Russia accused of 'widespread' use of chemical weapons

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
Episode: Russia Accused of 'Widespread' Use of Chemical Weapons
Release Date: July 4, 2025
Host: Paul Moss, BBC World Service

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I. Intense Russian Bombardment of Kyiv and Chemical Weapon Allegations

At the outset of the episode, host Paul Moss highlights the severe escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On the night of July 3rd, Moscow launched over 500 drones and ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv, resulting in the tragic loss of one life and injuring 26 others. The Ukrainian capital faced significant damage to its transport infrastructure amid "one of the worst" bombardments to date [00:00].

Notable Quotes:

• Andriy Sibiha, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister:
  “Absolutely horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv, one of the worst so far.” [02:00]

• Russian Defense Claims:
  “We struck using high precision long-range weapons targeting military installations.” [02:07]

Correspondent Paul Adams, present in Kyiv during the attacks, described the harrowing experience:
“We had wave after wave of drones... a thick pall of black smoke hung over parts of the city.” [02:07]

Amid these attacks, Russia faces accusations from Dutch and German intelligence agencies of deploying chemical weapons in Ukraine. Anna Holigan, a correspondent in The Hague, details the use of chloropicrine—a potent choking agent banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1925. According to Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports, over 9,000 chemical attacks have been carried out since the 2022 invasion, resulting in at least three direct fatalities [04:52].

Notable Quotes:

• Anna Holigan:
  “Chloropicrine can cause severe irritation and even death in enclosed spaces. Its use is a blatant violation of international law.” [05:34]

• Dutch Defense Minister:
  “We are calling for increased sanctions and excluding Russia from international bodies like the OPCW.” [05:47]

Russia has yet to respond to these new allegations, continuing to deny the use of chemical weapons despite historical accusations dating back to May 2024 [06:49].

II. Russia Officially Recognizes the Taliban Government in Afghanistan

In a significant geopolitical shift, Russia has become the first country to officially recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan. This move, while welcomed by ally China, has sparked condemnation from Afghan women's groups concerned about the Taliban's oppressive policies.

Notable Quotes:

• Dawood Azami, BBC Afghan Service:
  “Russia has maintained its embassy in Kabul, engaging in dialogues that eventually led to the official recognition of the Taliban regime.” [07:56]

• Afghan Women's Groups Representative:
  “Recognizing the Taliban is a reward for their oppressive policies against women, including bans on higher education and restrictions on employment.” [09:08]

Despite widespread criticism from human rights activists, approximately 20 countries have already established diplomatic relations with the Taliban, following Russia’s lead. The West remains hesitant, with the U.S. contingent on policy changes before extending recognition [10:01].

III. Trump's Ceasefire Proposal in Gaza: Hope Amidst Despair

Former President Donald Trump has proposed a ceasefire in Gaza, asserting that a resolution is imminent. However, the Palestinian militant group Hamas has taken a cautious stance, indicating they are "consulting with other factions before responding" [10:36].

Notable Quotes:

• Wera Davis, Jerusalem Correspondent:
  “The key for Hamas is a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops and a guarantee of a long-term peace agreement to prevent the resurgence of conflict.” [11:08]

• Public Sentiment in Israel:
  “Many Israelis are questioning the benefits of continued military engagement, weighing the economic strain and international reputation.” [12:29]

The ongoing violence in Gaza remains dire, with hundreds of Palestinians killed in the past week due to intensified Israeli airstrikes. Wera Davis reports that despite evacuation orders, nowhere in Gaza remains truly safe, underscoring the urgent need for a sustainable ceasefire [13:21].

IV. North Korean Defector's Daring Escape Across the DMZ

Celia Hatton reports on the remarkable escape of a North Korean defector who successfully navigated the perilous Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. The defector employed meticulous strategies, such as moving only at night and remaining immobile during daylight to avoid detection amidst millions of landmines [14:08].

