Research work on Dramitse Nga Cham

December 3 – A book containing research work on the Dramitse Nga Cham, proclaimed as a masterpiece of oral intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, was launched on December 1 by the prime minister in Thimphu. Research work on the book was coordinated by institute of language and cultural studies (ILCS) in Semtokha, and field research was done by Khenpo Wangchu Jamtso of Drametse. The project worth USD 80,000 was funded by UNESCO and Arirang in 2005. A total of 1,000 copies of the... Read more

public-private role

December 3 – The international finance corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank (WB), will extend its services and experiences, both as an advisor to the government and as a financier to the private sector, in developing infrastructure projects. “IFC will extend its services in developing infrastructure projects, especially in hydropower, air transportation, tourism and telecommunications,” said the vice-president of IFC for the Middle East and North Africa, East and South Asia, Rashad... Read more

Norway brings target within reach

December 3 – With a contribution of USD 300,000 (Norwegian krone 1,800,000) by one of the biggest donors, the Norwegian government, the Bhutan health trust fund (BHTF) inched closer to its target of creating a fund of USD 24 million. “We’re expecting to achieve the target, but we don’t know that yet,” said the executive director of the trust fund Leki Dorji. “We’ll know if we’ve achieved the target after we get the contribution by the end of this month.” This contribution by... Read more

25 new HIV cases detected in 2009

December 1 - The number of HIV/AIDS infected people in the country has increased to 185, with 25 new cases detected by the health ministry in the past year. Of the new cases, 21 were infected through sexual contact and three through infected mothers. Eleven, including a minor, are females, four of whom are between 25-29 years, three between 30-39 years, two between 15-19 years and one above 50 years. HIV AIDS chartAmong the 14 males, two are minors between 5-14 years and three between 25-29 years.... Read more

5th GNH conference concludes

26 November, 2009 – The Fifth International GNH conference in Iguacu, Brazil, ended on November 24 after prime minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley thanked all the participants for their support, which made it possible to hold the conference in South America for the first time. Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley, in his concluding remarks, also thanked the officials of Itaipu Binacional, the Future Vision institute, the mayor and people of Foz do Iguacu city. He said that the conference had been an... Read more

2 domestic airports by 2010

26 November, 2009 – Although not on schedule, Bhutan will have two operational domestic airports in Bumthang and Trashigang by 2010, according to the department of civil aviation (DCA). The aviation department will present to the cabinet, some time this week, an identified site for the construction of an airport in Bumthang. DCA director general, Phala Dorji, said that Bathpalathang has been identified on the basis of its low operating costs and high safety characteristics. Nine sites in Bumthang... Read more

Bhutan Standards Bureau to be established

November 26 – The Bhutan standards bureau, to be established after the Standards Bill 2009 is endorsed, will start with standardising the quality of construction material and processed food that are imported and exported. “We all talk about quality goods but what is good quality? The bureau will lay down the minimum standard that’s required,” said the works and human settlement minister, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba, after the third reading of the bill at the National Assembly yesterday. “For... Read more

No dress code imposed: GJMM

November 26 – The president of the Gorkha jan mukti morcha (GJMM) party, Bhimal Gurung, has denied that the party’s central body was imposing a dress code on Bhutanese students studying in the hill district of Darjeeling, India. “We want the students’ support on humanitarian grounds but, if they feel insecure, they aren’t imposed to wear their traditional dresses,” he told Kuensel in a telephonic interview yesterday morning. The cultural dress code was initiated by the GJM to strengthen... Read more

International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women

November 25: The International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women is celebrated globally on the November 25 every year. In Bhutan, Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women (RENEW) along with students and community of Babesa and the UN family in Bhutan observed the Day. It was graced by Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, the president of RENEW and the Goodwill ambassador of UNFPA. The theme for the day is “Commit. Act. Demand: We Can End violence against Women.” Speaking... Read more

In search for Chief Justice of Supreme Court

November 25 – The members of the newly formed Royal Commission met for the fourth time yesterday to accelerate the search for Bhutan’s first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The six commission members, who were appointed on November 20, are doing extensive research on existing laws and framing guidelines and criteria to nominate the Chief Justice, said a commission member. “We’re also trying to figure out what an eminent jurist means because, as per the Constitution, the Chief Justice... Read more

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