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A debate has erupted online after a woman claimed she was able to bring her mother into a Thai hospital emergency room ahead of other patients – including one in cardiac arrest – by relying on personal connections.

According to her now-deleted post, the woman said she accompanied her mother to the ER at an unidentified hospital in the morning and was initially told by nurses that they had to wait as a critical cardiac arrest case was being treated.

She claimed, however, that upon opening the door she spotted someone she knew inside, and used that connection to secure immediate treatment for her mother.

The story spread quickly after being shared by Dr. Dark, a popular Facebook page focusing on Thailand’s medical community with more than 130,000 followers.

Social media users flooded the comments section, questioning whether ‘pulling strings’ had indeed allowed the woman’s mother to skip the queue. Many argued that if the claims were true, the matter should be formally investigated and those involved held accountable.

The controversy deepened when one commenter alleged that the cardiac arrest patient mentioned in the post was a relative, who later died – possibly linked to the delay in treatment. The claim further fuelled public outrage online.

The woman later deleted her post and issued an apology, writing: ‘My mother is safe now. Thank you to the doctors and nurses who took care of her. I’m truly sorry for the earlier post – I acted thoughtlessly out of fear for my mother. I sincerely apologise.’ (Story continues below)

As of now, it remains unclear whether queue-jumping actually occurred, or whether the cardiac arrest patient in question did in fact pass away. Authorities and the hospital involved have yet to issue an official clarification.

Thailand is grappling with a mix of structural and external challenges, from high household debt and declining competitiveness to geopolitical tensions, trade wars and mounting climate pressures. With the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) set to take effect in 2026-expanding its impact on Thai exports from goods worth 11 billion baht today to an estimated 28 billion baht by 2030-businesses are being urged to adapt swiftly to stay competitive.

Against this backdrop, Kasikornbank (KBank) has reviewed and refined its sustainability strategy to better respond to shifting conditions and the needs of customers and society. The Bank has moved beyond the conventional ESG (environmental, social and governance) framework to adopt an issue-based approach, integrating perspectives across all dimensions and placing core objectives at the heart of its operations.

Issue-based Strategy

Guided by its commitment to lead all sectors in navigating challenges and achieving shared sustainable growth, the KBank Sustainability Strategy 2025 has been developed under this issue-based concept. The approach emphasises holistic management of key issues, integrating environmental, social and governance dimensions, and is defined by three core objectives:

Be a Most Trusted Bank: Serve as a trusted institution, supporting stakeholders in navigating challenges and achieving sustainable growth through service excellence, governance and integrity.

Reinforce Future-Ready Resilience: Strengthen the ability of the Bank and its stakeholders to navigate uncertainties and unlock growth opportunities through risk management, innovation and capability development.

Enable Inclusive Growth: Empower stakeholders to reach their full potential and drive sustainable growth through a just transition to a low-carbon economy, financial empowerment and equity.

Under this strategy, KBank aims to drive growth while embedding sustainability across its operations, thereby unlocking opportunities to deliver positive impacts across multiple dimensions.

Strengthening Capabilities to Enhance Resilience

KBank sees itself not only as a financial services provider but also as a partner in building resilience for customers, businesses and society. It offers comprehensive financial solutions together with knowledge and tools essential for sustainable growth.

Innovative and efficient financial solutions: The Bank is enhancing end-to-end credit transformation while adopting a proactive risk management strategy. By applying data and AI, it improves efficiency, accuracy and responsible lending aligned with customer potential. Focus areas include commercial credits for medium-sized enterprises and project finance subject to 100% ESG risk assessment. The Bank has also increased its sustainable finance and investment target to 400-500 billion baht by 2030.

KBank continues to innovate across all segments, from expanding retail loan access via KIV, to promoting environmentally friendly vehicles through KLeasing, and supporting industry transitions to alternative energy via KF and E solutions. In sustainable investing, KAsset has maintained the No. 1 market share in Thailand for ESG and SRI funds, with assets under management of 38.9 billion baht and 37.9 billion baht, respectively. The Beacon Impact Fund also invests in start-ups delivering positive social and environmental outcomes.

Impacts beyond finance: KBank works to elevate financial literacy and ESG awareness across society. Initiatives include the ‘SATI’ campaign, which has reached more than 16.4 million people with anti-fraud awareness; economic and ESG insights by KResearch, engaging over 6.58 million readers; and K SME Care, which has provided expert guidance, networking and growth tools to more than 1.8 million SMEs.