Notable Quotes:

• Ella Bicknell, Asia Pacific Editor:
  “The defector took about 20 hours to traverse the 4 km no-man’s land, evading both surveillance and landmines.” [14:28]

• South Korean Military Spokesperson:
  “We assist defectors whenever possible, although such escapes are exceedingly rare due to the fortified nature of the border.” [15:37]

The new South Korean president has signaled a shift towards improved relations with the North, evident through initiatives like halting loudspeaker broadcasts across the border. This diplomatic easing may have contributed to the defector’s successful escape [16:23].

V. Bolivia's Lithium Mining Debate: Economic Gain vs. Environmental Preservation

Bolivia, home to one of the world's largest lithium reserves beneath the Salar de Uyuni salt flats, faces intense internal conflict over mining operations. Recent parliamentary debates erupted into chaos as protesters from mining regions like Potosi vehemently opposed major extraction deals with Chinese and Russian firms.

Notable Quotes:

• Alberto Perez Ramos, Potosi Civil Committee Leader:
  “These deals threaten local communities and the pristine environment of the salt flats. We demand fair conditions and protection of our natural resources.” [17:27]

• Bolivian Lawmaker:
  “The government's focus on profits overlooks the essential needs and environmental safety of our people.” [17:27]

In response to environmental and social concerns, a court previously halted two significant extraction agreements worth $2 billion. Despite protests, global lithium demand continues to pressure the Bolivian government to resume mining activities, reminiscent of the unrest that led to former President Evo Morales' resignation in 2019 [19:02].

VI. Kenyan Champion Advocates for Formal Human Milk Banks

Chilimo Njoroge, a Nairobi mother producing excess breast milk, has been informally donating to friends and family. Inspired by her experiences, she now urges the establishment of formal human milk banks in Kenya to ensure safe, regulated distribution.

Notable Quotes:

• Chilimo Njoroge:
  “I want to share my journey and help other mothers in the same situation by formalizing milk donation.” [19:36]

• Mary Mathenge, Lactation Expert:
  “Breast milk donation must be screened and regulated to ensure safety for all receiving infants.” [22:26]

Currently, Kenya has only one official human milk bank located at Nairobi's Pumwani Maternity Hospital, which restricts donations to mothers admitted to the facility. Esther Mogusu, Nairobi County Director of Nutrition, announced plans to expand and establish additional milk banks to support a broader community [22:00].

VII. Oasis Reunion Concert: A Triumphant Return After 16 Years

Concluding the episode on a lighter note, the podcast covers the highly anticipated reunion of the iconic band Oasis in Cardiff. Fans flocked to the venue, eager to witness the brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher perform together for the first time in over a decade.

Notable Quotes:

• Liam Gallagher:
  “Honestly, I think I'll just be like, giddy as a school kid again.” [00:35]

• Hugh Thomas, Concert Reporter:
  “The anticipation here is unmatched, even surpassing that of major artists like Taylor Swift. Fans have been camping out for nights, hoping to be part of this historic moment.” [24:33]

Despite past tensions and the Gallagher brothers' notorious disagreements, the current atmosphere at the concert is one of generosity and excitement, with the band offering VIP upgrades to dedicated fans. The performance is expected to not only rekindle nostalgia but also redefine the dynamic between the band members on stage [24:22].

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Contact & Feedback:
Listeners are encouraged to share their thoughts and comments on the topics covered by emailing [e-mail] or engaging via XBCWorldService using the hashtag #globalnewspod.

Production Credits:
Mixed by Jack Graysmark
Produced by David Lewis and Steven Jensen
Edited by Karen Martin

Host:
Paul Moss

Next edition of the Global News Podcast will be available soon. Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage of the world's most pressing issues.

Transcript

[Paul Moss]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Paul Moss and at 13 hours GMT on Friday the 4th of July. These are our main stories. Another night of heavy Russian bombardment of Kyiv. Now Moscow is accused of using chemical weapons thousands of times in Ukraine. Also in this podcast, there's a ceasefire on the horizon in Gaza. At least Donald Trump thinks so. Tips on how to escape from North Korea.

[Paul Adams]

And honestly I, I think I'll just be like giddy as a school kid again, man. Like to be honest, like it'll just transport me back like 20 years, like instantly. Right.

