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.
  • World NewsRumour dispelled: The UN did not dedicate December 5 as ‘King’s Day’

    Rumour dispelled: The UN did not dedicate December 5 as ‘King’s Day’

    Despite a rumour and video going viral on Thai Facebook and Twitter, the UN has NOT declared December 5 “international king’s day” in honour of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama 9, the former King who died in 2016 after over 70 years reigning over Thailand. The information came to light following a ‘fact checking’ article published by AFP. The post began…

  • Thailand NewsThailand inks deal for 60 million AstraZeneca vaccines in 2022

    Thailand inks deal for 60 million AstraZeneca vaccines in 2022

    A new deal signed with AstraZeneca confirms the purchase of 60 million vaccines next year for Thailand to use as booster shot third vaccines. The Ministry of Public Health signed the deal with the Covid-19 vaccine manufacturer to acquire the booster shots over the course of 3 quarters of 2022. The signing was accompanied by a ceremony attended by Minister…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesPrayut visits flooding Nonthaburi today, Chaiyaphum yesterday

    Prayut visits flooding Nonthaburi today, Chaiyaphum yesterday

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is scheduled to visit the flooding in areas of Nonthaburi province this afternoon according to a government spokesperson. The prime minister is visiting along with his delegation to survey the damage and inspect the situation on the ground. The group will start at the pier of the Pak Kret municipal office and board a boat to navigate…

  • Northern Thailand NewsPickup truck falls 6 stories from 8th floor parking garage

    Pickup truck falls 6 stories from 8th floor parking garage

    In a bizarre accident in Nakhon Ratchasima that amazingly resulted in only 2 injuries and no deaths, a pickup truck smashed through a wall and plummeted 6 floors. The truck crash took place last night in Muang district on the 8th floor of a hospital parking building. The crash took place at about 7 o’clock in the evening at the…

  • World NewsIvermectin poisonings increase in the US, ineffective for Covid-19

    Ivermectin poisonings increase in the US, ineffective for Covid-19

    In a recent report, the Financial Times said that reported poisonings and serious adverse health effects have more than doubled from Americans consuming the controversial drug Ivermectin, falsely believing it is a cure for Covid-19. The antiparasitic drug, commonly used in veterinary science, with limited applications for use on humans, has been touted by some as a vaccine-free solution to…

  • Thailand NewsMinister Don meets US officials over vaccine donation to Thailand

    Minister Don meets US officials over vaccine donation to Thailand

    In Washington DC, Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and US Senator Tammy Duckworth to discuss the 1 million Pfizer vaccines the US donated that Thailand has yet to collect. Last week both sides argued that they were waiting on the other’s bureaucratic red tape to complete the donation, with Minister of…

  • Thailand NewsPlans for digital or crypto assets – the TAT Coin – to grow tourism

    Plans for digital or crypto assets – the TAT Coin – to grow tourism

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand is considering jumping into the world of digital assets by launching its own tourism-based utility token called the TAT Coin. Crypto is often looked at as the way of the future, and traders are considered high-value, big-spending tourists, especially those that work as digital nomads and stay long-term. Discussions are underway with the Securities and…

  • Thailand Protest NewsPolice arrest protesters yesterday including naked woman

    Police arrest protesters yesterday including naked woman

    Anti-government protests have escalated in recent weeks and have begun to resemble a Hollywood movie, full of conflict and drama and explosions, and now… nudity? Among the arrests and charges of protesters stemming from yesterday’s demonstrations at Nang Lerng intersection orchestrated by the Talufah group, police say one woman faces charges of indecent exposure for stripping naked in protest. The…

  • Thailand NewsCourt rules for Health Ministry, calls dual pricing beneficial

    Court rules for Health Ministry, calls dual pricing beneficial

    In a closely-followed court case, the Administrative Court in Phetchaburi ruled that multi-tiered “dual pricing” in Thai hospitals are not discriminatory as they benefit Thailand, according to the media outlet Coconuts Bangkok. Ewrin Buse, who sued the Ministry of Public Health after discovering he was being charged more for his cancer treatment as a foreigner, vowed to appeal the decision.…

  • Koh Samui NewsKoh Phangan begins booster shot vaccine drive from today

    Koh Phangan begins booster shot vaccine drive from today

    Koh Phangan kicked off its drive to give third booster shot vaccinations to the local population today, ahead of the October target in Thailand, with a goal of 1,300 injections today and more to come. The event took place at the Koh Phangan Sueksa School in Thongsala Moo 1 near Big C. At the school, workers were administering AstraZeneca booster…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesEducation Ministry apologises for fake flood photo

