US launches fresh attacks on Iran

Summary

Podcast Summary: Global News Podcast – "US launches fresh attacks on Iran"

Host: Alex Ritson, BBC World Service
Date: June 11, 2026

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Overview

This episode of the Global News Podcast delivers urgent international news, with a focus on escalating US-Iran tensions following renewed American airstrikes on Iranian targets. Additional segments include mounting controversy ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Bill Gates' testimony about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, civil unrest in Northern Ireland, the repatriation of Nigerians from South Africa, and the Pope's visit to Barcelona to bless the Sagrada Familia’s newly completed spire.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US Launches Fresh Attacks on Iran

Timestamps: 01:08–06:56

• The US military conducted strikes targeting Iranian military assets after President Trump expressed frustration with slow-moving peace talks.
• US Central Command focused on Iranian military surveillance, communications, and air defense systems.
• Iran retaliated by launching strikes against US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, and declared the Strait of Hormuz "completely closed" to vessels.
• Conflicting narratives emerged: while Iran claimed the Strait was closed, US Central Command insisted it was open for commercial traffic excluding Iranian entry/exit.
• President Trump claimed a 'secret mission' to export 100 million barrels of oil had succeeded, a claim met with skepticism.
• Political pressure mounts on President Trump as US inflation, particularly gas prices, continues to rise. Public opinion is turning against US involvement in the conflict.
• The once-promising ceasefire (since April) hangs in the balance due to nightly escalations and ambiguity about who is provoking whom.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary (via Thomas Morgan):
    "If they needed to negotiate with bombs, they would negotiate with bombs." (03:00)
  • Thomas Morgan, Correspondent:
    "I think we're in this constant state of back and forth, really, not only in terms of who shoots first, but also a war of words, especially on social media." (03:35)
    "The US are desperate for a deal to be done... but the evidence doesn't seem to show as much, really, as these violent escalations keep happening every night since Monday." (04:30)
  • Alex Ritson, Host:
    "You mentioned the Strait of Hormuz. Is it open? Is it closed?" (05:52)
  • Thomas Morgan:
    "The reality is that amount of oil would only be enough to sustain the world for one day... It’s difficult to verify whether or not that has actually happened." (06:29)

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2. FIFA World Cup 2026: Controversies and Challenges

Timestamps: 06:56–10:34

• The World Cup, now the largest with 48 teams across the US, Canada, and Mexico, is overshadowed by sky-high ticket prices, revoked tickets for Iranian fans, and visa issues for officials.
• Somali referee Omar Artan was barred from the US despite official credentials, sparking FIFA criticism.
• FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the organization's ability to resolve controversies, but insisted they could not override national governments' decisions.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Janice (Mexico fan):
    "Come on. The prices are insane. Insane. I can tell you. It's not affordable for all the Mexican population. We have people that cannot afford even $1,000 tickets. It's sad and I could say frustrating because it's all World Cup." (08:15)
  • Omar Artan, Somali referee (translated):
    "FIFA supported me throughout my ordeal... We should all be proud to be Somali." (08:56)
  • Gianni Infantino, FIFA President:
    "We’re not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces." (09:29–09:39)
• The tournament is seen as politically charged, given its scale, economic stakes, and logistical complexities.

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3. Bill Gates Grilled Over Jeffrey Epstein Ties

Timestamps: 10:34–14:11

• Bill Gates testifies voluntarily before a US congressional committee on his associations with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
• Gates expressed regret for his connection and denied witnessing or participating in any criminal conduct.
• The committee is investigating both government management of the Epstein files and the range of high-profile associates.
• The hearings have caused reputational harm for several prominent figures, though no criminal charges have resulted.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Bill Gates:
    "I'm glad to be here voluntarily to testify to help with the committee's work... I hope my testimony is helpful to the important work of the committee to find justice for the victims." (10:55–11:09)
  • Bernd Debusman, North America Correspondent:
    "There's been a lot of questions about Gates' relationship with Epstein, which began well after Epstein had already been convicted of crimes... Gates has acknowledged, for example, that Epstein was aware of infidelity in his marriage, which he's acknowledged, and was kind of using it to leverage to put pressure on him personally." (11:22–12:19)

