July 27, 2023

*) Soldiers claim to have removed Niger’s president, imposed curfew Soldiers claim to have overthrown the government of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum in a statement read out on national television, a day after the leader was detained in his official residence. “We, the defence and security forces ... have decided to put an end to the regime” of President Bazoum, said Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, surrounded by nine other uniformed soldiers in the address. They said “all institutions” in the country had been suspended, borders closed and a curfew imposed “until further notice”. They urged external partners not to interfere. *) Cambodian PM Hun Sen to step down after four decades, son to succeed him Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, has said he will resign after almost four decades of hardline rule. On Sunday, his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in an election with no strong opposition, taking 82 percent of the vote. Hun Sen has trailed the handover to his son for a year and a half, and the 45-year-old played a leading role in campaigning for Sunday’s vote. *) North Korea’s Kim meets Russia’s Shoigu for military cooperation North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has met with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss military issues and regional security, state media said. This comes as the country celebrated the 70th anniversary of an armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. The North’s official news agency said Kim and Shoigu talked in the capital, Pyongyang, and reached a consensus on unspecified “matters of mutual concern”. During the meeting, Shoigu conveyed to Kim a “warm and good letter” signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, KCNA said. *) Ukraine’s Zelenskyy claims ‘good results’ against Russia President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukrainian forces had achieved “very good results” on the front line, and he promised to provide details of their successes soon. Meanwhile, Russian air strikes have d