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.
  • Crime News

    Police hunt for gang member involved in Nontha Buri kidnapping

    An arrest warrant is out for a man in the Greater Bangkok province of Nontha Buri for the alleged kidnapping of a 16 year old boy in broad daylight. Police believe the kidnapper is a gang member and suspect that the boy, who was later dumped on the side of the road in serious condition, is involved in the gang…

  • Crime News

    Drug dealer arrested on Bangla, previously threatened tourists with gun

    Phuket Police arrested a man for drug dealing on Bangla Road after having previously arrested him for threatening tourists with a gun full of blanks. The man, identified as Kittipong, was arrested after a post online claimed that police have been turning a blind eye to his criminal activities. The man was taken into custody with hand-rolled ganja cigarettes, dried…

  • Events

    Thailand’s biggest LGBTQ+ wedding planned for Valentine’s Day

    At least 100 LGBTQ+ couples plan to make history this Valentine’s Day when they converge on Bangkok to take part in Thailand’s biggest LGBTQ+ wedding ceremony. The event will be held at the Thai-Japan Bangkok Youth Centre and is hoped to raise awareness of the struggle for gay rights and marriage equality. As of now, same-sex marriages, civil unions, domestic…

  • Politics News

    POLL: Nepotism and favours get promotions, but so does hard work

    A new poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) found that many government officials thought that nepotism and favours are common in job promotions, but still believe other factors are far more important. The survey found that over 50% believed that promotions were given to the family or friends of those in power, while 73.28% believed it occurred…

  • Economy News

    Moon landing: can the space industry revive the Thai economy?

    The National Innovation Agency urged citizens to understand that the solution to saving the struggling economy may not be found in Thailand, but on the moon. The agency revealed a new launch pad on Friday for the space industry to use in shuttle missions such as a lunar orbit that Thailand has been dreaming of and striving for in recent…

  • World News

    Putin: Russian government is trying to end the Ukraine invasion

    Vladimir Putin declared that the Russian government is doing everything it can the end the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible. His remarks came in conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him not to prolong the conflict since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. The conversation took place at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit this week in the…

  • Tourism News

    Tour bus incentive by TAT hoped to spur domestic tourism

    In their latest effort at pumping up domestic tourism numbers, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is teaming up with bus operators to send out convoys of coaches around the country. The TAT hopes commissioning over 500 tour buses will not only put to work bus drivers and other associated workers but also spur interest for Thai people to hop…

  • Tourism News

    World record petrified tree to become geological tourist attraction

    After being certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest petrified tree trunk log ever found anywhere in the world, officials in the province of Tak are developing plans to turn the tree site into a geological-based world-class tourist attraction. The world record was verified in July in Tak, a northern province of Thailand lying on the…

  • Cannabis News

    Anutin on cannabis: Going backwards is not an option

    After a cannabis bill aimed at moving the decriminalisation away from recreational use and defining it for medicinal purposes only was shot down this week in the House of Representatives, Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul insists that criminalising the drug again is out of the question. Anutin is the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party who had originally pushed for…

  • Tourism News

    Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket to open new theme parks

    So many businesses in the entertainment sector were flattened by the Covid-19 global pandemic. But with tourism beginning to pick up, and sunny predictions for the fourth quarter after a rained-out third quarter of 2022, theme parks and water parks are pumping money into a flood of new attractions in Thailand in the coming months. Current theme parks have been…

  • Thailand Election News

    Campaigns for the next election can officially begin Sep 24

    Election season is upon us! On September 24, the current term for the House of Representatives will have exactly 180 days left which means the campaigning can officially begin for the next general election. The Election Commission made the announcement yesterday, opening the door for political parties and hopeful candidates to begin their push to be elected. The rules are…

  • Expats

    American man falls 9 floors to his death outside Bangkok

    An American man met his demise in the greater Bangkok suburb of Nontha Buri after plummeting out of the ninth-floor window of a rental building. For some reason, falling deaths, especially those of foreigners, have been an increasingly common occurrence in Thailand. In this most recent incident, a man that Pak Kret police identified as Mr Campi was reported to…

  • Crime News

    Acid attacker: Now you can’t remarry, take me back!

    People in relationships fight and reconcile all the time, but this case is a bit more extreme. The man accused of splashing acid in his ex-lover’s face outside of a Don Mueang salon has turned himself in and is asking his estranged wife to take him back. He says that his motivation was to disfigure the 25 year old woman…

  • World News

    Russia, Myanmar, Belarus not invited to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

    While countries all over the world mourned the loss of Queen Elizabeth II since she passed away last week at the age of 96, not all countries were invited to the state funeral. The UK government will fund a lavish funeral next Monday with heads of state from around the world invited, but no representatives have been invited from Russia,…

  • Bangkok News

    Cocktail? Bangkok hotel sets Guinness Record for largest Negroni

    Bottom’s up! A hotel in Bangkok can now claim a boozy new Guinness World Record after their bar mixed up the world’s largest Negroni cocktail. The ambitious Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok Hotel built a huge container to house the popular Italian cocktail and pumped over 630 litres into it to break the record. Made of equal parts gin, vermouth, and Campari,…

