Ugyen Tshering

A Thimphu doma “pan” shop owner’s struggle to survive

In the quiet corners of Thimphu’s buildings, humble doma (betel leaf with areca nut and lime paste) shops, also known as “pan” shops, are facing a harsh reality. For owners like Karma, soaring rents and the introduction of GST are turning small-scale entrepreneurship into a daily struggle, forcing some to …

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No transport fare hikes yet as oil prices start to surge

Despite the rising cost of global oil prices, public transport fares and delivery rates remain unchanged. The Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority (BCTA) reports that the current price fluctuations are not yet abnormal enough to trigger a formal revision. Chief Program Officer at BCTA, Tshongdu,  said, “Currently, all the rates …

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Indonesia eyes digital banking and trade collaboration with Bhutan

In a move to transition bilateral relations, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Bhutan, Ina H Krisnamurthi, is calling for deeper collaboration through digital banking technology, educational scholarships, and increased participation in the Trade Expo Indonesia. Ambassador Krisnamurthi said that she visited Bhutan three times and saw immense …

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Epstein files show two Bhutanese names

A mysterious ‘Sonam Dema’ and ‘Tsering Dolma’ appear repeatedly in the recent Epstein files. These names appear numerous times in the email exchanges between them and their employers. The US Department of Justice released the last largest collection of the files on 30th January 2026, saying it included some 3 …

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