Putin hosts Russia's Victory Day parade

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
Episode: Putin Hosts Russia's Victory Day Parade
Release Date: May 9, 2025
Host: Oliver Conway, BBC World Service

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1. Russia's Victory Day Parade and Putin’s Speech

On May 9, 2025, Russia commemorated the 80th anniversary of Victory Day with a grand parade in Red Square, marking the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945. Despite Western efforts to isolate Russia due to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the event saw attendance from over 20 international leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President.

Key Highlights:

• International Presence: The significant increase in foreign dignitaries, from zero in 2022 to over 20 in 2025, underscores Russia's resilience amidst diplomatic isolation. Notable attendees included the presidents of China and Brazil, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, and even American actor Steven Seagal.

• Putin’s Messaging: President Vladimir Putin utilized the occasion to draw parallels between Russia’s historical victory over Nazism and its current "special military operations" in Ukraine. He emphasized Russia’s commitment to combating "Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism."

  Oliver Conway [00:00]: "For Vladimir Putin, it shows Russia has weathered the diplomatic storm."

  Vitaly Shevchenko [02:39]: "The message is that, look, your heroic forefathers, they defeated narcissism then, but we've got to finish the job in Ukraine."

• Chinese Involvement: Chinese President Xi Jinping played a prominent role, with Russia highlighting China's contribution to defeating Nazi Germany. Moreover, Chinese soldiers formed the largest foreign contingent in the parade, symbolizing Sino-Russian solidarity.

  Vitaly Shevchenko [04:00]: "He received very special attention. Vladimir Putin mentioned the Chinese contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany in his speech."

• Security Measures: Given recent drone attacks that had closed Moscow's airports, security was exceptionally tight. Measures included restricted internet access, limited mobile phone coverage, and protective roofing over the VIP stand to safeguard against potential threats.

  Vitaly Shevchenko [02:39]: "This year's parade was held amid really tight security... possibly as a measure against a possible Ukrainian drone attack."

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2. Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine and Ceasefire Challenges

Amidst the Victory Day celebrations, the conflict in Ukraine showed no signs of abating. Despite President Putin’s declaration of a three-day unilateral ceasefire, Ukrainian authorities reported continuous combat clashes.

Key Highlights:

• Combat Clashes: Ukraine's military reported 80 combat engagements on the day of the parade, indicating that active hostilities persisted despite the supposed ceasefire.

  Vitaly Shevchenko [04:59]: "Ukraine's military has said there have been 80 combat clashes today, despite Moscow's three day unilateral ceasefire."

• Ceasefire Skepticism: Ukraine dismissed the temporary ceasefire, alleging that Russia used the pause to resupply and strategize further attacks. Instead, Ukraine expressed openness to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States, believing it offers a more substantial pathway to negotiations and peace.

  Yogurt Lemai [05:35]: "So it's not a ceasefire here in the trenches and on the front lines."

• Human Impact: Correspondent Yogurt Lemai’s report from eastern Ukraine depicted the grim reality on the ground. Civilians like Oleksandr expressed profound fear and trauma, highlighting the personal toll of the ongoing conflict.

  Yogurt Lemai [07:18]: "That is why I say you can't trust them."

  Arun Kumar Singh [16:22]: "He was their only son."

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3. Espionage Allegations Between Ukraine and Hungary

Tensions between Ukraine and Hungary escalated as Ukrainian authorities arrested two individuals suspected of espionage for Hungary. This development strained bilateral relations, particularly considering Hungarian President Viktor Orban’s close ties with Vladimir Putin.

Key Highlights:

• Allegations by Ukraine: The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed that the arrested Ukrainian nationals were gathering military intelligence, including the locations of S300 air defense systems and details about local law enforcement and public sentiment towards potential Hungarian peacekeeping deployments.

  Frank Gardner [08:33]: "They have been spying for Hungary's own military intelligence agency... gathering military intelligence."

