Category: The Bangkok Post

ONE Championship has confirmed that this week’s ONE Friday Fights 131 event at Lumpinee Stadium will proceed as scheduled, despite Thailand entering a period of national mourning following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother passed away peacefully last Friday at the age of 92 at Bangkok Hospital, as announced by the Royal Household Bureau. The country has since entered a year-long mourning period in her honour.

According to sources, consideration had been given to postponing or cancelling the event – as ONE did earlier this year following the Bangkok earthquake in March – but the organisation decided to move forward after consultations with Thai authorities and Lumpinee Stadium officials.

Friday’s card will now take place with expected adjustments to tone and presentation, as the nation observes mourning protocols.

The ONE Friday Fights 131 lineup is headlined by a flyweight Muay Thai rematch between Suriyanlek Por Yenying and Decho Por Borirak.

The card also features a number of rising young stars including Russia’s Rustam ‘Tomahawk’ Yunusov, who will look to secure a US$100,000 full-time contract when he takes on Petsukumvit Tomthungyai in the international featured bout.

The long-running weekly series, which began in January 2023, has become a cornerstone of ONE Championship’s partnership with the Royal Thai Army and Lumpinee Stadium – showcasing local and international Muay Thai talent every Friday night in Bangkok.

ONE Championship cancelled its March 22 edition of Friday Fights earlier this year following a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in northern Thailand that sent tremors through Bangkok.

This week’s event, however, will go ahead as planned.

The promotion is expected to observe an official tribute to Her Majesty The Queen Mother during the broadcast, which airs live from 7:30pm local time on Channel 7HD and globally via YouTube and other platforms.

Thailand’s manufacturing sector is struggling to deal with challenges raised by US tariff rules on Thai imports, even as the rate was cut significantly in early August.

Washington decided to impose a 19% duty on Thai products in August, replacing its draconian rate of 36%. Yet exporters risk facing higher rates on some products if the items are considered by US authorities as being shipped to Thailand and then re-exported to America, often called transshipment.

Transshipment and dim prospects for exports are making manufacturers apprehensive as they attempt to overcome challenges this year and in the long term in their adaptation to new international trade rules.

HIGHER RVC

Thailand is expected to raise regional value content (RVC) to around 50% once ongoing US-Thailand negotiations to address transshipment are concluded, according to the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB).

RVC is the percentage of a product’s value that comes from a specific region. If the RVC of a product assembled in Thailand for export to the US is 50%, half of its value is calculated from domestically sourced raw materials, while the latter half comes from imported parts.

The proportional calculation is meant to tackle origin fraud and curb the re-export of Chinese goods as Thai products.

“If Thailand fails to meet the RVC requirement, the US will impose a 40% tariff on products regarded as being shipped via Thailand to the US,” said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), a key member of the JSCCIB.

An initial survey conducted by the FTI among 24 of its 47 industry clubs found three industries — electronics, steel and pharmaceuticals — with RVC of less than 40%.

The average local content of products in the electronics industry was the lowest at 22.5%, followed by 30% for steel and 35% for pharmaceuticals.

Industries with high local content on average are plywood and wood planks (85%), roofing materials (82.5%), food and beverages (75%), petrochemicals (70%), cars (66.6%), rubber (65%) and herbs (60%).

As of July 11, 13 industries had yet to provide information on RVC in products, while 10 others said they did not export products to the US.

COMPLIANCE URGED

Mr Kriengkrai stressed the need for entrepreneurs to comply with the RVC rule to maintain competitiveness in the US market.

“Industries will be severely affected if their products are subjected to an RVC-based tariff,” he said.

The Donald Trump administration’s more stringent import duty is believed to target Chinese manufacturers attempting to avoid steep tariffs on their products by exporting them to the US via third countries, especially those in Southeast Asia, according to media reports.

Earlier this year Trump vowed to impose stiff tariffs on solar panel imports from Southeast Asia following an investigation that began a year ago when several major solar equipment producers asked the US government to protect their domestic operations.

The tariffs target companies in Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam in response to allegations of subsidies from China and the dumping of unfairly cheap products in the US market.

Solar panel exports from Thailand to the US raised concerns over transshipment as some Chinese manufacturers rebrand solar products here before re-exporting them to the US, according to Treerat Sirichantaropas, chief executive of New Energy Plus Solutions, which sells solar panels made by Shanghai-based Jinko Solar Holding.

Other Chinese producers focus on selling rooftop solar panels in Thailand, he said.

