Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Originally from Hong Kong, Puntid moved to Bangkok in 2020 to pursue further studies in translation. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Hong Kong. Puntid spent 8 years living in Manchester, UK. Before joining The Thaiger, Puntid has been a freelance translator for 2 years. In her free time, she enjoys swimming and listening to music, as well as writing short fiction and poetry.
  • Thailand NewsSweden denies stopping fighter jet deal with Thailand | Thaiger

    Sweden denies stopping fighter jet deal with Thailand

    A major international defence deal is under threat after claims surfaced that Sweden may freeze a fighter jet sale to Thailand. Thailand Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit has firmly dismissed reports that Sweden plans to halt a fighter jet agreement with Thailand due to concerns about the jets being used in recent air strikes against Cambodia. This came after allegations…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s Srisoonthorn Road upgrade gains massive public backing | Thaiger

    Phuket’s Srisoonthorn Road upgrade gains massive public backing

    A major road upgrade is on the horizon in Phuket, and locals couldn’t be more excited. With a 420 million baht budget, the plan to revamp Srisoonthorn Road is gaining traction, promising smoother, safer travel for everyone. Srisoonthorn Road, one of Phuket’s most important routes, is set to undergo a much-anticipated upgrade, following strong public support at a recent hearing.…

  • Northern Thailand NewsThailand deluge: Nan province hit by worst flood in 40 years | Thaiger

    Thailand deluge: Nan province hit by worst flood in 40 years

    A province in northern Thailand has been left reeling from catastrophic floods, but in the darkest hours, help came from unexpected places. Volunteers braved rising waters to save lives, leaving one woman grateful for the anonymous heroes who rescued her. On July 23, Diane Francheska Ruiz, a Filipina English teacher in Nan province, noticed something was off. While she couldn’t…

  • Thailand NewsChiang Rai MP booted over budget scandal | Thaiger

    Chiang Rai MP booted over budget scandal

    In a major political shake-up, the first deputy House speaker and MP for Chiang Rai, was disqualified by the Constitutional Court. Found guilty of misusing public funds to influence budget decisions for personal gain, Pichet Chuamuangphan is now barred from holding office for 10 years and faces a by-election. Yesterday, August 1, the Constitutional Court delivered a bombshell ruling, disqualifying…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesThunderstorms set to batter Thailand’s southern coast | Thaiger

    Thunderstorms set to batter Thailand’s southern coast

    The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) reported that thunderstorms are expected in 28 provinces, with 30% of the areas likely to experience rain. Residents in the southern region are advised to exercise caution as sea waves may rise above 2 metres. Upper Thailand will see limited rainfall due to a weak southwesterly monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf…

  • Thailand NewsBritish woman in Thailand raves over epic English roast fix (video) | Thaiger

    British woman in Thailand raves over epic English roast fix (video)

    Homesickness hits hard—especially when it’s Sunday and there’s no roast in sight. But one British expat in Thailand just struck gold. TikTok content creator Julia, who shares her overseas adventures under the handle @awaywithjuliaa, recently went viral after posting a mouth-watering food hunt video that has UK expats and travel lovers drooling. In her latest upload, Julia sets off on…

  • Phuket NewsVietnam eyes Phuket for tourism and trade boost | Thaiger

    Vietnam eyes Phuket for tourism and trade boost

    In a high-profile diplomatic visit yesterday, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat welcomed Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung to Phuket Provincial Hall for a courtesy meeting aimed at strengthening tourism ties, economic collaboration, and potential sister-city agreements. Held yesterday, July 31 at 2.30pm in the Governor’s Reception Room, the gathering was a show of mutual interest in deepening cultural and…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya gridlock sparks calls for urgent rail fix | Thaiger

    Pattaya gridlock sparks calls for urgent rail fix

    Pattaya’s roads are choking—and so are its residents. As traffic jams grow worse by the day, frustrated locals and weary tourists are demanding immediate action to overhaul the city’s outdated transport system. At the centre of the debate is Pattaya’s long-delayed Monorail Green Line project, a tram-style light rail network aimed at solving the city’s chronic congestion. Yesterday, July 31,…

  • Business NewsBank of Thailand may cut rates amid US tariff concerns | Thaiger

    Bank of Thailand may cut rates amid US tariff concerns

    The Bank of Thailand (BoT) may reduce interest rates multiple times by the end of this year to bolster the economy if US tariffs on Thai goods prove uncompetitive compared to regional counterparts. Head of research for the banking and financial sector at Kasikorn Research Centre, Kanjana Chockpisansin, indicated that the think tank anticipates at least one additional rate cut…

  • Phuket NewsArmed man busted en route to Phuket gang showdown | Thaiger

    Armed man busted en route to Phuket gang showdown

    A 25 year old man has been arrested in Krabi after allegedly attempting to smuggle a loaded handgun into Phuket, with police suspecting he was preparing for a violent clash with rival youth gangs. Identified only as Natthaphong by Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers, the suspect was stopped during a routine checkpoint operation on Phetkasem Road in Ao Luek district,…

