

How rachus are worn: The right way and wrong

Driglam namzha for the feminine gender

22 May, 2008 - It seems that there is still some confusion on the proper way of using the rachu. This became apparent when the BBSTV camera panned the audience gallery during its live broadcast of the ongoing joint session of Parliament this week.

Break down barriers, build up support

Communications minister Lyonpo Nandalal Rai meets with visually challenged participants in Thimphu on May 17, World telecommunication and information society day, which was observed with the theme “connecting people with disabilities”

22 May, 2008 - Accessibility is the key to ensure that people with challenges participate in society effectively. The government or key agencies must include accessibility in their developmental programmes to make this a reality.

Slump in mushroom export

Hands on training for would be farmers

22 May, 2008 - The export of matsutake mushroom, locally known as sangay shamu, has fallen drastically yearly since 2000.

Bhutan Observer

Culture club: is Bhutanese heritage alive?
After sitting in on meetings at the Centre for Bhutan Studies, and many a school debate, I noticed one recurring theme over and over again. Even on BBS, these debates are televised. I just wonder how deep a thought has gone into the subject. The subject I am addressing, which is constantly debated, is the […]

Bollywood does get to you
As a little kid growing up in Phuentsholing, I probably saw more Indians than Bhutanese. They were everywhere. The milkman with the aluminium pot and kettle was Indian; the man who sweetened my tooth with cotton candy was an Indian. I went to school and was taught by teachers from India.
And then the Indian movies […]

Back in school wearing a smile and a kira
Observer’s Jurmi Chhowing follows up on the Geisha of Purple Lounge and finds a transformed young student who wants to continue her education.
It’s been about two weeks since Dechen Seldon, “The Geisha of Purple Lounge,” was reinstated back in school. She now attends Shari HSS, in a kira. I’m back in Paro looking for her. […]

‘Ginseg’ conducted in Taksang
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche  conducted a 10-day Fire ‘Ginseg’ Puja for the conclusion of the Vajrakilaya retreat in Taksang with about 150 devotees from across the country.

Follow the money
On the 15th of May, the Government of India approved a total fund of Nu 2610.14 crores for the extended ninth plan. The fund was meant for Indian Companies to participate in major projects and strengthen goodwill for India in Bhutan. The package assistance under ‘Aid to Bhutan’ was provided by the Ministry of External […]

Policeman’s leg crushed
A Paro policeman, whose leg was crushed by a jeep driver in a fit of rage on May 10, was amputated twice at the JDWNR Hospital. The driver, Daza, a Paro based businessman, was detained after the incident.
The incident occurred on Saturday night after 2 am, when Gopa Dorji and colleagues were on patrol at […]

Enforcing the law brutally?
The law is clearly defined on paper but what about its enforcement?
Is there too much force used by the enforcers, defying the written law itself? The issue is about police brutality.
There is no denying that it happens nationwide but such cases have always been kept out of the media. Not anymore.
People are now coming forward […]

Uniform signboards out
Uniform signboards are out even as the Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) is still confused about the issue and file-searching for the notification issued sometime in 2005.
The draconian rule was buried by the Minister of MOWHS, LyonpoYeshi Zimba, in a meeting held with TCC officials last week. There will be no Nu.1, 000 penalty a day […]

Make IT accessible to all
Many people with eyesight problems are now able to enjoy a wealth of information because of the growth of the “worldwide web.” With the help of software programmes like JAWS (Job Access With Speech), even completely blind people can use the internet. However, the web pages should be written in a compatible format to make […]

Disabled but happy
Life is always challenging for people with physical disabilities. There are, however, those who not only overcome the challenges but inspire others to live a productive and normal life.
Disability is particularly harsh on people living in remote villages. Yet some get on with indefatigable courage. Chhoejay Wangdi, 60, from Denchi village in Shumar gewog in […]

International Sources

Rare Bhutan art gets tour - AZCentral.com
HONOLULU - Assistant curator John Johnston scaled steep cliffs for seven hours to reach a bronze sculpture of a Buddha at a small Himalayan monastery 13,000 feet above sea level. And where there was no trail, he and two companions grabbed trees to …

Rare exhibit of Bhutan art - International Herald Tribune
HONOLULU : Assistant curator John Johnston scaled steep cliffs for seven hours to reach a bronze sculpture of a Buddha at a small Himalayan monastery 13,000 feet (3,962 meters) above sea level. And where there was no trail, he and two companions …

The Dragon`s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan - Sify
Image: A gilded cast copper sculpture with cold gold pigments and turquoise shows the future Buddha Maitreya in this undated photo provided by the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Even in Bhutan, the public rarely gets chances to see the centuries-old …

