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.
  • Pattaya NewsWarehouse fire uncovers homemade alcohol operation

    Warehouse fire uncovers homemade alcohol operation

    A Pattaya warehouse containing homemade alcohol went up in flames early this morning, according to local reports. Firefighters and police arrived at the warehouse, located in the Pong sub-district of Bang Lamung district, following a report about a fire at 1am yesterday. The warehouse caught fire in an electrical glitch that the caretaker said was caused by an electric kettle…

  • World NewsMan threatens to release sex tape, woman cuts off his penis

    Man threatens to release sex tape, woman cuts off his penis

    An Indonesian man’s short-sighted demand for sex may have cost him his ability to ever have sex again. On Saturday the man’s girlfriend allegedly cut off his penis in a fit of rage after he insisted on sex. The woman was apparently annoyed at her boyfriend earlier, so turned him down for sex. He persisted and threatened to release a…

  • Northern Thailand NewsNew meth pills under 10 baht each flooding market

    New meth pills under 10 baht each flooding market

    If you’ve been thinking of dabbling in meth but found the pills cost-prohibitive, drug cartels are here to help. They’ve been flooding the Northeast of Thailand with cheap methamphetamine pills, costing under 10 baht each, causing concern among authorities. How do manufacturers manage to keep the cost of pills so low? The answer is insecticide. Drug makers use insecticide as…

  • World News‘Dilbert’ dropped from hundreds of papers after racist remarks

    ‘Dilbert’ dropped from hundreds of papers after racist remarks

    After “Dilbert” comic strip creator Scott Adams made derogatory remarks about Black people in a video he posted online, hundreds of US newspapers have announced that they will no longer publish the popular comic strip. The iconic comic strip that lampooned office life became massively popular in the 1990s, even spawning a TV show briefly. But, in recent years, Adams…

  • Bangkok NewsViral video shows Khao San club guard slapping tourist

    Viral video shows Khao San club guard slapping tourist

    A video clip showing a foreign tourist being handcuffed and slapped in the face by a security guard in a popular pub in the Khao San Road area of Bangkok has gone viral on social media. The victim is thought to be a well-known YouTuber. The incident has sparked outrage among commenters and led to the guard being fired. In…

  • Krabi NewsKrabi homeowner shocked by 5-metre king cobra snake

    Krabi homeowner shocked by 5-metre king cobra snake

    If you were a giant king cobra snake, where would you live? The answer is apparently “anywhere you want.” A homeowner in Krabi got a major surprise when they discovered a five-metre-long king cobra relaxing at their house this week. A team of snake handlers successfully caught the king cobra that was hiding under a chair in front of their…

  • Eastern Thailand NewsPolice in Rayong destroy thousands of guns

    Police in Rayong destroy thousands of guns

    Thousands of guns seized by police were destroyed in a ceremony at a Millcon Steel Company facility in Rayong this week. The destruction marks the latest effort by the Royal Thai Police to enforce gun control in the country and combat illegal firearm possession. The national police chief Pol. Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapas and his deputy presided over the gun destruction…

  • Phuket NewsOfficials warn against Phuket flight price gouging

    Officials warn against Phuket flight price gouging

    If you are frustrated at the rising costs of airfare to Phuket, you’re not the only one. The popular resort island has been facing complaints from tourists regarding rising airfare prices during the high season. In response, the Provincial Public-Private Joint Economic Development Committee has warned airlines against overcharging customers for flights to Phuket, especially during long holidays. The warning…

  • World NewsMetal sphere dubbed ‘Godzilla Egg’ washed onto Japanese beach

    Metal sphere dubbed ‘Godzilla Egg’ washed onto Japanese beach

    A mysterious metal sphere that washed ashore on a beach in Japan has left residents and authorities wondering what it could be. The sphere, approximately 1.5 metres wide, was spotted by a local man in the coastal city of Hamamatsu, who alerted the police after noticing the unusual object on Enshuhama beach. Authorities came to check it out and promptly…

  • World NewsHong Kong socialite Abby Choi’s ex-husband accused of dismembering her

    Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi’s ex-husband accused of dismembering her

