BURIRAM — A 75-year-old man has become the first reported fatality linked to the recent cold weather, after temperatures dropped to 18 degrees Celsius overnight, police said.

Officers from Ban Dan police station were notified at about 7:30 am on Jan. 2, 2026, that a villager had been found dead inside his home in Ban Pho Thong village, Ban Dan district. Police and local rescue workers went to investigate.

The victim, identified as Wa Chamram, 75, was found dead on a mattress in the middle of his single-storey concrete house. Police said there were no signs of assault, and he was believed to have died at least three hours before his body was discovered.

His wife, Jampii Cherngram, 69, told police the household consisted of herself, her husband and their 9-year-old grandson. She said her husband normally woke around 5 a.m. to light a fire outside the house to keep warm during cold weather.

When he did not wake as usual, she went to check on him and found him unresponsive, with his body already stiff. She said her husband had no underlying medical conditions and did not drink alcohol. She believed the sudden cold overnight, combined with sleeping in an open area of the house, may have caused him to go into shock.

A neighbour, Thongsuk Tansiaidee, 67, said the man had visited him the previous evening to compare fighting cockerels and appeared normal at the time. He also believed the cold weather was a contributing factor.

Police said the cause of death would be further examined, but relatives did not suspect foul play. The body was released to the family for funeral rites according to local tradition.

Temperatures in Ban Dan district dropped to around 18 degrees Celsius overnight as a cold air mass continued to affect parts of northeastern Thailand.

Bangkok — Thailand’s Joint Information Center on the Thai–Cambodian border situation on Thursday rejected claims that the repatriation of 18 Cambodian soldiers amounted to a diplomatic defeat, insisting the move was carried out under agreed mechanisms and international humanitarian principles to reduce tensions.

The center said the transfer of the soldiers back to Cambodia followed frameworks jointly agreed by both sides and was intended to help de-escalate the situation along the border, not to concede any rights, sovereignty, or political positions.

“The return of the 18 soldiers does not affect Thailand’s sovereignty, nor does it constitute acceptance of any claims or demands by either side,” the statement said. “It is part of confidence-building and tension-reduction measures so that disengagement can proceed.”

Responding to Cambodian media reports describing the development as a “major victory,” Thai officials said the outcome should instead be seen as a “mutual success” resulting from cooperation rather than a win–loss scenario. The center urged all parties to avoid rhetoric that could inflame tensions and to help maintain an atmosphere conducive to peace and public safety.

The center also denied speculation that the repatriation involved hidden conditions or exchanges, saying there were no special terms attached and that the process strictly followed the agreed de-escalation framework.

During their detention, the Cambodian soldiers were treated in line with international humanitarian standards, with due regard for their dignity and safety, officials said. The timing of their release, they added, depended on the security situation and could not occur while both sides remained in a hostile posture.

On reports suggesting territorial gains or losses, the center said border issues remain sensitive and are being addressed through formal mechanisms. It warned against drawing conclusions based on unofficial information and urged the public to rely on official government communication.

Thailand, the center said, will continue diplomatic engagement through established channels while maintaining necessary security readiness, prioritizing the protection of civilians along the border and the preservation of national sovereignty.

BANG LAMUNG — A good Samaritan turned in a shoulder bag containing more than 62,000 baht in cash and other valuables after finding it at a New Year’s Eve countdown event in Chonburi province, police said.

The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 at a countdown celebration organized by the Bang Lamung Subdistrict Municipality in Bang Lamung district.

The man who found the bag was identified as Pongchai Singhphrai from Chiang Mai province. He told police he picked up the bag and found inside a wallet, a passport believed to belong to a Myanmar national, cash totaling 62,870 baht  in 100- and 1,000-baht banknotes, and a set of Toyota car keys.

Pongchai said he and others at the event tried to announce the discovery to locate the owner, but no one came forward. He then decided to bring the bag and all the items to police at the Ban Rong Po checkpoint for safekeeping and to help find the rightful owner.

Police later transferred the bag and its contents to investigators at Bang Lamung police station to verify the details and track down the owner so the property can be returned properly.