Petch Petpailin

Petpailin, or Petch, is a Thai translator and writer for The Thaiger who focuses on translating breakingThai news stories into English. With a background in field journalism, Petch brings several years of experience to the English News desk at The Thaiger. Before joining The Thaiger, Petch worked as a content writer for several known blogging sites in Bangkok, including Happio and The Smart Local. Her articles have been syndicated by many big publishers in Thailand and internationally, including the Daily Mail, The Sun and the Bangkok Post. She is a news writer who stops reading news on the weekends to spend more time cafe hopping and petting dwarf shrimp! But during office hours, you can find Petch on LinkedIn and you can reach her by email at petch@thethaiger.com.
  • South Thailand NewsFamily moves out after 14 cobras invade house in southern Thailand

    Family moves out after 14 cobras invade house in southern Thailand

    A family in Songkhla province in southern Thailand moved out of their house on Monday after they discovered 14 cobras living inside with them. The family kept discovering more and more cobras over a period of four days until they had enough, and decided to leave for good. The 43 year old renter of the house, Erawan, said he found…

  • Thailand NewsAmerican cruise company looking for 1,000 Thai service staff

    American cruise company looking for 1,000 Thai service staff

    All aboard! The American cruise company that owns the Princess Cruise, Holland America Line, has visited Thailand’s Department of Employment seeking Thai staff to work onboard. The company says they have more than 1,000 positions available for Thai people saying that the famous Thai smile is perfect for the hospitality industry. The Director-General of the Employment Department, Pirot Choticsathian, welcomed…

  • Thailand NewsStudent slams monkey to the ground after it bit him at school in central Thailand

    Student slams monkey to the ground after it bit him at school in central Thailand

    A monkey bit a 15 year old student at a school in the central province of Phetchaburi, so he picked it up by the tail and slammed it to the ground. It might not seem nice, but it was an act of self-defence. In the video, numerous monkeys can be seen freely roaming around Prommanusorn School in Mueang district. Perhaps…

  • Bangkok NewsThai PM Prayut questions Chadchart’s 200+ policies for Bangkok

    Thai PM Prayut questions Chadchart’s 200+ policies for Bangkok

    He’s only been elected for 3 days and the sniping has already started. Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has told Thai media that he is ready to work with the incoming Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt. But the PM says he’s curious how Chadchart will achieve the 200 policies he promoted during the election campaign. The PM said Chadchart would be “more powerful…

  • Thailand NewsThailand exempts cryptocurrency transfer VAT until 2023

    Thailand exempts cryptocurrency transfer VAT until 2023

    The Royal Thai Government Gazette has formally announced a VAT exemption for transferring cryptocurrency from now until the end of 2023. The cabinet had approved the exemption of the value added tax, or VAT, for transferring cryptocurrency or digital tokens in March. Yesterday, the decision was passed into Thai law and will be in effect from yesterday until December 31,…

  • Crime NewsFormer air force officer murders ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend in Bangkok

    Former air force officer murders ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend in Bangkok

    A former Royal Thai Air Force officer murdered his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend at a house in Ratchathewi district in Bangkok yesterday morning. The perpetrator broke into the couple’s home and shot dead 24 year old Fah and 25 year old Korakot before fleeing the house. Fah was shot twice in the head and body and Korakot was shot…

  • Economy NewsLarge banana plantation near Bangkok goes viral, Thai netizens say owner wants to avoid land tax

    Large banana plantation near Bangkok goes viral, Thai netizens say owner wants to avoid land tax

    One of the biggest exhibition centres and event venues, Impact Arena, in the central province of Nonthaburi, basically just north of Bangkok, is showing off its large banana plantation on their official Facebook page. The page claims the CEO desires to increase green spaces for people, but Thai netizens have figured out it’s just a way the controlling company is…

  • Northern Thailand NewsThai cult’s food products tested – feces, bacteria and mould detected

    Thai cult’s food products tested – feces, bacteria and mould detected

    An update on the hidden cult commune in the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum… Local health authorities found the cult was operating a food businesses and seized all of the products for further investigation. The test results showed that the food samples from the group contained excessive amounts of mould, Coliform and bacteria, usually found in feces. At the start of…

  • Thailand NewsCommerce Ministry says Thais should sell to Chinese customers on TikTok

    Commerce Ministry says Thais should sell to Chinese customers on TikTok

    The Ministry of Commerce has come up with a cunning plan that Thai people could make more money by selling products, especially clothes, to Chinese people via the popular TikTok app. The ministry also came up with tips and ideas for Thai sellers who want to win new Chinese customers on TikTok. Yesterday, the Director-General of the Department of International…

  • Thailand NewsLuxury Parliamentary Club open for Thai MPs with spa, karaoke and massage rooms