The Bank also invests in skills development, launching SKILLKAMP with 355 digital courses and 8,000 participants, and KATALYST, which has supported 155 start-ups through mentorship and workshops to foster sustainable growth.

Accelerating Climate Transition to Secure a Sustainable Future

KBank declared its Net Zero Commitment in 2021 and has set its sights on becoming ‘The Most Comprehensive Climate Solution Provider’-moving beyond finance to help customers build long-term competitiveness and resilience.

Pursuing this mission has already generated transformative outcomes. By 2024, the Bank reduced greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 17.02% compared with the 2020 baseline. Key initiatives included the installation of solar PV systems across all major buildings and 161 branches, the deployment of more than 354 electric vehicles, and the maintenance of carbon neutrality certification for eight consecutive years (2018-2025).

KBank is also driving its loan portfolio towards Net Zero in alignment with Thailand’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) goals. It has developed a sectoral decarbonisation strategy to manage and support the transition in six key industries: power generation, upstream oil and gas, thermal coal mining, cement, aluminium and automotive. Notably, the Bank’s power sector portfolio reduced its greenhouse gas emission intensity per gigawatt hour by 26% in 2024 compared with the 2020 baseline.

To support clients, KBank provides financial, knowledge and technological solutions for low-carbon transitions. By August 2025, cumulative ESG loans and investments exceeded 173 billion baht, helping reduce more than 2.74 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. These included over 39,000 electric vehicle loans, green building loans covering more than 1 million square metres, and financing for more than 500 sustainability projects.

Looking ahead, KBank has refined its sustainable finance target to 400-500 billion baht by 2030. Beyond lending, it is creating a carbon ecosystem through initiatives such as advisory services for greenhouse gas reduction, the KClimate1.5 tool for inventory preparation, the Creative Climate Research Center, and platforms including Watt’s Up for e-bikes, Green Pass for renewable energy certificates, and K-GreenSpace for easier access to green living solutions.

Recognising that no single institution can achieve systemic change, KBank has also partnered with the private sector, government, academia and financial peers to establish the Thailand Climate Business Network (Thai CBN). With more than 34 member organisations, Thai CBN is advancing practical climate-related measures from SME operations to national policy. Its initiatives include an E-Handbook for Greener SMEs and a White Paper on Climate Ecosystem Collaboration delivered to the government.

Mr Chongrak concluded: ‘KBank has consistently operated on the principle of being a sustainability bank. By integrating sustainability into every mission and fostering collaboration across all sectors, we are building a resilient and balanced foundation for stakeholders. This will ensure that every life and business can move forward, overcome challenges and grow with stability and sustainability.’

One Bangkok, the largest fully integrated district in the heart of the capital, reaffirmed its commitment to creating long-term value for society through a collaborative blood donation drive. The initiative, titled ‘Together We Give – Blood Donation at One Bangkok,’ was organised in partnership with the National Blood Centre of the Thai Red Cross Society, the Australian Embassy Thailand, the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, and Alliance Française Bangkok.

The campaign was launched by Mr Worawat Srisa-an (4th from left), Deputy Chief Executive Officer of One Bangkok, together with Ms Charintip Choomuenwai (2nd from left), Head of Strategic Branding and Creative Solutions and Head of Art and Culture. They were joined by Mrs. Sineenart Oota (3rd from left), Assistant Director for Blood Service, National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society; Mr John Francis (4th from right), Development Counsellor, Australian Embassy Thailand; Mr Tatsushi Nishioka (3rd from right), Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Thailand; and Mr Jean Bourdin (2nd from right), Director of Alliance Française Bangkok.

The collaboration reflects One Bangkok’s vision of being ‘The Heart of Bangkok,’ a district that grows hand in hand with the community and Thai society in a sustainable way. By strengthening the national blood reserve, the campaign aims to provide vital aid to patients in need nationwide. The donation drive took place at the National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society, on the G Floor of The Storeys Gallery, One Bangkok.

Thai export prices retreated further this week and hovered near nine-year lows, hurt by ample supplies and meagre demand, while Indian prices edged up from three-year lows, supported by a slight improvement in demand.

Thailand’s 5% broken rice was quoted at US$345 per metric tonne on Thursday, its lowest since November 2016, down from the $350 quoted last week.

Traders attributed the price drop to flat demand.

