Thai officials install trilingual eviction notices in the disputed border forest area of Sa Kaeo province on September 28, 2025, ordering Cambodian settlers to leave within 15 days as tensions escalate along the Thai-Cambodia border.
SA KAEO — Thai authorities have posted large trilingual eviction notices ordering Cambodian villagers to leave disputed forest areas along the border within 15 days, escalating tensions following a public clash between the two countries’ foreign ministers at the United Nations.
Officials installed six warning signs—three each at Ban Nong Ya Kaew and Ban Nong Chan in Khok Sung district—declaring the areas protected forest under Thai law. The notices, written in Thai, English, and Khmer, warn that violators face up to 15 years in prison and 100,000 baht fines under the 1941 Forest Act.
Legal Deadlines Set
Forest Protection Unit representatives filed complaints with Khok Sung police on September 17 and September 25. Aerial photographs show approximately 40 Cambodian households in the Ban Nong Ya Kaew area.
The eviction deadlines are October 3 for Ban Nong Ya Kaew and October 10 for Ban Nong Chan. Thai authorities say anyone remaining after those dates will face arrest and prosecution.
Thai officials install trilingual eviction notices in the disputed border forest area of Sa Kaeo province on September 28, 2025, ordering Cambodian settlers to leave within 15 days as tensions escalate along the Thai-Cambodia border.
Village Tensions Rise
The notices came as over 300 Thai villagers from Sa Kaeo and Chanthaburi provinces gathered Sunday to mark Thai Flag Day with a 25-meter national flag. Military personnel blocked them from approaching within 400-500 meters of the border fence, sparking anger among participants.
Waraporn Thong, 63, a former village leader of Ban Nong Ya Kaew, announced villagers would stop cooking meals and delivering water to Thai soldiers and officials stationed in the area.
“We’re both angry and frustrated because the military won’t cooperate with us,” she said.
Thai officials said they prevented the gathering near the fence line to avoid actions that might be seen as violating the ceasefire agreement or further inflaming tensions.
Over 300 Thai villagers from Sa Kaeo and Chanthaburi provinces gather with Thai flags near the disputed border area, though military personnel prevented them from approaching the fence line with Cambodia on September 28, 2025.
UN Backdrop
The eviction notices follow Saturday’s heated exchange at the UN General Assembly in New York, where Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn traded accusations over border violations, civilian displacements, and military incidents.
The dispute centers on areas Thailand says are its protected forest lands, but where Cambodian villages have expanded over decades since refugees fled Cambodia’s civil war in the late 1970s.
Rath Trakultai, Chief Marketing Officer of Food Passion Co., Ltd. poses with Bar B Gon.
BANGKOK — A barbecue restaurant chain familiar to many Thais is Bar B Q Plaza, now 38 years old and long a favorite among barbecue lovers. The iconic brass pan and mascot “Bar B Gon,” a green dragon, have become indelible images for consumers.
Rath Trakultai, Chief Marketing Officer of Food Passion Co., Ltd., shared with Prachachat Business how Bar B Q Plaza continues to win customers’ hearts.
From Insight to Marketing
Bar B Q Plaza currently operates 157 branches nationwide. Recently, the company has introduced new formats to accommodate changing behaviors, including later closing times in some stores and single-seating zones to capitalize on the solo dining trend.
The brand now has over 3.4 million “Gon Gang” members, representing around 90% of its customer base—a huge reservoir of data for marketing. But understanding new trends and lifestyles remains equally important.
One widely noticed change is meal timing: Traditional meal times are disappearing as people eat across longer time slots. This has created opportunities for late-night service. Today, 12 stores stay open late, some closing at 2:00 a.m. and others at 5:00 a.m.
Buffet promotions at Bar B Q Plaza are always crowd-pullers, typically running twice a year.
Another shift in urban lifestyles after COVID is greater flexibility. People linger longer at mealtimes and dine alone more often. In response, Bar B Q Plaza introduced a new concept at Central Park shopping center in early September, offering tables and zones for solo diners.
Store staff also contribute importantly to marketing. They serve as both the voice of the brand to customers and a mirror reflecting customers’ needs back to the company.
Buffet Where Everyone Can Enjoy
Buffet promotions at Bar B Q Plaza are always crowd-pullers, typically running twice a year.
