January-June 2010 25 July, 2010 - As always, Thimphu has recorded a higher number of vehicle accidents than any other dzongkhag across the nation so far this year.

Records with the traffic division of police showed 49 vehicle accidents from January till date, all of which occurred along the six-kilometre notorious expressway.

Farmers of Babesa last cultivated their land in 2006

Q & A 24 July, 2010 - With the government targeting a 65 percent or even more rice self-sufficiency level by 2012, Kuensel talked to Nicholas Minot, a senior researcher of the international food policy research institute (IFPRI), on the costs and impact of such a food security policy. Nicholas Minot, in collaboration with Bhutanese researchers, recently published a research paper on the issue.

Foreign Workers Recruitment Agencies 25 July, 2010 - Four years after foreign workers recruitment agencies (FWRA) were started in Bhutan, numerous complaints and issues on their operation and functioning have been reported, mainly from the construction sector, according to regional labour and employment officials.

In action: A wind mast being erected at Tsimasham Photo: Nar Bahadur

Renewal Energy Division 25 July, 2010 - If the morning wind in Tshimasham is like blowing from a fan, Wangduephodrang is called Windy Phodrang because of the strong winds, which many believe come from a “wind hole” behind the dzong.

EVE TEASING 25 July, 2010 - It might seem a little outlandish to find women, especially in Thimphu, carrying chili powder or tiny Swiss knives with their cosmetics in their handbags these days.

Part I 25 July, 2010 - “He was quite a character, and posed himself for this picture with his human thigh-bone trumpet and skull drum.” This is how John Claude White (1853-1918)1 described the traditional healer (shown in the photo) of the first king of Bhutan, Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck (1862-1926).

24 July, 2010 - It takes only about six minutes to reach Thimphu city from the start of the 6.2 km Babesa-Thimphu expressway. But creating the fastest drive through the double lane road went through the slowest process of road making in modern Bhutanese history, averaging one km a year. Delayed by more than three years, one of the contractors was slapped with a penalty of Nu 2.5M.

Druk PNB Shares 24 July, 2010 - When a 45-year old businessman in Phuentsholing went to the RICBL office yesterday afternoon to claim his refund on the excess investment made for Druk PNB shares, his name was not the list.

24 July, 2010 - HH the Je Khenpo will conduct the ceremonies tomorrow at Kuenselphodrang

By Rain And Gravity: A scene on the Samdrupjongkhar-Trashigang that’s replicated across the country

24 July, 2010 - Massive landslides triggered by continuous heavy rains has cut off Trashigang, Sarpang, Zhemgang and Phuentsholing from the rest of the country for about three days, show records with the department of roads (DoR).

Request approved: Work exceeding 12 months can claim for cost escalation File photo

Construction Reforms 20 July, 2010 - One of the continuous requests, which contractors had made to the government, has finally come through. Contractors will now be able to claim cost escalation and price adjustments for work duration exceeding 12 months.

A house damaged in Drametse, Mongar. by the September 21, 2009, earthquake File photo

Rural Insurance Scheme 20 July, 2010 - The home ministry has agreed to the proposal of allowing villagers owning two houses in the same location to get both covered under the government’s rural insurance scheme.

At One’s Own Risk: The carrying capacity of 1,000 kg is stretched on a daily basis

20 July, 2010 - The pressure on the Khoma suspension bridge from carrying light vehicles, besides horses laden with goods and farmers, will be lifted after the completion of the motorable bridge over the Kurichu at Khoma.

20 July, 2010 - Despite a reluctance to work in India and a lack of analytical skills, Bhutanese graduates have again been offered free training and possible employment by leading multinational IT company, Infosys.

20 July, 2010 - Five camera-traps set in the Jigme Dorji national park by a team from the British broadcasting service and the national geographic for a documentary production have gone missing.

India International Travel Mart 20 July, 2010 - “Many people here think Bhutan is just another state of India,” said a Bhutanese tour operator, representing the country at the India international travel mart (IITM) in Chennai, India.

Regularising A Routine: The workforce from across the border is both plentiful and cheap

Day Workers 20 July, 2010 - The labour ministry says that it is working on enforcing an old rule that has never been implemented – ensuring that day workers from across the border have work permits to work in the Bhutanese border towns.

19 July, 2010 - Not long ago Bhutanese women wore kira with big hemchus (pockets) and the hemline openly displaying the ankles of sturdy barefooted women. This image is construed from the black and white pictures from books on Bhutan; and from old grannies, who still wear their kiras the old way.

19 July, 2010 - A 17-year-old immigrant worker from India talks candidly about how he came to Bhutan, and his life in Thimphu as a construction worker. In another documentary, a sweeper at the centenary farmers’ market is the main subject. These raw but impressive short films were one of the five documentaries a group of 17 students produced over their summer holidays.