Orders for Thai rice are mostly in small amounts and from regular buyers, a Bangkok-based trader said. Another said supply had been ample due to the ongoing harvest towards the tail end of the rainy season this month.

Thailand is keeping its export target at 7.5 million tonnes this year, a commerce ministry official said on Monday.

India

India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted this week at $358 to $365 per tonne, up from last week’s $354-362.

Indian 5% broken white rice was priced at $369-375.

Prices had hit three-year lows around mid-September, due to weak export demand and higher supplies.

“Demand is a bit better than last week, as buyers seem to realise that prices have bottomed out and probably won’t drop any further,” said a New Delhi-based trader.

Vietnam

Vietnam’s 5% broken rice was offered at $440-$465 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged from a week ago, according to the Vietnam Food Association.

“Trading activity remains slow due to weak global demand,” said a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City.

Traders said prices are under downward pressure after the Philippines, one of the largest importers, decided to extend an import suspension beyond 60 days.

Bangladesh

Domestic rice prices in Bangladesh remained elevated despite healthy reserves and strong harvests.

The price of coarse rice – the benchmark variety for tracking market trends – is trading between 55 and 60 taka ($0.4538-0.4950) per kilogramme, around 15-20% higher than a year ago, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.

Stelliers, one of Asia’s hotelier award platforms, unveiled the winners of the Stelliers Asia 2025 Awards at Capella Bangkok, recently.

The event, supported by Pernod Ricard, is held with an aim to elevate every hotel professional, so they feel seen, valued and inspired to lead. This year’s edition attracted a record-breaking number of applications from hoteliers across 12 countries in Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

Winners were selected through a rigorous evaluation process led by a judging panel of industry leaders and global executives. Thailand hoteliers shone at the event with 11 winners coming from Thailand hotels and resorts, including General Manager Of The Year being awarded to Vidya Sagar from The Ritz Carlton Reserve, Phulay Bay.

Other Thai awards were: Butler Of The Year went to Wutthinan Jullao of The St. Regis Bangkok; Concierge Hotelier Of The Year to Ladawan Piirainen of The Peninsula Bangkok; Food and Beverage Hotelier Of The Year to Jeffrey Mak of Capella Bangkok; Front Office Hotelier Of The Year to Mayuree Laolugsanalerd of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok; Green Hotelier Of The Year to Payap Khunkhayan of Conrad Koh Samui; Housekeeping Hotelier Of The Year to Nittaya Ponglertvorakarn of lebua Hotels and Resorts; Hygiene and Food Safety Hotelier Of The Year to Sarawut Umthed of Rosewood Bangkok; Information Technology Hotelier Of The Year to Phutthaphon Phukmot of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok; and last but not least the Unsung Hero Of The Year award went to Varaporn Khundech of Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. Visit stelliers.com.

The colourful lighting system on the roofed walkway at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya is ready to welcome tourists during the high season, creating a new landmark in the beach city in Chon Buri.

Pattaya mayor Poramet Ngampichet visited the pier on Wednesday night to inspect the completion of the makeover.

The walkway’s roof had been completed for some time under a city project to protect residents and visitors travelling to and from Koh Lan from sun and rain.

A new electrical system was installed along the bridge, with lights synchronising with the iconic Pattaya City sign on its right. Eight different lighting styles are available and they can be adjusted to match each festival season, Mr Poramet said.

With a total of 31 lighting strips, the system automatically turns on from 6pm to 6am daily.

‘The roofed walkway not only provides convenience for travellers but also serves as a new landmark for capturing the beauty of Pattaya, both day and night,’ the mayor said.

The display is complemented by LED screens newly installed at entrances of the Walking Street to modernise the area, he added.

The makeover of Bali Hai Pier, the boarding point for coral island ferries, speedboat charters, fishing and scuba diving trips, is expected to attract tourists and boost the local economy during the upcoming high season.

Advanced Info Service (AIS) expects its revenue from non-mobile and non-fixed broadband business to account for at least 20% of total revenue in three years, up from 10% at present.

The target calls for driving sustainable growth through new S-curve business areas, including digital finance, entertainment and retail services.

AIS is the biggest mobile operator in terms of revenue market share, and its mobile and fixed broadband services contribute almost 90% of its total revenue.

The company plans to utilise artificial intelligence (AI) across the entire organisation to enhance its capabilities and operations as it becomes a “cognitive tech” company, said chief executive Somchai Lertsutiwong.