Bhutanese parliamentarians appreciate Indian prime minister - Kuensel Online
22 May, 2008 - As the joint sitting of the National Assembly resumed on Tuesday, members of parliament expressed their gratitude to the Indian government and the prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, who addressed the joint sitting on Saturday and …

Bhutan welcomes Rs 100 billion Indian assistance programme - Zee News
Thimphu, May 22: Bhutan has welcomed the Rs 100 billion assistance pledged by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressing surprise and happiness over the “astronomical sum”. Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley said his government was “surprised and …

Bhutan welcomes Rs 100 bn Indian assistance - Business Standard
Bhutan has welcomed the Rs 100 billion assistance pledged by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressing surprise and happiness over the “astronomical sum”. Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley said his government was “surprised and very happy with …

Training on participatory approaches, Bhutan - IRC
In October and November 2007, IRC trained 20 engineers from the Public Health Engineering Division in Bhutan with the aim to contribute to the capacity development of the intermediate level in the country. The training was funded by NUFFIC under the …

Thimphu’s thirst outstrips supply - Kuensel Online
22 May, 2008 - Two gigantic water reservoirs hidden in the serene pine trees of upper Thimphu splash and gurgle as 20-year old, Sangay attends complaint calls of water supply inside his little hut. ‘The supply from the source hasn’t been stopped …

Holloway leaves Leicester - SkySports
Holloway quit Plymouth Argyle to move to Leicester in November but was unable to keep them in the Championship. Speculation has been rife that Foxes chairman Milan Mandaric would part company with Holloway, Leicester’s fifth manager of the campaign …

S P O R T S - Tribune
On the threshold of making it to the semifinals, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings will be keen to seal their berth among the last four as they take on Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League match here tomorrow. Australia …

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Retiring to Gelephu

Dasho Dujay with his wife and his 107-year-old mother-in-law

23 May, 2008 - Had it not been for the troubled situation in the neighbouring Indian state of Assam and the southern problem of the 1990s, Gelephu town might have grown to become a major commercial centre.

The Gangola shed is green for go

A retail outlet for fresh farm produce

23 May, 2008 - It is a bright sunny morning in Wangbari village in Chali gewog, Mongar and farmer Pema Yangdon, 50, emerges from her house, carrying on her back a cane basket filled with fresh beans and coriander leaves.

Lhuentse’s labour of love

The jangchub chorten to be ready by June end

23 May, 2008 - Lhuentse dzongkhag, ancestral home of the monarchs, is building a 29 by 58 foot jangchub chorten (stupa) near the dzong to commemorate the centenary celebrations.

By August they must
Workshop stakeholders nailed down to final deadline

The congested workshops in Changzamtog

22 May, 2008 - After missing two deadlines and raising controversy between landowners and workshop owners, the final relocation of Changzamtog automobile workshops to Olarongchu is now finalized for August.

How rachus are worn: The right way and wrong

Driglam namzha for the feminine gender

22 May, 2008 - It seems that there is still some confusion on the proper way of using the rachu. This became apparent when the BBSTV camera panned the audience gallery during its live broadcast of the ongoing joint session of Parliament this week.

Break down barriers, build up support

Communications minister Lyonpo Nandalal Rai meets with visually challenged participants in Thimphu on May 17, World telecommunication and information society day, which was observed with the theme “connecting people with disabilities”

22 May, 2008 - Accessibility is the key to ensure that people with challenges participate in society effectively. The government or key agencies must include accessibility in their developmental programmes to make this a reality.

Slump in mushroom export

Hands on training for would be farmers

22 May, 2008 - The export of matsutake mushroom, locally known as sangay shamu, has fallen drastically yearly since 2000.

Bhutan Observer

Culture club: is Bhutanese heritage alive?
After sitting in on meetings at the Centre for Bhutan Studies, and many a school debate, I noticed one recurring theme over and over again. Even on BBS, these debates are televised. I just wonder how deep a thought has gone into the subject. The subject I am addressing, which is constantly debated, is the […]

Bollywood does get to you
As a little kid growing up in Phuentsholing, I probably saw more Indians than Bhutanese. They were everywhere. The milkman with the aluminium pot and kettle was Indian; the man who sweetened my tooth with cotton candy was an Indian. I went to school and was taught by teachers from India.
And then the Indian movies […]

Back in school wearing a smile and a kira
Observer’s Jurmi Chhowing follows up on the Geisha of Purple Lounge and finds a transformed young student who wants to continue her education.
It’s been about two weeks since Dechen Seldon, “The Geisha of Purple Lounge,” was reinstated back in school. She now attends Shari HSS, in a kira. I’m back in Paro looking for her. […]

‘Ginseg’ conducted in Taksang
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche  conducted a 10-day Fire ‘Ginseg’ Puja for the conclusion of the Vajrakilaya retreat in Taksang with about 150 devotees from across the country.

