International Sources
FEATURE-Modernising Bhutan questions where happiness lies – Forex Pros
THIMPHU, Dec 18 (Reuters) – It is a sign of the times for Bhutan that a $9 million McKinsey consultancy report to find ways to accelerate Bhutan’s economic growth has sparked soul-searching among this isolated and mostly conservative people. For this … [read more]
PC in 2010 – Game Daily
Leading the charge into 2010′s sequel brigade is Bioware’s follow-up to its much-heralded space adventure, Mass Effect 2 . Shepard returns once again, traveling throughout the galaxy while making new allies and shooting the living crud out of enemies … [read more]
Pet products get the tech treatment – CNN
(CNN) — Gadgets are not soft and cuddly, and there are no downloadable upgrades for slobbering mutts. But with enthusiasm for pets growing unabated, and technology digging ever deeper into our lives, the two seemingly unrelated worlds increasingly … [read more]
Bhutan denies existence of ULFA camps on its soil – New Kerala
I’ve no information that any such ULFA terror elements exist in Bhutan. There is no member of ULFA in our country,” Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonto Ugyen Tshering told reporters after inaugurating a new consulate office in Kolkata. He said if the … [read more]
Corruption impeding FDI inflow to India: Study – Deccan Herald
The only consolation for India is that in South Asia, only Bhutan is least corrupt than India, with a CPI score of 5.0 and a rank of 49 in the overall list. After Afghanistan, Nepal has emerged as the most corrupt in the region (CPI score 2.3, rank … [read more]
Bhutan hopes for political solution to Darjeeling problems – New Kerala
Kolkata, Dec 17 : Bhutan Thursday hoped that the problems in Darjeeling arising out of the … I think they would find out some solution to resolve the issue,” Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonto Ugyen Tshering told reporters here, after inaugurating a … [read more]
Khulna under grave risk – The Daily Star
Khulna, the southern metropolis of Bangladesh, has been identified as one of the 15 most vulnerable cities under climate change impact. The report “Climate Change and the Urban Poor: Risk and resilience in 15 of the world’s most vulnerable cities … [read more]
Modernising Bhutan questions where happiness lies – comcast.net
THIMPHU — It is a sign of the times for Bhutan that a $9 … First formulated in the 1970s, GNH has become the guiding principle for Bhutan. When the young, Oxford-educated Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was enthroned as the new king in 2008, and a … [read more]
Allocation for mass education – New Nation
THE Second Ministerial Meeting of the South Asia Education for All (EFA) Forum agreed to increase spending on primary and mass education to six percent of their GDP in place of four percent in order to eradicate illiteracy. They adopted this decision … [read more]
Fixed Mobile Convergence – TMCnet
(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – A major growth of the TEIN3 high-speed research and education network means that it will now cover 60 per cent of the world’s population. Through its extension to seven countries in … [read more]
Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper
17 December, 2009 – Bhutan’s Jhomolhari, among a collection of 100 amazing places in the world to remember before they disappear, features in a photography exhibition in Copenhagen.
Photo By Tenzin Namgyel,
[read more]
Meanwhile many unanswered questions over second pay raise for MPs in one year
17 December, 2009 – The National Council has objected to the National Assembly’s decision on the recent salary hikes for MPs, secretaries and constitutional post holders and has asked for a joint sitting to resolve the issue.
17 December, 2009 – His Majesty King Jigme Khesar will make his first state visit to New Delhi, India, from December 21 to 26 at the invitation of the president of India, Pratibha D Patil.
[read more]
LDCs lost out on adaptation funds to larger developing nations last time around
Copenhagen Climate Summit 17 December, 2009 –
Bhutan, along with the Group of 77 and China, has sent the draft outcome of financial resources and investment, technology development and transfer, capacity building and adaptation under long-term cooperative action (LCA) of the convention to a high level discussion where the heads of governments and delegations will discuss and adopt. [read more]
Orange season sees these Gelephu river banks spring to night-life
 |
| TENTED TOWNSHIP Busier than Gelephu at night, business is booming as is urban blight |
17 December, 2009 – Quite and secluded most part of the year, the banks of Maokhola become a hive of activity come winter. It is already 9 pm and most of the Gelephu residents have retired to their bedrooms or TV rooms. On the left bank of the river, it seems like day has just broken. [read more]
17 December, 2009 – The trial of three men, who allegedly circulated a sexually explicit movie of a Bhutanese couple, has begun at the Thimphu district court.