EV EXPORTS

The export of electric vehicles from factories in Thailand, mostly operated by Chinese EV makers, may not risk RVC tariffs as many producers announced plans to use domestically sourced materials for EV assembly.

The Board of Investment (BoI) said Chinese EV manufacturers vowed to buy their components in the country. Local content is expected to account for up to 90% of total EV components, noted the BoI.

Chongqing-based Changan Automobile, committed to investment in Thailand of up to 10 billion baht, will start with a local content proportion of 60%, rising to 90% in the future, according to Shen Xinghua, managing director and president of Changan Auto Sales (Thailand).

GWM expects 80-90% of EV components to be from local materials, said Michael Chong, general manager of GWM (Thailand).

The National EV Policy Committee is promoting EV exports by easing production requirements for EV manufacturers participating in state EV incentive schemes if they produce battery EVs for export.

The shift aims to ramp up efforts to make Thailand an EV export base.

The two schemes — EV3.0 and EV3.5 — require manufacturers to produce EVs locally to compensate for vehicles they imported since the start of the EV subsidy programmes in 2022, prior to commencing local production.

SHIPMENT SLOWDOWN

Thailand must not allow the RVC issue to slow down exports in the fourth quarter, as they are already projected to sag during this period, said the JSCCIB.

The panel attributed the decline in exports to global trade uncertainties and baht appreciation.

Exporters will lose competitiveness as the tourism industry is slumping and the economy remains sluggish, noted the JSCCIB.

A global economic slowdown could reduce demand for goods and services, affecting export-driven nations, said Poj Aramwattananont, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

The JSCCIB projected Thai GDP growth of 1.8-2.2% this year, with export growth of 2-3% and inflation of 0.5-1%.

Shuttle buses carrying people to Yumeshima Island in Japan to join the Expo 2025 provided their last services on Oct 13, but their potential as new energy-powered vehicles is just beginning to gain momentum.

The vehicles were run by electrofuel, a type of eco-friendly fuel which could compete with batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs).

These are dominating automotive markets as campaigns against global warming intensify.

Thailand is heavily promoting EVs and batteries, but as production of electrofuel on a commercial scale is not so far off, the government should pay more heed to this fuel, including it in plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions in the transport sector.

EV sales, which are doing well here, are not a complete solution to air pollution. It is hardly possible to electrify all types of vehicles, especially large-sized buses, trucks and ships which usually travel on long-haul routes. These bus and trucks are often fueled by diesel.

Electrofuel might solve this problem.

Widely known as “e-fuel”, electrofuel is a type of synthetic fuel created by using electricity from renewable sources to combine hydrogen and carbon dioxide to produce synthetic hydrocarbon fuel.

In other words, we are making oil that can fit internal combustion engine-powered cars without the need to make changes to car engines.

The recent Expo in Osaka was the first time in Japan that e-fuel was tested in commercial vehicles.

The shuttle buses took people between the Umekita Green Place Bus Terminal in Osaka and Yumeshima Island, offering a direct service to the Expo site for six months after the event started on April 13.

E-fuel producer ENEOS Corporation collected data from fuel usage, with an aim to produce it on a commercial scale at its factory in Yokohama.

It is a promising carbon-neutral fuel because, though synthetic oil-powered cars emit carbon dioxide, the process to make this fuel requires the need to capture carbon dioxide to blend with hydrogen. One result is there is no additional carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere.

Thailand set a new target to strike a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption by 2050, 15 years sooner than its original goal. To cut carbon dioxide emissions, authorities support the use of various biofuels, including gasohol, a mix of gasoline and sugar cane-derived ethanol; biodiesel, which is made by blending diesel with palm-based methyl ester; and lately sustainable aviation fuel, a biofuel for aircraft made from used cooking oil.

But they have yet to introduce e-fuel to truck and bus operators.

The National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee wants to convert some trucks and buses in the country to EVs. Under its “30@30” policy, the panel expects EVs to represent at least 30% of total auto production by 2030, comprising 34,000 electric buses and trucks, 725,000 zero-emission cars and 675,000 electric motorcycles.

During the first eight months of this year, newly registered electric trucks increased by 67% year-on-year to 265 units, up from 158 units, while electric buses fell by 62% to 89 units, down from 237 units, says the Department of Land Transport.

This shows electric mobility technology is less popular among buses and trucks than battery EVs in the passenger car category, with new registrations soaring by 55% to 77,036 units, up from 49,641 units, during the same period.

