Bhutanese visit Montague (Narooma News)
TWO visiting government officials from the land-locked Himalayan country of Bhutan had an opportunity to take in some of the splendour of the far south coast on a trip to Montague Island over the weekend.

South Thimphu candidate appeals for time (Kuensel)
Update 12 January, 2008 - The Peoples’ Democratic Party candidate for South Thimphu, Sonam Tobgay Dorji, has appealed to the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) to give him some time to prove his innocence of the recent ECB allegations against him that he donated Nu 200,000 to a lhakhang in his constituency to garner votes.

Dollar drop - no big deal for Bhutan (Kuensel)
15 January, 2008 - The declining value of the dollar, which continued to slide against all other major currencies in 2007, was not a major concern for Bhutan, say officials of the Royal Monetary Authority, the country’s central bank.

From the Incas to the kewa datshi (Kuensel)
15 January, 2008 - From South America to India Potato had to travel from South America through India to Bhutan. Although at that time there were no legal barriers to the transfer of planting materials, the journey was not easy.

Bhutan to act tough on ‘misbehaving’ MPs (Hindustan Times)
With elections to Bhutan’s lower house still to be held, the Himalayan country has already issued a stern warning to its MPs-to-be, saying those found guilty of misbehaving when the National Assembly is in session will be dealt strictly with.

Bhutanese refugees to begin relocation in US (Gulf Times)
KATHMANDU: Thousands of Bhutanese refugees living in camps in eastern Nepal will begin to be resettled in the US in March under a third-country resettlement programme, media reports have said.

Saudi Arabia unbeaten (Bangkok Post)
Chiang Mai _ Saudi Arabia finished undefeated in the preliminary round of the ACC Under 19 Challenge Cup cricket tournament after beating Bhutan by 6 wickets 160 to 158, and Maldives continued their winning ways as they defeated China 168 to 134 yesterday.

In Bhutan, China and India collide (Asia Times)
As the world’s newest democracy, the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan has won praise around the world.

A Dramatic Royal Transformation Happening In Asia (Sin Chew Jit Poh)
A dramatic royal transformation is taking place throughout Asia. The latest political moves toward democracy in Bhutan and Nepal went two separate ways. Other monarchies try to remain relevant through succession and reinvention.

India battles bird flu, West Bengal asked to seal borders (New Kerala)
New Delhi/Kolkata, Jan 15 : India Tuesday confirmed an outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal and asked the state to seal its borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal as it mounted efforts on war footing to contain the spread of the disease.

Ten Questions
15 January, 2008 - Sonam Saru, 9, from Tsirang has been a member of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck public library for the past year. This is what she has to say about her reading habits.

1. Which school do you study in?
I study in Phuensum primary school.

Guess what? Bhutan Telecom just got customer-friendlier

15 January, 2008 - Take a break from long queues and even longer waits at the chock-a-block Bhutan Telecom counter to pay your bills or get a new mobile connection. Bhutan Telecom has taken that extra step to reach out to its customers.

Growing by the Book

15 January, 2008 - Her eyes quickly scan the pictures, then follow her fingers running along the text as ten-year-old Tenzin Choden, a class IV student at Jigmi Losel LSS, reads the fairy tale Thumbelina.

She became a member of the Thimphu Public Library a week ago and it has become her favourite way to spend time. “I read 12 fairy tales in two days,” she says and goes back to reading.

Dollar drop - no big deal for Bhutan
15 January, 2008 - The declining value of the dollar, which continued to slide against all other major currencies in 2007, was not a major concern for Bhutan, say officials of the Royal Monetary Authority, the country’s central bank.
“It doesn’t matter too much for us,” said the central bank’s managing director, Daw Tenzin.

Orange export boom

Mandarin means money for many

15 January, 2008 - Despite the drop in exchange value of the US dollar, the citrus mandarin or orange export business in Phuentsholing is still a success story so far.

The price of orange has not dropped below last year’s highest, US$ 9 average price for the two kinds of orange (keel and mill) since exports began on December 12, 2007.

Service centre yet to convince taxi-drivers
15 January, 2008 - More than a month after the Taxi Service Centre was established, the centre is finding it an uphill task to convince taxi drivers to become members.

Out of more than 1,000 taxis registered in the capital city, only 60 have registered with the centre so far.

From the Incas to the kewa datshi
PART II The potato is introduced to Bhutan, arguably, on the colonial coat-tail of George Bogle

The burden of plenty

15 January, 2008 -
From South America to India

Potato had to travel from South America through India to Bhutan. Although at that time there were no legal barriers to the transfer of planting materials, the journey was not easy. Tubers, the conventional planting material, would have been highly perishable. If carried as seed, the plants produced would have been highly variable, requiring repeated selection to get suitable material.

Treating thangkas with respect

Handle with care - Ann Shaftel brings anims up to speed

14 January, 2008 - If you thought rolling up your thangka
or kuthang (scroll painting) neat and tight to store it, you’ve
got another think coming.

Saving the strays

Memelakha: A dog-eat-dog world

14 January, 2008 - Dogs in Thimphu and especially puppies have a
good reason to be happy now. They have a new home with enough space to
run around, warm huts with straws and sacks to sleep on, enough food and
water and dedicated caretakers.

Good intentions, bad execution
Update 12 January, 2008 - Education officials admit that undue haste and the absence of preparation were the two main causes of problems in the implementation of the curriculum of Bhutan history in Dzongkha today.