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The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Today, Bhutan Observer and BBS.
Bhutan Observer 10 December, 2011
Latest study shows Bhutan has lost 22% of its glaciers in last decade — Three reports published by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on December 4 coinciding with the Mountain Day in Durban, South Africa, provide the latest information on the status of climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. It is the first comprehensive account of glacier cover and pattern of snowfall in the region. The report titled ‘The Status of Glaciers in the HKH Region’ says the glaciers appear to be shrinking in both the central [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Today, Bhutan Observer, and BBS.
Kuensel Online 03 December, 2011
Corruption: relatively and really — Bhutan is a fairly clean country going by the corruption perception index (CPI) compiled by Transparency International. It is ranked 38th out of 183 nations; a reason to be happy, when most developing nations in the region are rife with corruption. But the CPI ranks countries based on how corrupt their public sector is “perceived to be”, and therefore there is no reason to be content about this ranking. The listing, according to TI, is not a verdict on the levels of corruption of entire nations or [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Today, Bhutan Observer, Business Bhutan, and BBS.
Bhutan Observer 26 November, 2011
PM shares nation’s dreams with college — The pale yellow of winter light slowly leaves the Changadephu hills. The wind is cold, and one can feel the silence. It is 2.30 pm, and the Royal Thimphu College is a beautiful picture out of sepia past. A group of men are tearing pine needles in front of the Executive Centre to be spread on the ground to welcome the prime minister for tea and a little chit-chat later. Down south of the campus, Aum Nim Dem, the registrar of the college, [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan and BBS.
Business Bhutan 19 November, 2011
Financial sector recorded 19% growth in July — As of July this year, the financial sector saw an increase in its total assets to a tune of Nu 55.7bn registering a commendable growth of 19.4% within a month from Nu 53.9bn in June. The total reserves of the commercial banks held with the central bank, the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), amounted to Nu 16.2bn in July which equaled 29.1% of its total assets. The commercial banks include the Bank of Bhutan, Bhutan National Bank, T-Bank, Druk Punjab National Bank and [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan, the Journalist, and BBS.
Kuensel Online 12 November, 2011
Part II:The heroes buried by time — According to the record of SUMI, the first school was established at Haa19. It stated as follows: “On request of Raja Ugyen Dorji, Dr. Sutherland sent two teachers to Haa. They opened a school there. The school worked for six months at Haa and six months at Kalimpong. So, Dr. Sutherland chose and sent Ugyen Chirring and Dawa Namgya Targyen to Haa in Bhutan. The first school in Bhutan prospered and the number of students increased annually. So other teachers went [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Today, Bhutan Observer, Business Bhutan, and BBS.
Business Bhutan 05 November, 2011
Countries most vulnerable to climate change to meet ahead of CoP17 — A group of 32 vulnerable countries, which created the Climate Change Vulnerable Forum, including Bhutan is set to meet in Dhaka, two weeks ahead of UN climate talks (the 17th Conference of Parties) in Durban, South Africa, to forge a common agenda for the negotiation. The Climate Vulnerable Forum includes countries from Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, representing some of the most vulnerable countries to the adverse impacts of climate change. The secretary of the National Environment Commission [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Today, Bhutan Observer, Business Bhutan and BBS.
Bhutan Observer 29 October, 2011
A suicidal GNH society — Suicide is increasingly becoming a bane of the Bhutanese society. Although we lack accurate information on the number of suicides, we know that it is on the rise by the year. Given many unreported cases, the actual number could be much higher than what is officially known.
Bhutan’s democracy poised for a ‘world model’ — Bhutan’s fledgling democracy – if ‘fledgling’ be allowed – has miles to go before it poses as an excellent model with its impeccable GNH anchorage. The latter at least [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan and the Bhutan Observer.
