Neill Fronde

Neill Fronde

Neill is a journalist from the United States with 10+ years broadcasting experience and national news and magazine publications. He graduated with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of California and has been living in Thailand since 2014.
  • Covid-19 NewsSunday Covid-19 Update: 84 deaths, 10,817 new infections

    Sunday Covid-19 Update: 84 deaths, 10,817 new infections

    Today, the CCSA reported 10,817 new Covid-19 infections, a change of +187 since yesterday, and 84 Coronavirus-related deaths, a change of +11 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,682,021 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 9,981…

  • Crime News2 foreign men arrested for stealing card data for ATM fraud

    2 foreign men arrested for stealing card data for ATM fraud

    A Romanian man and a Malaysian man have been arrested in Hua Hin for allegedly skimming data from hundreds of credit cards and using the card information to withdraw cash from ATMs in the Bangkok and Hua Hin area. The two men, aged 39 and 33 respectively, were arrested by investigators from the Immigration Bureau at a hotel in the…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok to see short and long-term improvements for canals

    Bangkok to see short and long-term improvements for canals

    The canals (klongs) of Bangkok are getting a facelift with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration confirming plans to renovate the waterways of the capital city. According to Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang, the BMA is working now on a 4.48-kilometre section of the Klong Phadung Krung Kasem canal, which runs a total length of 5.5 kilometres, turning Rattanakosin Island, into an actual…

  • Tourism NewsFTI warns Thailand must reopen to international tourists

    FTI warns Thailand must reopen to international tourists

    With such a long time since tourists were welcomed into Thailand, the Federation of Thai Industries fears that potential tourists may be wandering away from Thailand. The FTI chairman warned that the window may be closing to still attract these travellers. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but as Thailand’s closure to most international travellers stretches to more…

  • World NewsFacebook suffers second massive outage in one week

    Facebook suffers second massive outage in one week

    Facebook has had a rough week, with a massive outage just days ago, and a whistleblower claiming that Facebook knowingly put financial profits over the well-being of their users. And yesterday, the global social media giant faced another hours-long major outage on its platform. A spokesperson for Facebook confirmed that the site went through a system tweak that caused an…

  • Covid-19 NewsSaturday Afternoon Covid-19 Update: Provincial totals and news

    Saturday Afternoon Covid-19 Update: Provincial totals and news

    Today, the CCSA reported 10,630 new Covid-19 infections, a change of -510 since yesterday, and 73 Coronavirus-related deaths, a change of -43 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,671,204 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 10,542…

  • Crime NewsPolice bust drug party at Bangkok gay club for the second time

    Police bust drug party at Bangkok gay club for the second time

    A gay club in Bangkok that had previously been busted for operating illegally in May has been busted again as police raided a drug party there last night. The large venue on Ramkhamhaeng Soi 21 had generated complaints to the police that people were drinking and doing drugs inside. Officers from the Children and Women’s Welfare Supervision Division as well…

  • Covid-19 NewsViral LINE post among students claims Pfizer vaccine is a killer

    Viral LINE post among students claims Pfizer vaccine is a killer

    A viral message by teenage groups being spread on the LINE application claiming that the Pfizer vaccination program for young people is a tool for committing genocide has been strongly condemned by the government. A campaign to vaccinate students between the ages of 12 and 17 with the Pfizer vaccine was put in place to safely reopen schools in November.…

  • Covid-19 NewsSaturday Covid-19 Update: Death back under 100, cases down

    Saturday Covid-19 Update: Death back under 100, cases down

    Today, the CCSA reported 10,630 new Covid-19 infections, a change of -510 since yesterday, and 73 Coronavirus-related deaths, a change of -43 from yesterday. Since April 1, in the latest wave of the virus in Thailand, a total of 1,671,204 confirmed Covid-19 infections have been reported. In the 24 hour period since the last count, the CCSA has reported 10,542…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesRestaurant goes viral as diners enjoy braving the floodwaters

    Restaurant goes viral as diners enjoy braving the floodwaters

    When life gives you lemons… A restaurant in Nonthaburi that had fallen victim to rising floodwaters along the Chao Phraya River turned a negative into a positive as videos went viral showing diners at the restaurant sitting at tables knee-deep in floodwaters. The Chao Phraya International Cafe in the Bangkok suburb Nonthaburi province had already been struggling with the effects…