Rath notes that children and seniors are often excluded from buffets because restaurants feel it’s “not worth it.” Since the brand wants every meal—regular or buffet—to remain a family event, it created the GON Buffet with special prices for children and older adults so everyone can participate.
Keeping the Family Picture Together
Beyond annual buffet promotions, Bar B Q Plaza has introduced buffets in its late-closing branches. Since fixed meal times no longer exist, extending dining hours made sense. During the day and early evening, branches serve regular menus, but from 9:00 p.m. until closing, buffets are available.
An interesting figure: in late-closing restaurants, around 20% of total daily revenue—one in five baht—comes after 9:00 p.m.
Rath adds that buffets at Bar B Q Plaza maintain the same quality of service and ingredients as regular hours, even though food costs are higher and staff must serve more frequently. For this reason, buffets are introduced only as campaign promotions rather than as a separate brand, ensuring consistent quality that meets customer expectations.
Bar B Q Plaza’s new Central Park, Bangkok branch features tables for solo diners.
Turning Small Things Special
Bar B Q Plaza is undeniably one of the best-known barbecue brands among Thai consumers. The crucial question: what keeps the brand on top year after year?
Beyond expectations of quality ingredients and service, the company creates “extraordinarily ordinary” experiences by making small details special. For example, free cabbage refills: staff are trained to notice when customers need more and bring it without being asked. This not only improves service but also deepens employees’ understanding of customer needs.
Another important element is Bar B Gon, the brand’s long-standing mascot and key marketing weapon. Bar B Gon is treated like a real employee, serving as a bridge between the company and its customers, supported by more than 4,000 employees behind the scenes.
“If we were a piece of wood, the core would remain the same. We still believe in creating special experiences. But the bark on the outside has to move with the times,” says Rath.
“Bar B Gon” The Connector
Bar B Gon has long been a brand icon and one of Thailand’s most successful mascots.
Rath explains that mascots need clear personalities to succeed. He treats Bar B Gon like a person: “When you bring him to events, it feels like bringing your son on stage to receive an award. When you see him like this, you have a responsibility to teach him about the modern world, listen to customers, and adapt to new trends to keep him relevant to Generation Now across all age groups.”
Bar B Gon bridges customers and the company by relaying customer voices to management and communicating company messages to the public. Importantly, he listens to all feedback, not just positive comments.
Beyond being an icon and friend, Bar B Gon has collaborated with lifestyle brands in fashion, snacks, and even gaming. Rath explains that the only way to let the mascot “grow up” is by meeting new friends—experts in different fields—and learning about new lifestyles through partnerships.
Mini Friends of Gon’ figurines
When asked what makes a successful mascot, Rath mentions two principles: seeing them as a real person and being a sincere representative of both customer and brand, maintaining honesty on both sides.
Looking ahead, Bar B Gon will continue growing with the brand and building its own community. The challenge is connecting online and offline worlds while ensuring Bar B Gon remains a friend everywhere, always.
“I want Bar B Gon to become part of every household’s lifestyle. The new ‘Mini Friends of Gon’ figurines, for example, are not just collectibles but memorabilia linked to shared dining experiences. They are not just display pieces, but shared memories that live in every home,” says Rath.
To Win Is to Play a Long Game
“Price wars” are now commonplace in the hospitality industry, with many brands relying on pricing strategies to attract customers. Rath admits price plays a role but emphasizes thinking long-term. Price is just one element of the 4Ps/6Ps of competition. Bar B Q Plaza focuses instead on changing consumer behavior and transforming trends into new models under the same brand umbrella.
In recent years, many new restaurants have emerged, often made famous by hype rather than longstanding trust and customer confidence.
Rath reflects: “The first thing you need to do is look inwards. Are you really committed to the cause? Do you have the skills and knowledge to do it well? Or are you just doing it because your friends are?”
Photos of Palestinian children killed during the Israeli air and ground operations in the Gaza Strip are displayed during a pro-Palestinians protest, in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Israel is becoming increasingly isolated. Dozens of representatives from various nations walked out on Friday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was addressing the UN General Assembly in New York. The past week also saw the unthinkable: major Western nations, including France, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada announced their recognition of the Palestinian state.
