No idea. That one really puzzled me.
The only thing I could think of was if Modi had a dispute with them and he is a Trump buddy.
Itâs the 21st century, and people are still advocating for conversion therapy?
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Countries that do not have diplomatic relations with the United States:
- Iran
- North Korea
- Syria
- Palestine
- Bhutan
Let me modify my question then. Why doesnât the US have diplomatic relations with Bhutan? They really donât fit with the others on the list.
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10 things you didn't know about Bhutan | KE Adventure Travel!
âBhutanâs Gross National Happiness (GNH) index stands as a pioneering model that measures the countryâs prosperity by gauging its citizensâ happiness levels over economic growth. This concept was first introduced in the 1970âs by the fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, as a way to measure the countryâs progress and development. Bhutanâs emphasis on happiness has led to policies and practices that prioritise the well-being of its people, such as free healthcare and education, sustainable tourism and the conservation of its environment and culture. Bhutan remains the only country in the world to officially implement GNH!â
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I asked this question to a few people that told me it might be related to some Nepali refugees that were living in Bhutan.
I had never heard of this before.
Bhutan was intentionally isolationist until recent years. They have diplomatic relations with only 54 countries. In 2010, it was only 23 countries.
Some of what Iâm seeing is that their mission to the UN is their de facto embassy to the US, and given their relative small size and limited contact with the outside worldâŚitâs probably been âgood enoughâ until now (just as the USâs de facto embassy to Bhutan as been the embassy in India).
They also do not have formal relations with the UK, France, Russia, China (Beijing or Taiwan).
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So they are Wakanda? Sucks if the Nepali thing is legit. Like the concept of the happiness quotient though.
I think Bhutan relied on India for foriegn relations for some time since theyâre pretty poor so canât afford many embassies etc.
The ethnic cleansing is real. Complicated of course. IIRC a big driver was like 10th generation Nepalese living in the lowlands had no proof they were Bhutanese.
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I conclude Bhutan is not important enough for the USA to bother setting up formal diplomatic relations with.
Canada has had a close relationship with Bhutan since the 60s when we provided aid on their education system. Probably only twenty years since diplomatic relations were formalized though. It is a popular destination for affluent Canadian travellers and has long been on my bucket list as everyone I know who has gone there loved it, including a good friend who did several actuarial gigs there.
As the DoD took it down, Iâll repost the Medal of Honor citation for Charles Calvin Rogers.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col. Rogers, Field Artillery, distinguished himself in action while serving as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, during the defense of a forward fire support base. In the early morning hours, the fire support base was subjected to a concentrated bombardment of heavy mortar, rocket, and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Simultaneously the position was struck by a human wave ground assault, led by sappers who breached the defensive barriers with bangalore torpedoes and penetrated the defensive perimeter. Lt. Col. Rogers with complete disregard for his safety moved through the hail of fragments from bursting enemy rounds to the embattled area. He aggressively rallied the dazed artillery crewmen to man their howitzers and he directed their fire on the assaulting enemy. Although knocked to the ground and wounded by an exploding round, Lt. Col. Rogers sprang to his feet and led a small counterattack force against an enemy element that had penetrated the howitzer position. Although painfully wounded a second time during the assault, Lt. Col. Rogers pressed the attack killing several of the enemy and driving the remainder from their positions. Refusing medical treatment, Lt. Col. Rogers reestablished and reinforced the defensive positions. As a second human wave attack was launched against another sector of the perimeter, Lt. Col. Rogers directed artillery fire on the assaulting enemy and led a second counterattack against the charging forces. His valorous example rallied the beleaguered defenders to repulse and defeat the enemy onslaught. Lt. Col. Rogers moved from position to position through the heavy enemy fire, giving encouragement and direction to his men. At dawn the determined enemy launched a third assault against the fire base in an attempt to overrun the position. Lt. Col. Rogers moved to the threatened area and directed lethal fire on the enemy forces. Seeing a howitzer inoperative due to casualties, Lt. Col. Rogers joined the surviving members of the crew to return the howitzer to action. While directing the position defense, Lt. Col. Rogers was seriously wounded by fragments from a heavy mortar round which exploded on the parapet of the gun position. Although too severely wounded to physically lead the defenders, Lt. Col. Rogers continued to give encouragement and direction to his men in the defeating and repelling of the enemy attack. Lt. Col. Rogersâ dauntless courage and heroism inspired the defenders of the fire support base to the heights of valor to defeat a determined and numerically superior enemy force. His relentless spirit of aggressiveness in action are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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Unfortunately, MAGA has fully and legally turned âdonât hate peopleâ into a political statement.
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Conor McGregor, who has been found liable for sexually assaulting a woman and alleged to have assaulted several others, is meeting with the President today because :checks notes: Trump likes his tattoos.
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It was pretty much another moment of him being asked his favorite Bible verse.
Scrubbing military websites of non white people continues
Views of young people in the US on many aspects of politics, society and wellbeing have deteriorated
US respondents aged 15 to 29 years, rolling 3-surveys averages (%)
Fixed that.
These were Heroes who helped win the war by using unbreakable code.
I need to know if Conan is going to appear at the Kennedy Center for his Mark Twain Award. And what he and others will say or do. Gonna be must-see, especially if it is aired live. Apparently, tRump is having a meeting today regarding future prize winners.
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/17/nx-s1-5330840/trump-kennedy-center-honorees-board
Notable:
News of todayâs board meeting comes on the heels of Vice President JD Vanceâs appearance at the Kennedy Center last week, where he and second lady Usha Vance were booed by the crowd as they attended a National Symphony Orchestra concert. The second lady is one of the newly-appointed members of the Board of Trustees.