Bhutan imports octopus meat

May 14- Apart from beef, pork, chicken and fish, Bhutan also imports octopus meat, rabbit meat, prawn and crab from Thailand and India, according to records maintained by the Bhutan agriculture and food regulatory authority (BAFRA). BAFRA records show that the first imports of sea food products like octopus, prawn and crab from Bangkok starting in 2007. Within a year the import of octopus meat increased from 71 kg to 109 kg. Prawn imports increased from 30 kg to a whooping 2,173 kg. “Foreigners,... Read more

Japan approves proposals

13 May – The government of Japan will provide technical cooperation to Bhutan in farm road bridge design, strengthening local governance and developing a solid waste management programme, according to officials of the gross national happiness (GNH) commission. “We had put in five proposals in 2009 under technical cooperation and three have been approved,” GNH secretary Karma Tshiteem said. GNH officials learnt of these developments yesterday during the sixth ODA/JICA seminar in Thimphu.... Read more

King of Tonga arrives in the Kingdom

May 12: His Majesty the King George Tupou V of the Kingdom of Tonga arrived in the country on a five-day official visit today. On arrival at the Paro airport He was received by Her Royal Highness the Princess Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, Cabinet Ministers, speaker of the National Assembly, the National Council Chairperson, the Opposition Leader and other senior government officials. This is his third visit to Bhutan. He visited Bhutan in 2002 and 2007. His Majesty King George Tupou V ascended the... Read more

Celebrating the 100th anniversary Dilgo Khentse

May 12: This year marks the 100th birth anniversary of His Holiness the late Kyabje Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche. To pay tribute and celebrate the main accomplishment of His Holiness a three day special prayer ceremony is being conducted at the Satsam Chorten, Paro. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo attended the ceremony yesterday. Around 300 monks including Anims and Trulkus from Bumthang Kharchu, Tharpaling, Lhalung, Nimalung and Wangsisina Dratshangs are performing the payer ceremony. It is being presided... Read more

Fifth South Asia Research Workshop

May 6 - Although Bhutan is yet to join the South Asia consortium for interdisciplinary water resources studies (Saci WATERs), where India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are already members, the fifth south Asia research workshop was held for the first time in Bhutan on May 3 at Hotel Taj in the capital. The workshop was organised in Bhutan by the royal society for protection of nature (RSPN), combined with Saci WATERs. The workshop focused on privatisation of water services, human wellbeing, urbanisation... Read more

Grant for Rukubji smart-grid

May 4 – A team from Humboldt State university (HSU), California, won a USD 75,000 grant from the US environmental protection agency (EPA) for prototyping a smart-grid electrical system in Bhutan. The grant will finance research and installation of a low-cost, micro-hydroelectric smart grid system in Rukubji, Wangduephodrang, over the next two years. With assistance from energy department under economic affairs ministry, Bhutan Power corporation (BPC) and the community of Rukubji will execute... Read more

The Annual Media Award

May 3: The annual media award was held today coinciding with the International Press Freedom Day. The award ceremony was organised at the Tarayana conference hall. The awards were given by the guests at the ceremony including the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley and the keynote speaker, the former editor of the Statesman, Sunanda K. Datta Ray. Journalists competed in five categories. These are environment, culture, economy, good governance and discussions on GNH. Under the environment category,... Read more

16th SAARC summit concludes

April 29: The 16th SAARC summit ended today with the adoption of the “Thimphu Silver Jubilee Declaration- Towards a Green and Happy South Asia.” In his closing speech, the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley described the deliberations as most instructive and productive. But he said the true test of the success of the summit lies in the difference the decisions will make to the lives of the millions of the poor and deprived in SAARC countries. The summit decided to develop a vision statement... Read more

Heads of State arrive for the SAARC summit

The Heads of State of Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan arrived for the 16th SAARC summit yesterday. On arrival, they were received by the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley at the Paro International Airport. Later in the afternoon, the Heads of State had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister. Bhutan and Bangladesh discuss need to explore trade routes Meeting with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, the two leaders discussed the need to expand trade and explore routes... Read more

Fifth SAARC Journalists Summit

April 26: About 90 journalists and media personnel from south Asia have arrived in Paro to attend the fifth SAARC journalists’ summit, which Bhutan is hosting for the first time and will take place alongside the 16th SAARC summit. Themed ‘Environment and South Asia,’ the summit begins at 6:00 pm today at Zhiwaling hotel with the prime minister, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley, as the chief guest. Foreign ministers of the eight SAARC countries are also expected to interact with all participants of... Read more

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