Bhutan cracks down on rebels ahead of first poll (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Bhutanese soldiers and police have launched a crackdown against ethnic Nepali rebels ahead of the tiny, isolated Himalayan nation’s first parliamentary elections this month, officials said on Wednesday.

‘Maoists killed’ by Bhutan police (BBC News)
Police in Bhutan say that they have killed at least five suspected Maoists in ongoing operations over the last week.

Bhutan cracks down on rebels ahead of polls (Gulf Times)
GUWAHATI, India: Bhutanese soldiers and police have launched a crackdown against ethnic Nepali rebels ahead of the tiny, isolated Himalayan nation’s first parliamentary elections this month, officials said yesterday.

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.

India may construct roads along Nepal, Bhutan borders (IANS via Yahoo! India News)
New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) The central government is mulling a proposal to construct roads along the Nepal and Bhutan borders to improve infrastructure and promote cross-border economic integration.

India may construct roads along Nepal, Bhutan borders (Calcutta News)
The central government is mulling a proposal to construct roads along the Nepal and Bhutan borders to improve infrastructure and promote cross-border economic integration.

Small stones, big block (Kuensel)
12 March, 2008 - An acute shortage of aggregate stones has led to a delay in and hike in the cost of almost all major road construction activities, worth in total around Nu 5 billion, like the Thimphu-Paro and Phuentsholing-Thimphu highways, and Thimphu road projects like Deubam, Gongphel and Norzin lams.

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.

Bhutan refugees leave Nepal for resettlement (AFP via Yahoo! News)
The first of more than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing in camps in southern Nepal for more than 15 years have begun to leave for overseas resettlement, officials said Monday.

Druk Air’s new look

13 March, 2008 - It’s no fault of your eyesight if, in the coming days, you find Druk Air’s female cabin crew more striking than usual.

They will be discarding the old uniform to be attired in a contemporary half cotton kira of pesar (new) design with a claret cotton-silk tego, that will not only complement the looks of the crew but also represent the spirit of the Bhutanese with a modern touch.

New millennium curriculum

13 March, 2008 - With holidays over and schools reopened, the air is once more filled with excitement, restless energy, tension and apprehension about turning a whole new page to your academic session.

Yes, the time of tuning yourself into a routine is back. Load of activities await teachers, parents and students weeks before the school reopens.

Eating your blues away
13 March, 2008 - When you eat with your eyes and not your stomach and when emotions begin to determine your eating habits rather than hunger, you should know that you’re suffering from emotional eating disorder.

Ten questions

Kuenzang Thinley, 23, from Laptshakha, Talo, Punakha, is working as a Dzongkha teacher at the Early Learning Centre for two years now. This is what he has to say on his life as a teacher.

1. Why did you become a teacher?
I was interested in teaching and to help my students grow into good citizens.

A road to Bardo-Trong — the path to power

NA ELECTIONS - ZHEMGANG 13 March, 2008 - For the rural voters of Zhemgang, the past few months have been a revelation of sorts. They had never known of Khengpas (people of Zhemgang), who served in the government or were today successful businessmen, or of those who had topped the school examinations from primary to high secondary school and went on to win scholarships to study abroad.

A Radhi decider?

PDP’s Dorji Pavo Phuntsho and DPT’s Jigme Tshultim: Contestants first, cousins second

NA ELECTIONS - TRASHIGANG 13 March, 2008 - It is known as the “rice bowl of east” and has been the envy of the entire dzongkhag. They have produced a minister and many notable senior officials, two of whom are contesting for a seat in the forthcoming National Assembly elections from the Radhi-Sakteng constituency.

Corporate government workshop for DHIL board members
13 March, 2008 - The basic problem with Bhutanese corporations, both public and joint sectors, has been the hesitation on the part of boards to exercise proper checks in the functioning of the managing directors, according to the chairman of the Druk Holding and Investments Ltd., Om Pradhan.

Deal done over Drametse-Narang farm road deadlock

The contentious construction’s sticking points resolved

13 March, 2008 - Work on the Drametse-Narang farm road in Mongar has resumed, bringing to an end a longstanding controversy that resulted in ongoing work being suspended twice.

Pneumonia heads child morbidity list
13 March, 2008 - Although it’s not considered the number one cause of child mortality, pneumonia tops the morbidity list among children between one month and one year in Thimphu, according to pediatricians at the Thimphu national referral hospital.

Baker breaks the egg ban

Contraband eggs before consignment to the biological pit

13 March, 2008 - The Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) slapped a fine of Nu 25,000 on a baker for attempting to illegally import 50 cartons of eggs through Bhutan Gate in Phuentsholing.

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