    Education Ministry apologises for fake flood photo

    After publishing an edited photo of the Deputy Education Minister wading in floodwaters, the Education Ministry has released a formal apology. Posting yesterday on their Facebook page, the ministry acknowledged the false information. The photo was posted yesterday showing the deputy education minister knee-deep in floodwaters, with a caption stating that she visited the areas that have been flooded as…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid-19 Wednesday Update: 10,414 infections, 122 deaths

    Covid-19 Wednesday Update: 10,414 infections, 122 deaths

    Today, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported 122 deaths down from yesterday, but a jump from Monday when Coronavirus deaths neared the 100 mark. 10,414 new infections were recorded, an increase of nearly 1000 from yesterday which saw the first day under 10,000 since mid-July. Since April 1, in Thailand’s latest wave of virus, the CCSA has recorded 1,562,966…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket restaurants can serve alcohol starting October 1

    Phuket restaurants can serve alcohol starting October 1

    In a decision that should drastically help the Phuket Sandbox and stimulate the economy, the CCSA gave initial approval to an order to allow selling and consuming alcohol in restaurants starting October 1. Thailand has had a national ban on alcohol consumption in groups and in businesses for months, with a recent crackdown on violators, but the rule would only…

  • Northern Thailand NewsFlooded hospital in Chaiyaphum had to evacuates 40 patients

    Flooded hospital in Chaiyaphum had to evacuates 40 patients

    Around Thailand, heavy rains and flooding have ravaged the country. Earlier this morning, 40 patients were emergency evacuated from Bamnet Narong Hospital in Chaiyaphum by rescue workers as the facility flooded. The hospital suffered severe damage as floodwaters caused the urgent evacuation as one of the buildings on the hospital campus was flooded up to 80 centimetres. An X-ray room…

  • Thailand News300,000 more AstraZeneca vaccines donated from Japan arrived

    300,000 more AstraZeneca vaccines donated from Japan arrived

    In a well-timed shipment, 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in Bangkok today, a donation from Japan. Today is the anniversary of a milestone for Thailand and Japan, as September 26 is the anniversary of the original establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Today marks the 134th anniversary of the relationship between Japan and Thailand, a perfect…

  • Northern Thailand NewsExtremely rare earthstar mushrooms found in Phetchabun

    Extremely rare earthstar mushrooms found in Phetchabun

    In Phetchabun, a local villager was clearing a forest area when he discovered what is believed to be earthstar mushrooms, one of the rarest species of fungi in the world. The extremely scarce mushroom is rumoured to cause a sensation of intoxication similar to being drunk if someone were to consume it despite technically being classified as inedible. The mushrooms,…

  • Thailand NewsUS calls meeting with Thai officials to resolve donated vaccines

    US calls meeting with Thai officials to resolve donated vaccines

    The saga continues for the additional 1 million Pfizer vaccines that the US donated to Thailand that has been lost in bureaucratic red tape. The United States has now said they will organize a meeting with Thai authorities to discuss the delivery of the donated vaccines. Previously, Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul denied claims that he had dropped the…

  • Covid-19 NewsSunday Covid-19 Afternoon Update: Provincial Totals

    Sunday Covid-19 Afternoon Update: Provincial Totals

    Today, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration update reported 12,353 new Covid-19 cases and 125 coronavirus-related deaths. In Thailand’s latest wave of the virus, which was first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has reported a total of 1,532,775 confirmed Covid-19 infections. The 12,353 daily Covid-19 infections in today’s update were made up mainly of 10,809 walk-in tests, while 1,000…

  • Northern Thailand NewsStolen 72 year old elephant returned to owner after 18 years

    Stolen 72 year old elephant returned to owner after 18 years

    An elephant that was stolen 18 years ago was just reunited with her original owner after a Supreme Court ruling. The now 72 year old pachyderm was stolen from its Surin home in January of 2003 before being sold off to an elephant kraal – an enclosure that collects wild elephants to tame them, used for hundreds of years. The…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Covid-19: 2 deaths, 4 Sandbox infections, 10k total cases

    Phuket Covid-19: 2 deaths, 4 Sandbox infections, 10k total cases

    In the last 24 hours, the Phuket Sandbox uncovered 4 new infections, the same as yesterday, and 2 people have died of Covid-19 in Phuket, bringing the total this week to 22 deaths. Today brought 219 new infections, the lowest since September 9, pushing the total infections in the third wave of Covid-19 starting the beginning of April over 10000…

  • Technology NewsJunk messages must now be blocked by Thai mobile carriers

    Junk messages must now be blocked by Thai mobile carriers

    An order made by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission this week declared that all mobile phone operators must now block junk messages and fraudulent SMS. The order is aimed at curbing unsolicited junk messages on people’s mobile phones and protecting them from scams or malicious advertisements. The new order went into effect on September 23 and applies to all…

  • Thailand NewsAbusive Kanchanaburi temple rehab centre ordered to close.