• Hungary’s Response: Hungary vehemently denied the accusations, leading to a tit-for-tat diplomatic fallout. In response, Hungary expelled two Ukrainian diplomats, escalating the diplomatic crisis.

  Oliver Conway [10:13]: "Hungary's foreign minister has said that it has expelled two Ukrainian diplomats... what looks like a tit for tat move."

• Concerns Over Intentions: Speculation arose regarding the purpose of the intelligence gathering. While there was no direct evidence linking the espionage to Russian interests, concerns were raised about the potential implications of these actions.

  Frank Gardner [10:13]: "The question is has been raised by Sir Ben Wallace... has this information going to be sent to Russia?"

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4. Pope Leo XIV’s First Mass and Homily

The Catholic Church welcomed its new Pope, Leo XIV, who celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel. His homily reflected a commitment to pastoral care and mission work, continuing the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Key Highlights:

• Pope Leo XIV’s Vision: In his first homily, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the Church’s role in bringing light to a troubled world and the importance of missionary outreach, especially in hostile environments.

  Pope Leo XIV [Early Transcript]: "Through the Ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission... to announce the good news, to announce the gospel."

• Commitment to the Peripheries: The new Pope expressed a desire to engage more deeply with marginalized communities, drawing from his background as a missionary and pastor in Peru.

  Mark Loewen [11:26]: "He talks about his commitment to a daily journey of conversion... continuing that journey of being close to the people."

• Future Directions: While envisioned as a figure of continuity within the Church, Pope Leo XIV may adopt a more reserved approach compared to Pope Francis, particularly regarding social issues like LGBT rights and the ordination of women.

  Mark Loewen [12:24]: "He may be a little bit less outgoing in terms of his moderate message on LGBT rights... treading his own path."

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5. India-Pakistan Tensions and Impact on Kashmir and Cricket

Elevated tensions between India and Pakistan led to a severe humanitarian crisis in the Kashmir region and disruptions in one of the world's most popular sporting events, the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Key Highlights:

• Military Escalations: The Indian army accused Pakistan of launching drone and missile attacks on multiple military bases, including Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot. Pakistan denied involvement, exacerbating fears of a broader conflict.

  Davina Gupta [14:29]: "All around me the city has plunged in darkness... the entire city has fallen anxiously silent after a blackout was enforced by the authorities here."

• Human Impact in Kashmir: Devastating personal stories emerged from the Punch district in Indian-administered Kashmir, where cross-border shelling resulted in casualties and destruction of homes.

  Davina Gupta [16:34]: "For families like hers, the fear doesn't end with the sound of the last explosion... in the uncertainty of when the next attack might come."

• Suspension of IPL: Due to security concerns, the IPL was suspended for a week. Matches were moved to the United Arab Emirates, and the future of the tournament became uncertain, highlighting the intersection of sports and geopolitical conflicts.

  Arunaje Mukherjee [18:40]: "It certainly was a security concern which perhaps triggered this decision by the Board of Control for cricket in India."

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6. Illegal Chopping Down of Sycamore Gap Tree in England

A significant environmental and cultural landmark, the Sycamore Gap Tree, was illegally felled by two men, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers. The tree, famed for its appearance in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, stood adjacent to Hadrian's Wall.

Key Highlights:

• The Act: Graham and Carruthers were convicted for their actions, which included filming the destruction and retaining a wedge from the tree as a souvenir. Their defense claims of vehicle theft were dismissed as implausible by the jury.

  Danny Savage [20:34]: "They filled themselves doing it... the jury just found beyond belief."

• Public Outcry: The act sparked widespread anger and sorrow, as the Sycamore Gap Tree was not only a natural landmark but also a symbol cherished by many.

  Danny Savage [20:34]: "It was a landmark... most famous tree in the world."

• Legal Proceedings: While the defendants were found guilty, the final sentencing remains pending. The case underscored the severe consequences of environmental vandalism.

