Bhutan news stories on Newser

What Makes This the World's Scariest Airport

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:53:05 CST

If you're a squeamish flier, you may want to stop reading right now. The Daily Mail reports on what is said to be the world's most dangerous airport—at the very least, Bhutan's Paro Airport seems to handily capture the title of most dangerous place to land. To wit, as...

In Bhutan, a Lavish Royal Wedding

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:01:10 CDT

The wedding of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, Bhutan’s fifth Dragon King, was an extravagant affair outside a sacred 17th century monastery fortress, featuring dancers performing traditional routines, singers chanting celebratory songs, and a procession of monks and flag bearers leading the soon-to-be-queen inside. Even so, there were no celebrities,...

Bhutan Monk Faces Prison —for Having Tobacco

John Johnson — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:22:05 CST

Bhutan is apparently not messing around with its strict new anti-smoking rules . Cops busted a 24-year-old monk and charged him with illegally possessing tobacco, a felony that could land him in jail for 5 years. Bhutan, which aims to become the world's first smoke-free nation, bans cigarette sales in the...

Smoking in Bhutan? Cops Can Raid Your Home

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:43:56 CST

It’s not a good time to be a smoker in Bhutan: In an effort to become the world’s first smoke-free nation, the Buddhist country will now allow police to raid homes in an effort to smoke out illegal smokers. Bhutan banned sales of tobacco in 2005, but it's often smuggled...

Bhutan Crowns 28-Year-Old King

Drew Nelles — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:39:45 CST

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 aspirations of the...

Laptop Ban Cuts Into Bhutan MPs' Computer Gaming

Sam Gale Rosen — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:58:08 CDT

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. Most MPs...

World's Diciest Landing Strips

Paul Stinson — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:02:03 CDT

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 roughness of...

Democracy Comes to Bhutan

Kevin Spak — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:41:53 CDT

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 unexpectedly strong showing, the Bhutan...

Bhutan to Measure Happiness

Katherine Thompson — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:31:04 CDT

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...