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.
  • 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 NewsJamaican beauty queen in critical condition after stage fall in Thailand | Thaiger

    Jamaican beauty queen in critical condition after stage fall in Thailand

    The Miss Universe contestant from Jamaica is reportedly in critical condition after falling off the stage during the final round of the competition in Thailand last month. Gabrielle Henry, an ophthalmologist and Jamaica’s representative at Miss Universe 2025, suffered the fall while presenting her evening gown at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi during the finals in November. A viral…

  • 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 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…

  • Thailand NewsThai man raises alarm after finding blood smeared on arm during MRT ride | Thaiger

    Thai man raises alarm after finding blood smeared on arm during MRT ride

    A Thai man voiced fear of intentional disease spreading after an unidentified passenger allegedly smeared blood on his arm while travelling on an MRT train yesterday, December 8. The 37 year old man, identified only as Bank, shared his account and concerns in the Facebook group Bangkok Train at 8.57am. He said the incident happened between 7.32am and 7.35am while…

  • 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 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…

  • Phuket NewsMisunderstanding sparks fight between Thai and foreign women on Bangla Road | Thaiger

    Misunderstanding sparks fight between Thai and foreign women on Bangla Road

    A physical altercation broke out between Thai and foreign women on Bangla Road in Phuket on Sunday, December 7, reportedly sparked by a misunderstanding. The Facebook page Phuket Times shared a screenshot from a video of the incident on Sunday morning, captioned, “Fighting between Thai and foreign women. The Thai women involved did not know each other but joined 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…

  • Thailand NewsRocket fire and armed exchanges continue along Thai–Cambodian border | Thaiger

    Rocket fire and armed exchanges continue along Thai–Cambodian border

    Clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border have continued for a third consecutive day since December 7, with further exchanges taking place this morning, December 9. No new casualties have been confirmed. ThaiRath reported yesterday, December 8, that Cambodian military activity was detected across several provinces bordering Cambodia, including Ubon Ratchathani, Buriram, Si Saket, and Sa Kaeo. In Buriram’s Ban Kruad district,…

  • Pattaya NewsForeign tourist allegedly gropes woman on Pattaya speedboat | Thaiger

    Foreign tourist allegedly gropes woman on Pattaya speedboat

    A half-Thai, half-Laotian man condemned a foreign tourist for sexually assaulting his girlfriend by groping her on a speedboat in Pattaya. The boyfriend, identified as Leo, shared a video of the incident on Facebook on Tuesday, December 2, with the caption, “I never expected this foreigner to do this. #Travel #Warning.” The accused foreign man, wearing a red T-shirt and…

  • Thailand NewsMinister denies hiring designer amid SEA Games ceremony controversy | Thaiger

    Minister denies hiring designer amid SEA Games ceremony controversy

    The Sports and Tourism Minister responded to the controversy over the cancelled SEA Games ceremony design, insisting that no hiring contract was ever made with the designer or his team. The drama began after Thai visual and lighting designer Rueangrith “Ton” Suntisuk shared on December 2 that he and his team had been working on the opening and closing ceremony…

  • Thailand NewsSouth Korean man allegedly pours hot water over Thai girlfriend out of jealousy | Thaiger

    South Korean man allegedly pours hot water over Thai girlfriend out of jealousy

    A jealous South Korean man allegedly poured hot water over his Thai girlfriend in an attempt to disfigure her so she would be unable to date other men. The Thai woman took to a Facebook group of Thai people in South Korea yesterday, December 3, seeking a free interpreting service after she was assaulted by her South Korean boyfriend. She…

  • Eastern Thailand NewsDanish tourist erupts at Trat bus terminal after missing final airport bus | Thaiger

    Danish tourist erupts at Trat bus terminal after missing final airport bus

    Police intervened after a Danish man caused a disturbance at the Trat Bus Terminal on Tuesday, December 2, after he missed the last bus to Suvarnabhumi International Airport for his midnight flight. Staff at the terminal called officers from Mueang Trat Police Station at around 6pm after the foreign tourist began shouting and causing chaos. The man, a Danish national,…

  • Bangkok NewsAsiatique introduces scenic mode and cuts hours after SkyFlyers noise complaints | Thaiger

    Asiatique introduces scenic mode and cuts hours after SkyFlyers noise complaints

    Asiatique The Riverfront responded to noise complaints over loud screaming from riders on its SkyFlyers attraction by introducing a scenic ride mode and limiting its operating hours. In recent days, residents living near the popular open-air mall took to social media to complain about the disturbance caused by the newly launched SkyFlyers ride. They said the noise did not come…

  • Phuket NewsForeign suspect flees after stabbing British man outside Phuket nightclub | Thaiger

    Foreign suspect flees after stabbing British man outside Phuket nightclub

    A “large” foreign man is on the run after stabbing a British national outside a nightclub in the Choeng Talay area of Phuket in the early hours of yesterday, December 3. Choeng Talay Police Station officers and rescue workers were called to the road outside the entertainment venue at around 12.20am to investigate the stabbing and assist the victim, later…

  • Road deathsDashcam exposes false account after Thai driver kills British woman in Nonthaburi | Thaiger

    Dashcam exposes false account after Thai driver kills British woman in Nonthaburi