  Danny Savage [20:34]: "They have now been found guilty of doing a terrible thing."

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7. African Parks Confronts Human Rights Abuses

African Parks, a prominent conservation charity with high-profile support from figures like Prince Harry, admitted to human rights abuses perpetrated by its rangers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Key Highlights:

• Admission of Abuses: The charity acknowledged incidents of human rights violations within the Odzala Kokua National Park, though specific details were withheld. Accusations included beating, waterboarding, and raping indigenous Baca community members to prevent access to ancestral lands.

  Maenie Jones [23:03]: "African Parks has not made the findings of the review public. Instead, it published a statement acknowledging that human rights abuses occurred."

• Impact and Criticism: The revelations have tarnished African Parks' reputation, raising questions about accountability and the ethical conduct of conservation efforts. The lack of transparency in addressing the abuses has been a point of contention.

• Response and Next Steps: While African Parks has admitted to the abuses, the absence of detailed disclosures has left many seeking further information and accountability from the organization.

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8. Rare Moon Dust Samples from China's Chang’E5 Mission

In a groundbreaking scientific collaboration, China’s Chang’E5 spacecraft successfully collected and returned rare lunar dust samples to Earth. These samples, the first since 1976, offer invaluable insights into the Moon’s composition and history.

Key Highlights:

• Collection and Delivery: The samples were meticulously transported by a researcher from the Open University in the UK, Professor Mahesh Anand, who ensured their safe arrival in a pristine laboratory environment.

  Georgina Renard [24:30]: "Professor Mahesh Anand has just been given something incredibly special... he brought them in his hand luggage."

• Scientific Significance: The moon dust will undergo detailed analysis to examine trapped gases and oxygen content, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of the Moon and the broader solar system.

  Mahesh Anand [25:33]: "This is probably one of the most precious material that we can put our hands on... enough to keep us busy for years to come."

• Collaborative Efforts: The mission highlights international scientific collaboration and the importance of preserving extraterrestrial samples for future research.

  Georgina Renard [27:21]: "This latest scientific exchange is a reminder that the Moon is still a place that can bring nations together."

• Future Implications: Researchers hope that these samples will pave the way for further lunar exploration and contribute to advancements in planetary science.

  Mahesh Anand [27:04]: "We are hopeful that through these samples, we are going to learn a lot more about the Moon than we knew before."

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast provided a comprehensive overview of significant global events, ranging from geopolitical tensions and conflicts to environmental issues and groundbreaking scientific achievements. Through in-depth reports and firsthand accounts, listeners gained insight into the complexities shaping our world in May 2025.

Notable Quotes:

• Vitaly Shevchenko [02:39]: "Russia's most important state holiday... used by the Kremlin to justify its current policies."
• Yogurt Lemai [07:18]: "That is why I say you can't trust them."
• Mark Loewen [11:26]: "A very strong message of his desire to take the message of the church to the people."
• Mahesh Anand [25:33]: "They are very precious and we have to keep them in pristine conditions."

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For more updates and detailed analyses, subscribe to the Global News Podcast by BBC World Service and stay informed on the latest international developments.

Transcript

[Oliver Conway]

You're listening to the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Oliver Conway. We're recording this at 13 hours GMT. On Friday 9th May, President Putin marks the 80th anniversary of victory over the Nazis by defending his invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainians say they've arrested two people suspected of working as spies for Hungary and the Indian Premier League Cricket is suspended because of continued tensions with Pakistan. Also in the podcast, through the Ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission. And I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me. In his first Mass, as Pope Leo XIV says he hopes the church can bring light to the dark nights of this world. Nazi Germany officially surrendered late in the evening on 8th May 1945. So late, in fact, that it was after midnight Moscow time and already May 9. And so, a day after Britain marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Russia held its big Victory Day parade in Red Square. Despite Western efforts to to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. More than 20 world leaders were there in Moscow, including the presidents of China and Brazil and the Prime Minister of Slovakia, even the American actor Steven Seagal. For Vladimir Putin, it shows Russia has weathered the diplomatic storm. Russia was and will be the stop to Nazism, to Russophobia, to anti Semitism. It will fight those horrible deeds that.

