Bhutan News Archive for January 24 2011

Bhutan Broadcasting Service

One killed in a gang fight

Jan 22, 2011 A 22-year-old man has been killed in a gang fight in Monggar on Thursday. The fight took place in the town. It was reported to the police at around 11pm. [read more]

To vote or not to vote?

Jan 22, 2011 Yesterday, voters in the four Thromdes of Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar went to the polls to elect a Thrompon and Thromde Tshogpas. As per the election rule, only voters who have their census in the respective Thromdes are allowed to vote. It means, in Thimphu, just over 6,000 people can vote. The town has a population of about 100,000 people. Many believe that it is not right for a fraction of the population to decide the fate of the entire town. [read more]

Progress encouraging, says PM

Jan 22, 2011 The Prime Minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y. Thinley described the progress of Accelerating Bhutans Socio-economic Development Project encouraging and heartening. He was speaking at the third quarter review meeting on Thursday. [read more]

Thimphu votes for Kinlay Dorjee

Jan 21, 2011 THIMPHU THR! OMDE: K inlay Dorjee has been elected the Thrompon of the capital Thimphu. Kinlay Dorjee won 1335 votes, with a comfortable lead of 182 votes. Karma Thinlay Wangchuk got 1153 votes. Rinzin Dorji is in the third place with 606 votes. This is according to preliminary reports. The official results will be declared tomorrow. [read more]

Samdrup Jongkhar gives Karma Sherub Thobgyal majority

Jan 21, 2011 SAMDRUP JONGKHAR THROMDE: It was a landslide win for Karma Sherub Thobgyal in Samdrup Jongkhar. Karma Sherub Thobgyal got 140 votes, 58 votes more than Dechen Wangmo, the only other contestant. Dechen Wangmo got 82 votes. [read more]

Namgay leads in Gelephu

Jan 21, 2011 GELEPHU THROMDE: According to preliminary reports, Namgay is leading the race in Gelephu with 309 votes. The second contestant, Churamani Tiwari, has won 223 votes. Namgay is leading with 86 votes. The results will be officially declared by the election commission tomorrow. [read more]

Tsheten Dorji wins in Phuentsholing

Jan 21, 2011 PHUENTSHOLING THROMDE: Initial reports show that Tsheten Dorji has won 182 votes. Dr. Ashan Chhetri came a close second with 140 votes. In the third place is Uttar Kumar Rai with 125 votes. [read more]

Accident leaves two dead

Jan 20, 2011 Two men including the driver were killed and another two injured when the Maruti van they were travelling in went off the road at Samzhor on Tuesday. Samzhor is located between Narphung and Gomdhar in Samdrup Jongkhar. [read more]

Insurance claim for plane crash victims

Jan 20, 2011 The relatives of the Bhutanese pilgrims who perished in the Nepal plane crash will have to wait two more months to get the insurance for the victims. [read more]

Lift the ban on import of vehicles says Opposition

Jan 20, 2011 The Opposition, yesterday, asked the judiciary to intervene and lift the temporary ban on the import of vehicles. Opposition member Damchoe Dorji said the ban has affected potential buyers and the business of the car dealers. He was speaking at the second hearing in the Supreme Court on the governments tax revision on vehicles. This is the first constitutional case to be tried in a court of law. [read more]

More News from Bhutan Broadcasting Service

Kuensel

Healthy lifestyle plans stuck

23 January, 2011 The plan to build a bicycle track around the city by the agriculture ministry is still in paper, even though it has been approved in principal by the cabinet.

It is one of the plans to make Thimphu a friendlier city for physical activities. [read more]

Inflation crosses seven percent in 2010

23 January, 2011 Annual inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, in the last quarter of 2010 was 9.1 percent, up from 7.1 percent in the September quarter, pushed by rise in prices of both food and non-food items according to data released by the National Statistical Bureau. [read more]

Road show disappointing say tour operators

23 January, 2011 With no business deals made to send in tourists to Bhutan, all 17 tour operators returned home disappointed from the US after participating in a mini road show last month. [read more]

From fire-starters to fighters

Prevention before cure: Villagers making fire line in Chali

Chaling, Mongar 23 January, 2011 A lot has changed since Nidup, 89, fought the last forest fire in his village in Chaling, Mongar. The forest has become the communitys property, random felling of trees has ceased, and villagers prevent forest fires rather than start them. [read more]

238 schools still without sufficient water

Some have taps but no water (file photo)

Perspective 23 January, 2011 Access to clean drinking water in Bhutanese schools is imp! roving w ith 290 schools out of 576 having sufficient water supply systems irrespective of the availability of taps, according to the annual education report, 2010. [read more]

2.5 percent unemployment rate achievable: PM

23 January, 2011 With the kind of progress made in employment of Bhutanese, the government is optimistic to bring down the unemployment rate to 2.5 percent by the end of 2012.