Follow the money
On the 15th of May, the Government of India approved a total fund of Nu 2610.14 crores for the extended ninth plan. The fund was meant for Indian Companies to participate in major projects and strengthen goodwill for India in Bhutan. The package assistance under ‘Aid to Bhutan’ was provided by the Ministry of External […]

Policeman’s leg crushed
A Paro policeman, whose leg was crushed by a jeep driver in a fit of rage on May 10, was amputated twice at the JDWNR Hospital. The driver, Daza, a Paro based businessman, was detained after the incident.
The incident occurred on Saturday night after 2 am, when Gopa Dorji and colleagues were on patrol at […]

Enforcing the law brutally?
The law is clearly defined on paper but what about its enforcement?
Is there too much force used by the enforcers, defying the written law itself? The issue is about police brutality.
There is no denying that it happens nationwide but such cases have always been kept out of the media. Not anymore.
People are now coming forward […]

Uniform signboards out
Uniform signboards are out even as the Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) is still confused about the issue and file-searching for the notification issued sometime in 2005.
The draconian rule was buried by the Minister of MOWHS, LyonpoYeshi Zimba, in a meeting held with TCC officials last week. There will be no Nu.1, 000 penalty a day […]

Make IT accessible to all
Many people with eyesight problems are now able to enjoy a wealth of information because of the growth of the “worldwide web.” With the help of software programmes like JAWS (Job Access With Speech), even completely blind people can use the internet. However, the web pages should be written in a compatible format to make […]

Disabled but happy
Life is always challenging for people with physical disabilities. There are, however, those who not only overcome the challenges but inspire others to live a productive and normal life.
Disability is particularly harsh on people living in remote villages. Yet some get on with indefatigable courage. Chhoejay Wangdi, 60, from Denchi village in Shumar gewog in […]

HONOLULU: Assistant curator John Johnston scaled steep cliffs for seven hours to reach a bronze sculpture of a Buddha at a small Himalayan monastery 13,000 feet (3,962 meters) above sea level. And where there was no trail, he and two companions grabbed trees to pull themselves up the mountain.

The gilt bronze figure is now one of the key pieces in “The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan,” a rare display of centuries-old sculptures and paintings that have never before left the remote, mountainous kingdom.

Even in Bhutan, the public rarely gets to see the rich collection of work now showing at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The exhibit is due to travel to New York, San Francisco, Europe and possibly Singapore over the next two years.

Almost all the art is normally kept in active temples, monasteries and dzong — fortresslike buildings home to both monasteries and government offices. About a quarter of the items were gathered from far-flung monasteries and temples reachable only by hiking several hours from the nearest road.

“This is a compilation of the best Bhutan has,” said Eddie Jose, the Academy’s chief conservator for Asian paintings.

Read More…

The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan, one of the most highly anticipated exhibitions on Buddhist art in recent years, opens at the Honolulu Academy of Arts on February 26, 2008. More than 100 sacred items will be on view. All of the items are on loan from Bhutan, the vast majority are from active temples and monasteries. Monks accompany the exhibition and perform ceremonies to maintain the consecrated status of these sacred items. The Dragon’s Gift is an exceptionally rare opportunity to introduce some of the most sacred and beloved Buddhist objects in Bhutan to international audiences.

Visual expressions of Buddhism from Bhutan on view in the exhibition include painted and textile thangkas, sculptures, and ritual items. Works of art date from the 8th century to the 20th century, with especially strong examples of painting and sculpture from the 17th through the 19th centuries, a golden age in the Buddhist art of Bhutan. Works in The Dragon’s Gift were selected for outstanding aesthetic accomplishment and wide iconographic scope. Nearly all of the items in the exhibition required conservation. The Academy-led conservation program has already restored hundreds of works of art and is training a new generation of conservators, primarily monks charged with the responsibility of caring for sacred objects.

Buddhist ritual dances, or cham, are an important part of the exhibition and will be illustrated by works of art with dance content as well as video presented on high-resolution screens. An entire gallery within the exhibition explores the rich sacred dance traditions in Bhutan. The dance team has spent several years in Bhutan creating a digital archive that documents many hitherto unknown Buddhist dances. As with visual art, dance is both a spiritual practice in itself and a means of communicating Buddhist teachings.

Working together with the Department of Culture of the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Central Monastic Authority, the Honolulu Academy of Arts has been given unprecedented access to the sacred arts and dances of the country during an extensive five-year research program. We are honored and humbled to present the results of this work through the The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan.