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 NewsNakhon Ratchasima police allege Russian spies hired by Cambodia | Thaiger

    Nakhon Ratchasima police allege Russian spies hired by Cambodia

    Police in Nakhon Ratchasima sparked confusion among Thai netizens after briefly posting, then deleting, a warning on social media that alleged Cambodia in hiring Russian nationals to spy on and attack military facilities in the province. The official Facebook page of Phon Krung Police Station published the post at around 6pm yesterday, December 14. The post stated… “Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial…

  • Phuket NewsAustralian man dies after running into glass door at Phuket restaurant | Thaiger

    Australian man dies after running into glass door at Phuket restaurant

    An Australian man died after suffering severe blood loss when he reportedly ran into a glass door at a restaurant in the Karon area of Phuket last night, December 11. Officers from Karon Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 10.30pm and rushed to the restaurant to investigate reports of a disturbance involving a foreign man. However, the…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok governor shares chubby childhood photo to raise awareness on child obesity | Thaiger

    Bangkok governor shares chubby childhood photo to raise awareness on child obesity

    Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt used a childhood photo of himself and his twin brother to promote a new health campaign aimed at tackling child obesity in the capital. Chadchart attended the launch of the project yesterday, December 11, which was introduced through a collaboration between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the Royal Danish Embassy in…

  • Thailand News76 year old Thai woman found murdered in Trat, gold jewellery missing | Thaiger

    76 year old Thai woman found murdered in Trat, gold jewellery missing

    Police are hunting for a suspect who remains at large after a 76 year old Thai woman was found murdered in her home in Trat province, with gold jewellery worth more than 120,000 baht missing from the scene. Relatives became concerned yesterday, December 11, after the elderly woman, identified only as A, failed to answer her phone calls as usual.…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman killed as pickup spins into Pathum Thani bus stop | Thaiger

    Thai woman killed as pickup spins into Pathum Thani bus stop

    A Thai woman was killed after a pickup truck lost control and spun into a bus stop in Pathum Thani province yesterday morning, December 11. Officers from Thanyaburi Police Station were called to investigate the fatal accident at around 8am at a bus stop on Rangsit–Nakhon Nayok Road in the Thanyaburi district. Rescue workers later found the body of the…

  • Thailand NewsThai woman shoots ex-husband after alleged break-in at Ayutthaya home | Thaiger

    Thai woman shoots ex-husband after alleged break-in at Ayutthaya home

    A Thai woman claimed self-defence after shooting her ex-husband who allegedly broke into her home in Ayutthaya yesterday, December 11. Officers from Bang Pa-in Police Station, along with rescuers from the Ayutthaya Ruamjai Foundation, were called to a house in the Sam Ruean sub-district of Bang Pa-in district at around 10am following reports of a shooting. At the scene, officers…

  • Thailand NewsEmbassy intervenes after Thais barred from crossing back from Cambodia | Thaiger

    Embassy intervenes after Thais barred from crossing back from Cambodia

    The Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh sent an urgent letter to Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior after Thai nationals in Cambodia were reportedly barred from returning home through the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province. Officials from the Thai-Cambodian Border Coordination Office told Thai PBS on Wednesday, December 11, that Cambodian authorities at the Ban Khlong Luek…

  • Phuket NewsForeign motorcyclist goes viral for riding with cooking pot in Phuket | Thaiger

    Foreign motorcyclist goes viral for riding with cooking pot in Phuket

    A foreign motorcyclist has gone viral on Thai social media after being spotted wearing a cooking pot instead of a helmet while riding along a road in Phuket. The Phuket Times Facebook page shared photos of the unusual rider on Tuesday, December 9, with a caption jokingly asking, “What kind of helmet he was wearing? This foreigner was heading to…

  • Phuket NewsMixed reactions after foreign rider condemned for illegal U-turn in Phuket | Thaiger

    Mixed reactions after foreign rider condemned for illegal U-turn in Phuket

    Thai netizens shared mixed reactions after a Phuket driver condemned a foreign rider for making an illegal U-turn over a traffic island. The Thai driver posted dashcam footage of the incident on his Facebook account, Wongwit Sand. The clip was later reshared by Newshawk Phuket Facebook page, which supported Wongwit’s criticism writing… “Foreigner tries bringing death to himself, making a…

  • Thailand NewsVietnam protests after Thailand shows wrong flag again at SEA Games | Thaiger

    Vietnam protests after Thailand shows wrong flag again at SEA Games

    Vietnam reportedly lodged a formal complaint today, December 11, after Thailand once again displayed the wrong national flag during a 2025 SEA Games event, marking the third flag error since the competition began. The first mistake surfaced when the official SEA Games Facebook page posted graphics for football and futsal fixtures, showing Laos’ flag in place of Indonesia’s and Vietnam’s…