  • Thailand NewsGraveyard curse on Hun Sen sparks Thai lottery frenzy (video) | Thaiger

    Graveyard curse on Hun Sen sparks Thai lottery frenzy (video)

    A Thai social media influencer sparked controversy after leading a graveyard curse ceremony in Chon Buri—complete with pizza, fried chicken, and fiery accusations against top Cambodian officials. Yesterday, July 31 at 8pm, 32 year old influencer Lapatsarada Rakangthong, and lottery tipster Phirada Tanachotinda, also known as Mae Nam Nueng, conducted the bizarre ritual at the Trikunnatham Foundation cemetery in Nong…

  • Phuket NewsTruck slams into cars in Phuket underpass horror | Thaiger

    Truck slams into cars in Phuket underpass horror

    Terrified drivers in Phuket watched chaos unfold in seconds after a semi-trailer truck ploughed into multiple vehicles inside the Darasamut Underpass this morning, leaving three people injured, including a young girl. The collision, which occurred at 10.44am today, August 1, near Central Festival Phuket, sparked immediate panic as rescue teams scrambled to the scene. Police and emergency responders from the…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok–Cambodia border train back on track after clashes | Thaiger

    Bangkok–Cambodia border train back on track after clashes

    Thailand’s rail link to the Cambodian border is back in action after being temporarily derailed by escalating tensions. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced on Wednesday, July 30, that full services from Bangkok to the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province have officially resumed. This marks the reopening of the final section of the eastern line…

  • Thailand NewsDad killed in Uthai Thani crash seeking missing daughter | Thaiger

    Dad killed in Uthai Thani crash seeking missing daughter

    A frantic father’s desperate search for his missing teenage daughter ended in heartbreak late yesterday, after he and his companion died when their pickup truck crashed into a utility pole in Uthai Thani province. Police in Lan Sak district received a distressing report at around 10.30pm yesterday, July 31, that a white Toyota pickup truck had flipped onto its roof…

  • Thailand NewsIce cream raid: Cambodian sellers busted in Udon Thani | Thaiger

    Ice cream raid: Cambodian sellers busted in Udon Thani

    An illegal ice cream empire run by Cambodian migrants melted away yesterday after a dramatic raid in Udon Thani uncovered a secret stash of freezers and sidecar motorcycles. The suspects, who were hoping for a sweet escape from poverty, now face deportation. The raid took place at 1.40pm yesterday, July 31, in the Don Udom community, after District Chief Chawit…

  • Thailand NewsAng Thong locals seek lottery luck from ancient Buddha statue | Thaiger

    Ang Thong locals seek lottery luck from ancient Buddha statue

    Forget scratch cards and lucky coins—Ang Thong residents have discovered a far more sacred way to seek fortune. The town is gripped by lottery fever as hundreds flock to Wat Thong Luean to seek blessings from Luang Por Daeng, an ancient Buddha statue believed to be over 700 years old and famed for granting miraculous good luck. The revered sandstone…

  • Thailand NewsCambodia conflict sparks tourism collapse in Thai border provinces | Thaiger

    Cambodia conflict sparks tourism collapse in Thai border provinces

    Thailand’s tourism hotspots are in crisis as growing border tensions with Cambodia drive tourists away in droves, leaving hotels empty and holiday islands deserted. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Thapanee Kiatphaiboon confirmed the devastating impact of ongoing hostilities, which have steadily escalated since early May. Travellers, fearing for their safety, have cancelled thousands of bookings, delivering a crippling blow…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok crackdown targets rogue motorcycle taxis | Thaiger

    Bangkok crackdown targets rogue motorcycle taxis

    Bangkok’s motorcycle taxi riders are facing a massive crackdown as city officials roll out an ambitious campaign to transform the capital’s thousands of taxi stands, targeting unruly drivers and unsafe practices. From this month until December, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will overhaul all 5,365 registered motorcycle taxi stands across the city. The sweeping initiative aims to boost safety standards,…

  • Phuket NewsCement truck flips in dramatic crash near Phuket café | Thaiger

    Cement truck flips in dramatic crash near Phuket café

    Lunchtime diners at a trendy Kathu café were left shaken yesterday when a cement mixer truck overturned, smashing through an elevated walkway before landing upside down just metres away. The terrifying crash occurred at approximately 12.30pm yesterday, July 31, near the Coffee In Farm café on Route 3030, a busy road connecting Koh Kaew and Kathu. Eyewitnesses described hearing a…

  • Business NewsTrump slashes Thai tariffs to 19% – but is there a catch? | Thaiger

    Trump slashes Thai tariffs to 19% – but is there a catch?