The figures appear to pave the way for the government to start considering making e-fuel another alternative fuel for buses and trucks, though some pain points of synthetic hydrocarbon production must be addressed.

According to experts, e-fuel is more expensive than battery EVs.

The former has estimated cost of between US$0.30 and 0.50 per kilometre, compared with a range from $0.05-0.10/km for the latter. It is evident e-fuel has low efficiency and high production cost.

One reason behind these obstacles is e-fuel involves a complex production process. Manufacturers first need to use electricity made from renewable energy to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.

They must use technology to capture carbon dioxide.

A last step is to combine hydrogen and carbon to make synthetic hydrocarbon by using the electrolysis technology.

Chaiwat Kovavisarach, chief executive and president of energy conglomerate Bangchak Corporation, is aware e-fuel is pricey, about four times as costly as fossil-derived fuels.

Yet he believes the synthetic hydrocarbon business has a potential to grow in the future.

Bangchak earlier announced it is seeking partners to conduct e-fuel research and development in a move to replace fossil-derived fuels.

The company does not want to do R and D from scratch but prefers to join hands with energy firms to speed up work in this field, said Mr Chaiwat.

Bangchak is planning to have its own research centre to facilitate the development of e-fuel projects.

The company will spend part of its US$30-milion budget, allocated for new businesses and innovation, to fund the construction, said Mr Chaiwat.

It also plans to ask for financial support from the Office of National Higher Education, Science Research and Innovation to help translate its research facility project into action.

Bangchak has decided to make a crucial move in the fuel business. Will the government follow suit, at least by taking e-fuel development into more serious consideration?

Ranjana Wangvipula is Assistant Business Editor of ‘Bangkok Post’.

As Thailand transitions into its cooler season, November offers a refreshing escape with temperatures ranging from 21 to 25 degrees Celsius. This time of year is ideal for travellers seeking scenic landscapes, seasonal blooms, misty mountains, and powerful waterfalls. From floral gardens to tropical islands, here are some of the country’s most captivating destinations to visit this month.

Wang Nam Keaw Flora Park

Nakhon Ratchasima province

Just a few hours from Bangkok, Wang Nam Keaw Flora Park opens its gates from Nov 1 to Feb 28. Visitors can stroll through vibrant fields of winter flowers and enjoy art exhibitions nestled among the blooms. It’s a perfect spot for photography and a peaceful day out in nature.

Thi Lo Su Waterfall

Tak province

One of Thailand’s most majestic waterfalls, Thi Lo Su in Tak province is at its peak in November when water levels are high. Adventurers willing to make the journey will be rewarded with breathtaking views, especially from the upper tier of the falls. Though the trek requires time and endurance, it’s a bucket-list experience for nature lovers.

Kew Mae Pan Viewpoint

Chiang Mai province

Located within Doi Inthanon National Park, Kew Mae Pan reopens in November after a five-month conservation period. The trail offers panoramic views of sunrise over a sea of mist and is a favourite among hikers and photographers. The short trail winds through lush forest and alpine meadows, making it a serene yet invigorating experience.

Chae Son Hot Springs

Lampang province

For those seeking relaxation, Chae Son Hot Springs in Lampang provide a tranquil retreat. With mild sulphur levels, the springs are ideal for health rejuvenation, mineral baths, and even onsen-style egg boiling. Surrounded by cool mountain air, it’s a soothing escape from the bustle of daily life.

Phi Phi Islands

Krabi province

While summer is the typical season for beach holidays, November’s clear skies and calm seas make Phi Phi Islands a stunning destination. The dry weather and crystal-clear waters are perfect for snorkelling, sunbathing, and capturing vibrant photos in swimwear. It’s a great time to explore the beauty of the Andaman coast.

Chiang Khan Skywalk

Loei province

Chiang Khan’s Skywalk, also known as Phu Khok Ngiew Skywalk, is a thrilling viewpoint that rises as high as a 30-storey building. The glass walkway stretches over 100 metres, offering dramatic views of the Hueang River and surrounding misty mountains. It’s a must-visit for those chasing winter fog and scenic thrills.

Doi Mae U Kho Sunflower Fields

Mae Hong Son province

November is the prime time to witness the golden bloom of Mexican sunflowers at Doi Mae U Kho. The vibrant fields cover the hillsides for about a month, creating a spectacular natural display. Visitors are encouraged to check in and snap photos before the flowers begin to fade in early December.