A few weeks earlier, German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (a country with the eternal guilt of the genocide of the Jewish people during the Nazi era), was becoming increasingly vocal and reported about the decision of the association of scholars and experts on genocide to brand the killing in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force a genocide.
In another major blow to the international standing of Israel, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) highlighted the fact that more journalists have been killed in Gaza than in many major military conflicts in the past – more than 270.
“According to Brown University’s Costs of War project, more journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023, than in the US Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, the wars in the former Yugoslavia and the post-9/11 war in Afghanistan – combined,” CPJ, which gave the International Press Freedom Award to this writer in 2017, noted in its article on August 11.
I think the reputation of the state of Israel is at its nadir now. I once warned the Israeli ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv, who just completed her tour of duty in Thailand a few weeks ago, that Israel migh bet winning the battle militarily but they are failing in the war to win the hearts and minds of the international community – particularly countries that are not totally for or against Israel.
It’s time for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express its concern and join the growing number of nations in pressurising Israel.
P.S. I was recently asked by a foreign Facebook friend when I posted something about the conversation.
”How did the ambassador react when you shared your opinion with her?”
My answer: “Her reaction was that the Israeli Government had no choice, that deep tunnels have been dug by Hamas, hospitals allegedly used as a hiding place for Hamas, that the UN is biased, and that Hamas vows to exterminate the Jewish people. I sensed that she sees it as a zero-sum war and perhaps it explains why the attacks, killings and retribution are so relentless.”
Too many people, including civilians, women, children, and journalists, have been killed, however.
The FB friend then wrote back: “Thank you for your detailed answer. That was a gutsy move to share your views with her.”
Then I added a message to the FB friend: “I also told her that further south from Thailand, (e.g. Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei) they do not even recognise the existence of the state of Israel, no embassies there, so please do not lose the middle ground, countries like Thailand, etc.”
The barbaric attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, led to the deaths of some 1,200 people, including dozens of Thai workers. Nearly two years on, the Israeli armed forces have killed about 65,000 people, according to Palestinian officials. Let us just say the number in Gaza is inflated. I shall cut it to half, or 32,500 people killed, including women and children. If you do the math then you will realise that it is way beyond an eye for an eye but an eye for 26 eyes.
Combination photo of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
NEW YORK — Thailand and Cambodia engaged in a heated exchange of accusations at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, with both countries presenting starkly different accounts of escalating border tensions that have threatened the fragile peace between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.
Speaking on the fifth day of the 80th UNGA General Debate, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow delivered an unexpectedly sharp rebuke of Cambodia, saying he had been forced to rewrite his prepared speech following what he called “regrettable remarks” by his Cambodian counterpart earlier in the day.
Conflicting Narratives
The diplomatic clash came as Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn accused Thailand of forced evictions of Cambodian civilians, threatening to impose domestic laws on Cambodian territory, and resorting to force rather than agreed mechanisms to resolve border disputes.
Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Sokhonn Prak addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Sokhonn, who did not mention Thailand by name in his speech, criticized his neighbor for relying on unilateral maps instead of internationally recognized ones established under binding treaties, actions he said undermine trust-building and peace efforts.
In his response, Phuangketkeow expressed dismay that Cambodia “continues to present itself as the victim” and accused Cambodia of distorting the truth, pointing to Thai soldiers who lost legs from landmines, children whose schools were shelled, and civilians attacked by Cambodian rocket fire at a grocery store as “the real victims.”
Disputed Territory and Historical Context
The Thai foreign minister maintained that villages referenced by Cambodia are in Thai territory, noting they exist because Thailand opened its borders in the late 1970s for hundreds of thousands of Cambodians fleeing civil war. He claimed that despite repeated Thai protests, Cambodia has ignored requests to address what Thailand views as encroachment as these villages expanded over decades.