[Paul Moss]

The wait is almost over. Oasis are back and some fans are pretty excited. The sounds from Kyiv on Thursday night. Anti aircraft fire as the city's defenders try desperately to bring down some of more than 500 drones which were launched at Ukraine's capital. One person was killed and 26 others injured by the overnight attacks. And some of the city's transport infrastructure was damaged. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha described the attack in a social media post on Friday morning. Absolutely horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv, one of the worst so far. Hundreds of Russian drones and ballistic missiles rain down on the Ukrainian capital. And right after Putin spoke with President Trump. He does it on purpose. Enough of waiting. Putin clearly shows his complete disregard for the United States and everyone who has called for an end to the war. Ukraine's Foreign minister. For its part, Russia claimed these were military targets. It struck using high precision long range weapons. Well, our correspondent Paul Adams was in, in Kyiv throughout last night's bombardment, had described to me what he witnessed.

[Paul Adams]

We had wave after wave of drones. We could hear them coming overhead and then occasional large explosions, presumably from the interceptions of other missiles crews and ballistic missiles. It was a familiar story. We woke up this morning to a thick pall of black smoke which hung over parts of the city and a really acrid smell which is only really just started to dissipate. But as you've heard from the Foreign Minister Andre Sibiha, there is a feeling that this once again underlines that Vladimir Putin, who spoke at length to Donald Trump yesterday, is not serious about ending this war. And judging by the tone of Mr. Trump's comments after that call, he appears to be losing patience with Vladimir Putin. Although with Donald Trump it's always a little hard to tell.

[Paul Moss]

And Donald Trump has also indicated they may well be cutting anti missile defense supplies to Ukraine. President Zelensky, we're told, hopes to speak to Donald Trump about this on Friday. Is there anything he can say that may change the President's mind on this?

[Paul Adams]

Well, yes, we think that that call could happen as early as today. It has not been confirmed as far as I'm aware, but certainly President Zelensky will want clarification because it is still not clear exactly what the Pentagon is doing with this pause in the supply of military equipment. We don't quite know what specific items of equipment it refers to, although there's a general belief that it does apply to Patriot missiles and other key air defense components. And we also don't know how long it's scheduled to last for. So when they do speak, that will certainly be uppermost in President Zelenskyy's mind. And of course, he will cite the evidence of what happened overnight as proof that Ukraine needs as much air defense as it can possibly get if it is to withstand these attacks. And that in his words. And he put out a statement a short time ago, more pressure is needed. He said there must be sanctions and other consequences targeting Russia's economy, their profits, their infrastructure. He said that is the only way to bring about real rapid change. And he ended his statement by saying, this depends on our partners above all the United States.

[Paul Moss]

Paul Adams, we heard there what's become a rather common disagreement when it comes to Ukraine. Russia insisting it's attacked only military targets. Targets the wreckage of residential apartment blocks suggesting otherwise. But Russia has also been accused of increasingly using chemical weapons. In Ukraine, the Dutch and German intelligence agencies have issued a joint statement saying Moscow had deployed a wide range of chemical weapons across the country. A correspondent in the Hague, Anna Holigan, told me first what kind of chemical weapons the new report was referring to.

[Anna Holigan]

This is the choking agent chloropicrine. It's a pungent, tear inducing odor, can cause irritation of lungs, eyes and skin, and vomiting and nausea can also be deadly in enclosed spaces. It was widely used during World War I, and Dutch intelligence said the chemical is being dropped from Russian drones to force Ukrainian soldiers out of the trenches so they can be shot. And according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Russia has carried out more than 9,000 of these chemical weapons attacks on Ukrainian troops since the start of the full scale invasion in 2022. At least three deaths, they say have been directly attributed by Ukraine to exposure to chemical weapons.

[Paul Moss]

Using chemical weapons is against international law, in fact, laws which date right the way back to 1925. So what do the Dutch and German authorities say should happen in response to what they allege is an infringement of this?

[Anna Holigan]

Well, exactly. And Russia is a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the use of this asphyxiating substance under all circumstances. So European intelligence officials are afraid that Russia's chemical weapons use is part of a larger scale intensification of chemical weapons production and that Russian officials are issuing explicit instructions to soldiers to use this kind of toxic substance on the battlefield. Russian chemical weapons use is truly part of a large scale program rather than some ad hoc tinkering. This is according to the head of the Dutch military intelligence. So the Dutch Defense Minister has called on Western countries to increase pressure on Russia, including by looking at more sanctions and specifically not allowing Russia to participate in international bodies like the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is based here in the Hague.