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4. Ongoing Unrest in Northern Ireland

Timestamps: 17:16–22:45

• Violence breaks out for the second night in Belfast, triggered by a stabbing involving individuals of different nationalities.
• Mobs have targeted migrant families, with petrol bombs thrown and homes set alight. Many families, especially Sudanese refugees, now shelter in church buildings.
• Police responded with riot gear, armored vehicles, and water cannons to stop crowds from reaching a hotel housing asylum seekers.
• Residents recall the atmosphere and scenes reminiscent of the "bad old days" of Northern Ireland’s Troubles.
• Migrant community members and volunteers emphasize humanitarian distress.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Twasul Mohammed, community volunteer:
    "We went into the houses and evacuated the families... Most of the families were Sudanese. They were terrified. Kids were crying, women were crying. These are people who recently fled the war in Sudan too. They are seeing the same things again and living the same experiences." (18:59)
  • Dan Johnson, BBC Correspondent:
    "Those demonstrators, those rioters, seemed to have very little regard to actually who was in that house. We know there were families who were sheltering upstairs as their house was starting to burn." (21:27)

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5. Nigeria and Other African Nations Repatriate Citizens from South Africa

Timestamps: 22:45–24:54

• In response to violent anti-immigrant protests, Nigeria and other African nations repatriate nationals from South Africa.
• The Nigerian Consul General described migrants as scapegoats, with their share of the population too small to plausibly cause systemic issues.
• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced new courts for rapid deportation and warned citizens not to take justice into their own hands.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Nigerian returnee:
    "I'm leaving because of the condition they give us here in South Africa. They say we must leave on before 30th. And the way they are killing people, killing our brothers, I have not seen." (23:31)
  • Mrs. Nikinawa Okeguchi, Nigerian Consul General:
    "Migrants are basically being scapegoated. 7 to 8% of a population cannot be the problem or cannot be blamed for broken systems in education, health care, policing, unemployment." (24:02)

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6. Pope's Blessing of Sagrada Familia’s Jesus Christ Tower in Barcelona

Timestamps: 24:54–28:11

• On the 100th anniversary of the architect Antoni Gaudi’s death, tens of thousands gathered at the Sagrada Familia Basilica for the Pope's blessing of its new spire.
• The event was significant but did not draw the same crowds as recent sporting celebrations, reflecting the city’s changing cultural priorities.
• The completion marks a milestone in a project ongoing for more than a century.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Pope Leo (translated):
    "We are all the living stones of this edifice, which has Christ as its foundation." (25:39)
  • Stephen Bergin, Journalist:
    "It's a major stage... the skyline, it's reached its maximum height. The change is actually... quite dramatic. You now see the Sagrada Familia from all sorts of points of the city where you perhaps didn't notice it before." (27:02)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On the Iran conflict:
  "They've been tap, tap, tapping. You can see when someone's trying to tap, tap, tap on a deal. Instead, they're going to have tap, tap, tap bombs dropping..."
  — Thomas Morgan quoting Trump and his Defense Secretary (02:44–02:51)

• On World Cup ticket prices:
  "Come on. The prices are insane. Insane. I can tell you. It's not affordable for all the Mexican population."
  — Janice, Mexican football fan (08:15)

• Bill Gates on Epstein:
  "He believes he should have never met Epstein in the first place, but that he never witnessed any sort of criminal conduct..."
  — Bernd Debusman, North America Correspondent (11:22)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• US-Iran Conflict: 01:08–06:56
• FIFA World Cup Controversy: 06:56–10:34
• Bill Gates-Epstein Hearings: 10:34–14:11
• Belfast Migrant Unrest: 17:16–22:45
• Nigeria/South Africa Migration: 22:45–24:54
• Sagrada Familia Blessing: 24:54–28:11

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Tone and Language

The coverage is urgent, clear, and impartial, echoing the BBC’s neutral and fact-heavy style. Quotes from affected individuals and correspondents reinforce a sense of immediacy and depth, providing a window into unfolding human and geopolitical dramas.

