News
ETH Life, 11. Januar 2012
«Vater des Himalaja» im Alter von 101 Jahren gestorben
Der Schweizer Geologe und ehemalige ETH- und Uni-Professor Augusto Gansser ist am 9. Januar 2012 im Alter von 101 Jahren gestorben. Er starb in seinem Haus bei Lugano, wie der Corriere del Ticino heute berichtete.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, December 5, 2011
Tashi Air’s first aircraft arrives
8-seater Swiss turbo propeller airplane is here well in time for the Dec. 17 launch
Domestic Air Service. For the first time, a Bhutanese-owned aircraft, other than the national airline’s, touched down at Paro airport yesterday.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, October 13, 2011
Royal Wedding
The youngest reigning monarch of the world's youngest democracy, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 31, will today wed Jetsun Pema, 21, in a rich and solemn traditional religious ceremony fulfilling the wishes of the Bhutanese people in the Punakha Dzong that sits where the Pho chu and Mo chu rivers meet.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, September 19, 2011
Powerful tremor rock western Bhutan
A wave of panic gripped people across the country when tremors from an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hit Bhutan last evening around 6.40pm.
They lasted for less than a minute and was felt more in western Bhutan. It sent people pouring outdoors and kept them out for hours in fear of aftershocks. According to reports, it was milder in the east.
>>> pdf
Kuensel, September 1, 2011
Royal Wedding: Symbol released by committee
Two rings in gold entwined in front of a khorlo, and a scarf running through the rings on a lotus, is how the royal wedding symbol, which was released by the media and publication committee yesterday, looks.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, May 27, 2011
Fire victims suspect foul play
Even as police investigate the cause of the third Chamkhar town fire this early morning, victims suspect a foul play in the fire, which destroyed 22 houses including two traditional structures, office of the Bhutan post and Tashi cell.
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>>> pdf (more fotos)
Bhutan's 31-year-old king to marry
The 31-year-old king of Bhutan, an Oxford-educated bachelor crowned in the remote Himalayan country in 2008, set up another royal wedding on Friday by announcing his engagement. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who helped usher in democracy in the Buddhist nation, revealed his intention to marry 20-year-old student Jetsun Pema during an address to parliament.
"As king, it is now time for me to marry. After much thought I have decided that the wedding shall be later this year," he announced, according to a copy of the speech sent to AFP.
>>> AFP article (pdf)
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His Majesty's address to the 7th session of parliament (pdf)
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Royal Wedding announcement (jpg)
Journal21, 16. April 2011
Bruttosozialglück
Das Bruttosozialglück ist ein touristischer Renner, und es meldet sich bereits bei der Ankunft in Paro, dem einzigen Flughafen des Landes. Als wir landeten, staute sich die Schlange der Drukair-Passagiere vor den freundlichenBeamten – Alle in ihrem kuriosen Goh-Rock – durch die Halle bis hinaus auf den Tarmac.
>>> pdf
Südostschweiz, 14. April 2011
Wo der König dem Volk Demokratie verordnet
Alt Bundeskanzlerin Annemarie Huber-Hotz referierte am Sonntag im "Gartenflügel" über Bhutan. Der kleine Himalayastaat ist aus Sicht der Schweizer Entwicklungszusammenarbeit eine Erfolgsgeschichte.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, April 4, 2011
A shift of focus to the teens
Bhutan, which has done well for its children under ten, now needs to tend to adolescents. Although Bhutan has made an impressive mark in ensuring survival, development and education of children under the age of 10, with about 90 percent achievement, the focus
should now shift to adolescence.
>>> pdf
Kuensel, March 15, 2011
Cheque for Chamkhar fire victims
Society Switzerland-Bhutan (SSB) handed over a cheque of Nu 2.40M to Bumthang dzongda
yesterday as a contribution to His Majesty's kidu fund for the reconstruction of Chamkhar town in Bumthang.
>>> pdf
Schweizer Familie, 24. Februar 2011
Ein Königreich für einen Käser
Vor 40 Jahren baute Fritz Maurer in Bhutan die erste Käserei auf.
>>> pdf
Tentative Festival Dates for 2011
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, February 18 & 19, 2011
16 houses gutted in Chamkhar
A fire that broke out in Chamkhar town, Bumthang, around 1:30 am this morning gutted 16 houses on the left row of the town towards the Chamkhar bridge. One person has been reported killed.
