IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

An American lecturer, Paul Chambers, has been detained in Thailand for allegedly insulting the monarchy, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Chambers, a political science professor at Naresuan University in northern Thailand, was arrested on Tuesday and brought before a court in Phitsanulok province.

The 58-year-old was denied bail ahead of his trial on charges under Thailand’s lese-majeste law, which protects the monarchy, and the Computer Crime Act, which regulates online speech. His legal team plans to appeal the decision, though no trial date has been set.

Chambers, who has taught in Thailand for over a decade, has focused his research on the Thai military’s influence on politics. Scholars at Risk, a U.S.-based academic freedom organization, speculates that the charges may be linked to comments Chambers made during a 2024 webinar on military restructuring.

Chambers' wife, Napisa Waitoolkiat, the dean of social sciences at Naresuan University, denied the accusations, stating that the evidence cited by authorities was not his words. She suggested that the charges were an attempt to discourage his research, which often explores the Thai military’s economic role.

The U.S. State Department expressed concern over the arrest, offering consular support and condemning Thailand’s lese-majeste law, urging respect for freedom of expression and opposing actions that suppress dissent. 

Niger’s military government has officially adopted Hausa as the national language, moving away from its colonial ties to French.

The decision, announced in a new charter on March 31, also maintains English and French as working languages. Hausa is already the most widely spoken language in the country, with over 26 million people, compared to just 13% of the population speaking French.

The charter also recognizes nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, and Kanuri.

This language shift follows a broader move by the junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, to sever ties with France since the July 2023 coup. Similar actions have been seen in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso. 

Michael Alagba, a 13-year-old double amputee, is set to participate in a 2km walk on April 12 as part of The IREDE Foundation’s Out on a Limb campaign, aimed at challenging stereotypes around disability.

Born with a congenital condition, Michael has defied the odds, learning to write, sing, and live independently. “I dream of becoming a teacher,” he says, pushing back against societal expectations.

Now in its ninth year, the campaign advocates for visibility, inclusion, and access for children living with limb loss. The IREDE Foundation also plans to provide prosthetic limbs to 200 children in 2025. 

The European Union has approved retaliatory tariffs of 10% to 25% on U.S. imports, set to begin next week. These include levies on items such as jeans and motorcycles, though U.S.-made whiskey is excluded. 

Further tariffs targeting beef, poultry, and citrus fruits will be imposed in mid-May and December. The move follows U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, affecting EU exports worth €26 billion. The EU has expressed a preference for negotiations but is preparing additional measures in response to U.S. car tariffs. 

The mother of Ahmed Musa, a 16-year-old student from Government Technical College, Kaduna, who was brutally murdered, has vowed to seek justice for her son. Musa's body was found on February 16, 2025, within the school grounds, bound with his hands and legs.

At a recent Magistrates' Court session in Kabala Doki, Kaduna, the grieving mother, accompanied by family and supporters, expressed her anger over the government's inaction, accusing the Kaduna State government of neglect. She stated, “I will not rest until justice is served. It feels like the government and the police are trying to frustrate us.”

She threatened to organize mass protests with women’s groups and urged human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, to intervene.

The case was adjourned to May 27, 2025, as key witnesses, including the police and suspects, failed to attend the hearing. 

The Presidency, through Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, has released an updated list of President Bola Tinubu’s appointments to date amid growing concerns over alleged regional imbalance.

Interestingly, the South West is shown to have 29 appointees, contrary to Dare’s earlier statement of 24.

A notable omission from the list is Femi Gbajabiamila, who was among Tinubu’s earliest appointees—named Chief of Staff on June 2, 2023.

The appointments also reflect a disparity in regional representation, with the South East appearing to receive fewer appointments, while the South West—Tinubu’s home region—dominates in key and strategic roles.

Below is the comprehensive list of Tinubu’s appointees by region:

(Here you can continue listing the appointments under their respective regional headings, as already provided.)

Let me know if you’d like a shorter summary or if you want to highlight specific patterns in the appointments.