AIS celebrated its 35th anniversary yesterday, unveiling a bold new chapter as it embraces AI for economic growth and a sustainable society.

“Expanding business from now on will be much more complicated and difficult,” said Mr Somchai.

While telecom industry revenue is projected to grow by 4-5% this year, he said the industry’s operational costs are expected to grow by 10%.

The telecom business’s revenue normally grows by 2% above the country’s annual GDP figure, according to AIS. Thai GDP is expected to expand by 2-3% this year.

However, telecom operators’ total expenses and operating costs have pressured their annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation.

For the overall fixed broadband business market, Mr Somchai said pricing and promotional packages would no longer be enough to sustain the business in the long term, but the operators have to provide value-added services through their service bundlings with smart devices and entertainment offers that serve the demands of consumers’ daily lives.

They also have to boost 5G service adoption to lift up revenue.

“Utilising 5G services in the mass market is a critical move for the country, and the market should have many more applications such as a super app for people’s adoption,” Mr Somchai said.

Mr Somchai said AIS has played a pivotal role in laying the foundations of Thailand’s digital infrastructure, becoming a key pillar in driving the nation’s telecom industry to global standards.

He said AIS continues its journey into a new chapter under the concept of AI for a sustainable nation, aiming to connect every sector and drive the Thai economy forward with strength and sustainability.

“AIS is now stepping into a new era with three core business pillars, including retail technology, to elevate the complete customer experience,” said Mr Somchai.

The other two pillars are an entertainment platform represented by content streaming platform AIS PLAY, and an upcoming virtual banking service that has been developed with the company’s partners, he said.

Energy Complex Company Limited (Enco) organised the seminar ‘Thailand’s Real Estate Outlook 2026’ to deliver in-depth insights and expert perspectives on the future of Thailand’s property sector. The program highlighted two key themes: ‘Thailand’s Real Estate Outlook 2026: Challenges and Opportunities’, which examined opportunities and challenges in the real estate market, and ‘Green Living, Smart City: Real Estate as a Pathway to Sustainable Cities’, focusing on strategies for sustainable urban development. The seminar served as a platform to deepen market understanding, encourage knowledge exchange, and strengthen collaboration across the private sector to drive high-quality growth in Thailand’s real estate industry with an emphasis on environmental responsibility and long-term societal well-being.

Mr Sirasak Chandrema, President of Energy Complex Co., Ltd. (EnCo), stated that the company operates under a vision to develop real estate and manage facilities with service excellence, enabling sustainable business growth. EnCo is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing toward the goal of Net Zero Emissions by 2050, in alignment with PTT Group’s policy framework. The company has developed the Energy Complex into a LEED Platinum-certified green building, serving as a hub for the energy sector designed with efficient resource utilisation. EnCo also integrates Smart City concepts and Green Living technologies to enhance operational efficiency, leading to a model of Smart and Green management. Through this approach, the company seeks to deliver long-term value to business, society, and the environment.

Thailand is currently undergoing transformations across multiple dimensions. To ensure that real estate development continues sustainably, supports the creation of Smart City, and advances toward the shared goal of Net Zero Emissions, EnCo has adopted diverse ideas and perspectives from across industries. The Thailand’s Real Estate Outlook 2026 seminar has been held consistently as a platform for integrating concepts of conservation and sustainable urban development. Looking ahead to 2026, EnCo aims to elevate the standards of its mixed-use office buildings by transforming them into Green Buildings, in line with sustainable property management and building improvement principles, while also supporting development in other sectors to achieve these shared goals.

Under the theme ‘Thailand’s Real Estate Outlook 2026: Challenges and Opportunities,’ the seminar featured insights from Mr Issara Boonyoung, Chairman of the Board, Real Estate Business Trade Association under the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Honorary President of the Housing Business Association. He shared his perspectives on business direction, growth opportunities, government stimulus measures, and real estate market trends in 2026, while also discussing investment strategies for both corporate investors and end users. In addition, Mr Chetthawat Songprasert, Senior Analyst at the Economic and Business Research Center, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB EIC), provided an analysis of Thailand’s economic outlook for 2026, addressing key influencing factors such as real estate lending, the slowdown in the property sector and its spillover effects on economic growth, as well as expectations from the private sector and the public regarding government measures to stimulate the economy.