Business Bhutan 22 October, 2011
GNH defies WTO — A pilot test carried out to see whether Bhutan’s policy on ascension to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is in tandem with the country’s development philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) failed three years ago. Now, the prime minister has added fresh impetus on the issue declaring to Business Bhutan that any policy that fails the GNH screening test will not be adopted. Under the status quo, the debate on Bhutan’s ascension to the WTO stands as good as sealed. Bhutan will not join the WTO. “The [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan, and BBS.
Business Bhutan 15 October, 2011
Trust deficit in the region hampers SAARC’s progress — As a precursor to the 17th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meet that will be held in the capital of Maldives next month, a two-day knowledge sharing conference on regional cooperation and integration was held in Male last week. The meeting that mainly focused on economic and development issues discussed issues of economic integration in the region, trade in services, and regional public good for South Asia, among others.
The crowning moment — The Royal wedding, which in a manner of speaking [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Business Bhutan, Bhutan Today, Bhutan Observer, and BBS.
Business Bhutan 08 October, 2011
Is the RTI Act happening? — From the annals of history, past and recent, it is understood that power politics has centered on a key word – information. Information is power; it is cliché but true. And power by nature has the inherent vulnerability to be corrupt. This simple rationale should be a reason good enough to push for a law that guarantees right to information to every citizen in the country. Given that ours is a majority ruling government, the onus of introducing and implementing such laws falls on the [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Bhutan Observer, Business Bhutan, and The Journalist.
Business Bhutan 01 October, 2011
SAARC wants transparency while accessing global funds — The ninth SAARC Environment Ministers’ meet held this week in the capital reviewed the implementation of the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change, the Convention on Cooperation on Environment and other documents, plans and agreements signed in the past. The environment ministers also renewed their commitment towards a common regional stand on environmental issues. The agriculture and forest minister, Lyonpo Dr. Pema Gyamtsho (Phd), said SAARC countries will take a common stand at the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) which includes accessing the global fund [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Business Bhutan, and Bhutan Today.
Business Bhutan 24 September, 2011
Is the RTI Act happening? — From the annals of history, past and recent, it is understood that power politics has been centered on a key word – information. Information is power. And power by nature has the inherent vulnerability to be corrupt. This simple rationale should be a reason good enough to push for a law that guarantees right to information to every citizen in the country. Given that ours is a majority ruling government, the onus of introducing and implementing such laws falls on the government. This will serve the larger purpose [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Today, and Business Bhutan.
Kuensel Online 10 Septemebr, 2011
More scope for short-term trainings in India — Bhutanese civil servants will have more opportunities for short-term trainings and attachments in India. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) of India and the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) signed an understanding re-emphasising on importance of sharing expertise on civil matters, such as recruitment, selection and exchange of resource persons between the two commissions. The memorandum of understanding was signed by the RCSC chairman Thinley Gyamtsho and the UPSC chairman Professor DP Agarwal in Thimphu yesterday.
Bhutan Observer 10 September, 2011
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan, and Bhutan Observer.
Business Bhutan 03 September, 2011
Renewable energy policy contradicts Bhutan Electricity Act — The draft Renewable Energy (RE) Policy that bars private sector from identifying and developing renewable energy projects directly contradicts the Bhutan Electricity Authority (BEA) Act permits private sector to survey project sites and to apply for licenses. Clause 5.15 of RE policy under self identified renewable energy project, states that private agencies or individuals will be allowed and encouraged to identify and develop renewable energy projects other than hydropower projects. On the other hand, chapter three clause 21 of BEA Act 2001 states that [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Business Bhutan, Bhutan Observer, and Bhutan Today.
Business Bhutan 27 August, 2011
PM asks ACC to investigate Gyelpozhing land issue — The Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley has sent a written and formal request to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) on August 26 requesting it to launch a thorough investigation into the Gyalpozhing land grab issue raised by the media. The Prime Minister has said that he would be available for questions by the ACC. The letter sent by the cabinet secretary on behalf of the prime minister says, “In continuation to the verbal communication to you by the Attorney General a few [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Bhutan Today, Bhutan Observer, and Business Bhutan.