    US President Donald Trump has stunned Thailand and the wider ASEAN region by announcing a sharp cut in import tariffs on Thai goods, slashing rates from 36% to 19%. The decision, made public yesterday, July 31, via the former US president’s Truth Social platform, came just hours before an executive order was signed, locking the deal in from today, August…

  • Thailand NewsDead sea turtle found on Phang Nga beach sparks pollution fears | Thaiger

    Dead sea turtle found on Phang Nga beach sparks pollution fears

    The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has launched an investigation after a decaying sea turtle carcass was discovered washed up on the sands in front of The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani Resort in Phang Nga’s Takua Pa district. The grim find was first reported to the Phang Nga Provincial Marine Office yesterday, July 30. Officials from the…

  • Business NewsCambodia border closures shift Thai trade to sea routes | Thaiger

    Cambodia border closures shift Thai trade to sea routes

    Border closures with Cambodia have disrupted land transport, prompting a shift to alternative shipping routes. The conflict and closed checkpoints have hindered logistics that previously depended on Cambodian routes to reach Vietnam. As a result, businesses are now utilising sea transport and alternative land routes through Laos. The number of shipping lines servicing Cambodia has increased, leading to a reduction…

  • Pattaya NewsAustrians eye Pattaya paradise as mayor rolls out red carpet | Thaiger

    Austrians eye Pattaya paradise as mayor rolls out red carpet

    Pattaya may be famous for sun, sea, and nightlife—but now it’s setting its sights on schnitzel-loving tourists from Austria. Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet recently welcomed Austrian Ambassador Wilhelm Maximilian Donko to City Hall in a high-level diplomatic meeting aimed at boosting long-term Austrian tourism to the city. The talks focused on expanding cooperation in tourism and cultural exchange, with both…

  • Thailand NewsThailand snubs Hun Manet’s plea to release troops | Thaiger

    Thailand snubs Hun Manet’s plea to release troops

    Thailand has flatly refused to send home 18 captured Cambodian soldiers, defying a direct appeal from Cambodia’s prime minister. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has rejected Hun Manet’s public request to immediately repatriate Cambodian troops detained after a deadly border clash, insisting all 18 soldiers must face legal proceedings first. “All detainees are being treated in line with international standards,”…

  • Business NewsIndian weddings could fuel Thai FDI boom | Thaiger

    Indian weddings could fuel Thai FDI boom

    Thailand could soon be cashing in on Indian love stories—with luxury weddings fuelling a fresh wave of foreign investment. HSBC highlighted Indian wedding tourism as a key opportunity to boost foreign direct investment (FDI) into Thailand, pointing to stronger economic links and rising investor confidence between the two countries. During a recent visit to HSBC Thailand, HSBC India CEO Hitendra…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok doctors perform scar-free baby ops | Thaiger

    Bangkok doctors perform scar-free baby ops

    Thai doctors are now performing life-saving surgery on newborns using tools smaller than a pencil tip—without leaving a scar. The Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health has become the first medical centre in Thailand to perform advanced minimally invasive surgery on newborns, according to the Department of Medical Services (DoMS). DoMS Deputy Director-General Thanin Wechapinan announced the breakthrough this…

  • Thailand NewsJungle ordeal ends in rescue for 19 Thai rangers (video) | Thaiger

    Jungle ordeal ends in rescue for 19 Thai rangers (video)

    The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has confirmed the successful rescue of 19 army rangers stranded for nearly six days in dense jungle during the recent Thai-Cambodian border conflict. The soldiers had embarked on a high-stakes reconnaissance mission on July 23, tasked with verifying the location of a Cambodian BM-21 artillery position. But the very next day, border skirmishes erupted between…

  • Pattaya NewsFatal crash sparks fury over ‘death trap’ roadworks in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Fatal crash sparks fury over ‘death trap’ roadworks in Pattaya

    A fatal motorbike crash in Pattaya has reignited outrage over hazardous road conditions after a Laotian man was killed yesterday in what residents describe as a “death trap” stretch of road. The accident happened around 8pm yesterday, July 30, on a road running parallel to the railway in Soi Nong Hin. Emergency responders from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket taps run dry: 12-hour water cut hits Rawai | Thaiger

    Phuket taps run dry: 12-hour water cut hits Rawai

    The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has warned residents and businesses in Rawai, Phuket, to prepare for a full-day water outage tomorrow as essential pipework shuts down the supply for 12 hours. The disruption will run from 10am to 10pm tomorrow, August 1, and affects a large section of Rawai, including Soi Mittraphap, Saiyuan 1, Soi Laem Ka, Soi Wirachot, Soi…

  • Thailand NewsIndiGo slashes fares to Thailand despite border bloodshed | Thaiger

    IndiGo slashes fares to Thailand despite border bloodshed

    As Thailand and Cambodia attempt to hold together a fragile ceasefire after the bloodiest border fighting in more than a decade, India’s largest airline is offering a travel bargain to the Land of Smiles. IndiGo announced a special promotion for passengers flying to Thailand. Travellers can now use the promo code “6ETHAI” to get up to 10% off bookings to…