International Sources

Ferring Donates US$3 Million to the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan - Phramalive.com
SAINT PREX, Switzerland, July 31/PRNewswire/ — Frederik Paulsen, Chairman of Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company with presence in all major European markets and in the US, announced a US$3 million donation to the Royal Textile Academy …    [read more]

Pictures of the Day - Wall Street Journal
Civil guard officers wept at a state funeral service for two officers in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Friday. The guards were killed Thursday in a car bombing that’s being blamed on the Basque separatist group ETA. (Manu Mielniezuk/Associated Press) A …    [read more]

Two road accidents in Thimphu - Kuensel Online
30 July, 2009 - With a four-inch stitch on his head, and his shoulder, fingers and legs all swollen, he mumbles and falls into a faint at frequent intervals. Arjun Pradhan, 20, from Samtse, was among the three victims of the July 24 accident at …    [read more]

Pilot site status for Thimphu hospital - Kuensel Online
28 July, 2009 - The idea of being diagnosed at the Thimphu national referral hospital by a doctor, sitting at a computer in another country, just got more realistic with Bhutan becoming a pilot site for the SAARC telemedicine project. Although Bhutan …    [read more]

Bangladesh wants Indian corridor to revive bilateral trade with Nepal … - Newstrack India
Agartala, July 31 (ANI): Tripura Chamber of Commerce and Industries (TCCI) President ML Debnath has said that Bangladesh wanted a corridor through West Bengal to revive bilateral trade with Nepal and Bhutan. Talking to reporters here on Thursday …    [read more]

Jacksonville police arrest felon in slaying of Bhutan immigrant - Florida Times-Union
Jacksonville police this morning arrested a felon in Sunday’s fatal shooting of a Bhutanese refugee and were told the victim was targeted because he was an immigrant, according to a state prosecutor. Trumaine Branch, 21, is charged with murder in the …    [read more]

Welch Allyn finds yaks really deliver in Bhutan - Syracuse Post-Standard
Photo courtesy of Welch Allyn A PATIENT in Thimphu Hospital, Bhutan, is monitored with a Welch Allyn PC-Based Resting ECG, or electrocardiogram. The Skaneateles medical products company is providing technology to the isolated mountain nation to help …    [read more]

Tibet Activists Chain Themselves to the Chinese Consulate in Zurich - Phayul
Dharamsala, July 31 - Three Tibet activists associated with the group, Tibetan Youth Association in Europe chained themselves with handcuffs in front of the Chinese Consulate in Zurich today to protest against the imminent trial of the Tibetan …    [read more]

Visalian searches for truth behind legends on show - Visalia Times-Delta
But that changed when the 36-year-old paramedic got an opportunity of a lifetime: to work as the medic on set for the Syfy channel’s reality show “Destination Truth.” Williams, who lives in Visalia, was one of a crew of eight that traveled across the …    [read more]

Grandma’s Brag Book for July 31 - Duluth News Tribune
Five generations together as Jackson Neil Sheils meets his great-great grandmother Dora. From left are Dad Matt Sheils; Great-grandpa Carrol Sheils; Great-great-grandma Dora Hughes, holding Jackson; Great-grandma Zona Sheils; and Grandpa Dale Sheils …    [read more]

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Light Summer Shoes Smile

31 July, 2009 - Is the ban on plastic still on? Nope, it never was actually. All one needs to do this time is to look at shoe racks that hit the point home. Plastic shoes, yes shoes, are the latest fad that’s walking our streets now.
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Who’s Your Daddy’s Big Dad

31 July, 2009 - Self made singer/rocker Kunga T Dorji, or Supe as he is more popularly known among his fans and friends, is staid and suave as he talks.

The 36-year-old is the lead vocalist of his five member band Who’s Your Daddy and exudes a great deal of zeal and passion as he talks about his love for rock music. Even without an album, the father of a five-year-old is as popular as any other local singer in the capital.    [read more]

Ask Mr Thimphu

30 July, 2009 -
Hi Sir,
I am at present a student. I have been following body building closely and a big fan of yours. I am thinking of giving up my studies and pursue a career in Body Building. I would like to know your take on this.