  • Phuket NewsIndian brothers arrested in Phuket over Goa nightclub fire that kills 25 | Thaiger

    Indian brothers arrested in Phuket over Goa nightclub fire that kills 25

    Two Indian brothers who fled their home country after a deadly nightclub fire in Goa, India, were arrested in Thailand after days on the run. The fire, which broke out at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub on Saturday, December 6, claimed the lives of 25 people, most of whom were employees. Five tourists were also among the victims, though…

  • Thailand NewsProstitution crackdown: Thai masseuse arrested for offering ‘special massage’ | Thaiger

    Prostitution crackdown: Thai masseuse arrested for offering ‘special massage’

    Police arrested a masseuse in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday, December 10, for offering sex services inside a massage shop, though the suspect insisted the shop owner and other staff had no involvement. Officers from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) received a tip-off about prostitution taking place at a massage shop in the Non Sung district. To verify the information, police…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya driver cites mechanical failure as car crashes into home, injuring 3 | Thaiger

    Pattaya driver cites mechanical failure as car crashes into home, injuring 3

    A Thai man crashed his sedan into a Pattaya home on Tuesday, December 9, injuring three people, including the homeowner’s wife, who was trapped in the bathroom after a wall collapsed on her. Nong Prue Police Station officers were alerted at about 7am and rushed to the scene with rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Dhammastan Pattaya Foundation. They arrived to…

  • Thailand NewsThai man killed by falling rock after entering stone mill zone for video content | Thaiger

    Thai man killed by falling rock after entering stone mill zone for video content

    A falling rock from a stone mill operation killed a Thai man who had climbed a mountain in Phatthalung with a friend to film social media content on Tuesday, December 9. The victim, 29 year old Ritthikiat, suffered a severe head injury after rocks rained down during a routine explosion at the Run Mountain stone mill site in the Khuan…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket on high alert for floods, landslides and strong waves | Thaiger

    Phuket on high alert for floods, landslides and strong waves

    Phuket issued a warning for flash floods and landslides as heavy to very heavy rain is forecast across southern Thailand from December 11 to 16. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) announced that intense rainfall is expected throughout the South, prompting Phuket to order all relevant agencies to remain on full alert for floods, flash floods, landslides, and…

  • Crime News2 more Thai soldiers killed in border clashes, Sa Kaeo imposes curfew | Thaiger

    2 more Thai soldiers killed in border clashes, Sa Kaeo imposes curfew

    Two more Thai soldiers lost their lives in the escalating border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia yesterday, December 10, bringing the total number of Thai casualties to seven. Sa Kaeo province imposes a nighttime curfew for public safety. The renewed fighting since Sunday, December 7, has spread across four border provinces, Buriram, Si Saket, Surin, and Ubon Ratchathani, with fatalities…

  • Phuket NewsIndian brothers behind deadly nightclub fire in Goa reportedly hide in Phuket | Thaiger

    Indian brothers behind deadly nightclub fire in Goa reportedly hide in Phuket

    Two Indian brothers reportedly fled to Phuket to evade legal consequences after a fire at their nightclub in Goa, India, killed 25 people. BBC reported on Sunday, December 7, that the blaze erupted around midnight on Saturday, December 6, at Birch by Romeo Lane, a popular nightclub on Baga Beach in Goa. The fire spread rapidly through the venue, leaving…

  • Thailand NewsReward posted as tourist who feeds wristband to sea turtle remains at large | Thaiger

    Reward posted as tourist who feeds wristband to sea turtle remains at large

    Marine officials expect a sea turtle that swallowed a tourist’s wristband to pass the object naturally within 30 to 40 days, while the suspect responsible remains at large. A video showing an unidentified tourist feeding a yellow wristband to a sea turtle went viral last month. The incident reportedly took place during a diving trip in Mu Ko Similan National…

  • Politics NewsCambodia withdraws from SEA Games over safety concerns amid border clashes | Thaiger

    Cambodia withdraws from SEA Games over safety concerns amid border clashes

    Cambodia announced its withdrawal from the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand today, December 10, citing safety concerns from parents and guardians of athletes following the escalating clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border. A small group of Cambodian athletes attended the opening ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok yesterday, December 9. Cambodia had earlier confirmed it would send athletes to…

  • Thailand NewsThai government studies Disneyland project instead of casino complex | Thaiger

    Thai government studies Disneyland project instead of casino complex

    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed a new plan to bring Disneyland to Thailand, replacing the previously proposed entertainment complex. The earlier proposal introduced by the Pheu Thai Party aimed to create a large entertainment complex to boost tourism and the national economy. The project was expected to include theme parks, water parks, sports stadiums, concert…

  • Thailand NewsCambodian rockets fall near Surin hospital, forcing evacuation | Thaiger