Huai Tha Khoi Reservoir

Ratchaburi province

Nicknamed the ‘Swiss Alps of Thailand’, Huai Tha Khoi Reservoir in Ratchaburi offers picturesque mountain views and crisp air. Surrounded by lush greenery, it’s a peaceful spot for nature lovers to unwind and take in the scenery. The area is dotted with photo-worthy corners and is ideal for a quiet winter getaway.

Erawan Waterfalls

Kanchanaburi province

Erawan Falls is famed for its emerald-blue waters and multi-tiered cascades. November’s pleasant weather makes it an excellent time to visit, whether for a family picnic or a refreshing swim. The falls are a serene escape for those looking to avoid crowds and reconnect with nature.

Yun Lai Mist Viewpoint

Mae Hong Son

Just 1.6 km beyond Santichon Village in Pai, Yun Lai Viewpoint is a beloved spot for watching the morning mist roll over the hills. Most visitors stay overnight in Pai and head up before dawn to catch the fog and enjoy a breakfast of steamed buns and hot tea. It’s a magical way to start the day.

Mae Fah Luang Garden

Chiang Rai province

For flower enthusiasts, Mae Fah Luang Garden is a winter wonderland. The garden bursts into colour with seasonal blooms arranged in intricate patterns. It’s a peaceful place to stroll, take photos, and enjoy the cool northern air. A must-visit for anyone who appreciates floral beauty.

Koh Kood Island

Trat province

Koh Kood offers a serene beach experience with powdery white sand and clear waters. November’s calm weather makes it ideal for snorkelling, seafood feasts, and quiet relaxation. Far from the crowds, it’s a perfect destination for those seeking privacy and natural beauty.

Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthum­-pun on Sunday voiced support for an Asean-India Free Trade Area (FTA).

After meeting Malaysia’s Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz during the Asean Economic Community Council Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Ms Suphajee said the government is ready to back the plan in talks on the matter between the nations.

The minister proposed pooling both countries’ strengths in food and agricultural production would enhance food security in the region, especially in light of growing threats from climate change, conflict and pandemics.

The minister also expressed Thailand’s readiness to export key agricultural products and act as a raw material supplier to Malaysia, particularly in rubber, shallots and livestock products, she said.

Both countries agreed to continue bilateral trade and economic discussions throughout the Thailand-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting, offering to host the next in the series. The talks will focus on deepening collaboration in border trade, transport connectivity and Halal food with the aim of increasing bilateral trade value to US$30 billion within 2027.

Currently, Malaysia is Thailand’s fourth-largest trading partner globally, its leading Asean and border trade partner. In 2024, total trade between the two countries reached US$26.05 billion, consisting of exports worth US$12.33 billion and imports worth US$13.72 billion, leaving Thailand with a trade deficit of US$1.38 billion. As such, border trade accounted for 35.6% of total Thai-Malaysian trade.

Thailand’s major exports included automobiles and parts, refined oil, integrated circuits, computers and components and rubber, while major imports from Malaysia included crude oil, integrated circuits, chemicals, computers and components, electrical machinery and natural gas.

Both sides also touched on the Asean-India FTA talks to expand market access and reduce trade barriers. Ms Suphajee urged Malaysia, as the chair of the negotiations, to conclude the talks this year by minimising regulatory and trade restrictions to make the agreement more feasible for exporters.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul outlined priorities for Asean cooperation at the 47th Asean Summit Plenary Session held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on Sunday.

Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said Thailand will build a secure Asean community by working with member countries to tackle security threats.

The Pheu Thai Party will elect a new leader and executive committee during a special general assembly on Friday, following the resignation of Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the post, according to a source in the party.

Ms Paetongtarn was removed as prime minister by the Constitutional Court in August over her government’s handling of the Cambodia border conflict. She resigned as Pheu Thai leader on Wednesday.

There are now four prominent names emerging as leading contenders for the party leadership position. Initially, two names were widely mentioned: Chaturon Chaisaeng, a veteran list-MP known for his long-standing commitment to democratic principles, and Julapun Amornvivat, an MP from Chiang Mai who represents the younger generation and had closely worked with Ms Paetongtarn during her tenure as party leader, the source said.

However, two additional figures have been floated, the source said, naming Dr Cholnan Srikaew, an MP from Nan and a former party leader who played a prominent role in the last election, and Sutin Klungsang, a list-MP recognised for his debating skills.

Mr Chaturon is being backed by MPs who view his democratic credentials as a unifying strength for the party.

Some members, however, believe Dr Cholnan should instead be considered for one of the party’s three PM nominees, given his leadership qualities. Views among members are still coalescing around candidates.