The prime minister Jigmi Y Thinley said this during the third quarterly review of accelerating Bhutans socio economic development (ABSD) on January 20 in Thimphu. [read more]

A Bap is capitals mayor

Residents should see some improvement within the first year

Thromde election 22 January, 2011 I am very excited and nervous as well.
Appearing flushed and exhausted at his residence yesterday, 40- year old Kinlay Dorjee, who was elected Thimphus mayor in the first thromde elections, said it was an immense relief to hear the results in his favour. [read more]

P/ling goes for age and experience

After formally assuming the post, I want to begin by cleaning the town

Thromde election 22 January, 2011 The results were out. Tsheten Dorji had won. The 59-year-old was bewildered. He didnt know whether to answer his phone, ringing every time he finishes talking to one or to listen to the officials who want him to sign the poll results. [read more]

Namgay sweeps 5 constituencies

People have put a lot of responsibilities on my shoulder

Thromde election 22 January, 2011 Gelephu Thromde elected Namgay as its Thrompon yesterday giving the former Chukha dzongda a total of 307 votes and two postal ballots in an election that many predicted would go the other way. [read more]

Former cop wins in S/Jongkhar

I attribute my link with the people of the two constituencies for my victory

Thromde election 22 January, 2011 Karma Sherab Thobgyal, 41, got 140 votes of the 222 votes cast yesterday to become the first thrompon of the southeastern town of Samdrup Jongkhar. [read more]

More News from Kuensel

Bhutan Observer

As thromde elections unfold

Jan 24, 2011 Today, a little more than 7,000 Bhutanese are expected to go to the polls in the four Class A towns of Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrupjongkhar. However, we are not sure how many voters are actually participating in the first local government elections. In the run up to the elections, we have seen some kind [...] [read more]

Football and basketball tournaments for vulnerable youth

Jan 23, 2011 The Department of Youth and Sports will be organizing football an! d basket ball tournaments from January 25 in Thimphu and Phuentsholing. The tournaments, which will target vulnerable urban youth between the ages of 15 and 25 years, are part of the annual winter youth programme of the department. The football tournament in Thimphu will be played [...] [read more]

Bhutan falls in tax paying culture ranking

Jan 23, 2011 Bhutan has been ranked 94th out of 183 economies on the ease of paying taxes in the world, according to the 2011 Paying Taxes survey under the Doing Business report of the World Bank. This is a fall by six ranks from 2010 when Bhutan was ranked 88th. The study was conducted by the World [...] [read more]

Enterprising youth to get concessional loans

Jan 23, 2011 The ministry of labour signed an MoU with the six financial institutions in the country on a credit guarantee scheme (CGS) to provide concessional loans to unemployed youth, who want to start a career in entrepreneurship. Launching the scheme on Wednesday, Labour Minister Dorji Wangdi said the scheme would address issues of financial access constrains [...] [read more]

Ap Tsara speaks

Jan 23, 2011 Theres something crazy, nay absurd, about the Bhutanese that is totally incomprehensible. That absurdity is personified in the designated city bus stops around the Thimphu city created near bends. First, we built roads with crazy bends and roundabouts, probably designed to project our craziness. Those bends and roundabouts are made crazier by taxis stopping near [...] [read more]

Farmers old and strugglin

Jan 23, 2011 The youngest farmer in Radhi Gewo! g, Trash igang, today is 20. The average farmer in Trashigang is past working age. Young men and women are hardly seen on the fields. Aging farmers, whose educated children work and live in towns, say that the governments objective of universal education is taking away able-bodied young people from fertile [...] [read more]

The problem

Jan 23, 2011 A reflective journal Problem is something nobody likes to have, but it is inevitable. The only remedy is to educate people to recognize it and turn it into an opportunity. According to researchers Fullan and Hargraves, there are six basic problems in educational settings, namely the problem of overload, the problem of isolation, the problem [...] [read more]

Teachers, students complete leadership camp

Jan 22, 2011 Some 25 Bhutanese teachers and volunteers and 75 students have been trained by six members of the Harvard Institute of Leadership over the last 10 days in the Youth Lead the Change leadership camp in Thimphu. Organised by the YDF centre in Thimphu, the objective of the camp was to build grassroots leadership and to [...] [read more]

Sha Dhar archery semis from tomorrow

Jan 21, 2011 The semi-finals of the ongoing Sha Dhar archery tournament in Wangdue will begin from tomorrow. Taag Chung emerged victorious against Semtheun and Tiger in the second last quarter-final match yesterday to book a place in the semi-finals. Taag Chung won a game with 28 kareys against Tigers one game and 26 kareys and Semthuens 22 [...] [read more]

Film festival on disability issues opens in Delhi

Jan 21, 2011 With the aim to bring together voices from across the glo! be on di sability issues regarding, the eighth edition of We Care Film Festival opened in Delhi, India, last Saturday. This years film festival has 67 entries of films and documentaries in four categories up to one minute, up to five minutes, up to 30 [...] [read more]

More News from Bhutan Observer

Business Bhutan

age and experience makes tsheten dorji phuentsholing mayor

Jan 22, 2011 Runner-up Ashan Chhettris father says he is not satisfied with results because his son did not even win in his home constituency Two days prior to the Hamar Bangla strike Read more [read more]

government to review the company act of 2000 to reflect new economic developments

