SURAT THANI — A shop owner on Koh Phangan has warned fellow operators after two foreign youths allegedly took drinks without paying, according to a post shared on a local Facebook page. The owner posted on the public page "Koh Phangan" describing the incident, which occurred while a young female employee was alone in the shop. According to the post, the two youths had earlier purchased items and later returned, asking for a refund and claiming the products were fake. The employee refused, saying the shop sells only legitimate goods with proper tax stamps. The pair then turned to a refrigerator, took two cans of beer and told the employee they would take them instead, the owner said. The owner added that the employee, being young and not wanting trouble, allowed them to leave. The post was shared as a warning to other business operators, noting that "tourists come in many forms". The incident drew online reactions, with some users urging the owner to report the case to police, warning that failing to act could encourage repeat behaviour.

On May 4, 2026, singer Wonderframe posted a complaint stating that her electric vehicle suddenly wouldn't open. When she contacted the service center, she was given a technician's phone number, spoke with them for hours, but the technician never showed up and claimed they couldn't help. She was told to contact a locksmith to open the car herself.

Changan Thailand has now issued a statement regarding the inconvenience experienced by Wonderframe. The company acknowledged receiving the complaint and expressed deep regret over the incident, offering a sincere apology for the inconvenience and dissatisfaction caused to their customer. The company emphasized they have not been idle, stating they immediately dispatched a service team to address and resolve Wonderframe's issue, and will coordinate to schedule a formal apology meeting.

Changan reaffirmed their commitment to prioritizing customer safety, trust, and satisfaction, pledging to take full measures to resolve the situation appropriately. The company stated they will use this incident to improve and enhance their service quality moving forward. They also thanked customers for their feedback and suggestions, which will be used to improve service and ensure maximum customer satisfaction.

On May 4, 2026, Lt. Col. Damrong Swanggam, commander of Traffic Division 5, along with Deputy Commander Pol. Col. Theerawit Busbun, Section Chief Pol. Col. Nutthasit Sanphaphop, and other officers jointly arrested Mr. Thanon and seized a .38 caliber handgun from a restaurant parking lot in Soi Pathanavikul 105, Prawet District, Bangkok. The arrest came after police had established an alcohol testing checkpoint at the entrance to Soi Pathanavikul 105 on May 3, 2026. When Thanon drove up and turned into the soi, officers became suspicious of his behavior and conducted an inspection. They discovered the vehicle parked at the said lot and found the firearm in the car's storage compartment. Thanon claimed he obtained the gun from an acquaintance and admitted to drinking alcohol. A breathalyzer test registered 61 milligrams percent, after which he was taken in for legal proceedings.

NAKHON PHANOM — Durian farmers in Si Songkhram district have been left reeling after a brief summer storm toppled trees and knocked fruit to the ground, causing heavy losses estimated at several million baht.

Farmers from three orchards in Sam Phong subdistrict said strong winds lasting about five minutes uprooted Monthong durian trees and damaged large numbers of fruit just days before harvest. One grower, 65-year-old Wanchai Tiyabut, said around 1,200 durians fell from 130 fruit-bearing trees in his 30-rai orchard, with some weighing up to 4kg. He estimated losses at 500,000–600,000 baht after previously agreeing to sell the crop to a buyer scheduled to harvest on 10 May.

Other farmers reported similar damage. A grower in nearby Nat Thom district said about 30 of her 120 trees were knocked down, while another orchard owner said around 3,000 durians fell prematurely, with losses possibly reaching 600,000–700,000 baht. Farmers have called on the government to provide urgent assistance, citing rising labour and fertiliser costs and the high risks faced by durian growers.

Scent affects appetite! Doctors reveal two aromas that can reduce sweet cravings and recommend using them during weight management periods, while also identifying which scents increase hunger.

Compiled by Sanook Online News Team May 4, 2025

According to foreign media reports, medical experts have revealed that "scent" may play a role in appetite control, particularly during weight loss when many people struggle to resist sweets.

Recent research suggests that inhaling certain scents may temporarily reduce cravings for sweet foods.

Dr. Zhou Jianyuan, a weight management specialist, noted that based on everyday observations of essential oil products, different scents affect feelings differently. Upon further research, studies have shown a connection between scent and appetite. Specifically, mint and citrus aromas may help reduce cravings for sweets like chocolate, while vanilla scent may increase sweet cravings.

Additionally, research on people with eating difficulties found that briefly inhaling black pepper scent before meals may increase appetite and swallowing ability, showing that scent not only reduces appetite but can also stimulate it in certain cases.

Doctors explain that this mechanism involves brain function, where scent signals are sent directly to brain regions controlling emotions, reward, and appetite, such as the hypothalamus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus, which influence whether we feel hungry or full. In essence, scent can "guide" the brain's appetite to some degree.

For those on a weight loss program experiencing sweet cravings, doctors recommend trying mint or citrus scents to help redirect attention and temporarily reduce cravings. Conversely, to avoid triggering additional appetite, one may avoid vanilla or black pepper scents in daily life.

However, doctors emphasize that current research is still in early stages and mostly uses specific essential oil concentrations, so results may vary individually. This method should not be used as a primary weight loss strategy. Effective weight management still relies primarily on balanced nutrition and regular exercise, with scent use serving only as a supplementary technique.

Source: ETtoday

The armed attack on Kamlasak Leewamoh, Narathiwat MP from the Pheu Chart party, continues to draw intense scrutiny on how the Royal Thai Police will investigate whether this case leads to identifying those who masterminded the assassination attempt. All five gunmen have been arrested, and it's abundantly clear that the government vehicle from the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense used in the attack was checked out by a naval officer. Yet police remained silent until the victim, MP Kamlasak, was forced to submit evidence that his party team had gathered to file charges himself against a rear admiral from the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense who provided the vehicle to the gunmen, and a naval lieutenant affiliated with the Royal Thai Navy who is implicated in the evidence. This brought two military officers into the legal proceedings. Public attention is intensely focused on whether the M16 assault that was unleashed on an MP using an Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense vehicle was purely an internal operation among the shooting team alone. That's clearly impossible. Someone higher up the chain than the gunmen must be responsible. Police must thoroughly examine whether the evidence clearly links to the officers involved and carries sufficient weight. Yet from the public's perspective, it's already evident that a government vehicle was requisitioned for the gunmen, and there's even evidence of vehicle tampering. This means police work is under intense public scrutiny. If the investigation doesn't progress further, public confidence will erode and credibility will be lost, especially among those in the southern border region who view this incident as reinforcing a pattern of violence in the area. There are covert operations—ambushes and assassinations—that aren't just the work of a single terrorist faction. Military leaders' statements about IO operations targeting certain groups, attacking media, religious schools, and politicians reflect an extreme military-led state policy approach. This incident will only intensify the atmosphere of suspicion and tension. Furthermore, the Pheu Chart party's case investigation team is led by Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, the party chairman and a former investigator of major cases. They're pursuing investigative leads that are far from ordinary. The police investigation team clearly won't simply drop this matter.