The party leadership is said to be more open to diverse opinions this time around, encouraging broad discussions at a key meeting of MPs scheduled for tomorrow.

The Finance Ministry plans to present to the cabinet a plan to address bad debts owed by 3.8 million small-scale borrowers with a total debt value of 120 billion baht.

According to a source from the Finance Ministry who requested anonymity, tomorrow the ministry will propose measures to address household debt, focusing on small borrowers with non-performing loans (NPLs) whose individual debt levels are less than 100,000 baht.

The goal is to help these people pay back their debts according to their repayment capacity, which may include extending the repayment period to significantly reduce their monthly instalments.

As part of the debt resolution plan, the ministry is expected to ask the cabinet to approve the purchase of these bad debts from commercial banks and non-bank financial institutions, transferring them to be managed by state-owned asset management companies (AMCs) such as Ari AMC and Sukhumvit Asset Management.

The first batch of bad debts to be transferred to state AMCs is estimated at 60-70 billion baht.

The source said the purchase price of these bad debts from financial institutions will be very low, with an estimated total spending of 10 billion baht.

Funding is derived from the remaining 26 billion baht under the government’s “Khun Soo Rao Chuay” (You Fight, We Help) debt relief programme.

Financial institutions have fully set aside provisions for these bad debts.

Of the total 120 billion baht in small-scale bad debts, roughly 1.4 million borrowers owe to commercial banks with a combined debt of 35 billion baht, while 2.4 million borrowers owe to non-bank institutions with debts totalling 85 billion baht.

Addressing household debt is a government priority and one of its five key pillars to be implemented within four months.

Chatchai Sirilai, president of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), said the bank has its own household debt restructuring policy.

The bank intends to separate and manage the bad debts of elderly borrowers aged 70 or older through BAAC’s own AMC. This group includes about 28,000 borrowers with total debts of around 5.5 billion baht.

In terms of managing these debts, he said BAAC’s executive team needs to propose detailed plans for the board’s consideration before implementation — such as debt restructuring options, allowing heirs to assume debts, the criteria for partial or full debt haircuts in certain cases, and proposals for government subsidies to support the debt restructuring process.

Thailand’s household debt has become a major obstacle to economic growth. According to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the household debt-to-GDP ratio in the first quarter of 2025 was 87.4%, a slight decrease of 0.1% year-on-year, mainly due to tighter lending standards by financial institutions.

The NESDC expressed concern that stricter lending policies may push more people towards informal lending sources, worsening the household debt problem, especially as younger generations continue to favour “buy now, pay later” options.

Thailand has reiterated its support for an “inclusive, free, fair and transparent” election in Myanmar, adding the process must contribute to lasting peace and national reconciliation.

Speaking after the first day of the 47th Asean Summit on Sunday, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said the upcoming election should serve as a foundation for a sustainable peace process.

The neighbouring country has been engulfed in civil war since the military coup on Feb 1, 2021 that ousted the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The ruling military junta is now planning to hold a general election on Dec 28.

Mr Nikorndej’s briefing highlighted the “Extended Informal Consultation on Myanmar”, held on Saturday under the leadership of Malaysia as chair of Asean and the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) on Sunday. Every Asean member state except Myanmar took part in the consultation.

Mr Nikorndej said participants reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Asean’s Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and promoting an inclusive dialogue and discussed Asean’s collective position on Myanmar’s general election.

“Many participants acknowledged Thailand’s constructive role in providing humanitarian assistance as a confidence-building measure and a pathway toward inclusive dialogue,” he said.

The meetings also discussed strengthening the effectiveness of the Asean Special Envoy on Myanmar, with some members supporting an extension of the envoy’s mandate beyond one year to allow for more tangible progress, he said.

Meanwhile, during the AMM, Asean members reiterated their collective resolve to uphold the 5PC as the primary framework for addressing the crisis in Myanmar, he said.

In 2021, the 5PC called for the immediate cessation of violence; constructive dialogue among all parties concerned; mediation to be facilitated by an envoy of Asean’s chair; humanitarian assistance provided by Asean’s AHA Centre and a visit by a special envoy to meet all parties concerned.

Regarding election transparency, he said Thailand supports sending Asean observers if invited by the Myanmar government.

The biggest governance dilemma in AI is setting guidelines for the technology’s ethical use without unduly weakening the incentive to innovate.