[Mark Loewen]

Those that are trying to support these.

[Oliver Conway]

Ideologists are trying to commence. The whole country, the society, the people support those who are taking part in the special military operations.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

We are proud of their bravery, of.

[Oliver Conway]

The well, of strength, of their will that only brought us victories. Well, there had been fears Ukraine may seek to disrupt the event after drone attacks closed Moscow's airports in recent days. But security was extremely tight. I heard more about the spectacle from Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia editor at BBC Monitoring.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

This is Russia's most important state holiday. The Soviet victory over Nazi Germany is being used by the Kremlin to justify its current policies, its current war against Ukraine. Encourage Russians to fight in Ukraine. The message is that, look, your heroic forefathers, they defeated narcissism then, but we've got to finish the job in Ukraine. The large number of foreign dignitaries attending the parade is a major win for Vladimir Putin. More than 20 this year. Last year was nine. In 2022, immediately after the start of the full scale invasion of Ukraine, it was zero. Back then, Vladnir Putin was seen as too toxic, untouchable. Now that is changing. This year's parade was held amid really tight security, with authorities restricting access to the Internet, restricting mobile phone coverage. There was even a roof put up above the VIP stand from which Vladimir Putin made his address, possibly as a measure against a possible Ukrainian drone attack.

[Oliver Conway]

A couple of European leaders there from Slovakia and Serbia. But the guest of honor, the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. And he was very prominent.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Absolutely. And he received very special attention. Vladimir Putin mentioned the Chinese contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany in his speech made at the parade. The largest group of foreign soldiers marching across Red Square today was from China as well. And also I've seen semi humorous suggestions that Xi Jinping was the most effective air defense system present in Moscow today.

[Oliver Conway]

Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia Editor at BBC Monitoring well, as we record this in the past couple of moments, Ukraine's military has said there have been 80 combat clashes today, despite Moscow's three day unilateral ceasefire. Earlier, Russia accused Ukraine of trying to make new incursions in the Russian region of Kursk. Our correspondent Yogurt Lemai has this report.

[Yogurt Lemai]

It's quite early in the morning. We're driving through wide open fields, through mud tracks in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine towards Ukrainian frontline position near the city of Bukrovsk. This is one of the most fiercely fought over areas in the country. We're going to this artillery position firstly to check if Russia is honoring the ceasefire and also to speak to soldiers here about what they expect.

[Oliver Conway]

Yeah, my name is Max. I'm 26.

[Yogurt Lemai]

Has it been quieter than usual?

[Mahesh Anand]

No, it's pretty constant here.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

You always have drones, you always have bombs.

[Danny Savage]

Some things never change.

[Yogurt Lemai]

Just walking through a really deep trench, it's more than six feet high, it's really muddy, it's rained overnight, and it's also cloudy right now, so the threat of drones is a bit lower at this moment. However, we have heard the sounds of explosions in the past half an hour. Lots of them, actually. They sounded like both incoming and outgoing fire. So it's not a ceasefire here in the trenches and on the front lines. Ukraine had rejected Russian President Putin's proposal of a three day temporary ceasefire because it believes that Russia uses the time to resupply and then to strike again with force. What Ukraine says it's willing to accept and implement at any moment is America's proposal of a 30 day ceasefire and negotiations because it believes that would be a more meaningful way forward to try to bring this war to an end. About an hour's drive from the military position, we've come to the Vill of Dobropillia. This is a town where we're told there are a few thousand people who are living here and many of them actually lived in places like Pokrovsk, places that are simply too dangerous to live in now. And we've come here to see if in civilian areas the ceasefire is being implemented in any way. And I can see a woman and a man and I'm going to ask them now what they've seen and heard since this morning.

