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.
  • Thailand NewsTuesday Covid Update: 21,678 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Tuesday Covid Update: 21,678 new cases; provincial totals

    78 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 24,958 with 3,260 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 21,678 new Covid-19 cases and 27,183 recoveries. There are now 245,154 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsConvenience store employee attacked after telling a customer to wear a mask | Thaiger

    Convenience store employee attacked after telling a customer to wear a mask

    Four teenagers were arrested after they allegedly attacked a convenience store clerk who told customers to wear face masks before entering the shop over the weekend. Surveillance camera footage from the shop in the central province of Ratchaburi shows a group of teenagers gathering around the 19 year old employee before attacking him, punching and kicking until he fell on…

  • Thailand NewsHua Hin motorbike taxi driver shot to death after fight over foreign passenger | Thaiger

    Hua Hin motorbike taxi driver shot to death after fight over foreign passenger

    A motorcycle taxi driver in Hua Hin allegedly shot and killed another win driver after a fight over a foreign passenger, Thai media reports. The 62 year old win driver was shot to death in Hua Hin’s nightlife area in Soi Ha Yaek in the southern province of Prachuap Kiri Khan. Officers from Hua Hin Police Station found the driver…

  • Thailand NewsThai grandma praised as village’s top snake catcher, grabs pythons with her bare hands | Thaiger

    Thai grandma praised as village’s top snake catcher, grabs pythons with her bare hands

    A 67 year old grandma in Thailand’s Isaan region, known to catch large snakes with her bare hands, has been praised by Surin residents as the top “community rescuer” after she caught her biggest python so far. When someone in the community finds a snake, they come to grandma Prakuad “Own” Pasomsi to catch it. The grandma has been catching…

  • Crime NewsPattaya police raid karaoke bar, some partygoers also test positive for drugs | Thaiger

    Pattaya police raid karaoke bar, some partygoers also test positive for drugs

    Police in Pattaya raided a karaoke bar open past the 11pm cutoff time set by the government under the Covid-19 preventative measures. Officers from the Mueng Pattaya Police Station went by the karaoke bar Casanova at 1:30am on Sunday. Many cars and motorcycles were parked out front and music could be heard coming from inside the bar. Customers dancing and…

  • Thailand NewsBody of Burmese fisherman found in oil tank in southern Thailand’s Surat Thani | Thaiger

    Body of Burmese fisherman found in oil tank in southern Thailand’s Surat Thani

    The body of a Burmese fisherman was found in an oil tank on a fishing boat docked in the southern province of Surat Thani. The tank was on a fishing boat where the man had worked which was found by a painter who was going to clean and paint the boat’s engine room. He tried to move the tank out…

  • Thailand NewsMonday Covid Update: 24,635 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Monday Covid Update: 24,635 new cases; provincial totals

    81 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 24,880 with 3,182 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 24,635 new Covid-19 cases and 25,753 recoveries. There are now 250,737 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsOfficers investigate death of elderly American expat in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Officers investigate death of elderly American expat in Pattaya

    Police in Pattaya are investigating the death of an 80 year old American man who was found lying in bed with a plastic bag covering his head. Officers also note that the door to the safe was left open. Investigators will review surveillance camera footage from the condominium to determine if anyone entered his room. The elderly expat had lived…

  • Thailand NewsMonk flees from temple after residents spot him stealing underwear | Thaiger

    Monk flees from temple after residents spot him stealing underwear

    A Thai TV star searched the quarters of a monk accused of stealing ladies’ underwear and found both men’s and women’s underwear in the monk’s luggage. The couple living nearby the temple in the central province of Chachoengsao checked the CCTV footage after the wife’s underwear went missing and say they saw a monk taking the panties off a hanger…

  • Thailand NewsFriday Covid Update: 26,050 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Friday Covid Update: 26,050 new cases; provincial totals

    69 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 24,648 with 2,950 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 26,050 new Covid-19 cases and 22,219 recoveries. There are now 244,111 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsHuman bones found in tank buried at Surat Thani plantation | Thaiger

