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 the 9th of 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 XIVs says he hopes the church can bring light to the dark nights of this world.

Nazi. the dark nights of this world. Nazi Germany officially surrendered late in the evening on the 8th of May 1945, so late in fact

that it was after midnight Moscow time and already May 9th. 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 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 Stephen Segal.

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 are trying to support.

These ideologists are trying to commend the whole country, the society, the people,

support those who are taking part in the special military operations.

We are proud of their bravery, of the will, of strength

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