The panel discussion ‘Green Living, Smart City: Real Estate as a Pathway to Sustainable Cities’ featured distinguished experts from across the industry, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kessara Thanyalakpark, Managing Director of Sena Development PCL; Mr Narongwet Wajanapanich, Managing Director of Quality Construction Products PCL (SCG Group); Mr Samatcha Promsiri, Chief of Staff at Sansiri PCL; and Ms. Phatsareephak Srikanchananon, Head of Property Management, CBRE Thailand. The session addressed key topics such as mega-trends in sustainable urban development, the prospects and challenges of green building adoption in Thailand, the application of international case studies, urban development potential, green building certification standards, and the critical role of government support in ensuring urban development progresses in a unified and sustainable direction.

Under the theme ‘Thailand’s Real Estate Outlook 2026,’ the seminar served as a key driver in shaping a sustainable real estate business model under the Sustainable Way approach, connecting the private sector, government, and stakeholders. EnCo plays a central role in advancing both ideas and implementation, with the goal of raising industry standards and positioning Thailand’s real estate sector for stable and sustainable growth in the future.

Sweden and Thailand share a deep commitment to sustainability, blending tradition with innovation to achieve shared environmental goals, according to Anna Hammargren, the Swedish ambassador to Thailand.

.Speaking on Thursday at the Swedish-Thai Sustainable Talk Stage and Networking Reception during the the SX Sustainability Expo 2025, Ms Hammargren said ‘tradition and innovation, together, are the key to achieving our common sustainability goals’.

According to her, a new collaboration between the two countries under Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, which is aligned with Swedish values and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, has transformed ambitious visions into tangible actions.

She said partnerships with government, academia and the private sector are driving new solutions, with Swedish companies in Thailand showcasing how cutting-edge technologies, research and circular practices are accelerating the green transition.

Viktor Friberg, Cluster President for South East Asia and Oceania at Alfa Laval, during the talk highlighted his company’s role in redefining industrial efficiency.

Specialising in heat transfer, separation and fluid handling, Alfa Laval’s technologies address critical challenges in energy transition, clean water, sustainable food and marine transportation, he said.

With 40% of global emission reductions expected to come from efficiency improvements, Mr Friberg said, Alfa Laval’s solutions can cut energy consumption by up to 70%.

Last year, the company set a new emissions reduction target for 2027, reinforcing its commitment to operational sustainability, he said.

Strategic partnerships, including MoUs with other Swedish firms, are accelerating innovation, reducing costs and delivering transformative solutions, he said.

Alexis Richard, General Manager of Electrolux Thailand, shared how the Stockholm-based home appliance giant has been leading the shift towards greener living since 1992.

Electrolux designs products that offer sustainable choices without compromising quality of life, he said. In 2023, the company achieved a 31% reduction in product-related greenhouse gas emissions – three years ahead of its climate targets, he added.

He said key initiatives include a zero-landfill programme, responsible sourcing and supplier environmental footprint monitoring.

Collaborating with brands like AEG and Frigidaire, he said, Electrolux continues to innovate in taste, care and well-being, with upcoming launches of highly energy-efficient laundry and vacuum products.

Ratanasiri Tilokskulchai, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Thailand, meanwhile, emphasised that the company’s mission to ‘protect what’s good – food, people and the planet’ goes beyond packaging.

Tetra Pak’s innovations tackle climate, nature, circularity and social sustainability, she said.

By reducing aluminium in its packaging, the company has cut carbon emissions by 33%, and in 2024, achieved a 25% reduction in greenhouse gases, she said.

With more fibre-based and recyclable designs, Tetra Pak is reshaping the food system with circularity at its core, she said.

RAYONG – Seven people, including three small children, were killed when fire destroyed their house early on Thursday.

Police and rescuers were called at about 2.20am to the scene in a housing estate in tambon Tha Pradu of Muang district, according to Pol Lt Col Chaikrit Taurat, an inspector at the Muang Rayong police station.

A fire truck from Rayong municipality office was deployed to the scene. Firefighters encountered flames engulfing house No. 66/16 and spreading to three others, police said.

The house where the fire originated was destroyed, and seven dead bodies were discovered inside. They were one man and three women, aged 29-57, and three children aged under 3.

It took about 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control. Residents of the other affected houses were injured from inhaling smoke and were taken to hospital.

The chief of Muang Rayong district, Anusorn Sangkla, said the cause was believed to have been a short circuit,

The victims appeared to have been sleeping on the second floor and tried unsuccessfully to escape after the fire started, as some of them were found at a bedroom door, he said.