Monthly Archives: December, 0

The world’s biggest sporting event is on, the much awaited 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, will kick-off in few hours’ time. Though Bhutan has no international representation in the tournament, football fans in the Country are gripped by the fever.

Laughter therapy to relieve stress is widely known. Crying too is a stress therapy, in fact more effective and powerful than laughter, says a group of Japanese men who are advocating and advancing crying as a stress therapy by organizing a seminar called ‘Crying for Joy’. The group recently conducted the seminar in Thimphu.

The National Council members raised concerns on rising inflation as the Finance Minister presented the budget for the financial year 2014- 2015, today. According to the National Statistics Bureau (NSB), the inflation by the end of last year was 11.3 percent, indicating an inflationary pressure in the economy.

The National Assembly today passed the Parliamentary Entitlement Amendment Bill 2014. The MPs will now get salary equivalent to the constitutional post holders. The Speaker shall draw slightly higher salary than the Opposition Leader and the National Council Chairperson for his/her additional responsibility.

Farmers in most parts of Trashigang still use the traditional method to plough their fields. Unlike in the west, farmers rarely use power tillers. They say they find it expensive to own a power tiller or to hire it from those who have one. But in Rongthung village this year, the roaring sound of power tillers has overtaken the songs of men coaxing the oxen to plough the filed.

Passengers, hoteliers and bus drivers are not happy with a circular issued by the Bumthang Dzongkhag Administration recently. The circular says all passenger buses should be parked only in the designated bus parking area in the town.

The National Assembly today saw discussion on the vehicle tax revision. The government had proposed for 110 percent tax on all vehicles with 1,500 cc or below. However, after repeated pleas from the opposition members, the House decided to bring down the tax to 100 percent.

It’s been more than five years now since the people in Wamrong town in Trashigang lost their homes in a fire disaster. But even now, the people have not been able to rebuild their homes due to suspension of housing loans. Wamrong MP, Karma Tenzin, asked the Finance Minister if the government could provide housing loans to them to enable them to reconstruct their homes.

There is a very thin possibility in doing away with the Preliminary Examination (PE). However, it looks like university graduates will no longer have to sit for a common paper unlike the past. This is because the government together with the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) is in the process of discussion to set separate questions for graduates in different field. The issue was once again raised in the question hour session of the National Assembly, today.

Hundred and forty sets of power tillers will be distributed to the farmers next month, mostly for hiring purpose, under the current phase of the KR2 grant.