    Police in Hong Kong search for the ex-husband of socialite Abby Choi after her headless body was discovered in a village house. The home in Tai Po had been rented by her ex-husband’s father recently. The 28 year old model was reported missing on Tuesday. Parts of her dismembered body were found to have been cooked and stored in a…

  • Phuket NewsDrunk Saudi tourist steals jet ski on Patong Beach

    Drunk Saudi tourist steals jet ski on Patong Beach

    A drunk foreign tourist caused a commotion on Patong Beach in Phuket yesterday after he was caught trying to steal a jet ski. The tourist, who was described as anxious and intoxicated, also attacked a jet-ski caretaker and tried to escape. The incident was reported to the Patong Police at noon yesterday, and when they arrived at the scene, they…

  • Transport NewsFederal baht bus standing ban puts drivers in a pickle

    Federal baht bus standing ban puts drivers in a pickle

    A new law has been published in the Royal Gazette, stating that passengers are no longer allowed to stand on the back of baht buses, also known as songtaews. But drivers are also obligated to pick up all passengers, leaving drivers with the dilemma of either illegally not picking up passengers when full or illegally overcrowding and allowing passengers to…

  • World NewsRescuers struggle to reach plane crash on Philippine volcano

    Rescuers struggle to reach plane crash on Philippine volcano

    Rescue teams in the Philippines have embarked on a perilous mission to recover the wreckage of a small plane that crashed on Mayon Volcano over the weekend. The Cessna 340 was en route to Manila from Bicol International Airport when it went missing. It was carrying four passengers including two Australian technical consultants for renewable energy company Energy Development Corporation.…

  • Thailand Election NewsTikTok bans political groups ahead of Thai election

    TikTok bans political groups ahead of Thai election

    TikTok announced that it will block all accounts linked to political groups in Thailand in the lead-up to and during the country’s upcoming general election. TikTok Thailand’s chief of public policy announced that the company would take measures to maintain a safe community by preventing the spread of fake news and hate speech sparked by political conflicts. TikTok, a short-form video…

  • Cannabis NewsDemocrat Party announces anti-cannabis campaign platform

    Democrat Party announces anti-cannabis campaign platform

    While nearly every street corner in tourist areas of Thailand is selling cannabis legally now (a recent driver in Samui spotted nine shops in a two-block stretch), not everyone is in favour of it, especially politicians. Politicians believe the rushed legalisation and subsequent free-for-all is a strong talking point against the Bhumjaithai Party, who pushed for decriminalisation. Now, the Democrat…

  • Thailand NewsGerman tourist complains about 5,000 baht traffic fine

    German tourist complains about 5,000 baht traffic fine

    A German tourist is questioning a 5,000 baht traffic fine for riding a motorbike through the Chalong Underpass in Phuket when he saw no traffic signs indicating that it was illegal. The tourist was riding northbound through the tunnel on his way to visit the Big Buddha viewpoint on Monday when he was pulled over by traffic police after exiting the…

  • Crime NewsMP Rangsiman asks police to seize PM Prayut’s party HQ

    MP Rangsiman asks police to seize PM Prayut’s party HQ

    The Ruam Thai Sang Chart political party headquarters is at the centre of a controversy with the Move Forward Party urging police to take action and seize the Bangkok building. Opponent Rangsiman Rome, a Move Forward Party MP, alleges a senator who owns the building is a money-laundering suspect. MP Rangsiman called on the police chief to follow standard legal…

  • World NewsPrank video stokes fears for unmarried tourists in Bali

    Prank video stokes fears for unmarried tourists in Bali

    Bali’s tourism industry is worried that a viral TikTok video could discourage travellers from visiting the island due to fears of prosecution over their private activities. Are security forces doing sweeps of hotel rooms to find unmarried people having sex? In some of the most Draconian measures introduced in the Southeast Asian nation for decades, lawmakers declared that sex outside…

  • Road deaths6 year old child flung from overpass in car accident

    6 year old child flung from overpass in car accident

    On Sunday, a family of four was travelling on the Bang Phli-Suksawat expressway in the Greater Bangkok area when tragedy struck. After losing control and crashing, the family’s 6 year old son was flung free of the car and off of the overpass to the road far below, killing the child. The horrific incident took place on the expressway in…