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This summary captures the critical events covered in this episode, providing a comprehensive and engaging account for listeners seeking the latest global headlines and context.

Transcript

[Alex Ritson]

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[Alex Ritson]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Alex Ritson and in the early hours of Thursday, June 11th, these are our main stories. The US military strikes multiple targets in Iran after President Trump expresses exasperation with peace talks. The head of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has defended the organization of the football World Cup. On the eve of the opening ceremony, rioters clashed with police for a second night near a migrant hotel in Northern Ireland. Also in this podcast I was foolish

[Thomas Morgan]

to spend time with him.

[Alex Ritson]

I was one of many people who

[Thomas Morgan]

regret ever knowing him.

[Alex Ritson]

Bill Gates is grilled by US Lawmakers over his connections with the dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The U.S. military has carried out a wave of fresh strikes on Iran after President Trump said American forces would hit the country hard. U.S. central Command said the attacks had targeted military surveillance capabilities, communications systems and air defense sites across Iran. But both sides have been exchanging fire this week after the downing of a US Helicopter on Monday. Hours before the latest strikes, President Trump accused Tehran of taking too long to sign a peace deal, while the Iranian Foreign ministry accused the US of damaging the diplomatic process through contradictory messages. Mr. Trump's position was echoed by his defense secretary, Pete Hexseth, as President Trump

[Thomas Morgan]

said, they've been tap, tap, tapping. You can see when someone's trying to tap, tap, tap on a deal.

[Bernd Debusman]

Instead, they're going to have tap, tap,

[Thomas Morgan]

tap bombs dropping on key facilities in Iran from the United States of America. And that's not because we want to restart anything we don't have to restart. It's because we are. The War Department is prepared to set the terms to ensure that we get the kind of deal President Trump expects.

[Alex Ritson]

Tehran says it responded to the latest attacks by launching strikes of its own and has declared the Strait of Hormuz completely closed to all vessels following the US Strikes. The latest tit for tat attacks leave the fragile ceasefire that's been in place place since early April hanging in the balance. I heard more from our correspondent in Washington, Thomas Morgan.

[Thomas Morgan]

Well, he mentioned there the US Say that they've concluded their attacks, but we understand that the irgc, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, have responded by attacking US Bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, describing it as punishment for the attacks early in the evening in southern attack. Now, the U.S. central Command said the strikes tonight were due to the unwarranted and continued aggression shown by Iran. As I mentioned, they were striking areas in the southern area of the country near the Strait of Hormuz, targeting coastal post and police command, but also areas around Tehran as well. Really? You heard a clip there from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He also said that if they needed to negotiate with bombs, they would negotiate with bombs. The US and that's certainly what has happened tonight. I think we're in this constant state of back and forth, really, not only in terms of who shoots first, but also a war of words, especially on social media. Who did attack first, who hasn't attacked? I mean, earlier this evening, Iran had said that they'd attacked a US Warship and the Strait of Hormuz was completely closed. Then the US Central Command issued posts on social media saying that, in fact, none of their warships had been fired upon and the strait was open to commercial ships as long as they weren't going in and out of Iran. Clearly trying to posture and say, look, we are in control here. I think in reality, reality, you know, the US Are desperate for a deal to be done. President Trump is desperate for a deal to be signed, a peace agreement. He keeps saying that that deal is close, but the evidence doesn't seem to show as much, really, as these violent escalations keep happening every night since Monday. I think the question for Donald Trump is how long is he going to continue like this? Well, he might have to continue until the Iranians give in. And they certainly haven't shown any sign of that. But the press pressure is on him because not only in terms of trying to make sure that he can step up to Iran, but also at home here, the cost of living is rising at its fastest rate here in three years. Gas prices are high and opinion polls are suggesting that large swathes of the population in the US Agree that this conflict has not been a good thing.

[Alex Ritson]

You mentioned the straight of Hormuz. Is it open? Is it closed? And also the president's talk of a secret mission to ferry millions of barrels of oil out past Iran.