    Human bones found in tank buried at Surat Thani plantation

    Warning: The photo below contains images that some may find disturbing. Human bones were found in an oil tank buried at a rubber plantation in the southern province of Surat Thani. The landowner guessed the skeletons might belong to a Burmese worker who was missing four years ago. The land is being cleared for durian trees and workers were using…

  • World NewsThai and Cambodian officers raid two offices of alleged call centre scams | Thaiger

    Thai and Cambodian officers raid two offices of alleged call centre scams

    Thai and Cambodian authorities raided two offices of an alleged call centre scam operation in Cambodia. 61 Thai and Chinese suspects were arrested. The officer also found a dialogue or conversation script that each scammer followed and used to lure victims into transferring money. Yesterday, the Thai Police Cyber Taskforce and officers in Cambodia raided two suspected scam call centre…

  • Thailand NewsPolice in Isaan Thailand search for man allegedly caught skinning a cat | Thaiger

    Police in Isaan Thailand search for man allegedly caught skinning a cat

    Villagers in the Isaan province Udon Thani are being advised to look after their pets after a woman said she came across a man skinning a cat outside a nearby temple. The man fled, leaving only the cat skin at the scene. Police are now searching for the man. The village chief spoke with Thai media about the incident, saying…

  • Thailand NewsTalk of opening a casino in Bangkok with relaxed entry rules for foreigners | Thaiger

    Talk of opening a casino in Bangkok with relaxed entry rules for foreigners

    The future of casinos in Thailand might be marketed toward foreign tourists. A government committee discussing the legalisation of gambling, which has been long practised by Thais behind closed doors, are discussing the possibility of opening the first casino in Bangkok and then expanding to open casinos in other tourist destinations. Officials are considering making entry rules far more strict…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok sidewalk project focused on use and safety for those with disabilities | Thaiger

    Bangkok sidewalk project focused on use and safety for those with disabilities

    Bangkok officials are working on a project to make the sidewalks and pavement in the heart of the capital more functional and safer for those with disabilities as well as the elderly. The sidewalk design will incorporate ramps for wheelchair users as well as braille blocks, also known as tactile paving, for those with vision impairments. The project is focused…

  • Covid-19 NewsThursday Covid Update: 27,024 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Thursday Covid Update: 27,024 new cases; provincial totals

    82 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 24,579 with 2,881 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 27,024 new Covid-19 cases and 23,721 recoveries. There are now 240,349 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand NewsSpotlight shines on more shady street lamp projects by local Thailand governments | Thaiger

    Spotlight shines on more shady street lamp projects by local Thailand governments

    In another street light corruption case involving local governments in Thailand purchasing fancy lamp posts at exorbitant prices, photos of the decorative lamps lining a dirt road in an Isaan province is raising questions from Thais about why the government is spending its funds on what’s considered to be lavish purchases instead of improving infrastructure. The lamp posts adorned with…

  • Bangkok NewsMotorcycle event organisers apologise for allowing father to carry baby during big bike test drive | Thaiger

    Motorcycle event organisers apologise for allowing father to carry baby during big bike test drive

    Organisers from a recent motorcycle event are apologising for allowing a man to test drive a big bike while his baby was still in a carrier strapped to his back. An official from the event said people were allowed to test drive the big bikes on the track, but no one noticed the man was carrying a baby. The official…

  • Thailand NewsBlackpink’s Lisa heads back home, Buriram meatball vendors prepare to serve star’s favourite snack | Thaiger

    Blackpink’s Lisa heads back home, Buriram meatball vendors prepare to serve star’s favourite snack

    Sales at meatball stalls in the Isaan province Buriram have shot up over the several months after the Thai star from the K-pop band Blackpink said it was her favourite place in her hometown. The meatball vendors in Buriram say they will offer free food to fans of Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal if the singer returns home to celebrate her 25th…

  • Thailand NewsWednesday Covid Update: 25,164 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Wednesday Covid Update: 25,164 new cases; provincial totals