Phuangketkeow also highlighted Thailand’s role in rebuilding Cambodia after the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, saying Thailand built homes, roads, and hospitals because “peace in Cambodia is in Thailand’s interest.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at U.N. headquarters. (Photo: Thaiand Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Recent Incidents Fuel Tensions
The Thai minister accused Cambodia of continued provocations, including mobilizing civilians into Thai territory and recent firings toward Thai positions, referencing incidents since September 23 of Cambodian troops firing at Thai forces along the border, with the most recent occurring on the day of his speech. He also reported daily intrusions by Cambodian surveillance drones into Thai territory, calling these actions violations of Thailand’s sovereignty and a ceasefire agreement reached in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Cambodia presented a different version of events. Sokhonn pointed to what he called an unprovoked attack on Cambodian forces in the An Ses area on September 27, firmly rejecting accusations that Cambodian troops initiated the clash and stating that Cambodian forces “have not fired first, nor have they retaliated to the provocation.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Diplomatic Contradictions
Phuangketkeow revealed he had met with his Cambodian colleague at the UN the previous day to discuss peace, dialogue, and mutual trust, discussions that were reinforced at informal four-party consultations organized by the United States. However, he expressed disappointment that Cambodia’s public statements contradicted these private discussions, questioning Cambodia’s true intentions.
Path Forward Uncertain
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Thailand insisted it “will always stand for peace” while remaining “firm and resolute in the defense of our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” urging Cambodia to resolve differences through peaceful dialogue and existing mechanisms.
Phuangketkeow posed a direct question to Cambodia: which path they wish to take—”the path of continued confrontation or the path of peace and cooperation”—stating that Thailand chooses peace but questioning whether Cambodia shares that intention.
The public confrontation at the UN highlights the fragility of the ceasefire between the two ASEAN members and underscores the challenges facing the regional bloc in maintaining unity amid bilateral disputes between its members.
Tourist police arrest a Chinese man working illegally as a tour guide at Bali Hai Pier, Pattaya, on September 27, 2025.
PATTAYA — Tourist police arrested a Chinese national working illegally as a tour guide at Bali Hai Pier, along with a Thai guide who allowed him to operate under her license, following complaints that foreign guides were taking jobs reserved for Thais.
During routine patrols on September 27, officers spotted Mr. Zheng leading 14 Chinese tourists from the pier to their tour bus. Suspiciously, no licensed Thai guide was accompanying the group.
When officers requested documentation, Mr. Zheng produced only a work order from a local travel company listing Ms. Mon as the legally responsible licensed guide—but no personal tour guide license from the registrar.
Ms. Mon later appeared at Pattaya City Police Station, where investigators determined she had knowingly allowed Mr. Zheng to conduct tours using her credentials.
Tourist police arrest a Thai tour guide for allowing an unlicensed individual to perform tour guide duties on her behalf on September 27, 2025.
Mr. Zheng was charged with operating as an unlicensed tour guide and working illegally without proper authorization. Ms. Mon faces charges for permitting an unlicensed individual to perform tour guide duties on her behalf.
The arrests reflect heightened enforcement against illegal foreign tour guides, a persistent complaint from licensed Thai operators. Under Thailand’s reserved occupation laws, tour guiding is restricted exclusively to Thai nationals, making such violations particularly serious.
Authorities warn that both unauthorized foreign operators and Thai guides who enable them will face prosecution under Thai law.
FILE - Delegation of the military attaches and diplomats from 13 countries, including the United States and China, visit a damaged Buddhist pagoda in An Ses, a Cambodia–Thailand borders check point in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, as observed the implementation of the Cambodia–Thailand ceasefire agreement. (AKP via AP)
BANGKOK — Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia intensified on Saturday when Cambodian troops fired small arms and grenade launchers into Thai territory at Chong Anma crossing in Ubon Ratchathani Province, prompting Thai forces to return fire.
Major General Winthai Suvaree, Royal Thai Army spokesperson, reported that between 12:00-12:30 p.m., the 2nd Army Area detected Cambodian troops firing into Thai territory. The Suranaree Task Force responded with retaliatory fire following standard procedures. No Thai casualties were reported.
Maj. Gen. Winthai suggested the incident may be a deliberate provocation, noting that Cambodian International Observer Team (IOT) personnel have frequently inspected the area. “It is anticipated that this constitutes an attempt to create circumstances and provoke Thai forces into retaliatory fire, with the intention of utilizing such incidents as evidence to report that Thai forces have violated ceasefire measures,” he said.
Mutual Accusations and Call for Investigation
Following the brief exchange, both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire and filed complaints with the IOT observer team.
Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, posting on social media, claimed Thai forces fired first using “ball guns and machine guns.” He stated that Prime Minister Hun Manet held an urgent online meeting with him to “advise the army to be patient not to respond.”
