Bombs in Bhutan stir refugee crisis (Asia Times)
CHENNAI - The orchestrated bomb blasts that detonated on Monday in the capital of Thimphu and three other locations across Bhutan are a powerful reminder of the simmering refugee problem that has long plagued the ruling government and tarnished the reputation of the tiny Himalayan kingdom often referred to as Shangri-La.

Explosions rock Bhutan ahead of first polls (AFP via Yahoo! News)
A string of blasts rocked the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan at the weekend, wounding one person and damaging shops and businesses, a spokesman for the Royal Bhutanese Police said Monday.

Explosions rock Bhutan (Gulf Times)
THIMPHU: A string of explosions rocked Bhutan injuring one woman and damaging shops and businesses, officials said yesterday.

India, Nepal, Bhutan should jointly solve Bhutanese refugee problem (New Kerala)
Siliguri, Jan 19: Forward Bloc General Secretary Debabrata Biswas today said India, Nepal and Bhutan should jointly solve the problem of the Bhutanese refugees, sheltered at Damakh in Nepal.

Explosions rock Bhutan ahead of first polls (Adelaide Now)
A STRING of blasts rocked the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, wounding one person and damaging shops and businesses, a spokesman for the Royal Bhutanese Police said.

Bhutan blames Nepal-based ‘militant groups’ for Sunday’s blasts (Nepalnews. com)
Bhutanese authorities have blamed “Nepal-based organisations” for a series of bomb blasts that rocked the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan Sunday, injuring one person.

Ethnic Nepalese blamed as bombs shake Bhutan (Independent)
A series of bomb blasts has shaken the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan just days after a date was set for elections that will end more than a century of absolute rule by its royal family.

Series of bomb blasts rock Bhutan, one hurt (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Four bomb blasts rocked the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan on Sunday, including one in the capital Thimphu, and a woman was injured, a spokesman for the Royal Bhutan Police said.

Violence haunts Bhutan’s refugees (BBC News)
The first Nepal-based Bhutanese refugees are to leave for the US - but those they leave behind are experiencing great intimidation.

Serial blasts rock Bhutan (IANS via Yahoo! India News)
Thimphu, Jan 21 (IANS) A string of explosions rocked Bhutan injuring one woman and damaging shops and businesses, officials Monday said.

The party member
23 January, 2008 Around the world the nature of membership to political parties seems to be divided into many categories, two of them broadly contrasting. In communist countries a party member seems to “submit” himself or herself to the party in his or her political as well as personal life. The member pays dues and obeys party instructions. In the west, membership seems to mean that the voter shares the ideology or political philosophy of a party and votes for the party but does not sign up or pay fees.

Fire in Gasa dzong

The Gasa Trashi Thongmoen dzong (File picture)

23 January, 2008 - Gasa Dzong was on fire yesterday.

The fire started in the dzong at about 8.30pm and the people in the area were soon fighting the blaze that threatened to consume the dzong. The absence of effective fire fighting facilities was a problem, according to Gasa residents who had to bring water from about 100 metres from the dzong.

It’s now official
23 January, 2008 - Bhutan’s historic general election began quietly. Nothing happened on January 22, the auspicious 15th day of the 12th month of the fire hog year, that signaled the official commencement of the process.

A voyage of discovery and liberation

The wreck of the plane that crashed in 1950

23 January, 2008 - When Linda and Tara Bearcroft came to Bhutan last week, it was truly a journey into the past, their own past - and it took them 58 years.

The sisters from Britain were in Bhutan to pay homage to a father, who left the world when Tara Bearcroft, the youngest daughter, had not seen the world and Linda was just a two-year-old toddler.

Blasts under investigation
23 January, 2008 - The Royal Bhutan Police are investigating four bomb blasts on January 20 that police believe was the work of one of three militant organisations based in Nepal. A police spokesman told Kuensel that it was the work of either the Bhutan Tiger Force, the Bhutan Maoists Party, or the Communist Party of Bhutan.

Local leader acquitted
23 January, 2008 - The Wangduephodrang district court on January 21 acquitted a local leader who was charged by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) of embezzling public funds and receiving unaccounted for payments.

Alleged rape trial begins
23 January, 2008 - The trial against a 33 year-old man, who was alleged to have raped a six year-old girl in Sarpang on January 13, began this week at the Sarpang district court.

A man of integrity

23 January, 2008 - This week, Bhutan said goodbye to yet an old-timer who was a part of the nation building process. A large number of colleagues that Kuensel spoke to remember him for his humility and integrity, as a simple and humble man with little needs. His commitment to the government was unquestionable and his humility was such that, when he visited the dzongkhags, people were not aware that a minister was among them because he did not want to impose himself on them. He was known for not wasting the government’s revenue and resources.

From the Incas to the kewa datshi
PART III: A plant for all seasons

Potato in Dremitse: the humble tuber thrives at high altitudes too

22 January, 2008 - Potato is adapted to temperate climate. In Bhutan, it can be cultivated as a winter crop in the subtropics and as a summer crop in temperate and sub-alpine environments. Yak herding communities may cultivate potato up to elevations of 4500m. The only other crops and vegetables thriving at these elevations are barley, mustard, pea, turnip, radish and mustard green.

Bombs blasted in four dzongkhags
BREAKING NEWS21 January, 2008 - Four bomb blasts took place between 11.10am and 2.10pm in four different dzongkhags on January 20, including one in the capital, Thimphu.