On April 24, 2026, at the Counter-Terrorism Operations Center, National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Siam Bunyasem assigned Pol. Lt. Gen. Charintr Gopattana, Deputy National Police Chief, to preside over the 43rd founding anniversary ceremony of the Counter-Terrorism Division, also known as Arintaraj 26. The ceremony was attended by multiple high-ranking police officials including Pol. Lt. Gen. Thawat Wongsangga, Deputy National Police Chief, and other senior commanders and personnel from the unit, along with former commanders and retired officers.

The morning proceedings included officers paying respects at the unit's sacred shrine, which features a Buddha image serving as Arintaraj 26's emblem, followed by religious rites. After the ceremony concluded, Pol. Lt. Gen. Charintr presented commendations and scholarships to outstanding officers who excelled in volunteer work, border patrol duties along the Thai-Cambodian frontier, and those representing the Royal Thai Police at the UAE SWAT Challenge 2026 in Dubai. The Deputy National Police Chief also visited Sgt. Maj. Kritsada Karun, commander of the 2nd Special Operations Company, who sustained severe injuries during a shooting response at Terminal 21 shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima on February 9, 2020, providing financial assistance and medical supplies through the "Police Do Not Abandon" program.

The unit's history traces back to 1977 when the serious crime and international terrorism threat prompted the establishment of an elite counter-terrorism unit originally called "Anti-Hijacker." After changing missions under subsequent leadership, the unit was revived in 1983 with international training standards and formally established in 1984 as Arintaraj 26 under the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Division, with the name signifying a supreme ruler victorious over all enemies.

The Pure Heart Foundation Joins Forces with Private Sector to Deliver Morale-Boosting Snacks to Wildfire Control Officers in Kanchanaburi

The Pure Heart Foundation distributed snacks to officers at the Natural Resources Conservation Office Region 3 (Ban Pong) to encourage staff engaged in wildfire monitoring and control efforts in Kanchanaburi Province.

On April 24, 2025, Pure Heart Foundation Chair Theerarat Nawamawatana and her team traveled to the site to distribute 3,748 snack items valued at a total of 93,884 baht, with support from Value Plus Retail Co., Ltd., through the Wildfire and Haze Situation Command and Monitoring Center at the Natural Resources Conservation Office Region 3 (Ban Pong), Ban Pong District, Rajburi Province. Rachan Buatri, Director of the Natural Resources Conservation Office Region 3, accepted the donation on behalf of the wildfire control personnel in Kanchanaburi Province.

The foundation chair stated that the current wildfire situation in Kanchanaburi Province has significantly impacted the ecosystem and residents' quality of life. Dedicated officials are working tirelessly on wildfire control operations, and the foundation wished to be part of supporting all sectors' efforts in protecting natural resources and reducing wildfire impacts. The snack donation serves as a gesture of encouragement and appreciation for the officers' hard work.

The Pure Heart Foundation continues to advance its social support mission and coordinates cooperation across all sectors to deliver sustainable assistance and benefits to society in multiple dimensions.

EGCO Group and the Thai Forest Conservation Foundation, believing that "good sources create good outcomes," successfully executed the 62nd EGCO Thai Forest Conservation Youth Camp under the concept "Nature Decoded: Unlocking Doi Inthanon Watershed." The program brought 70 high school students from across Thailand to uncover nature's secrets at Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest source forest, which maintains rich biodiversity including flora, fauna, and unique ecosystems. The initiative aimed to help young people understand the value of watersheds and their connection to daily life, fostering environmental consciousness and eco-friendly behavior while building a strong network of forest conservationists.

Nature's Classroom Beyond Textbooks

During a seven-day, six-night camp in late March 2025 at Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai, selected youth transformed from classroom students into "nature detectives" through hands-on activities emphasizing direct experience and observation. They learned to understand the interconnectedness of living organisms and forest ecosystems firsthand.

Manee Pathachiwa, Secretary of the Thai Forest Conservation Foundation, explained that the EGCO Thai Forest Conservation Youth Camp has been held continuously since 1997, with a different theme each year. This year's focus on "decoding Doi Inthanon watershed" encourages youth to discover how nature sustains us and how we are the key to its sustainable future. The metaphor of "decoding" helps young people see nature's relevance even outside forests—through simple actions like environmental care and energy conservation. Participants engaged in actual forest walks along several nature study trails featuring diverse geography, geology, and vegetation, while exploring unique freshwater forest ecosystems and understanding relationships within these environments. They also took on the role of "water detectives" investigating the interconnected web of forest ecosystems.

PATTAYA – A Pattaya municipal officer has gone viral on social media after Chinese tourists were seen lining up to take photos with him, turning him into an unexpected online sensation during the recent holiday period.