  • Crime NewsExcise officials accused of extortion of elderly grocer

    Excise officials accused of extortion of elderly grocer

    Five officials from the Thai Excise Department have been accused of extortion after allegedly demanding money from an elderly grocer. The woman asserts that the men planted evidence in order to shake her down, and says she’s got CCTV footage proving the extortion claims The men, who claimed to have found counterfeit cigarettes on the premises, demanded 20,000 baht from…

  • Crime NewsPolice commander shot by wife in home

    Police commander shot by wife in home

    The Royal Thai Police (RTP) Office was left stunned by the tragic death of Pol Lt Gen Panya Pinsuk, their commander, who was found shot at his home on Sunday afternoon. Today, his wife, Pornprapha Pinsuk, who was alone in the house with him at the time of his death, confessed to the shooting. According to reports, the police received…

  • Koh Samui NewsNew hospital aims to boost Samui medical tourism

    New hospital aims to boost Samui medical tourism

    A new hospital hopes to boost medical and wellness tourism on the popular holiday island of Koh Samui. Wattanapat Samui Hospital has just opened its doors, marking the fifth medical facility on the island. The hospital has 380 beds, specialist personnel, and modern equipment that are expected to boost confidence in Koh Samui as a wellness destination. Dr Somchai Chansawang,…

  • Thailand NewsGovernment websites mostly hacked to promote gambling

    Government websites mostly hacked to promote gambling

    When a government website gets hacked, one might assume it’s an act of cyber warfare or a government opposition protest group. The truth is far less nefarious. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) announced that, out of about 500 cyberattacks on government websites last year, two-thirds of the hacks were to promote online gambling websites. According to the…

  • South Thailand NewsWoman’s body found in water tank believed to be suicide

    Woman’s body found in water tank believed to be suicide

    An elderly woman’s body was discovered in a 2,000-litre water tank behind a house in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The grizzly discovery was made this morning behind a row house near a commercial building in Mueang district. Police believe the 67 year old woman committed suicide. The woman had been missing since February 15, and her husband has been searching…

  • Bangkok NewsMeatball factory shut down for illegal meat production

    Meatball factory shut down for illegal meat production

    Do you really know if the meatball you are eating is legit? An unregistered meatball factory in the Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani Province was raided by officials from the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Central Investigation Bureau, due to alleged violations of food safety regulations. The factory had been producing low-quality meatballs without the necessary…

  • Tourism NewsAoT increasing airport services to meet tourist demand

    AoT increasing airport services to meet tourist demand

    Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok’s global gateway, plans to increase services to deal with the influx of arriving passengers. Thailand saw a swift surge in travellers after China’s recent decision to reopen its borders. The Airports of Thailand (AoT) announced Friday that the measures will help tackle delays in passenger servicing time, particularly during peak hours. They say they have already…

  • Thailand NewsSingle Russian roulette bullet kills two men

    Single Russian roulette bullet kills two men

    A single irresponsible bullet ended the life of two men playing a game in Ayutthaya in the early hours of yesterday morning. While playing a game of Russian roulette, a 30 year old man fired a .38 calibre pistol at his head and lost the game. The bullet passed through his head and hit his 23 year old friend who…

  • Crime NewsNaked man causes mayhem in Ratchaburi shop

    Naked man causes mayhem in Ratchaburi shop

    A young man’s bizarre behaviour caused chaos at a convenience store in Ratchaburi on February 17. The man stripped naked and broke into the store, terrifying the customers and staff inside. He began destroying objects and making strange noises, mumbling words in Arabic. The incident began when the naked man started smashing the glass of the store’s door around 11pm.…

  • World NewsSingapore sees first Covid vaccine death

    Singapore sees first Covid vaccine death

    The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore announced the death of a 28-year-old Bangladeshi man, likely related to a Covid-19 vaccine. He died away 21 days after receiving the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine. The State Coroner has confirmed that the cause of death was myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. The MOH has also stated that the man’s death was a “medical…

  • Transport NewsLongtail boats with roofs pulled after several capsized

    Longtail boats with roofs pulled after several capsized

    After two deaths and many injuries so far this year, about 80 longtail boats in Krabi that were modified by adding roofs are being called in. The Krabi Marine Office made the announcement after three longtail boats capsized in the last two months. The roofs make the boats less stable in stronger winds. They also make the small boats heavier…