Bhutan Today, 20 August, 2011
The state of Bhutan’s media — In order to come up with a framework for serving as an operational guideline for the development of the media, ‘The Media Development Assessment’ was launched yesterday by Lyonpo Nandalal Rai, Ministry of Information and Communication (MoIC), here. Speaking on the occasion, Dasho Kinley Dorji, Secretary of MoIC, said that journalists must not see journalism as a job. “It is a profession with a great purpose of responsibility to the society, and more than a job.”
RTI Act will change nothing — In a [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan, Bhutan Observer, and BBS.
Kunesel Online 13 August, 2011
Next on agenda – Spread the good word — “We’ve agreed that happiness is a valid objective for society, for the world, for individuals,” said professor Jeffrey Sachs, at the end of the three-day ‘happiness and economic development’ conference yesterday in Thimphu. The conference, which was co-hosted by the prime minister Jigmi Y Thinley, and professor Jeffrey Sachs, not only saw a number of presentations and some highly intellectual discussions on happiness and GNH, its implementation, measurements, and practical relevance to humanity, but it also allowed those present to be organised [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Today, and Business Bhutan.
Business Bhutan 06 August, 2011
Three tips for a healtheir Bhutanese society — by Dasho Karma Ura Culture is economics: Produce and consume Bhutanese products, except distillery products and chillies in excess. The thousands of textile weavers depend for their livelihoods on us. Our choices are not neutral. A shift in our preferences towards machine woven fabrics chips away the skills and self-employment of weavers, and their incomes that support their households. Similar income loss is felt for the local agricultural producers if we choose relatively cheaper imported foods that substitute local foods.
Bright economic [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan, and The Journalist.
Bhutan Today 30 July, 2011
Bhutan still thinking — The Economic Affairs Minister Khandu Wangchuk said Bhutan will not be joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the foreseeable future. While the discussions are on “no decision will be taken abruptly.” The Minister of Agriculture and Forest Dr (PHD) Pema Gyamtsho said the issue needed thorough study and thought. “We have to give it a lot of consideration. It is a huge decision”. He said Nepal, who joined WTO about four years ago, has not made a significant difference. Only big countries like China [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan and The Journalist.
Business Bhutan 23 July, 2011
Fast developing Thimphu at risk of global warming impacts — Over the past few decades, the capital has transformed from a beautiful little town into a modern, concrete city. But urban expansion has come at the cost of severe environmental degradation. Climate change is putting the city at even greater risk. Thimphu is one of 15 cities in the world most vulnerable to the impact of global warming, according to a recent report by the International Institute for Environment and Development, a London-based research organization.
Rooting out [read more...]
On 19 July 2011 the United Nations general Assembly unanimously adopted resolution A/RES/65/309 entitled ‘Happiness: towards a holistic approach to development’. It is the first resolution that has been initiated by Bhutan and it was passed without a vote after Bhutan was able to secure the support of 68 co-sponsors.
In this special news section you will find the official documents and reports as well as news articles related to the subject.
United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/65/309
Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations
UN News Centre 19 July 2011
Happiness should have greater role in development policy – UN Member States — [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan, and The Journalist.
Business Bhutan 16 July, 2011
Video conferencing goes nationwide — The distance between the central government and dzongkhag administrations will be virtually cut down to nil, thanks to the Department of Information Technology and Telecom (DITT) for setting up video conference (VC) system connecting the 20 dzongkhags. This comes after video conferencing was first launched in the 10 ministries and the prime minister’s office nine months back.
Put religious and racial differences behind, worry more about economic disparity says HM to the graduates — A pleasant surprise it was. The King kissed the future queen [read more...]
The Weekly News-Roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan, and The Journalist.