>>> pdf February 18
>>> pdf February 19
Kuensel Online, November 16, 2010
Raffle over, rebuilding to begin
Now that the plot allotment has been done, work may start in earnest. The rebuilding of Chamkhar town that was devastated by a fire on October 26 will begin any day now, with temporary plots allotted to 64 affected individuals on Sunday through a raffle.
The plots were given to 13 vegetable vendors, two meat shops, four hotels with lodge, and 45 others, who operated general stores, restaurants and owned houses.
>>> pdf
Bhutan Broadcasting Service, October 26, 2010
59 shops razed, 1 charred to death
In one of the worst major fire disasters in the country, almost half the Chamkhar town in Bumthang has been completely razed to the ground by a fire at around 1.45 am today. The fire is said to have started from a mobile shop.
>>> pdf
NZZ, 19. Oktober 2010
Wagnis harmonische Entwicklung
Besuch des Premierministers von Bhutan, dem Land des Bruttonationalglücks
Jigme Thinley, Regierungschef von Bhutan, hat bei einem Besuch in der Schweiz über sein Entwicklungskonzept informiert, in dem die buddhistische Kultur und die Umwelt einen hohen Rang einnehmen.
>>> pdf
Eidgenössisches Volkswirtschaftsdepartement EVD, 18. Oktober 2010
Treffen zwischen Bundesrätin Micheline Calmy-Rey
und dem Premierminister von Bhutan, Jigme Thinley
Bundesrätin Micheline Calmy-Rey hat heute in Bern den Premierminister von Bhutan, Jigme Thinley, empfangen. Sie sprachen unter anderem über Entwicklungszusammenarbeit, Umwelt und Menschenrechte. Während seines Besuchs in der Schweiz traf sich Jigme Thinley auch mit Bundespräsidentin Doris Leuthard und Bundesrat Moritz Leuenberger zu Gesprächen.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, October 16, 2010
Bhutan exhibition's last bow
After travelling to six museums across the world since 2008 'The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan' exhibition, which offers a rare glimpse of Bhutan's rich and sacred repository of religious artifacts, came to a close on October 17 at the Rietberg museum in Zurich, Switzerland.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, October 16, 2010
Two-year diploma course on offer
Bhutanese students will no longer have to go abroad to study hotel and tourism management. They can stay home and study at the royal institute for tourism and hospitality (RITH), which was officially inaugurated yesterday. The institute offers international standard programs, said officials.
>>> pdf
September 20, 2010
Statement
by the Honourable Jigme Y. Thinley, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan, at the high-level plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the millennium development goals, New York
Ten years ago, we committed ourselves to the pursuit of the eight MDGs to raise human conditions beyond basic survival. We pledged to galvanize a partnership of rich and poor countries to eradicate poverty, hunger and disease. These goals have become a critical and coherent force to establish the minimum social, economic and ecological preconditions for the promotion of human well being. To these, my delegation would humbly like to propose the inclusion of a ninth goal.
>>> pdf
July 1, 2010
Address on the State of the Nation, 2009-2010
by the Honourable Prime Minister, Kingdom of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
It is with a great sense of honour and privilege that I report to the First Parliament of our Democratic Constitutional Monarchy and through it to my fellow citizens, the State of our Nation, 2009- 2010, upon having completed two years of democracy. As the Royal Government must always be guided by the goal of “Gross National Happiness” (GNH) and, as all state endeavors must be to create enabling conditions for the pursuit of happiness by our fellow citizens, my presentation is framed within the four pillars of GNH.
>>> pdf
June 17, 2010
After Master Card, now Visa
Less than a week after the oldest bank, Bank of Bhutan became a member of MasterCard, it has now become a primary member of Visa. Visa like MasterCard provides financial institutions the right to issue Visa-branded credit and debit cards used to its customers.
>>> pdf
June 10, 2010
Swiss support resumed
A project towards a better model of hospital management
Swiss-Bhutan Teamwork: Dr B Holzer, Bumthang dzongdag Sangye Thinley and Dr R Frey
Wangdicholing Hospital, Bumthang - An agreement signed by the health ministry on Monday will see the return of Swiss medical doctors to Bhutan, 16 years after the last one left.
The agreement resumes Swiss support to Wangdicholing hospital in Bumthang for three years. In that time, a project will be carried out, which will attempt to find a model, which increases the efficiency and quality of hospital management.
>>> pdf
Tagesanzeiger, 28. April 2010
«Burgen-Meyer» gräbt in Bhutan eine Festung aus
Werner Meyer, der Doyen der Schweizer Mittelalterarchäologie, legt im hintersten Winkel des Himalaja-Königreichs eine historische Anlage frei. Auch mit 72 ist der Basler Professor vom Pioniergeist beseelt.