[Oliver Conway]

You can hear the explosions.

[Yogurt Lemai]

This is what Russia's ceasefire sounds like.

[Oliver Conway]

That is why I say you can't trust them.

[Yogurt Lemai]

Later, I met 65 year old Oleksandr, who told me it had been a bit quieter overnight, but that now he could hear alarms again and that there was no truce. Tears started rolling down his eyes as he said he was scared for his family. Oleksandr couldn't hold back tears. He's broken down and he's walked away from us now. We've met a lot of Ukrainians who are quite stoical, who've gotten quite used to what is going on. But every now and then you see that raw emotion, you see the trauma they're facing on a daily basis come to the surface. The uncertainty of whether this could be the next frontline town, the uncertainty of whether where we're standing right now could be handed over to Russia in a negotiation.

[Oliver Conway]

Yogurt in eastern Ukraine. Well, in the past few hours, the Ukrainian authorities say they have arrested two people suspected of working as spies for Hungary. Hungary's foreign minister has rejected the claims, but relations between the neighbours are strained because of the Hungarian President Victor Orban's close ties to Vladimir Putin. Our security correspondent Frank Gardner in Kyiv told me more about the alleged spies.

[Frank Gardner]

So in terms of this plot, this is something announced today by the sbu that's basically Ukraine's, broadly the equivalent of its FBI, its internal security domestic intelligence agency. They allege that they have caught two Ukrainian nationals, a man and a woman, who have been spying for Hungary, which is a NATO member. It's got a short border of about 185km, a joint border with Ukraine, right down in the southwest of Ukraine, and they are alleged to have been gathering military intelligence for Hungary's own military intelligence agency. Things like the locations of S300 air defense systems, law enforcement members, their vehicles, their dispositions, as well as the attitudes of local people towards any possible future deployment of Hungarian peacekeeping troops. I wasn't aware that that was a likely possibility, but anyhow, that's what they are accused of doing. And this is not the first time that Hungary has been accused of some kind of subversion in this country. But it's certainly the most serious. And of course, it begs the question, what was this intelligence going to be used for? If this plot is real, if it's true, I mean, there's no reason to necessarily doubt it or deny it. The question is has been raised by Sir Ben Wallace, the former British defense minister, was this information going to be sent to Russia? There's no indication that it was. But nevertheless, Viktor Orban, the Hungarian leader, is a friend of Vladimir Putin's Frank Gardner in Kyiv.

[Oliver Conway]

And since we spoke to Frank, Hungary's foreign minister has said that it has expelled two Ukrainian diplomats. It's accused of working as spies in what looks like a tit for tat move. On Thursday morning, Robert Prevost was still a cardinal. A day later, he has celebrated his first mass as Pope Leo xiv. The service was held in the Sistine Chapel, where on Thursday afternoon he was elected as the new head of the Catholic Church. And this was what he told the cardinals at Mass today, through the ministry of Peter you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission. And I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the gospel. Our correspondent, Mark Loewen has been in Rome for the past few days. So what did he take away from the pope's first homily?

[Mark Loewen]

I think a very strong message of his desire to take the message of the church to the people. He said in his homily, there are contexts where it is not easy to preach the gospel and bear witness to truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. He talks about his commitment to a daily journey of conversion. So clearly a desire from the new Pope, Leo xiv, to go out to the people to preach and to be a kind of pastor, which is very much in line with his roots, having been a missionary and a pastor in Peru and very much kind of continuing that journey of being close to the people that he followed in the footsteps of with the late Pope Francis.

[Oliver Conway]

Now, he had been mentioned as a possible pope, but wasn't among the the front runners. Are we getting any more information about where he'll lead the church?