Business Bhutan 09 July, 2011
The gaping holes in the fight against corruption — When the parliament was discussing the Anti Corruption Commission Report in this session, the ACC Chairperson, Dasho Neten Zangmo, was reprimanded by the speaker on the content of the report being too harsh. This is not the first time that the language describing corruption has been questioned for its severity. Not long ago, the prime minister, Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley, while addressing a gathering at Royal Institute of Management criticized the strong language used in the Royal Audit Authority (RAA) reports.
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled form Kuensel, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan, and The Journalist.
Business Bhutan 02 July, 2011
PM predicts strong economic growth for Bhutan, poverty removal goals on track — In his third annual report on the State of the Nation, the prime minister predicted strong growth rates for economic development in the country and highlighted the government’s achievement in rural and social infrastructure like roads and electricity among others for removal of poverty.
Pushing for state funding, PM says parties are institutions that make or destroy democracies — Setting the record straight in his State of the Nation report yesterday, Prime Minister lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley said that [read more...]
The Weekly News-Roundup for Bhutan for 18-24 June 2011 compiled from Kuensel Online, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Today, Business Bhutan, and The Journalist.
Kuensel Online 18 June, 2011
Where is it? — No bill ever received so much prominence in terms of number of years it took to be drafted, or deliberations it received at Parliament, or the due consideration for royal assent, as did the civil service bill. Some senior members of parliament said the Civil Service Act was granted the royal assent following its endorsement during a joint sitting of the Parliament towards the end of 2009. Royal Civil Service Commission officials, on the other hand, claimed to be unaware of such a [read more...]
The weekly news-roundup for politics in Bhutan, compiled form Kuensel, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Today, and Business Bhutan.
Bhutan Observer 11 June, 2011
Drup – The idea of nationhood — “Are you ready to die for your country?” The Bhutanese student looked at the American man, thought for a moment, and replied, “No, that would be crazy, who would want to die for a country?” This conversation between the UN delegate and the Class X student took place in the early days of the Sherubtse school (early 70s).
Business Bhutan 11 June, 2011
Bhutan joins regional initiative to end violence against children — n a recent move that strengthens the country’s commitment [read more...]
The Weekly News Roundup for politics in Bhutan: A collection of news from Kuensel, Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Today, and The Journalist.
Business Bhutan 04 June, 2011
Security Clearance goes online, better now than never — It was a long wait but worth the while. More than a year after the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs (MoHCA) publicized that security clearance certificate (SCC) can be obtained online, the ministry finally launched the system on Thursday.
Kuensel Online 04 June, 2011
2 among non-declarants claim they did — Following Kuensel’s story on public servants along with their names who failed to declare their assets, two officials wrote to the newspaper.With ‘acknowledgement [read more...]
The Weekly News Roundup for politics in Bhutan: A collection of news from Kuensel and Bhutan Observer.
Kuensel Online 28 May, 2011
The man who scooped the GNH story — ohn Elliot is one of three foreign journalists to have interviewed the fourth Druk Gyalpo. The interview, which took place in 1987, resulted in an article that is believed to be the first news report on GNH. John was recently in the country for the Mountain Echoes literary festival. Currently, he is the India contributor for Fortune magazine.
Kuensel Online 28 May, 2011
Penalties take the spotlight — Much of the deliberation on the anti corruption amendment bill yesterday revolved around penalties for Bhutanese caught in corrupt practices. In fact, [read more...]
This week’s news were dominated by two major topics. On the one hand two bomb blasts, one in the border town of Phuentsholing and one in Gelephu, as well as a third IED that could be defused only two days after the first blast in Phuentsholing, brought back fears of terrorism to Bhutan. Initial investigations and articles in Nepalese newspapers suggest that a barely known outfit called ‘Bhutan United Democratic Front’, which is affiliated with the ‘United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan’, both emanating from the refugee camps in Nepal, was responsible for the attacks.
On the other hand the inauguration of the 7th session of the 1st parliament and the subsequent discussions were a major topic. Also, in [read more...]
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