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Kuensel Online, April 27, 2010
Only four make final cut
Four organisations, two related to women, a third on media and democracy and the fourth to promote entrepreneurship, are the first to get civil society organisation status after the CSO Act was passed in 2007.
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Bhutan Observer, April 23, 2010
Bhutan improves in press freedom index
Bhutan has steadily improved in the press freedom index compiled by Reporters Sans Frontières’ (Reporters without Borders), an international non-government organization, advocating freedom of press in the world. Bhutan was ranked 70th out of 175 countries in press freedom index 2009. Denmark was ranked number one and Eritrea took the last place. India was ranked 105th.
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Kuensel Online, April 22, 2010
The Thuksey Rinpoche I will always remember
The day before Thuksey Rinpoche came to Thimphu to amputate his legs earlier this month, we had the good fortune to spend some precious time with him. He was critically ill and in great pain, but he received us with his characteristic grace and humility.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, April 19, 2010
Thuksey rinpoche passes away
His Holiness the Lhalung Thuksey trulku, popularly known as Thuksey rinpoche, passed away yesterday in Thimphu, following an illness from prolonged diabetes. His Holiness was 59.
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April 18, 2010
Drukair in the Orient
The national airline, Drukair, is conducting feasibility studies to start operating to either Hong Kong or Singapore. The study will be completed by the year-end and Drukair will start operations to either destination by March 2011, said officials. Commercial general manager, Tshering Penjore, said that preliminary studies show that Bhutanese traffic to Singapore is mostly for official work, while with Hong Kong it is primarily commercial. “There’s good tourism appeal with Hong Kong,” he said.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, April 17, 2010
Tourism and the tariff
Can Bhutan bring in more tourists at a higher tariff? According to a majority of tour operators in the country that today number around 300 it may not be possible. In other words, it’s going to be difficult to meet the government’s target of bringing in 100,000 dollar paying tourists by 2013, when the official tariff goes up from USD 200 to USD 250 a day. Given the existing policy of ‘high value low volume’ tourism, USD 200 a day is generally seen as expensive, because it is assumed to be the cost of the daily visa fee.
>>> pdf
Bhutan Today, April 13, 2010
Bhutan The only “climate negative “country
We may top the list amongst countries as the one that keeps historians busy by changing global history frequently. The last time we did this was when we became the world’s youngest democracy. Yesterday, we added another chapter by becoming the only country amongst 194 United Nation member countries to formally declare ourselves as “climate negative” . We are today the only country that take in or soak more green house gases than we emit.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, March 18, 2010
Philanthropist funds forestry studies
UNESCO goodwill ambassador and the founder of South Asia foundation (SAF), Madanjeet Singh, has committed to donate USD 1 million to help start a centre for South Asia forestry studies in Bhutan.
>>> pdf
Business Bhutan, March 13, 2010
Druk Air plans new flight to Guwahati
Druk Air is mulling a flight to the capital of the neighboring Indian state of Assam, Guwahati, a prominent business destination for many Bhutanese. "The situation has improved drastically over a few months," the Consul General of the Bhutan Consulate at Kolkota, Dasho Tshering Wangda, told Business Bhutan over phone referring to the security scenario along the Indo-Bhutan border. He had met with the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and proposed the Paro-Guwahati flight.
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BBSC, January 14, 2010
Tour operators confused over tariff liberalisation
An executive order from the cabinet to liberalise tariff for tourists has left many tour operators in the country in a state of confusion. The executive order was issued in November last year. The order says that this is being done to attract at least 100,000 tourists by 2012. Most tour operators said this will have a serious impact on the culture and identity of the country.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, January 2, 2010
Book Drukair tickets online
Drukair, the national airline, launched yesterday an internet-based reservation system that will allow booking of Drukair tickets online. The reservation system, which is linked to the Drukair website, has two categories to cater to businesses and individual customers.
>>> pdf
October 22, 2009
Bhutan’s internal migration rate highest in South Asia
At six percent, Bhutan’s internal migration rate is the highest in South Asia, according to UNDP’s human development report (HDR) launched yesterday in Thimphu. The main factor that triggers this movement is education and employment, said the works and human settlement minister Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, September 27, 2009 / Book review
Celebrating the traditional Bhutanese woman
Taking inspiration from the lives of ordinary women in rural Bhutan and from her own experiences, Kunzang Choden’s latest book, Tales in Colour and Other Stories, provides us stimulating tales about Bhutanese women, who, in the face of changing and often difficult circumstances, manage to negotiate or find a way through it and over it all.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, July 13, 2009
Swiss study says otherwise
Contrary to conventional wisdom, study says no decline
In what may be at variance to several studies that say the quality of Bhutanese education is on the decline, a new study concludes that the quality of basic education (classes PP-X) has improved despite factors that hamper the implementation of high quality education.
