Headline

Thai Police Arrest Two Nigerians, Thai Woman For Romance Scam

Published

1 year ago

February 10, 2024

Thai authorities apprehended two Nigerian men and a Thai woman in Phuket’s Thalang district, for their alleged involvement in a romance scam.

According to foreign news outlet, Phuket Express, on Friday, the raid, conducted on the night of February 8, 2024, at a residence in the Phatcharee Thalang housing estate, led to the arrest of 32-year-old Thai woman, Kanyathanat Thotsatham, and the Nigerians, whose identities were not disclosed by authorities.

In addition to the arrests, law enforcement seized 50 sachets of cocaine and a digital balance from the property. Ms. Kanyathanat was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Samut Prakan Provincial Court for offenses related to public fraud and inputting false information into a computer system.

Investigations revealed that the two Nigerian men had overstayed their visas, with durations of 1,401 days and 1,728 days, respectively.

Inspector Pol Lt Col Pitthaya Thepmuang of the Tourist Police Sub-Division 3 explained that the arrested individuals were part of a romance scam ring, with foreign nationals, particularly from South Africa, being involved.

The scam involved the creation of fake Facebook accounts to deceive individuals in Thailand into making monetary transfers.

Further probes identified Kanyathanat as an accomplice within the gang, responsible for withdrawing and transferring funds to the bank accounts of a Nigerian ringleader residing abroad.

This operation resulted in numerous individuals falling victim to the scam.

During interrogation, the Nigerian men confessed to their participation in the romance scam and admitted to selling cocaine to foreign tourists in Phuket as an additional source of income.

All suspects have been handed over to the Thalang police station for legal proceedings.

Headline

Putin Says Will Speak With Trump On Phone Today

Published

12 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he would speak with US counterpart Donald Trump on the phone Thursday, their first publicly announced call in over two weeks.

The two have been in regular contact since Trump took office in January and have discussed issues like the Ukraine conflict and economic cooperation.

Putin did not say what the two would discuss in Thursday’s call.

“I will talk to the US president today,” the Russian leader told the media during a visit to an exhibition centre in Moscow.

Trump confirmed the call on Truth Social, saying it would start at 10.00am (1400 GMT).

The two leaders have praised each other in recent weeks, despite Moscow’s ongoing assault on Ukraine.

Putin said last week that he had “great respect” for Trump and that US ties were improving. Trump said Putin’s statements were “very nice”.

AFP

Headline

NAFDAC Warns Against Use Of Excess Hydroquinone In Cosmetics

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned users of bleaching creams to refrain from using products containing excessive hydroquinone to safeguard their health.

NAFDAC Bauchi State Coordinator, Mr Hamis Yahaya, advised in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday.

Hydroquinone is a skin-lightening agent used to treat hyperpigmentation, such as melasma and age spots.

Yahaya said that the approved quantity of the chemical substance in cosmetics was only two per cent.

According to him, NAFDAC conducts checks on market products to ensure public health and safety.

“The black colour provides natural protection against harmful radiation due to melanin content.

“Applying creams with hydroquinone contents more than two per cent is harmful. Mixing creams by non-experts is wrong.

“Hydroquinone affects the health of the users gradually, including causing cancer,” he said.

Yahaya urged the media to raise awareness about the dangers of cosmetics that could endanger consumer lives.

Headline

AU Helicopter Crashes In Somali Capital – State Media

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

An African Union helicopter crashed Wednesday at the airport in the Somali capital Mogadishu with eight people onboard, state media said.

The aircraft was part of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), tasked with fighting the Al-Shabaab militant group.

The state media agency Sonna said the AUSSOM helicopter, carrying eight people, “crashed during landing at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde Airport this morning after departing Balidoogle”.

“The fire has been contained, and authorities are assessing the situation,” it said in a post on X.

Sonna quoted the country’s civil aviation authorities as saying that “flight operations remain normal”.

There were no further details given, but unverified clips and images shared online showed a plume of black smoke over the city.

The AUSSOM mission faces funding difficulties, even as fears of an Al-Shabaab resurgence are stoked by attacks in the Horn of Africa nation.