Police in Bangkok arrested a major cocaine dealer on Friday, ending her 10-year operation, which had previously evaded capture through connections via her Nigerian ex-husband. Many of her clients were reportedly from elite circles. Kanyapaphat “Nam” Phatwaratthaya, 38, was taken into custody while delivering drugs near an ice hockey rink on Soi Pridi Phanomyong 37 in the Khlong Tan Nuea area of Watthana district, Deputy Chief of the Metropolitan Police, Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thamsuthee, said on Saturday. Her right-hand man and four customers were also arrested, with authorities seizing 250 grams of cocaine and assets valued at 6.2 million baht. The arrests followed an expanded operation after police dismantled a West African drug network linked to her ex-husband in Bangkok’s Nana area late last year, Pol Maj Gen Theeradej added. Police did not provide details on the arrest of Kanyapaphat’s ex-husband, though reports indicate a Nigerian dealer was detained at an entertainment venue in October, allegedly selling drugs with the involvement of a Thai wife. Investigators said Kanyapaphat admitted to long-term involvement with West African gangs and knowledge of sources for cheap cocaine. Using… “Top Cocaine Dealer Arrested in Bangkok.”

“Through the Ministry of Works, the Federal Government has appealed to the World Bank for support in funding road projects, stressing that Nigeria needs extra resources to finish key infrastructure initiatives.” David Umahi, Minister of Works, made the statement while receiving a World Bank delegation in his office on Friday. He explained that any funds provided by the Bank would be directed toward completing several strategic ongoing road projects, and that tolling mechanisms would be introduced to ensure both sustainability and repayment. In a statement to journalists, Umahi also highlighted the challenges facing the road sector, including the high cost of construction and limited availability of funds. “Infrastructure development remains the most critical requirement for Nigeria to achieve its desired position in global economic competitiveness,” he said, stressing that efficient road networks are essential for national growth, trade, and social development. Umahi further noted, “When I assumed office, the Ministry inherited about 260 weak road links, 50 dilapidated bridges, and numerous failed road sections nationwide. To address these urgent challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved N20 billion for the completion of priority road projects,… “FG Eyes World Bank Funding to Boost Road Infrastructure.”

“The action comes as a direct counter to Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the WHO.” California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state has become the first in the United States to formally join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). Newsom described the move as a direct response to President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the WHO. In a statement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Newsom said California’s participation in the global health network aims to strengthen the state’s ability to respond to public health threats. GOARN is a WHO-led collaboration of institutions and networks worldwide, designed to provide rapid response to infectious disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. By joining, California can work directly with international health experts, laboratories, and emergency response teams to detect and respond to outbreaks more effectively. Newsom’s announcement comes amid renewed political debate in the U.S. over global health cooperation, particularly following Trump’s criticism of the WHO and his repeated moves to withdraw U.S. participation during his presidency. Public health experts say California’s decision… “California Defies Trump, Becomes First US State to Join WHO Network.”

An “ICE Out!” day of protest mobilised hundreds of demonstrators, who braved freezing temperatures to make their voices heard. Businesses across Minnesota shut their doors on Friday as workers walked off the job and joined mass demonstrations against the Trump administration’s decision to deploy a heavy federal immigration enforcement presence in Minneapolis—an action labour unions and faith groups described as a de facto general strike. The coordinated action, branded by organisers as an “ICE Out!” day of protest, drew hundreds of demonstrators into the streets, undeterred by freezing temperatures. In Minneapolis, large crowds gathered near Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport to denounce the transfer of detained migrants onto outbound flights and to demand accountability over the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent earlier this month. Near Terminal 1, clergy members knelt on a roadway in prayer as demonstrators chanted anti-ICE slogans, according to Reuters. Police from multiple local departments ordered the crowd to disperse before arresting dozens of protesters who refused to comply. Organisers said about 100 clergy members were taken into custody, zip-tied, and transported… “Minnesota Businesses Grind to a Halt as Protesters Strike Against Trump’s Immigration Raids.”