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 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…

  • Thailand NewsAircraft wreckage washes up on Nakhon Si Thammarat beach in Southern Thailand | Thaiger

    Aircraft wreckage washes up on Nakhon Si Thammarat beach in Southern Thailand

    Aircraft wreckage washed up on a beach in the southern province Nakhon Si Thammarat and provincial officers have called in aircraft specialists to investigate. A local official says locals found similar wreckage six years ago. A 3.16 metre long, 1.80 metre wide metal piece, weighing around 70 to 80 kilograms, was found on Tha Phraya beach. There were two spots…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s Health Ministry to propose scrapping pre-departure PCR for Test & Go | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Health Ministry to propose scrapping pre-departure PCR for Test & Go

    Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is set to make a proposal to scrap the pre-departure PCR for Test & Go travellers, making entering the country more convenient and cost-efficient. The proposal will need to be approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, which will have its general meeting this Friday and is expected to discuss a number of topics, including…

  • Covid-19 NewsWednesday Covid Update: 23,945 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Wednesday Covid Update: 23,945 new cases; provincial totals

    70 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,918 with 2,220 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 23,945 new Covid-19 cases and 23,339 recoveries. There are now 221,972 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Bangkok NewsBar raided in Bangkok’s Nana, woman arrested for alleged child sex trafficking | Thaiger

    Bar raided in Bangkok’s Nana, woman arrested for alleged child sex trafficking

    Police raided a bar in Bangkok’s Nana area and found that at least three teenage girls were offering sexual services. Two are 15 years old, another is 14. A woman at the bar was arrested on child sex trafficking charges. Officers raided 789 Bar on Sukhumvit Soi 7 in the Nana area, a redlight district is known for its go-go…

  • Crime NewsOfficers find suspected hideout for alleged hitman on Thailand’s most wanted list | Thaiger

    Officers find suspected hideout for alleged hitman on Thailand’s most wanted list

    Officers found a camp at a mountain in the southern province Songkhla where they suspect an alleged hitman on Thailand’s most wanted list was hiding. The 45 year old who is wanted on multiple charges involving murder allegedly shot an M16 rifle during a police chase, killing an officer. Following the gunfire exchange, the alleged hitman Chamrat “Chui Chaochan” Rakchan,…

  • Phuket NewsMurderer of Swiss tourist in Phuket sentenced to life imprisonment | Thaiger

    Murderer of Swiss tourist in Phuket sentenced to life imprisonment

    The Thai man who murdered the Swiss tourist at a Phuket waterfall last year has been sentenced to life in prison by the Phuket Court. 28 year old Teerawat Thothip was initially sentenced to death, but it was then reduced to life imprisonment given that Teerawat confessed to investigators. The body of 57 year old victim Nicole Sauvain Weisskopf, the…

  • Thailand NewsBus driver in fatal accident gets licence revoked, Transport Company faces punishment | Thaiger

    Bus driver in fatal accident gets licence revoked, Transport Company faces punishment

    The bus driver in the fatal accident in Saraburi, killing eight passengers after he crashed into a bridge pillar, had his licence revoked by the Department of Land Transport. The department is also considering penalities for the state-run Transport Company, which was operating the Bangkok – Suwannaphum bus carrying more than 30 passengers. The driver, who was later found to…

  • Environment NewsIllegal burning in Northern Thailand contributes harmful levels of air pollutant PM2.5 | Thaiger

    Illegal burning in Northern Thailand contributes harmful levels of air pollutant PM2.5

    Illegal burning in more than 135 areas in the northern province Mae Hong Son has contributed to the rise of the air pollutant PM2.5 to levels considered to be harmful to human health. Authorities are also concerned that the poor air quality could also worsen the condition of Covid-19 patients in the area. Today, the air quality in Mae Hong…

  • Thailand NewsFire breaks out at luxury hotel in Bangkok, no injuries reported | Thaiger

    Fire breaks out at luxury hotel in Bangkok, no injuries reported

    A fire broke out at the 18-storey luxury hotel in Bangkok early this morning. There were no reports of deaths and injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but firefighters say it may have started at a pile of trash outside the hotel and moved up the electricity pole to the wires connected to the eighth floor…

  • Covid-19 NewsTuesday Covid Update: 19,742 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Tuesday Covid Update: 19,742 new cases; provincial totals

    70 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,848 with 2,150 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 19,742 new Covid-19 cases and 24,125 recoveries. There are now 221,436 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok eases alcohol restrictions, large events and shopping centres allowed to serve booze | Thaiger

    Bangkok eases alcohol restrictions, large events and shopping centres allowed to serve booze

    Bangkok is loosening its rules on alcohol sales. Starting today, shopping centres and event venues can serve alcoholic beverages until 11pm, according to a document signed yesterday by Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang. The venues serving beer, wine, and cocktails will also need to be certified through SHA+ and Thai Stop Covid 2 Plus, which are both safety and health standards…

  • Chiang Mai NewsElephant camp in Chiang Mai put up for sale due to drop in tourists during pandemic | Thaiger

    Elephant camp in Chiang Mai put up for sale due to drop in tourists during pandemic

    Elephant parks and sanctuaries relying on foreign tourists for an income and funds to feed the animals have been hit hard during the pandemic. One elephant park in Chiang Mai is now up for sale due to the drastic drop in the number of visitors over the past two years. The owner says she’s been unable to afford the 2…