Jan 22, 2011 Since 2000, the economic situation in the country has undergone major changes. In an attempt to attune it to ground realities and to make it more inclusive, the government has Read more [read more]

women outnumber men to elect mayors

Jan 22, 2011 Thimphu gets Kinley Dorji, Samdrup Jongkhar chooses Karma Sherub Thobgyal, Ge! lephu vo tes for Namgay and Phuentsholing goes for Tsheten Dorji as first elected mayors Ushered by a warm sun following Read more [read more]

helping media

Jan 22, 2011 The first executive director of Bhutan Media Foundation, Lily Wangchhuk talks to Business Bhutans Phuntsho Wangdi on her plans for the foundation Q. What is the first thing that you Read more [read more]

bhutans only environment ngo wins us$ 350,000 award

Jan 22, 2011 RSPN joins eleven other organizations in receiving the prestigious MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions (MACEI) The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) of Bhutan is among the Read more [read more]

strategize the implementation of gnh, dont bulldoze it

Jan 22, 2011 After French president Nicolas Sarkozy and more recently the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown decided to include happiness or peoples wellbeing in measuring the countrys development, Germany has now expressed Read more [read more]

Relearning to wear my kira

Jan 22, 2011 Due to my lack of interest and Dzongkha-learning disability, my parents came to a decision to ship me off to Sikkim, where the subject would be avoided and where Id Read more [read m ore]

the marginal but expanding market for reject or second quality oranges

Jan 22, 2011 Walking across an orange depot as vast as the Changiji housing complex in Thimphu, it might be difficult for one to get hold of fine quality oranges as it all Read more [read more]

collateral free loan for aspiring entrepreneurs with good business ideas

Jan 22, 2011 If you are thinking about starting a business but do not have the funds, it is time to knock the door of the labor ministry. All you need is an Read more [read more]

health officials cheat country off millions

Jan 22, 2011 A plastic bucket worth Nu 600 was bought for Nu 7,500. Rot is spread across most departments in the health ministry with faulty tendering, favoritism, buying poor quality equipments, excessive Read more [read more]

More News from Business Bhutan

Google News Bhutan

Commercial Taxes Department declined to accept advance tax for Bhutan Lottery The Hindu. more >>
SAARC meet to discuss visa exemption, terror issues IBNLive.com. more >>
238 schools in Bhutan still without sufficient water AsiaOne. more >>
Arunachal, Bhutan officials meet to strengthen ties Times of India. more >>
Talks back on track? Krishna may meet Qureshi in Thimphu Times of India. more >>
High-value, low-impact tourism development in Bhutan supported. 4Hoteliers. more >>
MacArthur Foundation Awards Two Chicago Non-Profits $1.3 Million! Huffin gton Post. more >>
Bhutanese Prime Ministers Bangladesh visit Financial Express Bangladesh. more >>
Bhutanese Govt. Set to Legalize Christianity allvoices. more >>
India, Pak foreign secys to meet in Thimphu next month Times of India. more >>

Yahoo News Bhutan

Bhutan police raid homes to stub out smoking habit. more >>
Bangladesh plans waterway transit for Bhutan. more >>
Thimphu thromde elections in pictures. more >>
Police raid homes in next step to smoke-free Bhutan. more >>
The worlds first smoke-free country?. more >>
Road show disappointing say tour operators. more >>
Who will Thimphus next mayor be?. more >>
Bhutan PM moots talks with India, Bangladesh on energy. more >>
The snowfall holiday. more >>
Indo-Pak Foreign Secretaries likely to meet in Thimphu next month. more >>

Bing News Bhutan

Women say Philadelphia abortions left them sterile, near death Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. more >>
First Indo-Bhutan Friendship Mela concludes in Assam Meri News. more >>
Drug Funds Buy New Drug Sniffing Dog msnbc.com. more >>
Waiting for the cranes Stuff. more >>
Women: Pa. abortions left us sterile, near death San Francisco Gate. more >>
Tunisia: Change is Possible Global Voices Online.org. more >>
January 23: 7 Best Moments From Sunday Talk Daily Beast. more >>
750,000 reasons to like Disney Cruise Line GADLING. more >>
Turning skills into jobs: Many refugees come to the U.S. with talents Deseret News. more >>
New Thai-Korean airline ready to take off Bangkok Post. more >>

Topix Bhutan

THIMPHU: What next?. more >>
2.5 percent unemployment rate achievable: PM. more >>
Unconventional centre?. more >>
Kinlay Dorjee is Thimphu thrompon. more >>
High-value, low-impact tourism development in Bhutan supported.. more >>
Holiday for no snow?. more >>
Sustainable Seattle launches Happiness Initiative: with happiness survey. more >>
More than twice over subscribed. more >>
Are drugs being irrationally prescribed?. more >>
Al Gore may grace occasion. more >>
Online. more >>
SAARC to get first woman secretary general. more >>
Up as expected. more >>
UNWTO Expresses Support for High-value, Low-impact Tourism Development in Bhutan. more >>
7 in 10 schools have 30-36 students a class. more >>
Hot off the shelf. more >>
The silent majority. more >>
Another hike on the near horizon. more >>
New name, bigger mandate. more >>
Sixty-fold revised fee put on hold. more >>