    Abusive Kanchanaburi temple rehab centre ordered to close.

    Following explosive reports of abuse, extortion, and squalor in a drug rehab centre in a temple in Kanchanaburi, the Department of Medical Services ordered the temple be shut down immediately. The Moo 10 village headman in Dan Makhamtia district received an urgent notice Thursday night instructing an immediate closure of the Wat Tha Phu Rat Bamrung facility. The Narcotic Drugs…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket begins new subdermal injection method for vaccines

    Phuket begins new subdermal injection method for vaccines

    Phuket has become the first province in Thailand to implement a new injection method of administering a third Covid-19 booster vaccine under the skin instead of into the muscle. Staff at the Indoor Sports Stadium at Saphan Hin began using the new vaccination method for the first time yesterday. The Ministry of Public Health recently approved the new method following…

  • Crime NewsPolice bust hotel party with ecstasy and ketamine, 59 arrested

    Police bust hotel party with ecstasy and ketamine, 59 arrested

    In the early hours of this morning in Bangkok, police arrested 59 young people in possession of illegal drugs and having an illegal party at a hotel in the Ram Intra area. The event was a birthday party, and 29 men and 30 women were in attendance and were arrested last night. Police from the Khok Khram police station, along…

  • Thailand NewsSaturday Covid-19 Afternoon Update: full provincial totals

    Saturday Covid-19 Afternoon Update: full provincial totals

    The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration update today reported 11,975 new Covid-19 infections in Thailand along with 127 deaths, both lower than yesterday. Covid-19 data was relatively good over the last 24 hours as total patients in medical care (124,540), patients in ICUs (3,323), patients on ventilators (729), suspected infections by ATK test (2370), and infections in prisons (93) have…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket man finds 30 million baht surprise “whale poop” on beach

    Phuket man finds 30 million baht surprise “whale poop” on beach

    A local villager in Phuket was on a jog Thursday morning when he stumbled on a substance that he believes may be worth up to 30 million baht. the man didn’t find gold, or diamonds, or even birds’ nest. The treasure that the 66 year old Mai Khao resident discovered? Whale poop. Ambergris is a waxy, solid substance that sperm…

  • World NewsTransgender who fled to Thailand faces extradition to Malaysia

    Transgender who fled to Thailand faces extradition to Malaysia

    The future of a transgender Malaysian businesswoman hangs in the balance after she was arrested for illegally entering Thailand while fleeing prosecution under Islamic law in Malaysia. Nur Sajet fled from Malaysia where she faces charges of up to three years in prison and a fine for dressing as a woman in 2018 at a religious event. The transgender cosmetics…

  • Covid-19 NewsSaturday Covid-19 Update: 11,975 infections, 127 deaths

    Saturday Covid-19 Update: 11,975 infections, 127 deaths

    The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported 11,975 new Covid-19 infections in Thailand along with 127 deaths, both lower than yesterday. Covid-19 data was relatively good over the last 24 hours as total patients in medical care (124,540), patients in ICUs (3,323), patients on ventilators (729), suspected infections by ATK test (2370), and infections in prisons (93) have all fallen…

  • Covid-19 NewsContrary to Anutin, US says delivery of vaccines awaits Thailand

    Contrary to Anutin, US says delivery of vaccines awaits Thailand

    In a meeting with Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, founder of the new Thai Sang Thai Party, US Senator Tammy Duckworth stated that she is pushing for more vaccine donations from the US to Thailand, but that Thailand has yet to collect 1 million Pfizer vaccines waiting for them now. The conversation took place in Washington DC on Wednesday. Duckworth was born in Thailand and…

  • Thailand NewsCCSA approves reopening delay, state of emergency extension

    CCSA approves reopening delay, state of emergency extension

    The state of emergency in Thailand has been extended and the reopening of the country postpone following approval by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The CCSA subcommittee met yesterday to approve the extension proposal and discuss reopening. Chairman of the subcommittee National Security Council Secretary-General Natthapon Nakpanich approved the proposal that keeps Thailand in a state of emergency and…