On May 3, 2025, Associate Professor Dr. Suratana Tanpravet, a neurology and brain specialist from Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Medicine, posted a case study about an elderly dementia patient. A daughter brought her 85-year-old mother for examination, whose dementia had progressed significantly. Each morning, the mother would wake up saying, "Father is waiting for breakfast," even though her husband had passed away five years prior.

Dr. Suratana explained that she frequently encounters such cases. In Alzheimer's disease, short-term memory deteriorates first, gradually erasing memories chronologically backward from the present. However, long-term memories and significant emotional events often remain intact.

When the daughter asked what her mother experiences when looking at the world, Dr. Suratana noted that patients experience what's called "temporal disorientation"—like a ship without an anchor, drifting through time with no fixed coordinates on life's map. Beyond memory loss, patients lose their ability to orient themselves in time and space. They become confused about what day it is, what time, and where they are—like being trapped in a dark room.

When the mother arrived at the clinic, startled by the bright lights and unfamiliar surroundings, her daughter gently asked: "Mom, what day is it today? Where are we? Tell the doctor." The mother's eyes searched, trying desperately to grasp something in this strange world she'd never encountered.

"A good day, a..." the mother said, then stopped.

"Yes, Mom, a good day," Dr. Suratana responded reassuringly.

There's no need to insist it's Monday morning—just knowing it's a day to see a familiar, kind doctor is enough. When the mother pointed and said, "Doctor is kind," Dr. Suratana replied, "You remember the doctor is kind, and that makes the doctor happy." She emphasized repeatedly that this isn't the time to correct or demand perfect memory.

At Chivacare Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, staff recognize that dementia patients may forget dates and places, but they retain memories associated with happiness. By designing activities and environments to be pleasant and joyful, caregivers prioritize what matters most: happiness.

The hippocampus, a brain structure resembling a seahorse's tail, functions like a filing system that marks when events occurred and their relationship to our life timeline. When this system deteriorates, memories don't just disappear—they become unmoored from the patient's internal calendar. Patients may ask, "Haven't I eaten?" even after finishing a meal, or "What time is it?" moments after being told, or "My husband is waiting" though he passed long ago—not from inattention, but because their brains can no longer anchor themselves to time.

Caregivers often become stressed, repeating information endlessly. It's important to understand that confusion and memory loss stem from neurological damage, not stubbornness. For patients, however, what matters most is feeling secure and not abandoned.

SA KAEO — On May 3, 2026, Thai authorities repatriated 55 Cambodian migrant workers through the Khlong Luek border checkpoint after their legal cases were resolved, according to officials.

The Burapha Task Force, led by the Aranyaprathet special unit, coordinated with Border Patrol Company 1201 and multiple agencies, including the Region 1 Operations Centre, Sa Kaeo Immigration, Aranyaprathet Customs and international disease control officers, to oversee the operation.

The group returned included 34 men, 19 women and two boys. Police confirmed all individuals had been arrested and processed under Thai law before being deported in accordance with legal procedures.

The handover occurred at the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge at the permanent border crossing in Ban Khlong Luek, Aranyaprathet district, under strict supervision and inter-agency coordination.

Authorities reported the operation proceeded without incident.

Acclaimed musician Natee Getsunova is beaming with happiness following his wife Ingfah Damrong Chaidharm's delivery of their second daughter on May 1st. The adorable newborn has been named Lalyn, and proud father Natee shared a family photo with a warm caption welcoming his daughter to the world, noting that she was born just days before her mother's birthday. The special moment became even more heartwarming when their older daughter Layla joined in to care for her baby sister, creating an endearing family scene that melted hearts across social media. Congratulations to the growing family!

A tragic accident claimed the life of a tractor operator when the vehicle overturned and crushed him as he attempted to control it after a dirt road collapsed beneath him.

At 11:00 AM on May 3, investigators from Inthon Police Station in Sing Buri province responded to a report of a tractor accident in a rice field in Village 9, Inthon Subdistrict. Emergency personnel including staff from the Baan Pot Thek Tung Foundation and hospital medics quickly arrived at the scene.

Upon arrival, authorities found the tractor flipped over on top of the driver. They used a backhoe to lift the tractor in order to recover the victim's body, which took approximately 10 minutes. The deceased was a 35-year-old resident of Ngiw Rai Subdistrict, Inthon District, Sing Buri province.

Investigators determined that the victim, a professional tractor operator, had been hired to level a rice paddy. After completing the work, he was attempting to drive the tractor back up the dirt road to leave when the road suddenly gave way and the tractor overturned, crushing him fatally. Authorities transported the body to the hospital and launched a legal investigation before releasing the remains to his family for religious rites.

Thai professional tennis player Mai Manunja Sawangkaew, currently ranked 186th in the world, captured the title at the ITF Women's World Tennis Tour W100 Gifu event in Japan on May 3, 2025. In the women's singles final, she defeated 17-year-old Australian player Emerson Jones, ranked 133rd globally, with a decisive 2-0 set victory (7-6 tiebreak 7-2, 6-3).

This victory marks Mai's first W100 title and her third championship of 2025, following previous wins at the ITF W75 tournament in Thailand and the WTA 125 event in Mumbai, India. The triumph earns her $12,285 in prize money (approximately 397,000 baht) and 100 ranking points, elevating her world ranking to 174th.

Meanwhile, Ruangkhao Lanna Tharadee, who fell in the semifinal round, secured 77 ranking points and holds a current ranking of 99th in the world.

ALBAY, PHILIPPINES — 3 May 2026, Thousands evacuated after Mayon Volcano erupts, authorities warn of lava and landslides

Thousands of residents in Albay province, southeast of Manila, have been evacuated after renewed activity at Mayon Volcano sent ash plumes into the sky and blanketed nearby communities.

Mayon volcano spews ash as seen from Camalig, Albay province, Philippines on Saturday 2 May 2026. The Philippines said on 3 May that thousands of people have evacuated the area south of Manila after Mayon Volcano erupted, and the authorities advised the public to stay out of the 6km radius danger zone.

Authorities have raised Alert Level 3 on a five-level scale and warned residents to remain outside a 6 km danger zone due to the risk of lava flows, landslides, and further eruptions.

The volcano, known for its near-perfect cone shape and standing about 2,462 metres tall, is experiencing strombolian eruptions — moderate bursts that eject lava, gas, and volcanic debris intermittently.

More than 5,000 people are now staying in evacuation centres, as heavy ashfall disrupts transport and reduces visibility across affected areas.

Officials said the volcano is exhibiting strombolian activity, with intermittent bursts of lava, gas, and volcanic debris. Mayon, one of the Philippines' most active volcanoes, has been showing heightened unrest since earlier this year.

Mayon is one of the Philippines' most active volcanoes and a major tourist attraction, but authorities warn the situation remains volatile.