  • Pattaya NewsBangkok Hospital Pattaya offers free AstraZeneca for expats

    Bangkok Hospital Pattaya offers free AstraZeneca for expats

    Bangkok Hospital Pattaya has announced pre-registration is open for free vaccines for foreigners and expats with injections beginning October 15. The hospital will give 2 doses of AstraZeneca to qualifying applicants at no charge. Registration is open until all slots are filled and can be done online at the following link: https://bit.ly/3a6sLpf The vaccination is offered with no charge or…

  • Crime News16 million baht worth of knockoff clothing in Bangkok warehouse

    16 million baht worth of knockoff clothing in Bangkok warehouse

    A search of a business in southwestern Bangkok yesterday after a tip-off about low-quality knockoff goods being sold online led to the arrest of a Chinese man with 16 million baht of merchandise stored in his warehouse. The Economic Crime Division Police obtained a search warrant for a warehouse on Soi Sakaengam 39/2 in Bang Khun Thian and then raided…

  • EducationSchool textbook calls democracy “corrupt”, supports dictatorship

    School textbook calls democracy “corrupt”, supports dictatorship

    A story that has gone viral in Thai social media over the last few days raised ire over a grammar textbook that called democracy corrupt and endorsed dictatorship. The textbook turned out to be published originally in 2008, was last published in 2012, and was removed from approval for use in classroom learning in 2016. The original post was shared…

  • Pattaya NewsBooster vaccine recipients yesterday included Pattaya Mayor

    Booster vaccine recipients yesterday included Pattaya Mayor

    At a vaccination campaign in Pattaya yesterday, Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunploem was spotted receiving his third vaccine booster shot and encouraging others to do so. The event took place at Pattaya City 2 school and health officials administered AstraZeneca booster shots for those who had 2 injections of Sinovac previously. The event also provided second doses of the Sinopharm…

  • Crime NewsHacker arrested after selling data of 600,000 customers

    Hacker arrested after selling data of 600,000 customers

    A former employee of a well-known company in Thailand was arrested for a data breach where he allegedly hacked and sold the data of 600,000 customers. The hacker, known as Woraphol, was taken into custody by the Technical Crime Suppression Division after the company the man worked for previously uncovered the data breach and contacted the police. A search warrant…

  • Tourism NewsTAT 80% revenue recovery plan: get travellers to spend double

    TAT 80% revenue recovery plan: get travellers to spend double

    While the Tourism Authority of Thailand admits the revenue figures for 2021 are grim and likely won’t improve monumentally in the final quarter, they still have a rosy outlook on the tourism market rebounding over the next few years. The TAT is estimating that by 2023 tourism revenue will have recovered to 80% of the huge numbers seen at its…

  • Krabi NewsKrabi received 500,000 doses towards its 100% vaccination goal

    Krabi received 500,000 doses towards its 100% vaccination goal

    Krabi has received 500,000 vaccines from the Ministry of Public Health as the province begins its reopening plan and pushes towards vaccination goals. Krabi, along with Phang Nga, joined Phuket and the Koh Samui islands as Sandbox destinations that international travellers could arrive into for a 7-day soft quarantine before being allowed to travel freely throughout Thailand. Right now, the…

  • Covid-19 NewsChulabhorn Royal Academy rolls out booster vaccines

    Chulabhorn Royal Academy rolls out booster vaccines

    Booster shot registration has begun for Chulabhorn Royal Academy as they prepare to launch their drive to give third vaccines on October 20. The first round will be for those who received 2 injections of Sinovac and the second round will be for AstraZeneca vaccine recipients. Moderna and Sinopharm booster shots will commence 9 days later for special organisations and…

  • Northern Thailand NewsPolice raid Korat restaurant after curfew with live music, booze

    Police raid Korat restaurant after curfew with live music, booze

    In the northern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, 39 people were arrested as police raided a restaurant breaking several Covid-19 rules and restrictions. The raid took place last night in Muang district at around 10:30 pm. Health and administrative officials accompanied the police to the Lamer Restaurant & Karaoke on Sirinakhon Road where they found 28 customers inside and 11 staff…

  • Politics NewsNakhon Si Thammarat police: don’t throw eggs at PM Prayut

    Nakhon Si Thammarat police: don’t throw eggs at PM Prayut

    Perhaps in an effort to do some damage control for today’s visit from PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to inspect flood preparedness in the Southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, the provincial police released an official warning notice instructing people to be on good behaviour for the prime minister’s visit. After several stops of his flood surveying tour has been met by…