[Thomas Morgan]

Yeah, he kind of mentioned this almost in passing and then put a post out on Truth Social earlier today, kind of declaring, oh, this is amazing. I need to let everyone know what we've done. I instructed my military to secretly get 100 million barrels of oil out, and they've done that. This is great for the economy, this is great for the world because we are able to get gas prices level again. The reality is that amount of oil would only be enough to sustain the world for one day. And it's difficult to verify whether or not that has actually happened or not. But I think again, it comes back to the pressure perhaps that Donald Trump is under here in the US Although he doesn't seem to be showing any signs of it, that really inflation is high, gas prices are high, and he wants to show some positivity from this conflict.

[Alex Ritson]

Thomas Morgan. The biggest men's football World cup in history kicks off on Thursday. 48 teams are taking part in the tournament across the U.S. canada and Mexico. But the build up has been shrouded in controversy. It's organized by football's world governing body, FIFA. On Wednesday, its president, Gianni Infantino, defended his handling of controversies, including FIFA revoking the ticket allocation for Iranian fans, high ticket prices and the US Denying entry to the Somali referee. Omar Artan had been due to officiate at games. He was barred from entering the United States despite having a diplomat passport and visa. Our sports editor, Dan Rowan, is in Mexico as it prepares to host the first match of the tournament, South Africa against Mexico.

[Dan Rowan]

It's a country where football is part of the national identity. Mexico's gearing up to play host to the World cup finals for a record third time. But for many here, the prospect of attending Thursday's match is a distant one.

[Thomas Morgan]

That was. That's a dream that I had from my childhood.

[Dan Rowan]

Janice followed her team to the last World cup in Qatar four years ago. But here in her own home city, it's proved impossible.

[Thomas Morgan]

Come on. The prices are insane. Insane. I can tell you. It's not affordable for all the Mexican population. We have people that cannot afford even $1,000 tickets. It's sad and I could say frustrating because it's all World Cup.

[Dan Rowan]

But the record costs facing fans are not the only issue. Despite FIFA cozying up to President Trump, a number of US visa controversies have overshadowed what was billed as a welcoming event. Africa's top referee, Omar Artan, barred from entering the US and sent back to his home country of Somalia.

[Thomas Morgan]

FIFA supported me throughout my ordeal, all the way until my return journey home and God willing, I'll take part in the next World Cup. I urge my fellow Somali citizens not to be disheartened by this. We should all be proud of who we are and we should all be proud to be Somali.

[Dan Rowan]

The U.S. government says our town was barred over an association with suspected terrorists. And tonight the sport's most powerful figure had his say.

[Thomas Morgan]

Of course it is unfortunate what happened

[Alex Ritson]

to Omar, but again, we don't control everything.

[Thomas Morgan]

Believe me when I tell you or don't believe me if you don't want,

[Alex Ritson]

but we try always to find solutions.

[Thomas Morgan]

But then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces.

[Dan Rowan]

Meanwhile, here at the Azteca, final preparations ahead of the tournament curtain raiser. This iconic stadium is set to make history, becoming the first to host the opening match of three separate World cup finals. But this expanded sprawling tournament is unprecedented in other ways too. It features 48 teams across three countries. But as well as being the biggest and the most lucrative for FIFA, it could just be the most political. 32 years after the US first played host, this tournament is expected to fuel the growth of the game. Although as then extreme heat could feature. The World cup has provided some of sport's most captivating moments. And organizers will be hoping that once the action starts, the focus shifts onto the stars of football's greatest show.

[Alex Ritson]

Dan Rowan in Mexico City. What was Bill Gates relationship with the dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein? That is what the members of a congressional committee in Washington wanted to ask the billionaire Microsoft founder who arrived on Capitol Hill for questioning on Wednesday. I'm glad to be here voluntarily to

[Bernd Debusman]

testify to help with the committee's work.

[Alex Ritson]

I'll start with an opening statement in the hearing room. I hope my testimony is helpful to the important work of the committee to

[Bernd Debusman]

find justice for the victims.

[Alex Ritson]

Mr. Gates, one of the world's richest men, was appearing before the House Oversight Committee. Charlotte Gallagher asked our North America correspondent Bernd DEBUSMAN what else Mr. Gates had said.

