Bhutan News archive for 15 November 2008

International Sources

Norway upsets China at Chess Olympiad – Washington Examiner
Nineteenth-seed Norway upset 3rd-seed China in round three of the 38th Chess Olympiad on Saturday, while top-ranked Russia rolled on by beating Cuba 3.5-0.5. Also in the third round of open division play, second-seed Ukraine edged Georgia 2.5-1.5. On …    [read more]

New King of Bhutan, Human Rights and Bhutanese Refugees – Newsblaze.com
In the establishment of the Bhutan, the major credits go to the Tibetan, Nepali speaking Bhutanese and Kuchbihari. The first Royal Dynasty of the Bhutan was the Namgyal who came to Bhutan as “Auatari Lama” from Tibet and laid the strong foundation of …    [read more]

Nepal snubs Bhutan over Jigme’s carnation – Hindustan Times
In an apparent snub to Bhutan, Nepal did not congratulate it’s neighbour over the three-day coronation ceremony of the Druk kingdoms new king Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk. The relations between the two neighbours are on low as Thimphu has not agreed …    [read more]

Nepal, Bhutanese refugees ask new king for end of exile – AsiaNews.IT
For more than 120,000 refugees, the coronation of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel brings new hope for a possible return home. Doubts and confusion remain about the decisions that the young new sovereign will make. Activists warn that the monarchy is at …    [read more]

Bhutan’s new king raises Asian eyebrows – Asia Times
KATHMANDU – In South Asia – a vast geographic region and the world’s most populous – it has been the area’s two smallest nations which have attracted the majority of recent media attention. Over the past week, the isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan …    [read more]

Bhutan King talks of change in first speech – Indian Express
Thimphu, November 7 : “Destiny has put me here. I will protect you as a parent, care for you as a brother and serve you as a son. I shall give you everything and keep nothing. This is how I shall serve you as King.” These were some of the most …    [read more]

Nepal snubs Bhutan over royal coronation – Thaindian.com
Kathmandu, Nov 9 (IANS) The new Himalayan republic of Nepal has snubbed its neighbour Bhutan over the much-acclaimed three-day coronation ceremony of the Druk kingdom’s new king Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk.Nepal, once a hereditary kingdom like …    [read more]

How to beat the financial blues, Bhutan style – SAWF News Connect
THIMPHU (AFP) – Then for repentant free-marketeers the world over, the small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan can suggest an alternative: focus not on the bottom line, but the size of your smile. ‘Gross National Happiness’, or GNH, is Buddhist Bhutan’s …    [read more]

Bhutan crowns new King in lavish ceremony – WELT ONLINE
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was crowned the new King of Bhutan on Thursday. The 28-year-old assumed the Raven Crown of Bhutan, making him the world’s youngest monarch, after his father introduced democracy to the Himalayan nation two years ago …    [read more]

Bhutan crowns a new King – Boston Globe
The United States was not the only country to name a new leader this week. In Bhutan, an insular nation of about 600,000 people located high in the Himalayas, a new king was crowned. 28-year-old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, an Oxford-educated …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Children of the Coronation

First girl child born at 3:50 am, Left: Third baby (male) born at 10:11 am

15 November, 2008 – Forest guard Ugyen Tshering missed the live TV broadcast of the sacred Crowning ceremony in the Throne room on November 6. But the father of a newborn baby will remember the day every year hereafter.    [read more]

“We rejoice with Bhutan”

15 November, 2008 – Ceremonies marked by solemnity, piety, and grace… celebrations full of colour and gaiety… people deeply rooted in a tradition and culture that quintessentially define Bhutan.    [read more]

A King for today… and tomorrow

His Majesty meets the public at the Changlimithnag stadium

15 November, 2008 – Empowered with the Dar Na-Nga, endowed with the Raven Crown, the Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck became an embodiment of the people as an unprecedented crowd took part in the Coronation celebrations.    [read more]

BIMSTEC moves forward for mutual benefit
The regional organisation
comes up with a more comprehensive and detailed role

15 November, 2008 – The second BIMSTEC summit on November 13 saw leaders from Bhutan, India, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh pledging to cooperate on several key issues affecting the region for mutual benefit.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

How satisfied are you with Bhutanese media on Coronation coverage?
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The People’s King
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Dog impounding doggone difficult
Yet another dzongkhag with a new dog pound is finding out that impounding dogs is no walk in the park. Livestock officials in Pemagatshel began a second round of impounding strays this week after about 50 dogs managed to escape from the pound by climbing over the wire mesh fencings.
“As soon as we learnt of [...]    [read more]

Gomtu all praises for SSB soldiers
The industrialists, businessmen and the public of Gomtu and Pugli say that the relationship they share with SSB soldiers (Seema Sashtriya Bal, one of the reserved paramilitary forces of the central government of India) is a shining example of the unique friendship that Bhutan shares with India.
A decade ago, the businessmen and villagers of Gomtu [...]    [read more]

A chhorten for the King
A five-storied replica of Bodhgaya chhorten is being constructed by Tshampa Karchung at Dubdey Pema Phendeling in Yangnyer Gewog, Trashigang. Karchung envisaged completing the construction on time to commemorate the coronation of His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo.
Even though the chhorten is yet to be completed, the gewog will perform rituals at the chhorten during the [...]    [read more]

Nuns miss none of the fun
Thirty seven anims (nuns) from Karma Drubdey Nunnery of Kuenga Rabten in Trongsa braved a freezing ride on a DCM truck they hired to reach Thimphu at midnight on November 4. They were anxious to get to the capital so that they could offer khadhar to His Majesty the King.
Their decision to travel two days [...]    [read more]

A “thousand butter lamps” light up Bidung
The remotest villages of Khairee, Gelong Gonpa and Solongonpa under Bidung Gewog were electrified coinciding with the coronation of His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo, well before the December-end deadline for completion. The electricity will benefit more than 300 people in 60 households.
The Khairee Tshogpa, Sherab, said, “Everyone worked hard to make our electrification coincide with [...]    [read more]

Thimphu’s mermaid
A 20-year-old girl has been visiting the new swimming pool in Thimphu everyday after the pool was open to the public.
The incredible thing about her going swimming every day is that she does around 80 lapses in two hours while most men give up after 30 lapses.
The length of the swimming pool is 25 meters [...]    [read more]

Sports association revives to celebration
The first compound bow Yangphel-style archery tournament to celebrate the coronation and centenary year in Chhukha Dzongkhag is underway in Tshimasham.
Starting October 26, a total of 14 teams have taken part in the tournament. At the end of the league round, 5 teams have been eliminated.
The tournament offers attractive prizes. The winning team members will [...]    [read more]

Phuentsholing loses out to Jaigaon
Retailers and shopkeepers in Phuentsholing are bearing the brunt of onslaught from business competitors in Jaigaon, India, at a time when the sale of mentse and khadar are booming in the run up to the coronation and centenary celebrations. Retailers in Phuentsholing say most customers prefer to buy goods from Jaigoan as the prices are [...]    [read more]