India lifts rice ban on Bhutan (The Hindu)
THIMPHU: The Indian government has lifted the ban on the import of rice by Bhutan with immediate effect, agriculture ministry officials in the Himalayan country said.

Shaky Start to Bhutan Democracy (The Epoch Times)
Almost a year ago, a middle-aged Bhutanese woman trader in the Indian border town of Phuentsholing sounded an ominous note for Bhutanese democracy. “We have heard about the polls on the Indian side…

Rising temperatures have resulted in dangerously high water levels in a lake above a valley in central Bhutan. No one … (Reading Eagle)
Rising temperatures have resulted in dangerously high water levels in a lake above a valley in central Bhutan. No one knows how long it can hold.

Dieback not dying (Kuensel)
23 April, 2008 - The wilting tops of thousands of pine trees, starkly visible along the Thimphu-Paro highway, did not mean the forests were dying, say forestry officials.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 (Chennai Online)
Thimphu, Apr 22 The Indian government has lifted the ban on the import of rice by Bhutan with immediate effect, agriculture ministry officials in the Himalayan country said.

Bhutanese refugees make St. Louis home (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Ganga Ram Upreti, his wife and daughter are the first Bhutanese refugees to be resettled in the metro area. Already, Upreti, 23, is finding his way around his new neighborhood, a cluster of well-kept, four-family buildings southwest of South Grand Boulevard and Chippewa Street.

In Bhutan, Trekking in Style (BusinessWeek)
Four days on the trail, high in the Himalayas, in one of the most remote and unspoiled spots on earth, with all the comforts of home

The ’she factor’ in Bhutan’s tourism sector (Outlook India)
Bhutan is opening up slowly to the modern world in a fine balance with its traditions and its women are contributing in their own way to make the country one of the most sought-after travel destinations.

In the Himalayas, a climate-change calamity builds (Los Angeles Times)
Glacial melting threatens disastrous floods in Bhutan, 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.”

Global warming threatens glaciers, livelihood (Baltimore Sun)
Bhutan lakes poised to drown area, endangering citizens 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.”

To serve without fear or favour
Oath or Affirmation
of Office

“I, …… do solemnly swear/affirm that I shall uphold the sovereignty and integrity of Bhutan faithfully, conscientiously discharge my duties in the service of the Tsa-wa-sum and perform the duties of my office without fear or favour to the best of my ability, and that I shall bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of Bhutan.”

23 April, 2008 - In the presence of a kusung thugten (symbol of body, speech, and mind), that was placed on the Golden Throne to symbolize the blessing of His Majesty the King, Bhutan’s prime minister and cabinet ministers, the speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly, and members of the Assembly took an oath of affirmation of office on April 21.

Medical profession in poor health

Lines get longer as doctors get scarcer

23 April, 2008 - Bhutan’s acute medical manpower shortage is all set to get worse with new hospital projects nearing completion.

Dieback not dying

A dieback affected tree

23 April, 2008 - The wilting tops of thousands of pine trees, starkly visible along the Thimphu-Paro highway, did not mean the forests were dying, say forestry officials.

Mugged by own man?
23 April, 2008 - A reflex action, which his family members usually detested, came to the rescue of the life of Jichu Drakey bakery’s proprietor on April 18.

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23 April, 2008 - Colonel Kipchu Namgyel signs his first office-order after assuming the post of Chief of Police on March 19.

Behind the wheel of a “golden life”

Norbu Wangdi: A long road before the ride

22 April, 2008 - “Driver’s life is golden life: one-one turning, one-one wife.” That is the clichd joke among Bhutanese drivers, mainly truckers, about the free rides they give to village belles while traversing the length and breadth of the country’s winding highways.

The ghostbuster in the plain of 100,000 spirits

Ap Dophu, traditional healer of bodies against spirits

21 April, 2008 - He takes out a blue cloth, places it on his balding head, and asks the age of the sick person. Then he closes his eyes, as if in deep meditation.

The Full story behind the half kira
With half kiras the norm today, Kuensel’s Sonam Pelden finds out why this trend is on for so long and how half kira itself continues to evolve…

21 April, 2008 - It all started in the late 80s, when Bhutan began to strictly implement the national dress code; some women living in border areas started to wear the kira, cut at the waist, to beat the heat.

Health, education, lifestyle at the Asia Expo

21 April, 2008 - The first mega industry six-day fair called the Best of Asia Expo kicked off on Wednesday at the Loselling Ground in Changjiji. The name might be a bit misleading, but four countries (Thailand, Sweden, Myanmar, Japan and, of course, Bhutan) came under one roof to showcase their displays.

Who wants to be a Big Star?

21 April, 2008 - Sonam reminded herself that it was perhaps the only opportunity to make her way into the glamorous world that she had dreamt of over many years since childhood.

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