All political party activities in Niger have been suspended until further notice, army Colonel Amadou Abdramane said on state television Thursday, after the army declared allegiance to leaders of a coup that toppled the government. The United Nations and the U.S. have called for the release of Niger's president Mohamed Bazoum, after a group of soldiers claimed to have removed him from power. Bazoum had earlier urged democratic forces in the country to resist the power grab. Plus, Russian president Vladimir Putin has told African leaders attending the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg that he'd gift them tens of thousands of grain within months despite Western sanctions, which he said made it difficult for Moscow to export its grain and fertilizers, and more.