FILE – Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, left, talks with his son Prime Minister Hun Manet, right, during the 74th founding anniversary in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Hun Sen called on the Malaysian-led ASEAN IOT team to conduct two key investigations: ballistic forensics to identify ammunition types used by both sides, and on-site inspection of shell impact sites to determine the origin and trajectory of fire.
“Cambodian forces are properly preserving shell craters and creating favorable conditions for IOT observers to perform accurate forensic analysis,” Hun Sen wrote. “I hope the Thai side will demonstrate the same level of cooperation. Any refusal to allow inspections by IOT observers would imply guilt on either side.”
Thai Residents Evacuate as Tensions Rise
The Chong Anma incident comes amid two weeks of escalating border tensions across multiple provinces. In Sa Kaeo Province under the 1st Army Area, Thai authorities erected barbed wire fencing at Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaew—areas Thailand claims are clearly within its sovereignty but have been occupied by Cambodians despite hundreds of protests.
Sawai Sutthiphon, a resident of Phumisoron village, Sao Thong Chai sub-district, Kantharalak district, Sisaket Province, prepares essential items for evacuation on September 27, 2025, after 200 families from the area have already fled due to escalating Thai-Cambodia border tensions.
On September 17 at Ban Nong Ya Kaew, Thai riot control units deployed tear gas and rubber bullets when Cambodian local leaders brought villagers to reclaim the disputed area.
In Sisaket and Surin provinces under the 2nd Army Area, multiple families have evacuated their homes following reports of Cambodian heavy weapons movements near the border. The Saturday gunfire exchange at Chong Anma has prompted additional evacuations from border villages.
Thai military forces remain on high alert across all border positions as diplomatic efforts continue to de-escalate the situation.
Viral video footage shows a Chiang Mai traffic police officer accepting money from a foreign tourist near the Night Bazaar on September 24, 2025. The officer was dismissed from service just days before his scheduled retirement after an investigation confirmed extortion.
CHIANG MAI — A traffic police officer who extorted money from a foreign motorcyclist has been dismissed from service just days before his scheduled retirement on September 30, losing all pension and retirement benefits.
The incident occurred near the Night Bazaar in downtown Chiang Mai on September 24 when a bystander filmed a traffic officer accepting what appeared to be money from a foreign motorcyclist. The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread criticism of police corruption.
Police Lieutenant General Yutthana Kaenchan, Provincial Police Region 5 Commander for Chiang Mai, immediately ordered a fact-finding committee to investigate the incident with instructions to take decisive action if wrongdoing was found.
On September 27, the investigation committee concluded that the deputy inspector, a traffic police officer seen in the video accepting what appeared to be money from the tourist, committed extortion, which constitutes serious disciplinary violations.
The committee forwarded the case to Chiang Mai Provincial Police with a recommendation for dismissal from service. Police Lieutenant General Yutthana is expected to issue the dismissal order shortly.
The timing of the offense has drawn public attention, as the officer was just days away from retiring on September 30. The dismissal means he will forfeit all retirement benefits, including pension and healthcare subsidies typically granted to retired government officials.
Displaced Palestinians flee northern Gaza, by vehicle and on foot, carrying their belongings along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 44 people across Gaza, health officials said Saturday, as international pressure grows for a ceasefire but Israel’s leader remains defiant about continuing the war.
Among the dead were nine from the same family in a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to staff at Al-Awda Hospital, where the bodies were brought. Five others were killed when a strike hit a tent for the displaced, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the dead.
Israel’s army said they were not aware of anyone being killed by gunfire Saturday in southern Gaza, and didn’t provide immediate comment about the airstrikes.
The director of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City told The Associated Press that medical teams there were concerned about Israeli “tanks approaching the vicinity of the hospital,” restricting access to the facility where 159 patients are being treated.
“The bombardment has not stopped for a single moment,” Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya said.
He added that 14 premature babies were treated in incubators in Helou Hospital, though the head of neonatal intensive care there, Dr. Nasser Bulbul, has said that facility’s main gate was closed because of drones flying over the building.
Palestinians survey the aftermath of an Israeli military strike on the Abu Dahrouj family home in Zawaida, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Netanyahu and Trump scheduled to meet as pressure grows
The attacks came hours after a defiant Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told fellow world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly Friday that his nation “must finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s words, aimed as much at his increasingly divided domestic audience as the global one, began after dozens of delegates from multiple nations walked out of the U.N. General Assembly hall en masse Friday morning as he began speaking.
