International Sources
You can count on India, as a friend, Manmohan tells Bhutan – newindpress
THIMPU: Becoming the first world leader to address the Bhutan Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday strongly pitched for a South Asia that is “at peace with itself” and expressed India’s readiness to assist in making the region more …
PM returns home after Bhutan’s visit – Rediff
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] returned home on Saturday after a two-day visit to Bhutan . After a brief halt at Bagdogra, where he is scheduled to address a press conference, Dr Singh will leave for New Delhi . Earlier today, the Prime …
PM receives warm welcome in Bhutan – Hindustan Times
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday arrived on a two-day visit to Bhutan, becoming the first international leader to visit the Himalayan country since it entered the club of democratic nations in March. Singh received a warm reception at Paro …
Extra weekend, special rite to conclude ‘Bhutan’ – Honolulu Advertiser
After consulting with Lopon Ugyen Dorji, principal, of Pangrizampa Temple in Thimphu district and the foremost astrologer in Bhutan, the Honolulu Academy of Arts obtained permission to push back the closing from Friday to May 25.
PM pledges help for Bhutan’s development – Hindustan Times
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh landed in pristine Paro Valley on Friday, his first visit to a south Asian neighbour in four years. The trip comes 50 years after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, with daughter Indira in tow, reached the capital of the Himalayan …
PM brings goody bag to youngest democracy – Times of India
THIMPU: It was a meeting between the leaders of the world’s largest and the youngest democracies. PM Manmohan Singh met his just-elected counterpart from Bhutan, Jigme Y Thinley, seeking to deepen the ties between the neighbours by pledging …
We want to make South Asia secure: PM in Bhutan – Rediff
Becoming the first world leader to address the Bhutan Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] on Saturday strongly pitched for a South Asia that is “at peace with itself” and expressed India’s readiness to assist in making the region …
PM addresses Bhutan Parliament – Times of India
THIMPHU: Becoming the first world leader to address the Bhutan Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday strongly pitched for a South Asia that is “at peace with itself” and expressed India’s readiness to assist in making the region more …
Bhutan tigers invade snow leopard land – Zee News
Thimphu, May 18: Bhutan is the only country to have tigers at incredibly high altitudes and where their habitat is overlapping those of the elusive snow leopards, conservationists in the Himalayan country have claimed. Fresh pictures and pugmarks …
Bhutanese unsure of democracy’s outcome, but feel change is good – Gulf Times
THIMPU: Having relished their country’s isolation for years, not many Bhutanese are sure if the historic poll held in March, which transformed their quaint Himalayan nation from a kingdom to a democracy, is going to make a qualitative change in …
Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper
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17 May, 2008 – Addressing the joint session of the newly elected Bhutanese parliament today in Thimphu the prime minister
of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, committed Nu 100 billion for Bhutan’s 10th
Five Year Plan.
17 May, 2008 – For Bhutan it is of great significance that the prime minister of India is making a special visit to the kingdom. It comes as Bhutan celebrates an extraordinary period of history – the centenary of our Monarchy – and as we think about the next 100 years and beyond.
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| His Majesty the King and prime minister Manmohan Singh at the Tashichhodzong after the audience |
17 May, 2008 – His Majesty the King said that the close ties of friendship and India’s unstinted support have been central to Bhutan’s socio-economic achievements and prosperity. Most recently India had provided important financial and technical assistance in Bhutan’s preparations for democratic elections.
17 May, 2008 – The Speaker of the National Assembly, Tshogpon Jigme Tshultim has not attended any of the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa party meetings since he was elected Speaker.
17 May, 2008 – Communities, especially in the southern part of the country, welcomed the government’s decision this week to reopen some of the schools, that had remained closed due to security-related reasons in the past, saying that there should be equal access to education for all.
17 May, 2008 – The Indian foreign secretary, Mr Shivshankar Menon, said that Bhutan and India were not just satisfied but convinced that their relations had made major contributions to what both described as “our shared prosperity, as our shared security and our shared destiny”.