  • Visa Information

    US, China, UK account for 45% of the 400 LTR visa applications

    The Thai government predicted one million rich foreigners would snap up new long-term resident visas when the scheme was launched on September 1. In the first 12 days, the LTR visa applications began slowly rolling in, with about 400 people applying so far, mostly pensioners. Officials are framing the applicants so far as a glimpse of what’s to come as…

  • Phuket News

    Businesses encroaching Layan Beach in Phuket get final eviction notice

    Phuket officials handed a final eviction notice to four businesses illegally occupying Layan Beach. Their patience finally snapped after a string of notices were ignored dating back to 2017. They now have to remove all structures from three kilometres of public land by the end of the month. Several businesses have been operating along 178 rai of beachfront land for…

  • Covid-19 News

    Favipiravir: DMS says Thai Covid study contradicts US study

    A top respiratory specialist in Thailand spoke out on Friday about a study in the Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal last month saying that not only does the antiviral medication Favipiravir not seem to help fight Covid-19, but it can lead to patients getting gout. Now the Department of Medical Sciences is defending the use of Favipiravir in Thailand to treat…

  • Northern Thailand News

    Rain flooding likely to dampen third quarter flood of tourism

    Thailand has been ecstatic to finally welcome back tourists – mostly – but now, after the pandemic, a new threat to tourism has emerged. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said it expects a normally profitable third quarter to be muted by the flooding in 21 provinces across Thailand. The floods are expected to affect corporate travel especially. Much of…

  • Tourism News

    The return of the begpacker sparks online debate

    While the Covid-19 pandemic brought tourism to a screeching halt in Thailand much to the detriment of millions of people’s livelihood and the country’s economy, one thing that the majority of people did not seem to miss has now reared its ugly head again. Social media erupted over the return of the much-maligned begpacker trend as photos of one in…

  • Thailand News

    UPDATE: Kanchana Buri skywalk opens and closes on River Kwai

    [UPDATE: After just one day of opening, the skywalk over the River Kwai has been closed already. It seems that having a glass bottom allows for spectacular views but also requires special shoes not to damage the bridge, and they were in short supply. All visitors are required to purchase these special shoes and wear them when walking across the…

  • World News

    Japan may eliminate Covid visa requirements for tourists

    As countries around Asia and worldwide have dropped Covid-19 restrictions, Japan is finally set to follow suit. The country has maintained strict border controls, with special Covid visas required for visitors to enter, even from countries that had previously never required any sort of visa. It is reported that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering easing those restrictions as soon…

  • Cannabis News

    Cannabis bill goes to House today for urgent consideration

    A new bill is set to be proposed to the House of Representatives today for urgent consideration to bring some regulation to the decriminalising of cannabis in Thailand. The bill took its lead from the best parts of several related laws and will propose restrictions on the growth and usage of the plant in the kingdom. Under the rules proposed…

  • Technology News

    Kidney for an iPhone meme condemned by doctors, commenters

    A Facebook post from Laos has gone viral and upset many people for its unsafe message about the expensive new iPhone. The post was captioned “Agreed for iPhone 14” and showed three people holding up their new Apple phones and lifting their shirts, revealing bandages on their abdomens, implying that they each sold their kidney to afford the price of…

  • Thailand Election News

    2 female Thai party leaders emerge as strong PM candidates

    While King Charles III effortlessly ascended to the throne upon the death of England’s Queen Elizabeth II this week, the path to the prime ministership in Thailand will be a bit more protracted and messy. Two women have emerged as top candidates for Prime Minister, with Thai Sang Thai Party’s Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan so far polling above Pheu Thai Party…

  • Phuket News

    Patong: 100m profits with 4am curfew for venues, Chiang Mai residents oppose it

    The pressure has been mounting for the government to raise the curfew to help entertainment venues boost earnings as tourism returns to Thailand. But some residents disturbed by noise living near bars in Chiang Mai are calling for the opposite. The Patong Entertainment Business Association estimates that extending closing hours from 2am to 4am for nightlife entertainment venues could raise…

  • Transport News

    New draft act to make one joint ticket for all Bangkok transport

    Travelling around Bangkok may get a little bit easier if the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning has its way. The OTP is planning to propose a joint ticket that would be created to be valid on all public transport in Bangkok to make commuting around the city using public transportation much more streamlined. Bringing all the different transport…

  • Pattaya News

    New ferry cruise between Pattaya and Samui completes test run

    Last night, Samui Cruise hosted a launch party in Koh Samui after its test run for a new cruise ferry route between Koh Samui and Pattaya. The service is expected to launch later in the month though exact departure dates have not been set. The boat journey takes about 12 hours in each direction and is planned to depart at…

  • Covid-19 News

    Favipiravir found ineffective against Covid-19 & causes gout

    The bad news for Favipiravir is that a new study found it to be ineffective in the treatment of Covid-19 infections. And more bad news, it can also cause gout. The study was released in the Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal on August 6, and Thai respiratory specialist Dr Manoon Leechawengongs of Vichaiyut Hospital posted on Facebook Friday that Thailand needs…

  • Thailand Weather Updates

    Coffin floats through the flooded streets of Bangkok

    Flood waters can be deadly, but locals in Saphan Mai, located in the northern part of Bangkok, were shocked by the sight of a coffin floating by in the floodwaters that swept through the streets. The floating coffin was captured on videos and posted on social media where it quickly went viral. People may have feared and questioned: Is it…