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.

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.

RCom plans to offer broadband in Bhutan (rediff.com)
The company is also in advanced stages of negotiations to rope in the kingdom’s largest telecom service provider, Bhutan Telecom, as partner.

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

RCom plans to offer broadband in Bhutan (Business Standard India)
In increasing instances of Indian companies looking at offering services beyond the country’s shore, private telecom major Reliance Communications (RCom) is planning to offer Internet services in Bhutan.

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 (Daily Telegraph)
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.

Indian community celebrates 59 Republic Day
26 January, 2008 -

The Gyalpoi Zimpon, Penjore offers khada to the Indian ambassador Sudhir Vyas

The Gyalpoi Zimpon, Penjore, the Zhung Kalyon, Dasho Rinzin Gyeltshen, foreign secretary, Yeshey Dorji, and other senior Bhutanese government officials joined the Indian community at around 10 am at the Indian Ambessy ground today to celebrate India’s 59th republic day.

Gasa Dzong survives fire

Charred statues of the ka-gye lhakhang

26 January, 2008 - The ka-gye (eight pillars) lhakhang, the koenyer’s (caretaker) room, and an engineering cell of the Gasa dzong were reduced to rubble and the main statues inside the lhakhang were charred.

A militant camp in Tsirang
26 January, 2008 - A Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) patrol exchanged fire with a group of militants in Lower Dhanessey in Tsirang on January 16.

The militants, who had come from the camps in Nepal, escaped into the forest but the patrol found their camp, which had three sheds stocked with some clothing and rations.

An autonomous tourism board
26 January, 2008 - The government announced yesterday the creation of an autonomous agency to take the lead role in managing and developing the tourism industry in the country.

To be called the National Tourism Board, it will function as an intergovernmental agency with its broad policy guidelines directed by the government. NTB will receive block grants from the government based on the formula that will take into account the contribution of the tourism sector to the national exchequer, according to the announcement.

The astrologers say…
26 January, 2008 - The next step in Bhutan’s general election will be decided by the stars.
Both the registered political parties will launch their official campaigns on auspicious days identified through astrological calculations. Their letters of intent and manifestos will be submitted when the zakar is good.

OAG appeals Nisho gup case
26 January, 2008 - The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will appeal, on January 30, against the judgment by the Wangduephodrang district court, which acquitted the gup (village headman) of Nisho gewog in Wangduephodrang, on the grounds that the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and OAG had applied the laws retroactively.

10 dzongkhags experience snow fall

26 January, 2008 - Kanglung under a blanket of snow, the first in 14 years. Villagers in Trashigang woke
up to a surprise on the morning of January 23 to see their surroundings covered in snow. They saw
it as a harbinger to a good year. Villagers in Bikhar, Trashigang, said that it had last snowed in their gewog 22 years ago. Ten dzongkhags across the country experienced snowfall on January 23.

Local government scenario
26 January, 2008 - We are anticipating significant and exciting political changes in the next few months. Some of us, especially our politicians, are preparing for the scenario. Some of us are not. Given the momentum of change, it might be time to give it serious thought.

More tourists but less trekkers
25 January, 2008 - Although Bhutan has been hailed as a trekker’s paradise for its breath-taking landscapes, pristine ecology and wildlife, majestic mountains and lush valleys, very few tourists ever take up the sport.

Ten questions

24 January, 2008 - Pem Tshering, 21, from Dargaythang, Sarpang, has been working for the past three years with D D Electronics, a repair shop in Thimphu. He picked up the skill from his uncle and works from 9:00 am till 8:00 pm.

1. What kinds of electronic goods do you repair?
We repair any kind of electronic item except for radios.

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