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.
  • Phuket NewsPhuket drug bust nets 6,000 pills and ‘Ice queen’ ringleader | Thaiger

    Phuket drug bust nets 6,000 pills and ‘Ice queen’ ringleader

    Three suspected drug traffickers are behind bars after police seized more than 6,000 methamphetamine (meth) pills and over 300 grammes of crystal meth (Ice) in a major Phuket sting. Thalang Police moved in yesterday, August 4, targeting a known drug network operating in Thepkrasattri. Officers arrested 27 year old Bank, his 24 year old girlfriend Pop, and 29 year old…

  • Pattaya NewsCambodian beggars with babies flood Pattaya streets | Thaiger

    Cambodian beggars with babies flood Pattaya streets

    Beggars clutching babies have returned to Pattaya’s bustling streets, as Cambodian women flood tourist zones in desperate bids for survival. On Sunday night, August 3, reporters uncovered scores of Cambodian beggars scattered throughout the city, particularly outside convenience stores and nightlife hotspots. Despite repeated crackdowns, the same faces reappear just weeks after being deported. This time, they’re back — and…

  • Thailand NewsThai government lifts poker ban in shock legal U-turn | Thaiger

    Thai government lifts poker ban in shock legal U-turn

    Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has signed an order to legalise poker gambling, paving the way for the game to be recognised as an international sport and potentially opening doors for future competitions on Thai soil. Speaking to the media yesterday, August 4, Phumtham confirmed he had signed a ministerial order legalising poker under specific conditions. “It’s a sensitive matter…

  • Phuket NewsTruck driver charged after Phuket underpass carnage injures 3 | Thaiger

    Truck driver charged after Phuket underpass carnage injures 3

    A truck driver has been charged with reckless driving after a violent crash in Phuket’s Darasamut Underpass left three people injured and several vehicles smashed in a high-impact pile-up. The chaos unfolded last Friday, August 1, when the driver, behind the wheel of a palm oil truck, slammed into four vehicles while heading towards Chalong. Police say the trucker, who…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya police crack down on illegal sidecar vendors | Thaiger

    Pattaya police crack down on illegal sidecar vendors

    In a surprise late-night operation, Pattaya police are cleaning up the beachfront road, taking action against illegal sidecar vendors blocking traffic. Pattaya police officers launched a crackdown on illegal sidecar vendors along the city’s beachfront road at 11.30pm yesterday, August 1. The operation, led by Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, Police Lieutenant Colonel Arut Saphanont, and traffic inspector Pol. Lt. Col.…

  • Business NewsThaksin pushes for high EV tax to protect Thailand’s car industry | Thaiger

    Thaksin pushes for high EV tax to protect Thailand’s car industry

    Could the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) be putting Thailand’s homegrown auto industry at risk? Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra thinks so, and he’s pushing for drastic tax changes to protect local manufacturers from foreign competition. Thaksin has called for a high excise tax to be imposed on imported EVs that contain minimal local content, in a bid to protect Thailand’s…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket sand fence project launched to combat coastal erosion | Thaiger

    Phuket sand fence project launched to combat coastal erosion

    A stunning move to preserve Phuket’s natural beauty is underway, with a major investment to combat coastal erosion. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on has launched an ambitious project to combat the relentless coastal erosion threatening Phuket’s shores. Sirinat National Park has been tasked with the implementation of sand fences at Sai Kaew Beach in the Maikhao subdistrict of…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya launches eco-tourism project to boost marine life | Thaiger

    Pattaya launches eco-tourism project to boost marine life

    In an exciting step towards eco-tourism, Pattaya has launched a groundbreaking project to restore marine life and teach the public how to nurture aquatic species. On Thursday, July 31, Pattaya began a new eco-tourism initiative to raise public awareness about the breeding and care of aquatic species. Part of the Nature Restoration for Eco-Tourism Promotion programme for 2025, this project…

  • Phuket NewsEtihad’s A321LR brings luxury to Phuket flights | Thaiger

    Etihad’s A321LR brings luxury to Phuket flights

    Etihad Airways has just upped the ante in luxury air travel, launching its first commercial flight of the all-new A321LR to Phuket. Etihad Airways has officially launched its all-new A321LR, marking a new chapter in luxury short and medium-haul flights. Flight EY414, which departed from Zayed International Airport yesterday, August 1, heralded the arrival of the aircraft designed to provide…

  • Bangkok NewsLove triangle turns deadly in Bangkok minibus shooting | Thaiger

    Love triangle turns deadly in Bangkok minibus shooting

    A bitter love triangle turned deadly in Bangkok, leaving one man dead and another on the run. At around 2am today, August 2, a tragic shooting occurred outside an apartment on Rama 2 Road, leaving 38 year old minibus driver Anucha dead after being shot multiple times. The suspect, 36 year old Sira—also a minibus driver—is currently on the run.…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Pattaya NewsSouth Korean tourist assaulted in Pattaya robbery gone wrong | Thaiger

    South Korean tourist assaulted in Pattaya robbery gone wrong

    A brutal assault on a South Korean tourist outside a Pattaya nightclub has left police probing whether it was a botched robbery or something darker. At 4.06am yesteday, August 1, Police Lieutenant Colonel Alis Phuangwai, Deputy Chief of Pattaya City Police Station, received an urgent call about a violent incident in a parking lot near an entertainment venue on Soi…

  • 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…

  • 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,…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok rush hour relief as SRT trials new train route | Thaiger

    Bangkok rush hour relief as SRT trials new train route

    Bangkok’s long-suffering commuters are finally getting a break—at least during rush hour. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has launched a pilot extension of suburban train routes in a bid to ease congestion and improve public transport during peak hours. Starting today, August 1, suburban train numbers 355 and 356 will operate on an extended route from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Pattaya NewsFurious Pattaya locals slam 4-year roadworks nightmare | Thaiger

    Furious Pattaya locals slam 4-year roadworks nightmare

    Pattaya residents are fuming as a drainage and road construction project drags into its fourth year with no end in sight—leaving behind a trail of muddy roads, stray dogs, blocked access, and mounting frustration. Locals living near Thepprasit Soi 7 and 9, extending to Jomtien Second Road, say they’ve had enough. What was promised as essential infrastructure improvement has become,…

  • 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 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…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya dazzles tourists with flashy new Walking Street sign | Thaiger

    Pattaya dazzles tourists with flashy new Walking Street sign

    Pattaya’s famed nightlife hotspot, Walking Street, is set to shine even brighter, thanks to a brand-new, eye-popping 3D LED sign currently under construction at the street’s entrance. The vivid, high-tech signage, part of the city’s ongoing beautification efforts, promises to become the ultimate selfie spot for tourists flocking to the notorious party district. Even though work on the towering structure…

  • 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…

  • 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…