International pressure on Israel to end the war is increasing, as is Israel’s isolation, with a growing list of countries deciding recently to recognize Palestinian statehood, which Israel rejects.
Countries have been lobbying U.S. President Donald Trump to press Israel for a ceasefire. On Friday, Trump told reporters on the White House lawn that he believes the U.S. is close to achieving a deal on easing fighting in Gaza that “will get the hostages back” and “end the war.”
Trump and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet Monday, and Trump said on social media Friday that “very inspired and productive discussions” and “intense negotiations” about Gaza are ongoing with countries in the region.
Yet, Israel is pressing ahead with another major ground operation in Gaza City, which experts say is experiencing famine. More than 300,000 people have fled, but up to 700,000 are still there, many because they can’t afford to relocate.
Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Hospitals are short on supplies and targeted by airstrikes
The strikes Saturday morning demolished a house in Gaza City’s Tufah neighborhood, killing at least 11 people, more than half of them women and children, according to Al-Ahly Hospital, where the bodies were brought. Four other people were killed when an airstrike hit their homes in the Shati refugee camp, according to Shifa Hospital. Six other Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire while seeking aid in southern and central Gaza, according to the Nasser and Al Awda hospitals.
Hospitals and health clinics in Gaza City are on the brink of collapse. Nearly two weeks into the offensive, two clinics have been destroyed by airstrikes, two hospitals shut down after being damaged and others are barely functioning, with medicine, equipment, food and fuel in short supply, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Many patients and staff have been forced to flee hospitals, leaving behind only a few doctors and nurses to tend to children in incubators or other patients too ill to move.
On Friday, aid group Doctors Without Borders said it was forced to suspend activities in Gaza City. The group said Israeli tanks were less than a kilometer (half a mile) from its facilities, creating an “unacceptable level of risk” for its staff.
Meanwhile, the food situation in the north has also worsened, as Israel has halted aid deliveries through its crossing into northern Gaza since Sept. 12 and has increasingly rejected U.N. requests to bring supplies from southern Gaza into the north, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 65,000 people and wounded more than 167,000 others, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. It doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants, but says women and children make up around half the fatalities. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, but U.N. agencies and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
Israel’s campaign was triggered when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Forty-eight captives remain in Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive, after most of the rest were freed in ceasefires or other deals.
Othman Chraibi, Business Executive Officer for Nestlé Thailand's Coffee and Creamer Business Unit
BANGKOK — NESCAFÉ is transforming Bangkok’s historic Songwat Road into the epicenter of Thailand’s cold coffee culture this October with a three-day festival celebrating its new ready-to-mix coffee innovation.
The NESCAFÉ Concentrate Ready-to-Mix Coffee Haus Party will take place at PLAY art house in Chinatown from October 3-5, 2025, blending coffee culture, lifestyle, and live music in one of Bangkok’s trendiest Gen Z destinations.
Festival Highlights
The event will feature collaborations with Bangkok’s largest running community, Sabai Run Club, swing dance sessions with Jelly Roll Jazz Club, and live performances by Thai T-pop stars PROXIE and PiXXiE, alongside artists James Alynn and Valentina Ploy.
Attendees can experiment at the DIY Coffee Bar, explore content creation spaces, and discover guerrilla marketing installations throughout the historic street. The festival aims to ignite a DIY coffee culture among young Thai consumers while showcasing creative ways to customize cold coffee at home.
Product Launch Strategy
The October event marks the local launch of NESCAFÉ Concentrate Ready-to-Mix, the brand’s first liquid coffee concentrate designed specifically for cold coffee preparation. The product comes in three variants: Black No Sugar, Sweetened Black, and Latte, catering to different taste preferences.
“We’re bringing this innovation to Thailand following successful launches in Australia, China, the U.S., and the U.K.,” said Othman Chraibi, Business Executive Officer for Nestlé Thailand’s Coffee and Creamer Business Unit. “This addresses a significant market opportunity—cold coffee represents 65% of out-of-home consumption in Thailand, worth over 62.6 billion baht according to Euromonitor 2024.”