    Luxury Parliamentary Club open for Thai MPs with spa, karaoke and massage rooms

    The recently opened Parliament House of Thailand will have a new luxury Parliamentary Club for House of Representatives MPs and Senators to relax, with a spa, massage, karaoke room, fitness, gyms, ballroom dance and other recreation activities. Yesterday, the Chairman of the Senate committee to Organise Activities for Social Benefit and Recreational Activities of the Senate, Peerasak Porchit, took Thai…

  • Thailand News11 Malaria patients found in Thailand’s east, blood from monkeys on Koh Chang tested

    11 Malaria patients found in Thailand’s east, blood from monkeys on Koh Chang tested

    The eastern Thai province of Trat has reported 11 malaria patients, 9 from Koh Chang and 2 from the Bor Rai district. The type of malaria found in the residents is the parasite plasmodium knowlesi. The disease was first detected in the local monkey population and then transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Blood from random monkeys on Koh Chang has…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s genomics centre to launch monkeypox tests in next 2 weeks

    Thailand’s genomics centre to launch monkeypox tests in next 2 weeks

    The Centre of Medical Genomics from Ramathibodi Hospital is developing a Monkeypox test from the genetic codes obtained from Portugal and Belgium. The test will provide the result within 24 hours, and it is expected to be ready for use in the next 2 weeks. The official Facebook page of the Centre of Medical Genomics announced on May 21 that…

  • Bangkok NewsBryde’s whale found dead at Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thian coast

    Bryde’s whale found dead at Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thian coast

    The death of bruised Bryde’s whale washed ashore at the Bang Khun Thian coast in Bangkok, near the mouth of the Chao Phraya river on Friday, still remains a mystery. Investigating officers spotted a bruise on the mammal’s belly but couldn’t conclude the cause of death. The owner of a nearby restaurant informed Thai media that local fishermen saw the…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman fined 54,000 baht at airport after entering country with designer brands

    Thai woman fined 54,000 baht at airport after entering country with designer brands

    A Thai woman has had an expensive lesson in Thai import duties after having had designer-brand clothing “challenged” at Suvarnabhumi Airport. She was fined 54,000 baht as she arrived at the airport from overseas when customs officials questioned her wearing expensive designer brands and travelling with luxury products in her luggage. The woman, now based in South Korea, was stopped…

  • Thailand NewsThailand urges people to stop consuming bushmeat to help avoid monkeypox

    Thailand urges people to stop consuming bushmeat to help avoid monkeypox

    Thailand is urging people to avoid the consumption of bushmeat and the import of animals from unidentified countries after the recent small outbreaks of monkeypox. The Department of Disease Control has acknowledged the danger posed by monkeypox but insist no cases of the disease have been detected in Thailand. The Thai government instructed the Public Health Ministry to set up and…

  • Thailand NewsDeputy PM demands officals to avoid being rude and offensive to residents

    Deputy PM demands officals to avoid being rude and offensive to residents

    The Deputy PM, Wissanu Krea-Ngam, today demanded government officials to stop being rude and offensive to residents and avoid violating their privacy. Wissanu was speaking at the country’s first ever national forum, Better Thailand Open Dialogue, to openly share constructive ideas leading to a better Thailand. The deputy PM acknowledged the government system has changed in the modern era and…

  • Thailand NewsNo reason given for permanent closure of popular Saphan Pla Hua Hin Walking Street

    No reason given for permanent closure of popular Saphan Pla Hua Hin Walking Street

    Saphan Pla Walking Street, in Hua Hin district of the southern province Prachuab Khiri Khan, has closed permanently. The announcement of the closure appeared on the walking street’s official Facebook page on Wednesday, May 18. The page announced, “Saphan Pla Hua Hin Walking Street closes permanently for some reason. Sorry to everyone who is interested to visit and contact us…

  • Thailand NewsThailand sets sights on “wealthy foreign tourists” to recover economy

    Thailand sets sights on “wealthy foreign tourists” to recover economy

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT, is again going to target “wealthy group of tourists” as it works out its marketing plan as it contributes to the recovery the Thai economy following a 2 year hiatus due to closed borders and restrictions. The TAT claims that, focussing on the “rich groups”, 1.93 trillion baht will be generated in 2024…

  • Thailand NewsCanadian man arrested for stealing traffic barriers in Chiang Mai

    Canadian man arrested for stealing traffic barriers in Chiang Mai

    Police have arrested a Canadian expat in Chiang Mai after driving his car around the city to steal metal traffic barriers. Yes, traffic barriers. 69 year old Ronald John Price was arrested today on Ratchadamnoen Road in Chiang Mai. According to reports, Mr. Price covered his face whilst stealing metal traffic barriers from around the province. He drove his sedan…

