On the day that the new tower of the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona is to be blessed by the pope, a sculptor whose work is to be placed inside the new parts of the famous building has told FRANCE 24 that she's very excited to be a small part of it. French sculptor Béatrice Bizot has lived near Barcelona for over 20 years and has created a statue of the patron saint of pilgrims, Saint Roch, who was born in the French city of Montpellier. She says that seeing human beings capable of such a beautiful thing as the Sagrada Familia is incredible. 

In an interview with FRANCE 24, former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said US President Donald Trump's "effort to bring this war to an end has failed", warning that the US president "does not seem to be ready to change his approach to Russia". Kuleba added that he did not believe there was "a window for a diplomatic solution at this stage".

Peeling paint, rundown roundabouts and shuttered post offices: in recent years, local public services across the United Kingdom have been in steady decline. But in some communities, volunteers have decided to step in – filling the gaps where the state has fallen short. Our France 2 colleagues report from Yorkshire, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, June 10: British papers talk about the unrest in Belfast in the aftermath of a knife stabbing. Next: what does it mean to be a trillionaire? Elon Musk might soon find out. Also: Pope Leo met with Bad Bunny, but the Vatican says it won't be releasing the photos. Finally, donkeys enjoy new socks from Arsenal Football Club.

Pope Leo will bless the Sagrada Familia's soaring central Jesus Christ tower in Barcelona on Wednesday, ahead of a visit to the Canary Islands where he will focus on immigration. The Pope has received a rapturous reception during his visit to Spain where he on Sunday held an open-air mass with 1.5 million people.

François Picard is pleased to welcome Ulrike Franke, Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. According to Franke, the project's demise was "not a surprise to anybody." While acknowledging that Dassault was often perceived as "quite difficult to deal with," she argues that the deeper problem lay in a structural design flaw that brought together industrial rivals who "never really had the incentive to properly work together."

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday urged greater attention to mental health after hearing emotional testimonies from young people at a prayer vigil in Barcelona, including a woman who described surviving a suicide attempt. He called on public health systems to address the "invisible and widespread malaise" of depression and warned that mental well-being is increasingly under threat.

France and Germany said on Monday they had agreed to abandon a joint fighter jet programme due to disagreements between the companies involved, in a blow to European efforts to boost defence cooperation. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Jeanette Süß, Research Fellow, Study Committee on Franco-German Relations, explains that "France and Germany are characterised by totally different strategic cultures, totally different military cultures and also in their weapons systems".

Protesters on Tuesday set vehicles on fire and blocked several central roads in the Northern Ireland city of Belfast after police charged a Sudanese national suspected of violently stabbing another man in the street the night before. The attack was caught on video and prompted far-right figures to call for anti-migrant protests across the United Kingdom.

Pope Leo on June 9 arrived in Barcelona where he will celebrate mass in the Sagrada Familia Basilica and bless the new tower that has made it the world's tallest church. It was completed after 144 years spent under construction. The Pope's visit coincides with the 100th year of its architect's death, architect Antoni Gaudi. FRANCE 24's Eve Jackson went to Barcelona to learn more about one of the world's most famous architects.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed reports that he asked Roman Abramovich to pass on an offer of direct talks to Vladimir Putin. A Russian oligarch loyal to the Kremlin may be a surprise choice of messenger for Kyiv, but the former Chelsea owner has a history of acting as go-between since the start of Russia’s invasion.

The Nigerian army said on June 7 it freed 360 people abducted by Boko Haram in the northeastern part of the country. The operation, according to the army’s statement, was conducted in the Mandara mountains which form a part of the militant group’s stronghold. It resulted in the release of several people, including children, who had been abducted across different communities in Borno.

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, June 9: We look at how the Chinese papers are covering Xi Jinping's two-day visit to North Korea. The New York Times examines how Pyongyang has transformed its economy through repression and fortuity. In the UK, West Ham's billionaire former co-owner David Sullivan is accused of sexual coercion by several women, with his past as a porn baron also under scrutiny. Plus: actor Idris Elba explains why fans are not ready for a Black James Bond.

France and Germany have agreed to scrap a landmark project to build a next generation fighter jet. The move is a setback for European defense cooperation at a time when leaders are pushing for greater military unity, amid increasing tension with the United States.

The EU has invited Taliban representatives to Brussels for technical talks on deportations, which could take place before the summer. This despite worries that such talks could normalise the Taliban, on top of legal and human rights concerns about sending people back to the country. Critics say that by diplomatically engaging the Taliban, the EU is trading its soul for a migration deal.

French singer and actor Patrick Bruel will be held in police custody until Wednesday as investigators questioned him over allegations of sexual assault and rape involving at least a dozen women, prosecutors said, adding that two new rape complaints had recently been filed.

Seven Georgian nationals are due in court in Paris on Tuesday for the theft of rare works by Russian literary giants including Alexander Pushkin from prestigious French libraries, in a case prosecutors say formed part of a Europe-wide organised theft operation.

Russian strikes killed four people and wounded 10 others in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, according to local officials. The attack hit the city of Chuguiv, causing fires, damaging residential buildings and vehicles, and adding to a surge in civilian casualties amid intensified fighting in recent months.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he held a positive conversation with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Monday, signalling renewed efforts to advance diplomacy over the war with Russia. The call came as European leaders backed a proposed meeting between Zelensky and Vladimir Putin to seek a ceasefire.

Human rights groups are raising the alarm after the European Commission invited Taliban officials to Brussels to discuss migrant deportations. More than 80 groups are asking the European Commission to reverse course, saying that the move risks normalizing a regime that has banned girls from school, and barred women from much of public life. FRANCE 24's Monte Francis speaks with Fawzia Koofi, former Vice President of Afghanistan's National Assembly. She says that inviting the Taliban 'sends the wrong signal to anyone that is using power as a means of suppression'.