Basic education level upped to class XII
17 May, 2008 – With a majority of members for the change, the Parliament yesterday decided to upgrade the basic education level to at least Class XII and make Class X the minimum standard for the state to provide free education.
17 May, 2008 – In a major initiative, the department of forests (DoF) is looking into promoting eco-tourism in the country’s major parks and sanctuaries.
17 May, 2008 – Around an hour of postponement of the morning assembly session on Wednesday 14 May irked the members of opposition and the national council as the change of timing was not intimated to them.
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16 May, 2008 – Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh of India arrived in Paro at 11:30 am today on a two-day state visit during which he is expected to address the first joint session of the Bhutanese parliament tomorrow.
Bhutan Observer
Indian Prime Minister addresses National Assembly of Bhutan
Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s address at the National Assembly of Bhutan, in Thimphu:
“It is a great privilege for me to address the Joint Session of the National Assembly and the National Council of Bhutan. I bring to you the warmest greetings and felicitations of [...]
MY UNTOLD MISERY
The golden sun lends a bright radiance to the tree top. It was a pleasant and jolly moment. The blue firmament of the endless universe seemed naked as the golden sun shone smilingly. It was as if it was showering me blessings to begin my life with a joyous moment that would ever brighten. The [...]
A drunken sobriety: as the wine dines the mind
The great bard Shakespeare said, “Purpose is but a slave to memory.†I think he said it to this intent: People believe I’m a habitual drunkard, so I have acquired an instinctive nature to put together the incidences of the aftermath of a night’s carousing; bringing my ignominy to light partly through the recess of [...]
The magic of the wooden phallus
Today I was blessed by a monk wielding a large wooden phallus. Apparently this Bhutanese
blessing has proved remarkably successful in promoting fertility.
That’s all very well but I’m not sure that, should I return home with a living reminder of Bhutan, that my husband will believe me that it was the divine gift from a famous [...]
When literates litter: the absence of civic sense
The concept of civic sense seems never to go hand in hand with us. Like the two rails of a train track, both exist but never mix. Someone has rightfully said cleanliness starts at home. But are not our homes clean? They mostly are. Then the whole quote seems incongruous here in our country. Why [...]
The pictorial odyssey of Sundar Photo Studio
The hustle and bustle of Phuentsholing has become part and parcel of his life. He has observed the melting border town change into new dimensions and photographed people from all backgrounds. Known for his joviality, he is famously called, “Shankar Baba.â€Â
Shankar came from Assam 38-years ago in search of a job. “There was acute unemployment [...]
Indian Prime Minister arrives today
Enhancing economic and hydropower cooperation between India and Bhutan will be the key focus areas of the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s two-day visit to Bhutan which began today.
Briefing the media earlier about the visit, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said the visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years, will [...]
Project assistance package
The Indian government yesterday approved a Nu 2,610.14 crore package to Bhutan for providing project assistance
and development subsidy for the extended Ninth Plan.
“This will generate opportunities for Indian Companies to participate in major projects and strengthen goodwill for India in Bhutan by fulfilling our existing commitmentsâ€Â, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters [...]
Towards a corrupt-free society
To ensure zero tolerance to corruption and transparency, the cabinet emphasised the need to change the management
style of ministries through a process of decentralisation, devolution and delegation of powers and putting an effective
mechanism for checks and balances.
The DPT is fully committed to the eradication of corruptionin all its ugly forms such as outright bribery, favouritism, [...]
Southern schools to reopen
About 840 children will learn their ABCs and nursery rhymes when seven pre-primary community schools re-open after a gap of more than 17 years of security-related issues.
The schools, located in Sarpang, Samtse, Tsirang and Chukha dzongkhags, will be re-opened this year.
“The RGOB has always been committed to providing education to all the children of Bhutan. [...]
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