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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Bhutan

Bhutan stories: 7 news summaries

 Bhutan Crowns 
 28-Year-Old King 

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck heads newly democratic Himalayan nation

Nov 6, 08 2:39 PM CST
(Newser) - Bhutan, the world’s youngest democracy, has its youngest monarch today, with 28-year-old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck crowned king, the Telegraph reports. Reformist King Jigme Singye passed on the title on the heels of this year’s first-ever parliamentary elections. “What is important to me are the hopes and... More »

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Bhutan • royalty • monarchy • King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Laptop Ban Cuts Into Bhutan MPs' Computer Gaming

Speaker: "I have seen many of our lawmakers playing computer games when others are debating serious issues"

Jul 1, 08 11:58 AM CDT
(Newser) - Bhutan's parliament has banned members from bringing laptops to work in an attempt to keep lawmakers focused on government business, the BBC reports. "I have seen many of our lawmakers playing computer games when others are debating serious issues," said the speaker of the new democracy's National Assembly.... More »

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Bhutan • computer games

TRAVEL

 World's Diciest Landing Strips 

From the US to Bhutan, a tour of white-knuckle airports

Jun 29, 08 2:02 PM CDT
(Newser) - The scenery is spectacular, but lofty mountaintops, stiff trade winds, and abbreviated tarmacs make for teeth-clenching landings at the world’s most harrowing runways, per Travel and Leisure:
  • Paro Airport, Bhutan: Surrounded by 16,000-foot-high Himalayan peaks, what could possibly go wrong?
  • Barra Airport, Scotland: Hold on tight. The
... More »

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Bhutan • JFK Airport • runway • airport • Gibraltar • Reagan National Airport

 Democracy Comes to Bhutan 

Tiny kingdom peacefully shifts to constitutional monarchy

Mar 24, 08 12:41 PM CDT
(Newser) - The people of Bhutan went to the polls for the first time today, ending a century of absolute monarchy. Some voters were uneasy about the transition, AFP reports. “We are very happy,” said one. But “sometimes we worry because it’s a new system.” In an... More »

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democracy • Bhutan • voting • Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

 Bhutan to Measure Happiness 

Tiny nation calculates its Gross National Happiness

Mar 22, 08 10:31 AM CDT
(Newser) - The king of Bhutan decided 20 years ago to start measuring his people's well-being—dubbed Gross National Happiness—but he never quite figured out how to quantify the national mood. With the Bhutan's first democratic election on Monday, and modernization transforming the long-isolated country, a commission has been charged with... More »

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Bhutan • King Jigme Singye Wangchuck • happiness • democratic parliament • Karma Tshiteem • Democratic Constitutional Monarchy

'Grump' Finds Happiest Places

Author places Bhutan, Iceland at the top of his most joyous locales

Feb 13, 08 1:40 PM CST
(Newser) - When self-described grouch Eric Weiner packed his bags and set off to find personal bliss, one might've expected him to head for tropical weather or lavish settings. Au contraire, CNN reports: Weiner’s favorite countries were frigid Iceland and underdeveloped Bhutan. He found the most content people were those who... More »

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travel • Bhutan • Iceland • book • self-help • happiness • Eric Weiner • The Geography of Bliss

Bhutan Test-Drives Democracy

Himalayan kingdom
not sold on the ride
or the mileage

Apr 24, 07 3:28 PM CDT
(Newser) - The tiny Buddhist nation of Bhutan held a mock election Saturday in preparation for the transition from monarchy to democracy set for next year. The yellow thunder dragon defeated its blue, green, and red counterparts in the vote, a test run for the latest reform advocated by modernization-minded King Jigme... More »

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democracy • Bhutan • King Jigme Singye Wangchuck • government • monarchy • modernization

7 Stories


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