[Mark Loewen]

I think broadly in the same direction as Francis in terms of his outreach to the poor, he's seen as a kind of moderate, you know, keen on continuing that outreach to the peripheries of Catholicism. He may be a little bit less outgoing in terms of his moderate message on LGBT rights, for example, on, you know, potential ordination of women as deacons. You know, I don't think there's a sense that he's going to be kind of, you know, beating the drum in such an extrovert way, if you like, as Pope Francis on some social issues. You know, the late Argentine pontiff was, was, you know, known for his common touch. As one commentator put it to me yesterday, Pope Leo will bless babies, but I don't know if he's going to hug them in the same way as Francis did. I think, you know, for any pontiff to follow in that kind of very charismatic shoes of Francis would be difficult. But I think Leo will clearly try to, you know, tread his own path. But I think broadly speaking, he's going to be a voice of continuity. But also there'll be pressure on him as well to be a bridge builder with the other wings of the Catholic Church, the more traditional, perhaps more orthodox side of the Catholic Church, that that sometimes will come detractors towards Pope Francis.

[Oliver Conway]

Mark Lohan in Rome. And still to come on the global news podcast, we really don't know where.

[Mahesh Anand]

It all came from and moon might be able to tell us because it has been in Earth's backyard for four and a half billion years.

[Oliver Conway]

The rare moon dust causing excitement among scientists. On Thursday, India's army accused Pakistan of launching drones and missiles on three military bases which Pakistan denies. For its part, Pakistan has said India has brought the nuclear armed neighbours closer to a major conflict. With tensions still high, a BBC team has been to the Punch district in Indian administered Kashmir where at least 15 people have died in cross border firing. Davina Gupta reports.

[Davina Gupta]

I am in Srinagar in Indian administered Kashmir and all around me the city has plunged in darkness. The hotel I am at is also not using its emergency power backup. There is no movement on the streets and the entire city has fallen anxiously silent after a blackout was enforced by the authorities here. This blackout comes after the report from the Indian army which has claimed that Pakistan fired missiles and drones at military stations of Jammu and Udhampur which are in the same region, and Pathankot in the northern Indian state of Punjab. In this video from social media, locals can be heard shouting in Jammu, when the drones were being intercepted in the skies, the Indian army says there were no casualties and that the threat has been neutralized. For now, Pakistan has denied any involvement in this attack. But for those living near the border, incidents like these are only fuelling their fear. Earlier I visited the border town of Punch in Indian administered Kashmir. It is the worst hit region in the recent cross border shellings. 13 year old Vihan was leaving with his parents from here when the family claims their car was hit by an artillery shell from from Pakistan on Wednesday. Onlookers tried to take him to the hospital immediately. But unfortunately Vihan didn't survive. At the funeral, his mother is inconsolable, his father silent, performing the last rites of their only child. I speak to Vihan's uncle, Arun Kumar Singh.

[Mark Loewen]

He was their only son.

[Oliver Conway]

For them, their world is over. Civilians shouldn't be caught in this. This wound will never heal.

[Davina Gupta]

Just a few blocks away, 46 year old Mehta Tin lost his three storied home in the shelling. I go inside this dilapidated building. The stairs are filled with rubble that are pieces of stone, stone, brick, dust, mud, all mixed together. You can hear that how there's so much rubble that when I walk, it's cracking beneath my foot. On my right hand side I can see there's a big hole in the wall which used to be a window. And now the iron bars of that window are twisted. There are some utensils that have been torn apart. I can see curtains on the ground. There are also clothes and mattresses now. And this just shows how life changed for this family that was living here just in a matter of minutes. I asked Mehtab if he would consider leaving.

[Oliver Conway]

I know it's not safe, but where would I go? It's always us at the border who suffer.

[Davina Gupta]

Earlier this week, locals say Most of the 40,000 residents fled Punj, many on foot. Among them were Sufreen Akhtar. We couldn't even get our car. We walked for miles. I cried the whole night. There was so much shelling. For families like hers, the fear doesn't end with the sound of the last explosion. It lingers in the silence, in the rubble of their homes and in the uncertainty of when the next attack might come.