[Paul Moss]

Any reaction to all these allegations from Russia, I mean, both the new ones and indeed the long standing ones about using chemical weapons?

[Anna Holigan]

Well, not yet. So the US did accuse Moscow of using this chemical back in May 2024, and at the time the Kremlin said it was a baseless allegation. It's already known that Russia uses tear gas in Ukraine. The Dutch agencies have confirmed the use of this much stronger chemical is an even more serious violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. And of course, it comes alongside the news that Russia appears to be continuing to make gains on the battlefield, despite these international efforts towards Pe.

[Paul Moss]

Anna Hooligan youn might expect Russia to be the most implacable foe of Afghanistan's Taliban regime. Back when it was in the old Soviet Union, Moscow's forces lost more than 15,000 troops fighting the Mujahideen, many of whom would go on to join the Taliban. And yet Russia has become the first country to give the Taliban regime official recognition. The move's been welcomed by Russia's ally China, but condemned by Afghan women's groups. I spoke about this with Dawood azami from the BBC's Afghan Service and asked him first why Russia had taken this step.

[Dawood Azami]

There's a bit of history, as you rightly said. Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in the 1980s, but when the US and NATO invaded Afghanistan in 2001. So in the first decade of the US and NATO war in Afghanistan, Russia was supporting the US side. But in the second decade of the US involvement in Afghanistan, Russia made links with the Taliban and their agenda became one which was to expel the US and NATO forces from Afghanistan. So the relationship started around 15 years ago. But when the Taliban got power In Afghanistan in August 2021, Russia was one of those countries that did not close its embassy in Kabul. China was another one. A number of other regional countries also kept their embassies open. So they were talking for the past almost four years. The Russian side removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations in April this year. And now they have recognized the Taliban government officially as the government of Afghanistan. And Russia, by the way, is the only country and the first country which has done so.

[Paul Moss]

And as I mentioned, women's groups have already expressed their concerns about this. What are they saying?

[Dawood Azami]

The women groups are not happy because of the Taliban's policy. They say that it is a reward to the Taliban. The Taliban government has banned girls from getting higher education. They have imposed restrictions on women to work in certain places. So for that reason, women rights activists and human rights activists have been campaigning around the world asking countries not to recognize the Taliban government.

[Paul Adams]

And.

[Dawood Azami]

And the Taliban government does not have the seat of Afghanistan at the UN and that's why it's a symbolic gesture and important for the Taliban government. And the Taliban government hopes that it will open the door for recognition by other countries.

[Paul Moss]

And what are the chances of that happening, given, as you suggested, that women's groups and indeed plenty of other human rights groups are saying they don't want to see this regime given official recognition?

[Dawood Azami]

Well, around 20 countries have their embassies in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan at the moment, and more than 20 countries have accepted the Taliban government's diplomats in their capitals. So China, in fact, was the first country which accepted the Taliban government's ambassador last year. But Russia is the first country that has recognized the Taliban government. So it is expected that other countries will recognize the Taliban government. But the west, especially the US has said that it is not recognizing the Taliban unless it changes its policies.

[Paul Moss]

Dawood azami from the BBC's Afghan service, Donald Trump has called it a final proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. And with the President's customary insistence that matters will be sorted out quickly, Mr. Trump promised we'd know within 24 hours whether Hamas has accepted the proposal. But the Palestinian militant group itself said on Friday only that it's consulting with other factions before responding. Our correspondent, Wera Davis is in Jerusalem. I asked him first what was in the proposed deal.