    80 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 24,497 with 2,799 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 25,164 new Covid-19 cases and 24,770 recoveries. There are now 237,128 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket man paralysed by drunk officer seeks 15 million baht in compensation | Thaiger

    Phuket man paralysed by drunk officer seeks 15 million baht in compensation

    The family of the noodle vendor who was shot by a drunk, off-duty police officer last year on Phuket’s Bangla Road is seeking compensation of 15 million baht. The 25 year old vendor was shot in the stomach with the bullet lodged in his spine, paralysing him from the waist down. The officer is now on trial for attempted murder,…

  • Thailand NewsThai villagers put up sign told tell an aggressive elephant to go away | Thaiger

    Thai villagers put up sign told tell an aggressive elephant to go away

    After attempts to lure a hot-tempered elephant back into a wildlife sanctuary failed, locals in the village where the elephant has wreaked havoc, destroying plantations and killing an elderly woman, have put up a sign – even though the elephant cannot read – telling the animal to go away. Park officials in eastern province Prachin Buri were ordered to detain…

  • Covid-19 NewsMonday Covid Update: 23,441 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Monday Covid Update: 23,441 new cases; provincial totals

    88 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 24,246 with 2,548 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 23,441 new Covid-19 cases and 23,153 recoveries. There are now 240,339 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • World NewsThailand to donate 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Myanmar | Thaiger

    Thailand to donate 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Myanmar

    Thailand plans to donate 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to Myanmar. The first order of 500,000 doses arrived in the neighbouring country on March 12. The delivery date for the next order has yet been announced. Myanmar is the first country Thailand has donated locally-made Covid-19 vaccines to. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Thanee Saengrat, shared…

  • Thailand NewsFriday Covid Update: 27,071 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Friday Covid Update: 27,071 new cases; provincial totals

    80 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 24,075 with 2,377 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 27,071 new Covid-19 cases and 21,522 recoveries. There are now 230,603 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Crime NewsMan arrested for allegedly blackmailing student who later committed suicide | Thaiger

    Man arrested for allegedly blackmailing student who later committed suicide

    A 26 year old was arrested for allegedly blackmailing high school students which is believed to have led to the student’s suicide. The man allegedly made a fake account online, identifying himself as a teenage girl and luring students into sending sexually explicit videos, then demanding money, threatening to release the videos. Police say they believe the man was targeting…

  • Thailand NewsThailand committee meeting with North Korean diplomats draws criticism | Thaiger

    Thailand committee meeting with North Korean diplomats draws criticism

    A meeting between Thailand’s committee on computer coding and North Korean ambassadors yesterday drew criticism from Thais. The vice president of the committee made a post about the meeting on her Facebook page, saying the committee met with the diplomats at the Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Bangkok to discuss working together on coding projects. The…

  • Thailand NewsHealth officials to give Molnupiravir and Paxlovid to Covid-19 patients in Thailand | Thaiger

    Health officials to give Molnupiravir and Paxlovid to Covid-19 patients in Thailand

    Two anti-viral medications will be added to the Covid-19 treatment plan in Thailand. The Department of Medical Services shared that the Molnupiravir and Paxlovid medicines have been approved for treating Covid-19 patients. Molnupiravir is intended to treat high-risk groups like elders and patients with chronic diseases. Relevant departments will discuss the use of Paxlovid. The primary Covid-19 medication, the anti-viral…

  • Covid-19 NewsThursday Covid Update: 25,456 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Thursday Covid Update: 25,456 new cases; provincial totals

    77 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,995 with 2,297 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 25,456 new Covid-19 cases and 22,217 recoveries. There are now 225,134 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Northern Thailand NewsLow-magnitude earthquakes detected in Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai | Thaiger

    Low-magnitude earthquakes detected in Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai

    Two low-magnitude earthquakes shook two districts in Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai. The earthquakes were very mild and residents in the areas were not affected, and probably didn’t even feel it, according to Thai media. Earthquake Observation Division reported earthquakes at Chiang Rai’s Wiang Pa Pao and Mae Lao districts. The first 1.3 magnitude quake happened at Wiang Pa Pao district…