[Oliver Conway]

Davina Gupta. Well, that uncertainty has even disrupted cricket, a much loved sport in both India and Pakistan. The Indian Premier League is being suspended for a week while Pakistan is moving matches in its T20 league to the United Arab Emirates. Arunaje Mukherjee spoke to us from outside a cricket stadium in Delhi.

[Arunaje Mukherjee]

The IPL is one of the most lucrative league tournaments in the world of cricket. In fact, many people Say it's right up there with the NFL of the US or even the Premier League of England. It is very popular, just the kind of teams and the owners have always attracted a lot of attention. You know, you've got the likes of Shahrukh Khan, India's biggest Bollywood superstar, owning one of the teams. You've got Mukesh Ambani, one of the richest men in Asia, in the world, you know, owning one of the teams. So it's always attracted a lot of attention along with millions of viewers from around the world. And you have to also understand it attracts several foreign players as well who are currently present in the country, along with, you know, coaching staff or even commentators. So it certainly was a security concern which perhaps triggered this decision by the Board of Control for cricket in India. You know, last evening, that is Thursday, there was a cricket match that was being held for the IPL in the city of Dharamshala in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, which had to be abandoned because less than 200km away from that city, there were reports of missile and drone attacks in nearby cities, in neighboring states. So that really triggered the security concerns. We're also hearing that some overseas players are considering leaving the country. We don't know what's going to happen or what the fate of the overall IPL will be, you know, after the one week suspension period is over. Whether we'll see the game's resume presume will certainly be contingent on what the situation is between India and Pakistan.

[Oliver Conway]

Mukherjee in Delhi. It has been described as the world's most famous tree standing in a dramatic dip in the landscape along Hadrian's Wall in the north of England. The 150 year old Sycamore Gap Tree even featured in the 1991 Hollywood film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Now two men, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, have been convicted of illegally chopping it down. They had filmed themselves felling the tree. The BBC's Danny Savage is outside the court.

[Danny Savage]

That video footage of it being chopped down that night, one of them holding the phone as the other chops the tree down. It was filmed on Daniel Graham's phone. That's where the evidence was found. And as the prosecution said during their closing speech, they were the only two people in the world who had that video on their devices. So the evidence against them was damning. They filled themselves doing it. They made off with a large wedge from the tree which they cut out before they did the final cut. And they kept it as a souvenir. That's Never been found, though. But a picture of the wedge and the chainsaw were taken back at Daniel Graham's house later that night, yet he denied knowing anything about it. He said some mischief person who had access to his Range Rover had taken his car in the dead of night and then brought it back again a few hours later. It was a story that the jury just found beyond belief, and it certainly was. Neither of them showed any reaction as the verdicts came in today. They'll be sentenced at a later date. It'll be interesting to see what sentence they get, because the public anger over the devastation of the Sycamore Gap tree was huge. It was a massive story at the time, as it spread around the world, that this famous tree, which stood on its own and stood for over a hundred years, had been photographed by so many people, had starred in films. It was a landmark. Standing next to a UNESCO World Heritage Site at Hadrian's Wall, had just simply been chopped down overnight. Who would do such a thing? Why would they do it? A moronic mission. It was described in court and, you know, the jury deliberated for five hours, came back quite sort of understandably with a unanimous guilty verdict. But this was a huge police investigation. A lot of resources went into it to actually make sure that they could trace where these two individuals were, who was responsible. And it was nearly a month afterwards that both of them were arrested. So it took the time, really, for Northumbria police to track those vehicles, to track those phones, and to build the case against Graham and Carruthers, who have now been found guilty of doing a terrible thing, really. I mean, some people might go, it's just a tree. But it was far more than that. It was a landmark that people took great pleasure from the people who drive many miles to see it go and have a look at what was, by even their own admission from the defendants, the most famous tree in the world.