Jimmy    [read more]

Royal Address at the Concluding Ceremony of the 3rd Session of Parliament

31 July, 2009 - On the occasion of the concluding ceremony of the 3rd session of Parliament, I congratulate the elected government of the Druk Phuensum Tshokpa on the completion of one year and four months in office. In these early days of a new political system while bearing great responsibilities you have, despite the limited resources, successfully carried out the difficult duties of government in service of the Tsawasum.    [read more]

Does excise duty stultify the steel industry?

31 July, 2009 - The Punatsangchhu hydropower project offers Bhutanese industrialists, especially steel manufacturers, a lucrative market. But the project that will consume thousands of tonnes of steel will not favour the local steel producer, according to industrialists.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

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To ban or not to ban, that’s the question
It made news when Bhutan banned tobacco sale some years ago. It will make more news when Bhutan repeals the ban. Anyway, news is transient; life must go on. I am sure our NC members rocked their brains well when it comes to lifting the ban.
Bhutan has become part of the global livelihood. We cannot […]    [read more]

Bars and fights
Last Saturday, a foreigner was beaten up by a group of people in a bar in Thimphu. He reported the case to the police.
When the 35-year-old Dutch was leaving Om Bar, he tapped a girl, who he thought was his brother-in-law’s girlfriend, on her back to say good bye.
That was all that led to a […]    [read more]

Farmers learn bookkeeping
Eighteen people comprising key officials like chairpersons, accountants and secretaries of different farmers’ groups completed a five-day training programme on commercial bookkeeping on July 19.
Organized by the Regional Agriculture Marketing Services (RAMS) based in Mongar, the training in Pemagatshel was conducted by an SNV consultant. The participants included key management people from the Integrated Fruit […]    [read more]

Farming training in Khaling
Farmers of Bjeri and Leza villages of Khaling Gewog in Trashigang received training on improved production of vegetables, paddy and orchard from the dzongkhag to encourage large-scale production.
According to the dzongkhag, the villagers have not been able to cultivate crops like paddy, vegetables and mandarin despite favourable conditions. Only few farmers from the villages market […]    [read more]

Traditional vets get modern
Trashigang Dzongkhag has improved the skills of ethno veterinary practitioners (EVPs) or traditional veterinarians by equipping them with modern veterinary kits, drugs and knowledge to promote future private veterinary clinics in rural areas.
After a ten-day intensive training on animal management, 48 villagers have been appointed across the dzongkhag to help enhance animal health care delivery […]    [read more]

Art or vandalism?
The artist comes out only by the night. The meaning of his art borders on vandalism. Our intern Phub Dorji reports.
Do not be scared if you see a shadowy figure discreetly writing or drawing on the walls of Thimphu buildings by the night. On closer observation, you will notice that he is a graffiti […]    [read more]

On a rollercoaster journey
A journey on a public transport bus from Phuentsholing to Thimphu is scary and insightful at once. Rabi C Dahal shares his personal account of such a journey.

To go or not to go was the question. The condition of the Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway was at its worst. The authority concerned had cautioned travellers and drivers […]    [read more]

Disinfectant pond discomfort
The potholes created by a pool of bird flu disinfectant at the Phuentsholing border gate have created a veritable nightmare for motorists with vehicles stumbling hard on the road or getting bogged down in the muddy pool.
Beginning this year, the government started disinfecting vehicles and people to prevent the bird flu virus from being carried […]    [read more]

Housing crunch in Pemagatshel
A few years ago, when Mindu Wangdi came to join his service as the DYT Secretary in Pemagatshel, he managed to find a hut for accommodation. It took him several months to find a decent place to live in. A few months later, without any forewarning, his house owner served an ultimatum to vacate the […]    [read more]

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