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Controversial mines fall into chink in administrative armour
20 August, 2008 - A recent inter-ministerial report said that the Bjemina stone quarries of the Singye Group were being mined unscientifically. Kuensel has learnt that the department of forests(DoF) under the agriculture ministry ignored mining laws to renew quarrying rights to Singye Company for Bjemina in 2006 up to 2016 and issued a new quarry in Wangdiphodrang to Damchen Company in 2000.
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The missing piece of the democratic jigsaw
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20 August, 2008 - Bhutan’s transition to parliamentary democracy will be completed with the establishment of the Supreme Court, which, according to the Constitution, will be its custodian.
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Dialysis can’t meet demand
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| Four machines service 36 patients when one serves two patients a day |
20 August, 2008 - The shortage of kidney dialysis machines in Thimphu referral hospital has reached a critical stage, say health officials.
There are four kidney dialysis machines but an average of 36 patients come for the treatment. One machine can accommodate two patients a day.
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Getting ready for the BIG Day
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20 August, 2008 - Students of Zilukha LSS rehearsing for the Coronation
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The next round will see 10 selected out of 20
20 August, 2008 - Twenty selected participants from across the country are showcasing their best voices on national television to become country’s first BT Star of the Year.
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The ongoing GAO versus gup wrangle
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GYT Act and GNH ToR put respective roles in contention
19 August, 2008 - Long after the government appointed college graduates as gewog administrative officers (GAO), Zhemgang’s gups and the graduates are caught up in a power tussle. Some have even stopped speaking with one other.
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Will the bill work when the ban did not?
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19 August, 2008 - When members of the national committee for tobacco control met in Thimphu on August 13 to discuss the Tobacco Bill, the meeting revealed how ineffective the ban on tobacco has been.
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Secretariat set to start construction
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| The model of the secretariat building at its initial stage |
18 August, 2008 - The plan for a government secretariat building, which many thought was shelved, is right on track, according to department of urban development and engineering services (DUDES) officials.
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Bumper apple crop in Paro
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A complete turnaround from last year’s record low
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| Rosy outlook - More apples this year of better size and quality |
18 August, 2008 - Paro farmers are all smiles these days and with excellent reasons.
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Closer port of call for eastern exporters
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New trade route in renewed Bangla-Bhutan agreement
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| Balancing trade – Bhutan and Bangladesh in a give and take relationship |
18 August, 2008 - Eastern Bhutan exporters will no longer have to come all the way from Samdrupjongkhar to Burimari near Siliguri in India, covering some 200 km, to sell their goods.
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Caught between a deadline and rockslides
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Fragile terrain not road widening to blame for
spate of accidents
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| DOUBLE JEOPARDY - Danger both to men at work and vehicular traffic |
18 August, 2008 - With more than a score people killed in accidents at the ongoing Phuentsholing-Thimphu road broadening project sites, Dantak officials said that it was not fair to blame their work.
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Two expelled, four suspended from Gaeddug college
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18 August, 2008 - Less than a month after the new Gaeddug college of business opened, the institute’s discipline committee has terminated two students and suspended four others for breaking college rules on August 11.
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18 August, 2008 - The agriculture minister, lyonpo (Dr) Pema Gyamtsho inaugurated the Ugyen Wangchuck environmental and forestry institute (UWEFI) at Lamigonpa in Bumthang on August 13.
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Booked for decline in education
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Finger of blame points to poor quality and dearth of textbooks as well
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ONE 4 TWO – Tandin Passang sharing science text book |
16 August, 2008 - There’s more to the decline in the nation’s educational standards than just a deficiency of teachers.
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India community celebrates 62nd birthday
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| Their Majesties the Queens, Her Royal Highness, the Prime Minister, and Ambassador Vyas cutting the cake presented by His Majesty the King on the occasion of the 62nd Independence Day of India |
16 August, 2008 - “I’m touched by the thoughtful gesture of His Majesty the King,” said the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, Mr Sudhir Vyas, as members of the Royal Family, Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley and the ambassador cut the cake presented by His Majesty on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of India’s Independence Day yesterday.
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US $ | 42.90 |
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British £ | 79.65 |
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Sing $ | 30.25 |
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Euro € | 62.90 |
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Swiss Franc | 39.05 |
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Hongkong $ | 5.40 |
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Canadian $ | 40.30 |
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Australian $ | 37.15 |
| Jap. Yen(100) | 39.05 | |
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Source: BNB, Thimphu
Updated for August 20 2008
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