[Wera Davis]

We don't know exactly for sure, and perhaps that's no bad thing because there haven't been too many leaks. But what we have seen does suggest that it is fairly comprehensive. The key things for Hamas, of course, the Israelis, etcetera, Have already accepted the main proposals. But the key thing for Hamas is the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops in the event of a cease fire. And perhaps even more important than that is that after the ceasefire expires in 60 days time, that there should be a guarantee of a long term peace agreement that, you know, not a return to war as we saw after the last ceasefire broke down in March. And that's really the key thing for Hamas to be crude about it. They don't want to set free all of their bargaining chips, the hostages, if at the end of the day Israel is just going to return to war. So those are the kind of guarantees that Hamas will be looking for. But there is intense pressure on Hamas, on the Israeli government. I've been at a protest today in Tel Aviv, actually, to mark July the fourth outside the American consulate, where families of the Israeli hostages are appealing over the head of Benjamin Netanyahu to Donald Trump to make the deal. But in this case, make the peace deal, make the ceasefire deal.

[Paul Moss]

You will have seen so many peace proposals come and go. Either they're not agreed on or they're agreed on and then they fall apart. Without wishing to be too cynical, is there any reason for hope this time?

[Wera Davis]

I think there is both sides, Palestinians and Israelis. Certainly the public have had enough. This is 21 months of war, 57,000 dead Palestinians. The Israeli military campaign has intensified in the last week or so, but also on the Israeli side, you know, many Israelis are wondering what is left in it for them? Have they achieved as much militarily as they can. The Israeli economy has suffered during this war and also it's pretty clear that Israel's international standing has taken a bit of a battering as well. So there is impetus and pressure from both for a long term ceasefire, not just the 60 days, but something that lasts much longer.

[Paul Moss]

You mentioned the biggest concern for Hamas is to see a permanent end to this fighting. They want to see particularly an end to the airstrikes on Gaza. What is the situation there at the moment? We're told hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the past week alone.

[Wera Davis]

Oh, absolutely. Israel has quite deliberately stepped up its military campaign across the Gaza Strip. There's been an unprecedented evacuation order for Palestinians to go to safe areas. But nowhere really is safe in Gaza, such as the UN and hundreds of people have been killed. And even last night and into this morning, there have been more Israeli airstrikes over Gaza.

[Paul Moss]

We're at Davis in Jerusalem. Still to come in this podcast, at.

[Celia Hatton]

The peak of my pumping journey with my daughter, I had filled the deep freezer. I had also filled the freezer that's connected to the fridge and I had some milk in my sister's deep freezer.

[Paul Moss]

We hear from a Kenyan champion, provider of breast milk.

[Paul Adams]

Foreign.

[Paul Moss]

It'S one of the most fortified borders in the world. The no Man's Land between North and South Korea has heavily armed guards on both sides, not to mention landmines. And yet a North Korean defector has managed to escape across this frontier. So how did he do it? Asia Pacific editor Celia Hatton explained to me.

[Ella Bicknell]

The South Korean military say that they were watching for some time. They could detect some movement. And they say this map was very, very smart. He only moved at night. He would stay very, very still during the day, and then he would just ease his way very slowly across this no Man's land. He had to be very, very careful, because if he'd been spotted by the North Koreans, he would have been shot. He also had to avoid landmines. There's around 2 million mines stretched across this border, this no Man's land, as you said, which is about 4 km wide. So eventually, they tracked him to a shall and made contact with him and told them that they were the South Korean military. And then they then helped guide him out of this no Man's land into the safety of South Korean territory. It took about 20 hours to help him make his way through the mines and to avoid any detection by the North Koreans.

[Paul Moss]

How common is it for that to happen, for the South Korean border guards to actually get involved in helping a North Korean escape?

[Ella Bicknell]

They help when they can because they want to try to help North Korean defectors to cross over safely. I will say that a lot of North Koreans used to cross the border into China, which was at one point really, really porous and actually not that difficult to cross. Some people would cross back and forth several times a week. That all ended with the COVID pandemic, and North Korea really sealed off that border. And so anyone wanting to escape out of North Korea now either has to do it by boat, and we've seen that happen a couple of times in the past year or by land. And that's really difficult. The last time somebody was able to do it was last August. So it's an incredibly difficult operation.

[Paul Moss]

The new South Korean president is supposed to want better relations with the North. I wonder if there's been any sign of that yet.

