Page 5 - Bhutan

Incessant rainfall in Bhutan linked to Assam floods, say Officials

ASDMA said on Tuesday that the incessant rainfall in the upper catchment area of the neighbouring country is also responsible for the surge in Brahmaputra

Nepal's former deputy PM among 16 sent on remand in Bhutan refugee scam

As many as 16 people including the former deputy prime minister of Nepal were on Friday remanded to custody for further investigation into the Bhutanese refugee scam. The persons in custody allegedly collected large amounts of money from Nepali nationals, promising to help them relocate overseas as Bhutanese refugees. The Kathmandu District Court on Friday sent former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Balkrishna Khand, government secretary (now suspended) Tek Narayan Pande, former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa's security advisor Dr Indrajeet Rai, and Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal, who are facing charges of forgery, fraud and organised crime, to custody for further investigation into the scam, according to officials. Rayamajhi has now been suspended as the secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) party. The bench of Justice Prem Prasad Neupane however ordered to release two of those accused Tanka Gurung and Laxmi

Nepal ex-ministers among 30 people charged in fake Bhutanese refugee scam

Prosecutors in Nepal on Wednesday charged 30 people, including two former cabinet ministers over allegations that they collected large amounts of money from Nepali nationals, promising to help them relocate overseas as Bhutanese refugees. The District Attorney's Office here has filed a 224-page charge-sheet at the Kathmandu District Court. Former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand and former Deputy Prime Minister Tope Bahadur Rayamajhi were among 16 people arrested and charged, officials said. The remaining 14 are still absconding, they said. Rayamajhi has now been suspended as the secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) party. "Claim amount of Rs 270 million has been demanded from those who are sued," District Attorney Mahesh Khatri said. Those involved have allegedly swindled around 875 Nepali nationals of millions of rupees," according to the Kathmandu Post newspaper. The attorney office said all of the 30 individuals were prosecuted on four types o

India plans start-up exchange programme with Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan

India plans to bring in more cross-border start-up exchange programmes with neighbours

PNB to infuse Rs 72.82 cr in its Bhutan subsidiary Druk via rights issue

State-owned Punjab National Bank on Thursday said it proposed to infuse Rs 72.82 crore in its Bhutan subsidiary Druk PNB Bank Ltd via a rights issue. The board has approved participation in the proposed rights issue of Druk PNB Bank Ltd (DPNBL), an overseas subsidiary of the bank, for an amount of Rs 72,82,80,000, PNB said in a regulatory filing. PNB holds 51 per cent in the subsidiary as of now. DPNBL was incorporated on December 31, 2008, with FDI participation, it said. The indicative time period for completion of the rights issue is by the end of August 2023, it noted. The proposed rights issue of DPNBL of Bhutan is at a premium of Rs 7 (face value of Rs 10) -- Rs 17 per share, the filing said. After participation in the proposed rights issue of DPNBL, the Bank's shareholding will remain the same at 51 per cent.

Like Lanka and Pak, Bhutan to face huge losses if it sides with China: Rpt

While owing to its hegemonic desires, China claims the entirety of the plateau, India maintains the dignity of historical treaties

India, Bhutan closely coordinate on shared security interests: Kwatra

Against the backdrop of renewed focus on the Doklam tri-junction, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Tuesday held talks focusing on a five-point broad roadmap to expand the "time-tested" relations besides delving into shared national security interests. At a media briefing after the talks, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said India and Bhutan closely coordinate on shared national and security interests and that security concerns of both sides are intertwined and indivisible. The talks between Modi and the visiting King took place days after Bhutan's Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said that China has an equal say in resolving the border dispute relating to the strategically-located Doklam tri-junction. When asked whether the Doklam issue figured in the talks, Kwatra said India-Bhutan ties are based on mutual respect, trust, close understanding and sensitivity to each other's concerns, adding Modi and the King covered the entire gamut of ..