  • Thailand NewsUnconscious 75 year old woman survives floating 500 metres along a river

    Unconscious 75 year old woman survives floating 500 metres along a river

    A 75 year old woman was scooped unconscious from the middle of a river in the central province of Chachoengsao after she fainted while paddling. The elderly lady floated for around 500 metres before a man witnessed the incident and contacted a rescue team to save her. Noramin Tongsamak, who witnessed the incident, contacted a rescue team via Facebook after he…

  • South Thailand News15 year old Thai student seriously injured after being stabbed at school

    15 year old Thai student seriously injured after being stabbed at school

    A 15 year old male student is in serious condition after being stabbed several times by a fellow student at school. The incident happened because a long-running conflict between the two and follows an argument the day before. Yesterday, at 8.40 am, a Mathayom 3, or grade 9, student at a school in the southern province of Songkhla was reportedly…

  • Thailand NewsNok Air gamble fails to take off costing airline millions

    Nok Air gamble fails to take off costing airline millions

    Low-cost budget airline Nok Air’s gamble of investing in a special route to boost tourism has backfired to the tune of 40 million baht. The Thai airline, which mostly operates domestic services out of Don Mueang International Airport, introduced the Bangkok to Betong route in February but plan to scrap it in July after suffering heavy losses. The Betong International…

  • Crime NewsThai government winning war against drugs after seizing 5 billion baht haul from nation’s cartels

    Thai government winning war against drugs after seizing 5 billion baht haul from nation’s cartels

    The Thai Minister of Justice yesterday revealed around 5 billion baht had been recovered from nationwide drug raids. Somsak Thepsutin disclosed to Thai media the government is winning the war against drugs, cracking down on illegal cartels, and expects to recoup 10 billion baht by the end of the year after seizing more than half of that amount from illegal…

  • Thailand NewsThailand-made armoured truck delivered to Royal Thai Army for trial use

    Thailand-made armoured truck delivered to Royal Thai Army for trial use

    A snazzy 8×8 VN1 armoured truck made by Thailand’s Defense Technology Institution, or DTI, was delivered to the Royal Thai Army’s Cavalry Centre in Saraburi province in central Thailand yesterday. The truck flaunts a 12.7 millimetre canon, armour to protect military personnel inside from bombs and explosives and a Battlefield Management System, or BMS, intended to increase effectiveness of command…

  • Krabi NewsNew Krabi Airport terminal scheduled to open in November

    New Krabi Airport terminal scheduled to open in November

    Krabi International Airport is hoping to double its passenger capacity when a new passenger terminal opens, car parking areas increased and renovations are completed on the old terminal. The terminals were expected to officially open in October, but the schedule is now postponed until November due to delays caused by the Covid pandemic in Thailand (although The Thaiger notes the…

  • Thailand NewsStudents ride elephants to school in northern Thailand

    Students ride elephants to school in northern Thailand

    Some might take a bus, others ride their bike, some will walk. But some Thai kids arrived at school via elephant this morning in Tak province, northern Thailand. Today was the first day of nationwide on-site classes in Thai schools after almost two years of online, remote studying. To mark the occasion, parents from Baan Ya Por School in Phob…

  • Thailand NewsNewest and widest Chao Phraya cable-stayed bridge to open in 2022

    Newest and widest Chao Phraya cable-stayed bridge to open in 2022

    The Expressway Authority of Thailand has provided an update on the development of the newest and widest Chao Phraya cable-stayed bridge, saying the new bridge is expected to open for use sometime later this year. The department would ask HM King Vachiralongkorn to officiate at the opening and provide his auspicious name to the bridge, Rama 10. EXAT says that…

  • Thailand News14 year old student takes her own life after teacher expels her from school

    14 year old student takes her own life after teacher expels her from school

    A 14 year old female student in the southern province of Songkhla has committed suicide after a teacher expelled her from school because of her financial and family problems. Thai media reported that a 14 year old female student decided to hang herself at a house in Songkhla province on May 13. Her friends told police that she had problems…

  • Thailand NewsTuesday Covid Update: 3,893 new cases; provincial totals

    Tuesday Covid Update: 3,893 new cases; provincial totals

    38 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 29,550 with 7,852 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 3,893 new Covid-19 cases and 7,323 recoveries. There are now 63,337 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of the new cases recorded today,…

  • Bangkok NewsThai woman survives fall from 26th floor

    Thai woman survives fall from 26th floor

    A Thai woman is seriously injured after falling from the 26th floor of a condominium in Bangkok at around 2am on Sunday. Rescue teams arrived at the scene within 5 minutes, but the woman had to wait until 4am to receive treatment at the hospital, according to the rescue team. The woman suffered multiple broken bones. Erawan Emergency Centre took…