Pongsatep Prasankhata, 28, known by his nickname "Nan," works as a special affairs officer for Pattaya City, responsible for assisting tourists and ensuring safety at Bali Hai Pier, a key departure point for visitors in the coastal city.

Videos and images of Chinese tourists requesting photos with him were widely shared on TikTok, quickly spreading across social media platforms and drawing significant attention online.

Pongsatep, who runs the TikTok account "Nanza_27" with more than 164,000 followers and over 3.7 million likes, regularly posts content showing his daily work, including assisting tourists, providing safety support and helping visitors at tourist hotspots.

He said he began creating content on TikTok around 2–3 years ago as a hobby, but his videos gained increasing popularity, particularly among Chinese users. During the holiday period, large numbers of tourists visited Pattaya, with many recognising him and asking for photos, leading to widespread sharing online.

Despite the viral attention, he stressed that his main duty remains assisting all tourists equally. His daily responsibilities include managing parking and tourist facilitation during the day, and providing safety support in the evening, including basic first aid and assistance for elderly and disabled visitors.

The viral attention has been widely praised online, with many users saying the incident reflects Thailand's tourism industry not only through its destinations, but also through frontline personnel who play a key role in creating trust and positive impressions among international visitors.

Woman catches, punches peeping tom filming in Surat Thani toiletLegacyA woman punched a man after catching him filming her inside a toilet at a petrol station in Surat Thani on April 16, before police were called. The incident took place at a petrol station in Baan Na Doem district after a group of women were returning from Songkran celebrations and heading back to Khian Sa district. They stopped at the station to use the toilets and the convenience store. Prae, a 27 year old woman wearing a black shirt, said she noticed a mobile phone protruding from the next stall while she was in the toilet. At first, she thought one of her friends was playing a prank. However, after her group came out and realised everyone was already outside, they called for the person in the stall to come out. Nearly 10 minutes later, a teenage male emerged. Photo via DailyNews When questioned, the man initially denied filming and said he had been hiding in the toilet from another group of teenagers. Prae, who said she was angry about being recorded, then punched him several times as her friends tried to stop her. The confrontation was recorded by the women in the group. DailyNews reported that after they asked to see his phone, the screen displayed a message saying the images had been deleted. The group also found numerous searches for pornographic websites on his phone. However, he still denied filming secret videos in the toilet at that point. Convenience store staff and petrol station workers stepped in and called the police. A complaint was later filed at Baan Na Doem Police Station. Photo via DailyNews Police said the suspect later admitted he had secretly filmed inside the toilet, apologised, and said he had deleted the clip. His phone was confiscated, while the confrontation video was later posted online as a “warning”. Responding to online comments about her punches, Prae said she had previously trained in boxing for sport and self-defence. She also warned women using public toilets, especially those alone, to stay alert and pay close attention to their surroundings. Elsewhere, officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau arrested a Thai man in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan for possessing and selling spycam pornography. Officials found 60,000 files of pornography in his possession. The story Woman catches, punches peeping tom filming in Surat Thani toilet as seen on Thaiger News.

Mercedes driver doges petrol bill, station worker forced to cover costsLegacyA woman driving a white Mercedes-Benz allegedly left a petrol station in Thung Yai, Hat Yai, Songkhla, with a 1,000 baht fuel bill unpaid on April 6, leaving the employee to cover the cost himself. The incident occurred at 2.42pm when a woman aged around 30 to 35 arrived in a white Mercedes-Benz and asked to fill benzine 95 worth 2,000 baht. She reportedly later reduced the amount to 1,000 baht as the pump was dispensing slowly. Photo via Khaosod An employee, 23 year old Theerapong, said the woman attempted to pay using a mobile banking app on an iPhone. However, the transaction was not clearly confirmed due to a slow internet connection. The worker told her he would check the payment on the station’s system. While he walked to the cashier, the woman fled the petrol station and drove towards Kho Hong municipality at around 2.45pm. Photo via Naewna Theerapong said he did not pursue the vehicle as other customers were waiting. He later confirmed that the 1,000 baht payment had not been received, although payments from other customers were processed normally. He believes the payment was not completed and has asked the woman to return and pay the amount. He added that he earns 350 baht per day and would need to work three days without pay to cover the loss. If the woman does not come forward, he plans to file a police complaint, reported Khaosod. CCTV footage shows the vehicle entering the station at around 2.40pm and parking at pump No.1 before the refuelling took place. The footage also shows the moment the driver left while the employee was checking the payment. Photo via Naewna Elsewhere, a black Mitsubishi sedan was captured on CCTV at a Bangchak station in Khon Kaen refuelling with 1,000 baht of Gasohol 95, before the driver fled without paying. The petrol station is now using social media to seek information about the vehicle. The story Mercedes driver doges petrol bill, station worker forced to cover costs as seen on Thaiger News.