Bhutan FM talks about geopolitical tensions in Asia Economic Dialogue

He said that climate change has become a kind of universal phenomenon. He stressed that the biggest challenge for Bhutan in terms of climate change effect is the glacial lake outburst

Top headlines: RBI to frame norms for GIFT, India loses 2.02 mn taxpayers

Business Standard brings you the top headlines at this hour

India will always be reliable: Om Birla to Bhutan National Assembly speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said India would always be a reliable friend to Bhutan while noting the Rs 2,400-crore allocation for the neighbouring country in this year's Union Budget during a meeting with a Bhutanese Parliamentary delegation. The Bhutanese delegation, led by National Assembly Speaker Wangchuk Namgyal, also called on Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar in Parliament. The largest share of India's aid portfolio has been granted towards Bhutan with an allocation of Rs 2,400 crore -- constituting 41.04 per cent of the Ministry of External Affairs' development assistance -- in line with the country's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, Birla said the 'Neighborhood First' policy, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given a new direction to India-Bhutan relations. The Government of India has allocated Rs 2,400 crore from this year's Union Budget to Bhutan, Birla said, and added that it reflected the close ties between the tw

Bhutan DGPC handed keys to Indian-backed 720 Mw Mangdechhu hydro project

The India-assisted 720 Megawatts Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Power Project has been handed to Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) in Bhutan.The handover was held in Thimphu on December 27 in a ceremony that was witnessed by Bhutan's Minister of Economic Affairs Lyonpo Loknath Sharma and India's Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhakar Dalela.With the handing over of the project, India and Bhutan have successfully completed four mega hydroelectric power projects, Bhutan's Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a statement.The 720 MW project Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Power Project was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering in 2019. The commissioning of the project has increased Bhutan's Electrical Power Generation Capacity by 44 per cent and it is now at 2,326 Mega Watts, according to the statement released by Bhutan's Ministry of Economic Affairs.Indian Embassy in Bhutan tweeted, "Amb @SudhakarDalela joined Lyonpo Loknath Sharma to witness ...

US delivers 50,000 doses more of Pfizer Covid pediatric vaccine to Bhutan

US donated to Bhutan an additional 50,000 doses of Pfizer pediatric Covid vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, in partnership with COVAX and the Bhutan Foundation

India-Bhutan satellite testament to special relationship with people: PM

PM Narendra Modi commended the Department of Information Technology and Telecom (DITT) Bhutan and ISRO on the successful launch of the jointly developed satellite by both countries

India looking forward to expanding cooperation: Sitharaman tells Bhutan FM

Nirmala Sitharaman met her Bhutan counterpart Lyonpo Namgay Tshering in Washington and expressed India's wish to expand bilateral cooperation between the two countries including hydropower, Covid

Bhutan reopens to those willing to pay $200 per day visitor tax: Report

Bhutan has increased its Sustainable Development Fee from $65 a night as part of a "renewed focus of sustainability" in the government's strategy to attract "high value, low volume" tourism

WHO Regional Committee member countries vow to strengthen health systems

The 75th session of the Regional Committee for WHO South-East Asia concluded in Bhutan on Friday with member countries vowing to strengthen health systems, accelerating multisectoral actions and re-energising comprehensive primary health services to build societies that are more inclusive, equitable and resilient against present and future emergencies. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, said focus must be on identify vulnerable populations and how best their health needs can be addressed. We are at a history-defining juncture. Over the past two and a half years, the region and the world have witnessed immense transformative change, she said. "It is important for us not just to spend more on health, but to spend efficiently and spend equitably. Our focus must be on vulnerable populations, we must identify them and see how best we can address their needs. We cannot leave anyone behind as we seek to drive rapid and sustained progress towards universal ..

We must rejuvenate SAARC, says former Bhutan PM Tsering Tobgay

Tobgay's lecture was moderated by former Indian foreign secretary Shyam Saran, and part of a monthly series organised by the Centre for Policy Research, to mark Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

Bhutan confers its highest civilian award Ngadag Pel gi Khorlo on PM Modi

Bhutan on Friday conferred its highest civilian award Ngadag Pel gi Khorlo on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the country's National Day.

China signs MOU with Bhutan to resolve long-standing border issue

Continuing its assertive policy towards its neighbouring countries, China has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bhutan on the border issue.

Army will stand up to all external, internal threats: Vice Chief of staff

Adversaries with 'hegemonic' designs try altering status quo under false pretexts, but the Indian Army must, will stand up to all external and internal threats, Lt General Chandi Prasad Mohanty said