In the Himalayas, a global warming calamity is building for Bhutan (Los Angeles Times)
Glacial melting threatens disastrous floods in one of the world’s most environmentally vigilant nations. High in the Himalayas, above this peaceful valley where farmers till a patchwork of emerald-green fields, an icy lake fed by melting glaciers waits to become a “tsunami from the sky.”

Hindi films, TV soap operas a ‘must’ among Bhutanese (New Kerala)
Zafri Mudasser Nofil, Thimphu: Bhutan’s capital may have just one cinema that screens only Bhutanese language films all year round but Bollywood has been able to make its presence in the country, through VCDs and DVDs of its movies that are easily available.

Refugees warn of Bhutan’s new tide of ethnic expulsions (Guardian Unlimited)
Himalayan kingdom’s Shangri-la image is a myth, says tortured activist

Riverside becomes model for Bhutan school (The Times of India)
Bhutan is planning a lab school modelled on the city-based Riverside school, by the year 2010.

Bad new road (Kuensel)
16 April, 2008 - The recently completed eight kilometre Chunzom to Isuna highway in Paro, built by Bhutanese contractors, has now become a safety hazard with increasing instances of shooting rocks and debris falling on the main road.

Women and youth made the numbers (Kuensel)
19 April, 2008 - Bhutan’s first democratic government was elected largely by women and young voters.

Thursday, April 17, 2008 (Deccan Herald)
Bhutan will adopt its Constitution when the new Parliament session begins in May. ” The first sitting of the Bhutanese Parliament, scheduled to begin in early May, will adopt the Constitution,” a Cabinet office release said.

An unsafe mess (Kuensel)
19 April, 2008 - Senior officials from the civil aviation authority, airport management and Druk Air claim that the new and redone runway of the Paro International Airport is lacking in quality, has safety problems and is taking too long to be completed.

Miss Bhutan: Ambassador of GNH (Kuensel)
14 April, 2008 - To provide young Bhutanese women the same kind of opportunities as women in other parts of the world, in terms of cross-cultural experiences, Bhutan will organise a Miss Bhutan beauty pageant contest.

19 April, 2008 - (Kuensel)
The members of the National Council received an audience with His Majesty the King on April 16. His Majesty the King highlighted the roles and responsibilities of the National Council and its critical role within Bhutan’s first democratic parliament in ensuring a successful democracy.

A fresh start
19 April, 2008 - It was a busy week of formalities as we recycled thousands of khadas and exchanged an abundance of good will. There is much to think about, as the elected government, parliament, and a number of constitutional and other offices take up important responsibilities.

Plan dovetails with manifesto

The prime minister inspects the Changlimithang stadium after the GNH commission meeting

19 April, 2008 - Development priorities in the 10th Plan will not change when the new government takes over, according to the prime minister, Lyonchhen Jigmi Thinley. Economic development will be the main driver and poverty reduction, the main focus.

Women and youth made the numbers
19 April, 2008 - Bhutan’s first democratic government was elected largely by women and young voters.

An unsafe mess

The debris and the depression

19 April, 2008 - Senior officials from the civil aviation authority, airport management and Druk Air claim that the new and redone runway of the Paro International Airport is lacking in quality, has safety problems and is taking too long to be completed.

“Zero tolerance on corruption” - JYT
19 April, 2008 - After investigating a number of cases over the past two years, the Anti Corruption Commission appeared to be grappling with a lack of real authority and, with that, a weakening image.

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19 April, 2008 - The members of the National Council received an audience with His Majesty the King on April 16. His Majesty the King highlighted the roles and responsibilities of the National Council and its critical role within Bhutan’s first democratic parliament in ensuring a successful democracy.

Ban on import of rice lifted

Latest
18 April, 2008 - The government of India has lifted the ban on import of popular rice brands like BN20, Basmati, and Boiled rice to Bhutan with immediate effect.

Dragon Kingdom’s Date with Democracy
Bhutan’s Historic Transition from
Absolute Monarchy to Absolute Majority

17 April, 2008 - From the bombshell His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo dropped on his unsuspecting subjects on 9 December 2006 to the electoral rout meted out by Druk Phuensum Tshogpa on 27 March 2008, Bhutan’s roller-coaster ride from monarchy to democracy has been a run of one irony after another.

The Abdication Paradox –
The Emperor’s New Close

When in late 2006 Palden Drukpa’s fourth hereditary monarch informed an extraordinary meeting of cabinet ministers of his sovereign decision to step down from the golden throne and hand over the raven crown to his eldest son and heir-apparent, Crown Prince Jigme Khesar, a fly on the wall would have heard a pin drop. And when, via grapevine, the momentous news filtered down to the masses, there was general disbelief mingled with grief.

Inflation hits the heights

Essential commodities will cost dearer day by day

17 April, 2008 - Pushed by rising prices of food items, inflation in the first quarter of 2008 could cross six percent, one of the highest rates in recent years, say officials of the National Statistical Bureau.

Call centre responds to charges
17 April, 2008 - Responding to the allegations made by its agents saying that the Drukonnet business services located at Changzamtog was facing problems, the management of Drukonnet said that the centre was doing good “without any problems”.

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