[read more]
 |
| BHUTANESE IS BEST Fresh farm eggs (l & r) give a bigger bang for their buck |
17 December, 2009 – With an increasing number of farmers engaged in backyard poultry farming, there is no dearth of local eggs in Trashigang. The popular and easily available local eggs have in fact captured the egg market.
[read more]
17 December, 2009 – The green and red Bangladesh national flag fluttered in the morning breeze as the Bangladesh community in Thimphu celebrated their 38th anniversary of Independence Day, which was joined by Bhutanese officials. [read more]
 |
| THE NEW SOS This young activist’s sign spells out the peril loud and clear |
Copenhagen Climate Summit 17 December, 2009 –
Despite temperatures hovering just above freezing point, thousands of mountaineers and mountain lovers from across the world marched downtown in Copenhagen, Denmark, to draw attention to the threats and risks associated with melting Himalayan glaciers.
[read more]
17 December, 2009 – The governor of the Indian state of West Bengal, Mr Devanand Konwar, will inaugurate today the Royal Bhutan Consulate in Kolkata in the presence of the Bhutanese foreign minister, Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering. [read more]
Bhutan Observer
Do you think that MPs salary should be raised?
[read more]
His Majesty honours service to nation
At the 102nd National Day celebration at Changlingmithang in Thimphu yesterday, His Majesty the King honoured 20 individuals from different walks of life and a filmmakers’ association for their dedicated service to the nation.
His Majesty conferred red scarves and patangs on Sangay Khandu, Secretary of Land Commission, Bharat Tamang, Managing Director of Bhutan Power Corporation, [...] [read more]
Go by the book
The National Assembly’s decision to raise the salary of MPs provoked public outrage. Understandably so. The parliament, and the National Assembly for that matter, does not have the powers to fix salaries for MPs and secretaries. It is the duty of an autonomous pay commission as provided for by the constitution.
The constitution clearly says that [...] [read more]
Bhutan celebrates National Day
As His Majesty’s representative, Her Royal Highness Princess Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck graced the National Day celebrations in Bumthang held at the Ugyen Wangchuck Stadium, Chamkhar. Following the live broadcast of His Majesty’s address to the nation, Her Royal Highness distributed kupars of His Majesty the King and granted tokha to the public.
[read more]
Pay hike: Who get, who don’t?
The National Assembly’s (NA) decision to raise the salaries of government secretaries applies only to the secretaries of the 10 ministries and the cabinet secretary.
The raise does not apply to the secretaries to Their Majesties the Kings, the secretary generals of two houses of parliament, and the secretaries of GNH Commission and National Land Commission. [...] [read more]
Gearing up for GNH curriculum
Following the Ministry of Education’s decision to integrate GNH into school curriculum, some 50 curriculum developers, decision-makers, academics, and a select group of teachers are attending a capacity building workshop in Paro.
Organized by the Royal Education Council (REC) in collaboration with the International Bureau of Education (IBE), Unesco, the workshop is aimed at empowering curriculum [...] [read more]
On the sets of Sergi Zhongm – Valley of Gold
Lights, camera, and action. A group of young boys teases a girl in a restaurant. A young man walks in and rescues the girl from the gang. The girl thanks the young man. Cut and pack.
This was the last shooting scene of a new Bhutanese film called Sergi Zhongm – Valley of Gold, in Thimphu [...] [read more]
Being aware of ground realities
When my friend, Somkumar, the taciturn logged on to www.cultured apes.com, the webpage showed, as it often did, on Windows Real Player, spirited discussions (rather, deliberations, to be politically correct) of a score of executives. Somkumar, the taciturn fitted his earphone properly. (For unidentified reasons, I have called him ‘taciturn’, beyond the obvious reason that [...] [read more]
Land degradation, looming threat in east
Continuous land degradation could be a threat to livelihoods in eastern Bhutan, according to an assessment. Building of more farm roads and climate change could worsen the problem.
The holistic land degradation assessment of the eastern Bhutan by Renewable Natural Resources Research Centre (RNRRC) in Wengkhar said the eastern Bhutan is more vulnerable to land degradation [...] [read more]
Once an addict, now a teetotaller
He was one of the most popular actors and singers of the bustling Bhutanese film industry. His movies were well received and his songs appreciated.
His career was at the apex. But one flaw, his addiction to alcohol, nearly put an end to all his talents.
A recovering alcoholic now, 33-year-old Kinzang Dorji, has become clean after [...] [read more]
Google News - Bhutan
Yahoo News - Bhutan
Bing News - Bhutan
Topix - Bhutan