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Bhutan Times, July 5, 2009
Bhutan at a lower risk of failure in South Asia
Bhutan has managed to duck the list of the top 25 faltering states in the world, according to the American bimonthly magazine, Foreign Policy. The magazine, owned by the Washington Post company, in its 2009 survey of failing states or those at the risk of failure, states that all of India’s neighbors, ‘except for tiny Bhutan’, figure in the top 25 list.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, May 27, 2009
Bhutan hit by record rainfall and floods
Bhutan experienced recordbreaking rainfall in the last three days as numerous streams and rivers in the country surged to dangerous flood levels, killing two students, a soldier, and a road construction employee from India, as well as cutting off several places as roads and bridges were damaged.
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Flood news from across the land
By 4:30 pm yesterday Paro-Thimphu road was blocked at Ramtokto. As rain beat down on the country, lives and belongings were lost. A Thimphu student died yesterday when a bridge he was crossing at Semtokha collapsed into the Olaronchu stream, which had swollen because of the rain. His body is yet to be found. The class six student was on his way to the Loselling lower secondary school, located near the Changjiji complex, along with two other schoolmates.
>>> pdf
Kuensel Online, May 25, 2009
Bhutan’s big jump 1985-09
Bhutan has made tremendous progress in socio-economic development in the last 24 years, says a study by the national statistical bureau (NSB). The report titled ‘Comparative socio economic indicators for Bhutan,” compares the gross domestic product (GDP), revenue and finance, health, education, agriculture, transport and communications of March 2009 with 1985.
>>> pdf
May 4, 2009
BBS Bhutan-Canada Foundation launched
The Bhutan-Canada Foundation, a non-government organization, was formally launched today. The establishment of the foundation follows the withdrawal of official Canadian assistance to Bhutan in December last year. It will explore avenues of cooperation in the education sector, in particular support to education reform initiatives in Bhutan. The foundation will arrange to send certified teachers from Canada to schools in Bhutan in the immediate future. These teachers will teach Mathematics, Science, and English to meet the existing teacher shortage in Bhutan. The foundation will also arrange scholarships for Bhutanese studying in Canadian schools and universities and explore avenues for health professionals. Mr. Graham David Blyth, the chairman of Blyth Education, Toronto, is the founder and the chairman of the Bhutan-Canada foundation. The Bhutan office will be headed by Ms. Nancy Strickland, the former head of the Canadian Cooperation Office in Bhutan. The Minister of Labour and Human Resources Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi was also present at the launch.
Kuensel Online, March 14, 2009
The blind side of Bhutanese Buddhism
Why do you practice Buddhism? “To fulfill my desires, get a good job and earn more money,” said a class 9 Yangchenphug student, who had just completed his daily routine of circumambulating the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu...
>>> pdf
Swiss Info
March 29, 2008 - 10:39 AM
Bhutan takes first step towards democracy
More than 70 per cent of voters turned out to elect Bhutan's National Assembly Bhutan - a long-time recipient of Swiss development aid – earlier this week renounced its absolute monarchy after legislative elections in the country. The move is part of the democratic transition taking place in Bhutan, which is about the same size as Switzerland. "If there is a country in the region that can introduce and live democracy, it's Bhutan," Werner Kuelling, local head of Swiss aid organisation Helvetas, said after the elections which ended a century of absolute monarchy. The elections, with a 79 per cent turnout, resulted in a win for the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (DPT), which is led by a former prime minister who studied in the United States. It was a crushing victory - 45 seats compared with two won by the People's Democratic Party led by the king's uncle. This "tidal wave" was a surprise, Kuelling says. He feels the people did not want a party that was close to the royal family, which has a monopoly on economic power. But he adds that essentially the two parties' programmes were quite close, with infrastructure and economic development on both agendas. Kuelling believes the lack of a real opposition "is not good for democracy in Bhutan and comes from playing the democratic game", but he remains optimistic about the future. After official confirmation of the results, the winning party must now form a government and its leader will become the first prime minister of the country chosen by universal suffrage. A new constitution will also be voted on, after which the king is due to hand over many of his powers.