[Ella Bicknell]

Yeah, he's already stopped some loudspeaker broadcasts being made across the borders. So under the previous president, who was much more right wing, there were huge loudspeakers who would send messages across into North Korea. That really angered the North Koreans and actually There's a there's a theory out there that this man who crossed the border did so because the broadcast stopped and maybe he detected that tensions had gone down a little bit and he thought it would be a good time to cross.

[Paul Moss]

CELIA hatton, Essential for the batteries powering electric vehicles, smartphones, and also for renewable energy storage, lithium has become one of the world's most sought after resources. And Bolivia is home to one of the largest known lithium reserves, found mainly beneath the beautiful and expansive Salar de Uyuni salt flats. But Bolivians are split between the economic promise of mining over disrupting this unique natural wonder. The tension was on full display during a heated debate in the Bolivian Parliament on Thursday. Ella Bicknell reports.

[Seyda Swale]

Last month, a court ruled to pause two major extraction deals with Chinese and Russian firms, investments worth a projected $2 billion for Bolivia. On Thursday, the Congress in La Paz was debating whether to fast track the proposals when the session quickly descended into chaos. Shouts and screams first came from protesters in the congressional gallery. Then lawmakers began pushing, shouting and throwing water and stacks of paper at congressional leaders, even yanking umbrellas from the bench. Cameras captured the moment. A House member came up behind opposition lawmaker Maria Salazar as she addressed the room, aggressively placing a hand over her mouth to stop her from speaking. Many protesters have traveled from Potosi, near the Salar de Uyuni salt flats and a huge lithium reserve. Alberto Perez Ramos, who leads Potosi's civil committee, says the deals won't benefit local communities and risk serious environmental harm. Speaking to journalists, he said he wants conditions that mean local people near the salt flats can have a dignified life. He says they lack essential resources, water and face contamination. He added that the government is not interested and only cares about its pockets. In 2019, protests over royalty payments in Potosi turned violent with roadblocks and explosives, unrest that contributed to the resignation of then President Evo Morales. But with global demand for lithium soaring, the controversy is far from over.

[Paul Moss]

ELLA bicknell, the story now of Kenyan Chilimo Chirogi, a woman who, on becoming a mother, knew she was producing more breast milk than her baby needed. So with milk to spare, she joined a group of women who donated milk to close friends and family. Now Chelimo is calling for her country to create a human milk bank where women like her can donate milk to be safely screened and shared with families in need. Seyda Swale met her and sent us this report from Nairobi.

[Chilimo Njoroge]

Chilimon Njoroge is closing her freezer for the last time. It's been nearly A year since she started donating breast milk, she's known to some as the liquid gold angel.

[Celia Hatton]

Today is my last breast milk donation. I have been doing this for the last eight or so months, donating breast milk to other moms, to other families.

[Chilimo Njoroge]

Chelimo is what doctors call an oversupplier. She produces far more milk than her baby needs. Her solution? Give it away.

[Hugh Thomas]

Come in. Hi, son.

[Celia Hatton]

Hey, Liz. Welcome. Thank you.

[Chilimo Njoroge]

On this final day, she's handing over 14 liters to her friend Marianne.

[Celia Hatton]

I saw Chalimo's tiktoks of her storing milk in the freezer. I was like, oh, wow. So I just reached out easily on text like, hi, hi. I need milk. That was it.

[Chilimo Njoroge]

The two women have been friends for years, but this act has deepened their bond. Chelimo's own breastfeeding journey wasn't always easy.

[Celia Hatton]

It was very difficult to find a latch for my son. And I had to look for breastfeeding tools, nipple shield. And that's how we started. I started my breastfeeding journey.

[Chilimo Njoroge]

Soon the milk kept coming so much. She filled three freezers.

[Celia Hatton]

At the peak of my pumping journey with my daughter, I had filled the deep freezer. I had also filled the freezer that's connected to the fridge. And I had some milk in my sister's deep freezer.

[Chilimo Njoroge]

Enough, she says, to feed 50 babies in a neonatal unit if she could donate it formally.

[Celia Hatton]

I wanted to share my journey, to share my struggles that were many struggles related to breastfeeding. Auntie. To share my joys in breastfeeding and at the same time listen to other mums that were in the same situation as me.