Zach King
Marketing Campaign
Global digital creator Zach King, who has 82 million TikTok followers, serves as the campaign’s international ambassador. The “Hack It How You Like It” campaign will appear on over 3,000 digital out-of-home screens nationwide, with Bangkok serving as a strategic focus given its importance in the cold coffee market.
Songwat takeover represents NESCAFÉ’s strategy to connect with millennials and Gen Z consumers who increasingly seek personalized, convenient coffee experiences at home.
The Enactus World Cup 2025 Presented by ThaiBev has been officially launched with great prominence, marking the 25th edition of this world-class competition that unites young changemakers from across the globe to create innovative solutions for sustainability. The event is organized by the Rakkaew Foundation and Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, the main sponsor, in collaboration with Enactus Global. This year is especially significant as it marks the very first time Thailand is serving as host, supported by a network of private sector partners and non-profit organizations, with SX2025 joining as one of the Host Partners.
George M. Tsiatis president & CEO of Enactus Global said:
“The return of Enactus Thailand to our global network is a testament to the leadership and commitment around youth empowerment and training. Enactus Thailand was part of our global network for over a decade until 2016, when their formal membership ended. However, the Rakkaew Foundation continued advancing youth entrepreneurship initiatives independently during this period. It’s been incredible to officially welcome Enactus Thailand back into our global network and celebrate this renewed partnership. We see this reestablishment as a catalyst for expanding our presence throughout the ASEAN region, where we hope to restart operations in surrounding markets. This milestone represents a meaningful step forward in our mission to empower young entrepreneurs across Southeast Asia.”
Khun Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, Group CEO, Thai Beverage said:
“Thai Beverage is a leading manufacturer and brand owner of many types of drinks. We have operations in 10 countries, including France, New Zealand, and the UK. We are deeply committed to our mission of “Creating and Sharing the Value of Growth”. This mission leads us to work extensively with our stakeholders across all sectors, including the governmental sector, private sector, educational institutions, civil societies, and communities, to improve quality of life in all aspects. We have a strong focus on empowering youth,
advancing education, and supporting community development throughout Thailand and ASEAN countries. This is why we feel that Enactus is a perfect match with our organization and has decided to be the co-host of Enactus World Cup competition this year.”
This year’s competition brings together more than 2,000 students and academic advisors, with youth representatives from each participating country presenting projects that drive meaningful change across multiple dimensions of global sustainability challenges, including:
Agricultural Innovation & Food Systems – The largest category, with teams developing organic fertilizers (Azerbaijan, Eswatini), addressing soil challenges (Egypt, South Korea), connecting farmers to markets (Colombia), transforming livestock sectors (India), revitalizing entire agricultural value chains (Thailand), and providing veterinary solutions (Tunisia, Zimbabwe).
Waste Management & Circular Economy – A major focus across multiple teams converting diverse waste streams into valuable products, from fruit and agricultural residues (Ghana, Lithuania) to innovative applications like durian waste batteries (Hong Kong), textile upcycling (Italy), bioplastics from seaweed (Canada), and comprehensive waste transformation enterprises (Morocco, Netherlands, Puerto Rico).
Healthcare Innovation & Access – Teams bridging digital and physical health solutions through telemedicine platforms (Kazakhstan), AI-powered diagnostics (Mexico), healthcare worker support systems (Poland), biodegradable medical products (Kenya), menstrual health solutions (France), and accessible transportation for vulnerable populations (Guatemala).
Energy Access & Environmental Technology – Projects addressing energy poverty through solar solutions and bioeconomy development (Brazil), clean cooking alternatives (Nigeria), marine ecosystem restoration (Germany), carbon capture innovation (UK), and integrated energy-agriculture solutions (Zimbabwe).
Social Integration & Community Development – Initiatives tackling food insecurity and social isolation (Australia), community economic revitalization (US), and refugee integration combined with environmental solutions (Netherlands).
Representing Thailand on this global stage is the “Cocoa Go Green Project” from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Agricultural Resources. The project focuses on developing and upgrading Thai cocoa through innovation to increase farmer incomes, address environmental challenges, and establish a sustainable social enterprise model.
The Enactus World Cup 2025 will be held from 26–28 September 2025 as part of the Sustainability Expo 2025 (SX2025) at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), Bangkok.
