Ugyen Tshering

Local tech startup develops AI model for Dzongkha and Tshangla

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the global digital landscape, a local collaboration is working to ensure Bhutanese language and dialects are not left behind. NoMind, in partnership with its research arm, Aplos Lab, has launched a project to develop a multilingual AI model capable of understanding and translating …

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BFDA cracks down chemically ripened mangoes, tightens border testing

Amid growing regional anxieties over contaminated produce and international food safety alerts, the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) has stepped up surveillance, enforcing mandatory laboratory testing for imported mangoes after detecting dangerous ripening chemicals in local markets. The regulatory tightening follows recent public concerns stemming from international reports where …

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Bhutan’s foreign reserves stand at USD 1.2 billion in June, reserves are more than double above the critical threshold: MoF

Bhutan’s foreign exchange reserves reached USD 1.2 billion (bn) at the end of June 2026, outperforming earlier third-quarter projections of USD 1.1 bn though remaining lower than initial second-quarter estimates of USD 1.32 bn. Addressing concerns during the 30th Meet-the-Press session, Finance Minister, Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, noted that the downward …

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Ministers surrender Prados for EV duty cars

Govt defends e-mobility roadmap amid affordability concerns As Bhutan accelerates its ambitious march toward a carbon-negative future, the high upfront cost of electric vehicles (EVs) has emerged as a central flashpoint between private buyers and state planners. Addressing pressing questions at the 30th Meet-the-Press session, the government has firmly defended …

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Bhutan’s Third International Internet Gateway aims for early 2027 launch, sparking long-term hopes for affordability

As Bhutan doubles down on securing its digital future against potential blackouts and single-route vulnerabilities, the much-anticipated Third International Internet Gateway (3IIG) project is navigating regulatory checks with an eye toward an early 2027 operational rollout. While the strategic project is primarily built to safeguard e-resilience, particularly for national nodes …

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Bhutan ready to shine as Eurovision Asia finalists announced

Bhutan is preparing to make musical history as the nation identifies its first-ever representative for the international stage. The Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation (BBS) will broadcast the Grand Finale of the National Selection Show live on 11th August 2026. This event marks the culmination of a nationwide search to find …

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Navigating Thimphu’s taxis: Fare confusion, late night realities, and the road to mutual trust

Official rules from the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority (BCTA) are clear: overcharging passengers carries strict penalties, from fines to license cancellations. But away from the rulebooks, the daily reality on Thimphu’s streets reveals a more complex narrative where commuters face shifting fare expectations, and drivers are grappling with the …

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How the introduction of Brown Trout led to the decline of Bhutan’s native Yue Nya

Bhutan’s native fish species called Yue Nya (Snow Trout and also known asla/asala) has seen a significant decline in the years after the introduction of the invasive fish species called the Brown Trout. Dasho Benji Dorji shares a story from his younger days about how the yue nya population has greatly declined over the span of decades after the Brown Trout was introduced to Bhutanese rivers. He said that the Brown Trout species had …

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