  • Crime News6 warrants out for death of 1 million swiftlets, theft of bird’s nest

    6 warrants out for death of 1 million swiftlets, theft of bird’s nest

    Six arrests have been made in connection with the shocking story last month of caves raided in Phatthalung where 1 million swiftlets were killed and their valuable birds’ nest plundered. Swiftlets, unlike other birds, make their nests entirely out of their own saliva which has been prized, especially in Asian culture, as a healing delicacy. Authorities estimated a 5 billion…

  • Phuket NewsWeekly Phuket Covid-19 Update: Deaths and infections slowing

    Weekly Phuket Covid-19 Update: Deaths and infections slowing

    Over the past week in Phuket, Covid-19 daily infections have been slowly decreasing with 165 new infections today and no new deaths. But Sandbox infections have been creeping up with 20 new infections found in international travellers over the past week. Daily infections peaked September 21 with 254 new cases that day, and by the end of September, finally fell…

  • Thailand NewsPWO 112.5b baht gloves investigation finds disciplinary violations

    PWO 112.5b baht gloves investigation finds disciplinary violations

    The gloves are off as Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit received a disciplinary panel report encouraging that three top officials in the government-run Public Warehouse Organisation be fired over a 112.5 billion baht purchase deal for 500 million boxes of rubber gloves by the PWO officials. The former acting director of the PWO and two other senior officials were found…

  • Crime NewsThai woman nabbed for alleged 47 million baht face mask fraud

    Thai woman nabbed for alleged 47 million baht face mask fraud

    A Thai woman has been arrested, accused of running a face mask scam that defrauded an American company out of 47 million baht. The woman stands accused of fraud under false pretences and using false documents. The United States-based company ABA USB Corp filed the complaint against the woman, alleging they had entered into an agreement to purchase 1.3 million…

  • Northern Thailand NewsFamily of Thai murder victim alleges affair with Swiss man’s wife

    Family of Thai murder victim alleges affair with Swiss man’s wife

    The family of the Thai man who was beaten to death in Udon Thani, allegedly by a Swiss man, has spoken up, saying they believe the killing was over a romantic affair. In previous reports, the Swiss national allegedly told police that he acted in self-defence after the Thai man had entered his home wielding a gun and demanded money. …

  • Covid-19 NewsPfizer Vaccine protection after 6 months: Covid 47%, Hospitalisation 90%

    Pfizer Vaccine protection after 6 months: Covid 47%, Hospitalisation 90%

    New data this week shows that the Pfizer vaccine which has proven to be 88% effective against Covid-19 dropped to just 47% efficacy six months after the second dose. The report published Monday in the Lancet public medical journal had originally been released in August before being peer-reviewed, and lays clear the need for booster shots as efficacy drops. Data…

  • World NewsWill Myanmar junta leader be given a seat at ASEAN summit?

    Will Myanmar junta leader be given a seat at ASEAN summit?

    A summit of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will take place later this month and delegates are debating whether to include Myanmar or not. The troubled nation is a member of the association, but other nations are debating whether to recognise and invite the military junta leader that overthrew the elected government in Myanmar in February…

  • World NewsAirAsia Malaysia requiring all passengers to be vaccinated

    AirAsia Malaysia requiring all passengers to be vaccinated

    AirAsia, the Southeast Asian budget airline carrier based in Malaysia, has announced that they will only allow passengers to travel on their flights if they have been fully vaccinated. It is unclear if this will apply to all regional AirAsia divisions, but it appears to be implemented first in Malaysia. The announcement made today said that the Malaysian unit will…

  • Bangkok NewsVigil to mark 45th anniversary of Thammasat University massacre

    Vigil to mark 45th anniversary of Thammasat University massacre

    Today marks the 45th anniversary of the infamous October 6 massacre at Thammasat University in Bangkok in 1976, when 4,000 police and military forces blocked all exits from the university before firing machine guns, assault rifles, grenade launchers, and other military-grade weapons on the students after increased anti-government protests. An alms-giving ceremony this morning started the day of remembrance. Organizations…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket received 139,375 ATKs to test quickly for Covid-19

    Phuket received 139,375 ATKs to test quickly for Covid-19

    As part of over 800,000 antigen test kits allocated to the South of Thailand, Phuket has received 139,375 ATKs to support the fledgling tourism relaunch on the popular travel destination island. The National Health Security Office reported the delivery to Phuket today from the Zone 11 office based in Surat Thani. The nearly 140,000 test kits to Phuket was the…