[Chilimo Njoroge]

But while Chelimu is helping families informally, Kenya only has one official human milk bank. Based in Nairobi's Pumuane Maternity Hospital, it only accepts donations from mothers admitted to the hospital. Esther Mogusu is the Nairobi County Director of nutrition.

[Celia Hatton]

We are moving into another phase where we expand the capacity of Pumwani Maternity Hospital to be a center of excellence. And we're also going to establish two more human milk banks in the city so that we can be able to support other babies beyond the hospital.

[Chilimo Njoroge]

Mary Mathenge has worked in lactation for more than 40 years. She says breast milk donation must be formalized, screened, tracked and regulated.

[Celia Hatton]

Any baby can receive human milk from any human being, and anything that can be passed through blood can also be passed through breast milk. The mother must be tested for a few things. One, hiv, then hepatitis B and hepatitis C, because that can be transmitted through breast milk.

[Chilimo Njoroge]

Back in her kitchen Chilimo has packed the last of her donations. She even uses some leftover milk for baby's baths, said to help soothe the skin.

[Dawood Azami]

Good girl.

[Celia Hatton]

This is not just a Chilimo journey. There are many moms out there that want to donate breast milk because they are over suppliers. But we also have many, many other moms that want to receive breast milk. They want to collect breast milk for their children.

[Paul Moss]

Seyda Swale reporting there. Their most famous song begins with the words, today's gonna be the day. And Friday is the day that Oasis will appear on stage for the first time in 16 years. Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher appear to have moved on from a falling out, which was spectacular even by the standards of rock band rows. They're beginning a world tour in the Welsh capital city Cardiff, and as we record this podcast, plenty of fans have already gathered at the venue.

[Paul Adams]

Honestly, I think I'll just be like, giddy as a school kid again, man. To be honest, it'll just Transport me back 20 years instantly.

[Hugh Thomas]

Right?

[Celia Hatton]

I don't know yet, honestly. I think I will be very excited and I will be happy, but I think I will realize it when it's over.

[Paul Adams]

I've thought about it a lot.

[Dawood Azami]

I don't know.

[Paul Adams]

I'm thinking about, what are they going to play first? What's the opening song going to be? How am I going to feel? The Emotions. I've been a fan since 1994.

[Paul Moss]

There's been fierce competition for tickets to tonight's concert, indeed for any of the dates on the Comeback tour. Our reporter Hugh Thomas has been among the crowds of lucky fans who got one.

[Hugh Thomas]

There were some people queuing to get in here. They camped out for a couple of nights. They were moved on earlier, not because they were in the way, but they've actually been given a VIP upgrade by the band so they can get inside not just first, but into a better area than what they had paid for. The generosity of the band there. Getting rid of that reputation for being a bit tight, they're saying. Actually, we're splashing out, we're helping these fans not just to get in first, but to have a better night of it as well. So people have been queuing up for a couple of nights. The merch sounds doing well, but also expecting tens of thousands of more people to flood into Cardiff over the coming hours for tonight's concert. That big reunion. Wondering just what the dynamic will be like between the Gallagher brothers once they're on stage, but also the impact it's having on people's nostalgia. You're seeing people queuing up here. Some people probably weren't born when the Gallaghers were in their prime and lots of mums and dads, perhaps, who remember them and are bringing the family along as well. So Cardiff is going to be bouncing tonight. The big question, what are they going to open with? What's the set list going to be like? Are they just going to belt out the bangers? And also how much are people in Cardiff going to be going to be the first to hear and to see that relationship on stage? People wondering just what it'll be like, how the rehearsals have gone, just how big a show they can anticipate. The build up, though, is unlike anything that anyone's experienced here in Cardiff. A stadium manager saying this is more anticipated behind this gig than there was even behind Taylor Swift, who performed in the city last year. All the rumours, all the talk about, would they, won't they reunite? Just how much will they get along for now, the tens of thousands coming to the city today, hoping that they put on a great show as a result.

[Paul Moss]

Hugh Thomas. And that's all from us for now. But there'll be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast, all the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. you can also find us on XBCWorldService. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Jack Graysmark and the producers were David Lewis and Steven Jensen. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Paul Moss. Until next time.

[Wera Davis]

Goodbye.