    A Thai driver fatally struck a British national who was crossing a road in Nonthaburi province yesterday, December 3, before claiming the victim suddenly stopped walking in the middle of the road. Dashcam footage later circulated online contradicted her account. Sai Noi Police Station officers were alerted to the fatal accident at around 1pm and rushed to the Bang Kruai-Sai…

  • Thailand NewsDumbhead dispute: Miss Universe 2025 winner faces defamation complaint from Thai organiser | Thaiger

    Dumbhead dispute: Miss Universe 2025 winner faces defamation complaint from Thai organiser

    A Thai beauty pageant organiser filed a defamation complaint against the newly crowned Miss Universe 2025, Fatima Bosch, after she publicly claimed he called her a “dumbhead”. The dispute between the president of the Miss Universe 2025 organising committee, Nawat Itsaragrisil, and the Mexican beauty queen, Bosch, began on November 4 during a pre-pageant event in Bangkok. The conflict first…

  • Thailand NewsThai illegal worker in South Korea seeks help after losing fingers while working | Thaiger

    Thai illegal worker in South Korea seeks help after losing fingers while working

    A Thai illegal worker in South Korea sought help from a migrant support centre after losing two fingers in a workplace accident, but is still receiving no compensation. Farida “Aum” Ma, a volunteer who provides assistance to Thai workers in South Korea, shared the man’s case on Facebook yesterday, December 2, posting photos showing that his middle and ring fingers were…

  • Thailand News300 million baht budget for SEA Games pool triggers public debate | Thaiger

    300 million baht budget for SEA Games pool triggers public debate

    Public scrutiny is mounting over the 300-million-baht budget allocated for the swimming pool renovation ahead of the SEA Games 2025, after official procurement documents revealed the high prices of equipment installed at the venue. The Facebook page Young Shark Thailand (ฉลามหนุ่มไทยแลนด์) shared several posts breaking down the renovation costs of the SEA Games swimming pool and urged the public to…

  • Phuket NewsIndian tourist apologises for placing feet on seat of Trang-Phuket bus | Thaiger

    Indian tourist apologises for placing feet on seat of Trang-Phuket bus

    An Indian man issued an apology after a video of him placing his feet on the backrest of a Trang-Phuket coach bus seat went viral on Thai social media. The video was first shared yesterday, December 2, by Facebook user Y’Not Seven, and later reposted by several news pages. In the clip, the Indian man is seen travelling with a…

  • Thailand NewsThai government accused of scrapping SEA Games ceremony design with no warning | Thaiger

    Thai government accused of scrapping SEA Games ceremony design with no warning

    A Thai designer accused the government for cancelling his designs for the SEA Games 2025 opening and closing ceremonies just one month before the event, despite him and his team working on the project for more than seven months. Rueangrith “Ton” Suntisuk, a visual and lighting designer and owner of the art and design studio DuckUnit, shared his frustration on…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket villa scam leaves Thais and foreigners with over 100 million baht loss | Thaiger

    Phuket villa scam leaves Thais and foreigners with over 100 million baht loss

    Thai and foreign buyers lost more than 100 million baht to a Phuket property agent who duped them into purchasing luxury pool villas that were never completed. The victims claim their cases stalled because a well-known local politician is linked to the land involved. A group of victims travelled from Phuket to Nonthaburi on Monday, December 1, to seek help…

  • Thailand NewsThai actress and husband surrenders to police over fraud scandal | Thaiger

    Thai actress and husband surrenders to police over fraud scandal

    Thai actress Rybena “Nana” Intachai and her husband acknowledged two fraud-related charges after victims filed complaints with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) today, December 3. The scandal erupted last month when the Facebook page ท่านเปา hinted that a well-known actress whose name begins with N had deceived friends and acquaintances into investing in her businesses, which produced no returns. The…

  • Thai Law NewsThailand begins 180-day trial lifting afternoon alcohol sales ban | Thaiger

    Thailand begins 180-day trial lifting afternoon alcohol sales ban

    Thailand officially launched its trial to lift the long-standing afternoon alcohol sales ban today, December 3, allowing alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm for the first time in decades. The trial will run for 180 days while officials assess the impact before making a permanent decision. Two weeks ago, Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Sarum revealed that the National Alcohol Policy…

  • Bangkok NewsAsiatique faces backlash over loud screams from new SkyFlyers ride | Thaiger

    Asiatique faces backlash over loud screams from new SkyFlyers ride

    Residents in the Charoen Krung area of Bangkok are calling on Asiatique The Riverfront to address noise caused by its newly launched SkyFlyers ride. Asiatique, the popular open-air riverside mall on Charoen Krung Road, recently unveiled its new immersive attraction, Jurassic World: The Experience, along with SkyFlyers: Wings of Garudapterus, a 135-metre-high rotating tower ride offering 360-degree city views. The mall…

  • Pattaya NewsAmerican man found dead in Pattaya with head covered and hands cuffed | Thaiger

    American man found dead in Pattaya with head covered and hands cuffed

    Police are investigating the mysterious death of an American man found with his head covered by a black rubbish bag and his hands cuffed behind his back in a Pattaya hotel room today, December 2. Najomtien Police Station officers, together with rescuers from the Sawang Rojana Sattahip Foundation and a medical team from Wat Yannasangwararam Hospital, were called to the…