 |
| 
|
Bhutan and India: History stays alive
|
|
 |
| Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and His Majesty the King in New Delhi in 2004
(File picture)
|
14 May, 2008 - Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh of India is visiting Bhutan in one of the most historic years of the kingdom’s modern history. Bhutan and India have planned a string of historical events for the two-day visit.
|
|
The pros and cons of a pay hike
|
|
14 May, 2008 - The first pay commission of Bhutan will have its hands full over the next four months in deciding a revised pay structure for government employees. Already rumours of a substantial hike are making the rounds. However, the commission will be facing a series of daunting issues like fund availability, performance improvement, inflation, fiscal health, effect on society and the corporate sector.
|
|
14 May, 2008 - At a glance Ugyen Tenzin, 23, looks normal. He’s a tall, well dressed, good looking young man. But he is perpetually in a warped state of mind.
|
|
How to spend Nu 54 billion
|
|
12 May, 2008 - Construction and procurement activities, which take up almost 40 percent of total government expenditure, have always invited controversy, scams and corruption inquiries.
In fact, a recent Transparency International study shows that Bhutan in 2007 dropped 14 places in the corruption index from 32 in 2006 to 46 in 2007.
|
|
12 May, 2008 - Hundreds of one-metre tall concrete blocks, used as road dividers along the widened Doebum lam, which stretches from the memorial chorten to Chubachu, has raised a lot of concern among Thimphu residents regarding pedestrian safety as well as its lack of aesthetic value.
|
|
Prioritizing food production, the RDTC way
|
|
 |
| The rural development training centre: Towards uplifting farmers
|
12 May, 2008 - When Pasang Wangmo dropped out of class 10, she stayed home to help the family manage its small dairy farm of three jersey cows and a few other local cattle in Kabjisa, Punakha.
As a daily routine, she fed the herd, milked them and sold the products at a local market. Three weeks ago, the 19-year-old went to Zhemgang to attend a course at the rural development training centre (RDTC).
|
|
A conversation with the Hong Kong ‘chimi’
|
|
 |
| Dr Brian C J Shaw |
12 May, 2008 - Dr Brian C J Shaw, honorary research fellow at the centre for Asian studies, university of Hong Kong, has attended the National Assembly since the 1990s. Dr Shaw shares his views on the new parliament.
|
|
Corporate culture set to change
|
|
12 May, 2008 - CEOs of companies under Druk holding and investment (DHI) were told that they should focus more on customer services to develop a new corporate culture that can keep up with change.
|
|
A shared vision for the future
|
|
 |
| The three visually-challenged sisters of Gomchu
|
12 May, 2008 - The three small bamboo huts stand close to each other, their thin roofs shaking in the wind. The porous walls make it easy to see everything inside.
The single-room huts serve as a bedroom and kitchen. Tins and old clothes lie stacked in a corner while water boils in an aluminum kettle on a mud stove at the other end.
|
|
12 May, 2008 - The first batch of ten Thai volunteers will be in the country by the end of the year to provide technical support in agriculture, public health, tourism and vocational institutes.
The duration will be for a year which can be extended for another year.
|
 |
| A mix of medieval traditional designs and innovative modern technology. Photo by Jigme Choki AEO Punakha
|
12 May, 2008 - The only wooden bridge, with the longest unsupported span worldwide, considering the applied structural methods, the 55 m long Puna Mochhu bazam at Punakha will be opened to the public today by Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley and executive chairman of Pro Bhutan Association, Harald N Nestroy.
|
|
Essay competition winners
|
|
12 May, 2008 - Businessman and religious writer for the weekly Bhutan Observer, Phuntshok Rabten, has won the essay competition to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
|
|
His Majesty’s address at the first session of parliament
|
|
10 May, 2008 - It is with deep personal satisfaction and happiness that I address this inaugural session of Parliament. After all, it is in a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity that we are gathered today to celebrate our nation’s historic achievement of a unique democratic transition.
|
|
From the Druk Gyalpo to the people
|
|
 |
| His Majesty the King being escorted to the Assembly hall |
10 May, 2008 - Bhutan’s deeply revered Monarchy handed over the reigns of governance to the people on May 8, the third day of the fourth month.
The people of Bhutan watched in emotional silence as His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck formally announced the transition at a historic joint sitting of parliament in Thimphu.
|
|
10 May, 2008 - As Bhutan’s first parliamentary session got down to business, the first debate was on the draft Constitution. The focus was not on content but on the debate itself, and the parliament decided to discuss the draft, more to understand than to change it.
|
| |
 |
|
US $ | 40.95 |
|
British £ | 80.05 |
|
Sing $ | 29.90 |
|
Euro € | 63.35 |
|
Swiss Franc | 39.30 |
|
Hongkong $ | 5.25 |
|
Canadian $ | 40.60 |
|
Australian $ | 38.55 |
|
Jap. Yen(100) | 39.75 | |
|
Source: BNB, Thimphu
Updated for May 12 2008
|  |
|
|