The concept of responsible AI (RAI) exemplifies this idealistic rhetoric. The principles it espouses — from ensuring that algorithms are not based on faulty data sets to preventing privacy and human-rights violations — are worthy. Where RAI falls short is in showing how these ideals should be incorporated into AI governance, and how to balance regulation with incentives for continued innovation.

Nonetheless, RAI has been embraced by many governments, which have incorporated relevant language into national AI policies. International organisations have also championed RAI — Unesco’s Global AI Ethics and Governance Observatory is a leading example — with the goal of shaping international norms and national policy. But such top-down approaches contrast sharply with the deliberative, bottom-up decision-making that has proven most effective in addressing problems requiring collective action and coordination.

Meanwhile, corporations are touting their supposed commitment to RAI, often while resisting the regulations. Even universities have jumped on the RAI bandwagon, offering AI ethics courses in computer science departments. AI governance courses, however, are usually offered in other departments, so computer science students may not take them.

But it is the brass tacks of AI governance, not the promotion of vague principles, that will lead to politically feasible, ethically desirable, and economically beneficial outcomes. Policymakers in many economies are struggling on this front, especially when trying to balance ethical imperatives with incentives for innovation. Whereas South Korea and Japan seem to have found some equilibrium, the European Union has placed a higher priority on ethics, and the United Kingdom and the United States have put innovation first.

The EU’s 2024 AI Act attempts to take a balanced approach, classifying AI applications according to risk. Its experience in enforcing AI ethics can offer useful lessons for the rest of the world. Nonetheless, as French President Emmanuel Macron rightly noted in February, the EU is currently “not in the race” when it comes to AI innovation.

The US has the opposite problem. In 2016, it became one of the first countries to announce a national AI strategy, but its plan focused on research and development, though it did mention the need for research into the technology’s ethical implications.

Former President Joe Biden’s administration sought a better balance between innovation and ethics. But upon returning to the White House, President Donald Trump rejected this approach. His January 2025 executive order on “removing barriers to American leadership in artificial intelligence” revoked AI policies and directives that “act as barriers to American AI innovation”.

More broadly, the Trump administration has deemphasised protecting human rights and regulating the tech sector, focusing instead on great-power chest-thumping and winning the technology “war” with China.

There is good news: the AI Action Plan incorporates several recommendations on data ethics, global alliances, and standard-setting made by the Northern Virginia Technology Council taskforce in response to the Trump administration’s request for information for the strategy. Nonetheless, the US is leaning heavily toward innovation, at the expense of regulations aimed at upholding AI ethics.

The Trump administration’s approach undoubtedly appeals to US tech giants, which like to claim that regulating datasets and algorithms is a losing game. But American businesses have proven more than adept at devising effective mechanisms to protect their own interests in the face of AI-related disruptions. Major record labels, for example, have found ways to ensure that they collect a licensing fee whenever music they own is used to create AI-generated tracks and to train large language models.

The US retains distinct competitive advantages in the AI race — notably, a flexible labour market, developed and liquid financial markets, and a robust research infrastructure. But its failure to provide credible and sustained signals to investors, combined with efforts to discourage immigration and hold universities hostage for political ends, risks undercutting America’s position.

With AI developing at an extraordinary rate, the need to strike the right balance between ethics and innovation has become impossible to ignore.?©2025 Project Syndicate

JP Singh is the Director of the Center for AI Innovation and Economic Competitiveness at George Mason University, and Co-Editor-in-Chief of ‘Global Perspectives’.

Mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran claimed a runners-up spot at the US$950,000 (approx 30.4 million baht) BWF French Open on Sunday.

Bidding to win their fifth title of the year and seventh overall, world No.4 pair Dechapol and Supissara lost to the second-ranked Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping of China in two games at Glaz Arena in Rennes.

It took Feng and Huang 32 minutes before they won the opening game, converting on their seventh game point to edge it at 27-25.

The second was much easier as the Chinese duo, who took the game 21-12 to wrap up their eight World Tour title this year.

Feng and Huang now hold a 3-2 advantage in their head to head record.

They also beat Dechapol and Supissara in the semi-finals of the Arctic Open in Finland earlier this month.

Dechapol and Supissara were the only Thai players competing on the final day of the tournament after Kunlavut Vitidsarn bowed out in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Men’s third seed Kunlavut lost to Christo Popov of France in two games, 21-11, 22-20.

Popov became the first French finalist since the French Open became a Superseries event of the World Tour era across all disciplines.

The eighth seed was due to face second seed Anders Antonsen of Denmark in the men’s singles final later on Sunday.