[Oliver Conway]

Danny Savage reporting. A major conservation charity, African Parks, has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The allegations were made by members of the indigenous Baca community against the rangers. The charity has a high profile here in Britain, as Prince Harry has been involved with it. Our Africa correspondent, Maenie Jones, is covering the story from Johannesburg. Despite commissioning an independent review into the actions of its rangers in the Republic of Congo, African Parks has not made the findings of the review public. Instead, it published a statement acknowledging that human rights abuses occurred in the Odzala Kokua national park, which it manages, but excluding details of the abuse Last year, a report by the British newspaper the Mail on Sunday included testimony from members of the Baca community who accused rangers working for African parks of beating, waterboarding and raping members of the community in order to stop them from accessing their ancestral forests. Miami Jones International Scientists have been handed some very rare material from China's space explorations. It is moon dust. Tiny fragments of rock samples, the first collected from the lunar surface. For about 50 years, one of the lucky researchers from the Open University in the UK carried the precious cargo home from Beijing in his hand luggage. Georgina Renard reports.

[Mahesh Anand]

These need to be carry very safely.

[Georgina Renard]

Professor Mahesh Anand has just been given something incredibly special. We asked him to record his reaction on his phone in China.

[Mahesh Anand]

We can't wait to open them and start working on them.

[Georgina Renard]

These very rare grains of moon dust are the first collected since 1976, brought to Earth by China's Chang' E5 space mission. He is the only researcher in the UK to be loaned these. Now he's brought them in his hand luggage from Beijing to Milton Keynes in England. Professor Mahesh Anand is now back home and the samples are safely in his lab. We're going to see them for the first time that they'll be shown in the uk. I'm Georgina.

[Mahesh Anand]

I'm Mahesh Anand and welcome to the Open University.

[Georgina Renard]

Thank you.

[Mahesh Anand]

They are very precious and we have to keep them in pristine conditions. That's why we are in this clean lab and that's why we had to put on the oral to minimize any potential contamination before we analyze them. So would you like to look at them?

[Georgina Renard]

I can't wait to. I can't quite believe what I'm holding here. It's a small vial, like a clear test tube, the size of my little finger. And at the bottom I can see a few dark grains. It's moon dust. And with this tiny amount, scientists can do a lot.

[Oliver Conway]

Oh, yes.

[Mahesh Anand]

So if I didn't tell you what it is, it might appear as dirt, but actually this is probably one of the most precious material that we can put our hands on. Much more precious than so called gold dust. It's enough to keep us busy for years to come because we can work with one tiny grain at a time.

[Georgina Renard]

Gases trapped inside the specks of dust will be analyzed by researcher James Malley using machines that work with extraterrestrial material.

[Oliver Conway]

What we're doing in this lab is to look specifically at the oxygen content and how it differs from planet to moon to asteroid and all the other bodies in the solar system. And with that information, we can further expand our knowledge of the solar system and contribute to future scientific discovery.

[Georgina Renard]

Until now, scientists had been using samples collected by the US and the Soviet Union decades ago. But in 2020, China sent its Chang' E 5 spacecraft to a totally unexplored place. A robotic arm drilled into Rock and 2kg came back to Earth.

[Mahesh Anand]

Every time you visit an area of the Moon, it's new, it has not been visited before. And that's why it is key to actually collect samples from as many different places on the Moon as possible. So we are hopeful that through these samples, we are going to learn a lot more about the Moon than we knew before.

[Georgina Renard]

And this latest scientific exchange is a reminder that the Moon is still a place that can bring nations together.

[Mahesh Anand]

The wonderful thing about planetary science is that we have to leave the Earth. And when we leave the Earth, we realize how precious our planet is. And also when you leave the Earth, you go into very challenging environment where we all are forced to work together.

[Oliver Conway]

Professor Mahesh Anand ending that report by Georgina Renard. And that is all from us for now, but the Global News podcast will be back very soon. This edition was mixed by Rebecca Miller and produced by Richard Hamilton. Our editors, Karen Martin. I'm Oliver Conway. Until next time, goodbye.