[Bernd Debusman]

He certainly at least appeared apologetic in that opening statement. He said he believes he should have never met Epstein in the first place, but that he never witnessed Any sort of criminal conduct or saw any of the victimizations that we now know that Epstein was involved with. There's been a lot of questions about Gaetz's relationship with him, which began well after Epstein had already been convicted of crimes. But he has kind of framed that. And he was trying to connect with a man who thought could kind of further the work of his foundation, potentially connect him with potential donors. Now there's been a lot of kind of explosive information that's come out in the last few months about that relationship. Gates has acknowledged, for example, that Epstein was aware of infidelity in his marriage, which he's acknowledged, and was kind of using it to leverage to put pressure on him personally. But of course there's some very tense questions in the Epstein files. There's photographs of Gates with an unidentified woman and drafts with various allegations about Mr. Gaetz, for example, that he had caught an STI from a woman, something that Gates has denied. But certainly there is enough questions about that relationship to have made the meeting really quite tense.

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And who's on the committee and what is their remit?

[Bernd Debusman]

The committee has 47 members, 26 of whom are Republicans and 21 of whom are Democrats. The House resolution which started all these hearings directed it to look specifically into how the government handled the episode Epstein case, how it was managed and how the files were released. Of course, they were legally mandated to release those files, but there's been quite a lot of controversy at that. But also importantly, it was about looking into Epstein's associates and what figures were connected with him, including several high profile ones. The committee doesn't necessarily get along with each other. It's chaired by a Republican, James Comer, and the ranking Democrat is Robert Garcia. And the two have clashed really quite publicly over the pace of the investigation and the disclosures. Garcia in particular has been pushing for its to be much more aggressive.

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Bill Gates denying any wrongdoing. But of course there is reputational damage even appearing at one of these hearings and being linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

[Bernd Debusman]

There is. It's really been quite uncomfortable to be even mentioned in these hearings, let alone appear in them. Howard Lutnick, for example, the sitting Commerce Secretary, was quite politically damaged, even though he remains in office. By having to come and answer for the timeline of his relationship with Epstein, Democrats accused him of dodging questions. The Clintons as well. Bill Clinton became the first former president to be compelled to testify before Congress. Really, there's been very little to come of it. There's been no criminal charges that have stemmed from it. It's mostly been enormous media coverage. But this is the sort of media coverage that no one, certainly not these public figures, will want to be having.

[Alex Ritson]

Bernd Debusman still to come in this podcast, todos nosotros somos las piedras.

[Thomas Morgan]

We are all the living stones of this set of which has Christ as its foundation.

[Alex Ritson]

The Pope's blessing of the Sagrada Familia's highest tower draws thousands of people in Barcelona.

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[Thomas Morgan]

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[Alex Ritson]

This is the global news podcast. Running battles between police and rioters in Belfast are usually associated with the troubles in Northern Ireland. The violence between Protestant and Catholic communities. But immigration was the spark for the current wave. The unrest was triggered by the stabbing in Belfast of Stephen Ogilvie, who lost his left eye when he was attacked. Hadi Alodid, originally from Sudan, has been charged with attempted murder. Though Mr. Ogilvy's family said the attack should not be used to divide people or fuel hostility, their plea for calm hasn't stopped the unrest. It wasn't as widespread as Tuesday night, but the events have nevertheless been distressing for these people in Belfast.

[Thomas Morgan]

There's a terrible hush over the whole summit.

[Alex Ritson]

It is very depressing, it is very sad. What happened to that poor man was absolutely disgusting. But what's going on now, there's absolutely no need for it whatsoever.

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It's terrible, terrible atmosphere.

[Thomas Morgan]

So I don't know what's going on. The buses and all are off.

[Stephen Bergin]

Scary. Yeah. Bizarre just happened and the whole city shuts down.

[Alex Ritson]

Reminds me of the bad old days, you know, in a sense the conflict in Northern Ireland. Well, yeah, just these sort of things happened back then. Shops closed early, people were going home early. There were frightening scenes on Tuesday when one street was targeted. Rioters went from door to door, smashing windows and setting fire to houses. Twasul Mohammed has been helping women and children from migrant families seek shelter away from their homes, which they fear could come under attack. She says that around 150 people are now in a church building and they remain very frightened.