    Cambodian rockets fall near Surin hospital, forcing evacuation

    Cambodian troops allegedly targeted Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin this morning, December 10, firing BM-21 rockets into the surrounding area and forcing medical staff and patients to evacuate for safety. According to an update from the 2nd Army Area, a total of six BM-21 rockets were launched into Thai territory at around 8.40am. Several rockets landed near the hospital…

  • Thailand NewsWrong flag, incorrect medal tally, and lip-sync error disrupt SEA Games opener | Thaiger

    Wrong flag, incorrect medal tally, and lip-sync error disrupt SEA Games opener

    The opening ceremony of the 2025 SEA Games at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium last night, December 9, sparked widespread criticism after a series of errors, including a wrong national flag, incorrect medal numbers, and a lip-sync mishap. Public scrutiny over this year’s SEA Games, Thailand’s seventh time hosting, began long before the ceremony. Thai visual and lighting designer Rueangrith “Ton”…

  • Thailand News5 Thai soldiers killed amid escalating clashes with Cambodia | Thaiger

    5 Thai soldiers killed amid escalating clashes with Cambodia

    Five Thai soldiers have been killed in ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, with fresh confrontations reported this morning, December 10, the fourth consecutive day of fighting since hostilities resumed. The clashes reignited on Sunday, December 7, despite both countries signing a peace declaration in October, witnessed by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim.…

  • Pattaya NewsDrunk driver escapes tragedy after driving onto Pattaya railway track | Thaiger

    Drunk driver escapes tragedy after driving onto Pattaya railway track

    A Thai man narrowly escaped tragedy after accidentally driving along a railway track in Pattaya while under the influence of alcohol late last night, December 8. Rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Dhammasathan Pattaya Foundation were alerted to the incident on the railway track in the Nong Prue sub-district, Bang Lamung district, Pattaya, at around 12.30am. When they arrived, they found…

  • Phuket NewsForeign man slammed for leaning out of moving Phuket taxi | Thaiger

    Foreign man slammed for leaning out of moving Phuket taxi

    Thai motorists and netizens slammed a foreign man for dangerous behaviour after he was seen sticking his upper body out of a taxi while travelling along a Phuket road. A Thai driver, who was travelling behind the white taxi, filmed the risky stunt and shared the footage on his Facebook account, Alif Sroison, on Sunday, December 7. The clip was…

  • Thailand NewsThai man murders LGBTQIA+ couple, saying victims try to sexually assault him | Thaiger

    Thai man murders LGBTQIA+ couple, saying victims try to sexually assault him

    A Thai man who murdered an LGBTQIA+ couple in Loei province claimed he acted in self-defence because the victims allegedly attempted to sexually assault him. Officers from Phu Kradueng Police Station were called to a house in Huai Som sub-district, Phu Kradueng, at about 9.30am on Saturday, December 6, after neighbours discovered the bodies of 69 year old Pranom and…

  • Thailand NewsThai foreign minister says ‘nothing to negotiate’ until Cambodia ready for talks | Thaiger

    Thai foreign minister says ‘nothing to negotiate’ until Cambodia ready for talks

    Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister insisted the country did not initiate the renewed border clash with Cambodia and responded to calls from the United Nations (UN) for negotiations, saying there is “nothing to negotiate if Cambodia is not ready.” Clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces resumed on Sunday, December 7, despite both countries signing a peace declaration in October witnessed by…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket businessman accuses Pakistani national of illegally running businesses on his land | Thaiger

    Phuket businessman accuses Pakistani national of illegally running businesses on his land

    A Thai businessman filed a police complaint accusing a Pakistani national of using Thai nominees to illegally run a hotel and restaurant on a property he legally purchased through a public auction in Phuket. Nitipon Ditthawiset, an executive of ASAF Holding Company, travelled to Patong Police Station on Friday, December 5, with his lawyer to request an investigation into the…

  • Pattaya News17 South Korean and Chinese scammers arrested in Bangkok and Pattaya | Thaiger

    17 South Korean and Chinese scammers arrested in Bangkok and Pattaya

    Police arrested 17 South Korean and Chinese nationals in Bangkok and Pattaya for running a major call centre scam that caused losses of more than 500 million baht to victims in South Korea. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), working with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Thailand, announced the…

  • Phuket NewsThai man and Norwegian woman arrested in drug raid at Phuket luxury villa | Thaiger

    Thai man and Norwegian woman arrested in drug raid at Phuket luxury villa

    Police arrested a Thai man and a Norwegian woman at a luxury villa in Phuket’s Cape Panwa area for drug dealing. Officers seized heroin, crystal meth, and methamphetamine (known locally as Yaba) during the raid. Wichit Police Station officers told the media that their ongoing crackdown on drug users and small-scale dealers led them to the pair, 54 year old…