This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Paul Moss and at 1300 hours GMT on Thursday the 27th of July,

these are our main stories. Military officers in Niger look to consolidate power

after toppling the president in a coup.

We find out more about Ukraine's stalling counter-offensive

and El Salvador's politicians bringing controversial new measures to curb gang violence.

Also in this podcast, we will be ready in the coming months in the next three to four months

to provide Bakuna Faso, Zimbabwe, Marley, Somalia,

the Central African Republic and Eritrea, with 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes of grain each.

President Putin says free food is on its way to Africa.

It's a sign of Niger's importance that within hours of a coup being launched there,

political figures from around the world have weighed in calling for democratic rule to be restored.

The United States Secretary of State, the United Nations Human Rights Chief,

the European Union all want to see the elected president restored to power.

The whereabouts of Mohammed Bazoum are unknown.

Other Nigerian politicians have been blocked from reaching the capital's parliament building by armed soldiers.

And the head of Niger's armed forces has now said he supports the coup.

So why does the world care so much about a relatively empty country?

Much of it desert and which makes little contribution to the global economy.

Well, Niger is in a strategically important spot,

touching both predominantly Arab North Africa,

but also bordering on West Africa, where Islamic insurgents are prevalent.

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