[Thomas Morgan]

We went into the houses and evacuated the families because we were on the phone with the families and they were terrified. They were knocking themselves in bathrooms because petrol bombs were thrown into the houses. We had to go in and evacuate them. And most of the families were Sudanese. They were terrified. Kids were crying, women were crying. These are people who recently fled the war in Sudan too. They are seeing the same things again and living the same spirits for more.

[Alex Ritson]

On Wednesday Night's disturbances. I spoke to our correspondent Dan Johnson, who was close to the violence in Belfast.

[Dan Johnson]

There has been some further disorder on the streets of Belfast this evening. Not in the same places, not to the same degree, but certainly another challenge for the police. They were on the streets in greater number this evening and kitted up, ready to deal with more serious rioting. We saw officers in full riot gear and with more armored Land Rovers out on the streets even before anybody really had the chance to gather. So I think the message from the police service of Northern Ireland was that they would be firm tonight and that there would be no tolerance of the sort of damage and disorder that we saw the night before when homes were torched and people's lives were literally at risk. But still in the north of Belfast, we saw a crowd of a few hundred gathering. The word was that they were going to try to approach a hotel that's been used recently to house asylum seekers and migrants. Now, the lines of police officers in riot gear managed to stop that crowd reaching that hotel. But there was a battle on the streets for a few hours with lines of police reinforcements being pelted with stones and bricks and planks of wood that these demonstrators had ripped from people's gardens and fences. There were burning barricades in the streets. And to get that crowd back, to get them to move back, the police had to bring in more armored Land Rovers and water cannon. And the crowd was sprayed repeatedly with the water cannon. With officers coming under the sustained barrage of bricks and stones, it took a while for the police to actually get that crowd to move back. They did actually set fire to a property, but we're told that's a house that had been abandoned.

[Alex Ritson]

You've been to see some of the places that were damaged on the first night?

[Dan Johnson]

Yes, absolutely. Before we got into the evening here, the daytime across Belfast had been about assessing the damage from the night before and looking at what was necessary in terms of clear up. There were wrecked cars in the streets, the burned out ruins of a bus that had been set on fire the night before, and the homes that had been torched deliberately by people in this crowd who were seeking to pick out homes belonging to refugees or asylum seekers. They had their windows smashed, the doors were kicked in, and then some of those homes were deliberately set alight. And those demonstrators, those rioters, seemed to have very little regard to actually who was in that house. We know there were families who were sheltering upstairs as their house was starting to burn. Some families who weren't even asylum seekers or Refugees, they just happened to live next store who had their homes torched. We saw police officers having to shelter people with their riot shields to actually get them through the burning barricades to safety. So there was a real threat to life. People have been telling us they've been afraid to speak because they fear reprisals. But they've been telling us quietly that they don't want this to be a symbol of Northern Ireland. They've wanted to say that, look, people are welcome here, that we recognize the contribution of migrants.

[Alex Ritson]

Dan Johnson in Belfast. Nigeria is repatriating the first group of its citizens from South Africa. Following weeks of protests and attacks on illegal migrants across the country, several other African countries have said they will also offer their citizens the option to travel back home. The BBC's Maenie Jones reports from Johannesburg.

[Maenie Jones]

The first group of Nigerians that are being repatriated are leaving from Johannesburg's Ortamba airport to Nungate. The authorities say that they want to give them the opportunity to go back home free of charge, that they will cover the cost of being repatriated and they will make sure that once they get home, some arrangements are made to help them settle in. One of the people flying explained why he was leaving.

[Thomas Morgan]

I'm leaving because of the condition they give us here in South Africa. They say we must leave on before 30th. And the way they are killing people, killing our brothers, I have not seen.

[Maenie Jones]

Nigeria is one of several African countries that's offered to repatriate its citizens. Others include Ghana, Malawi and Mozambique. And this comes at a time of increased protest against illegal migration here in South Africa. I spoke with Ambassador Mrs. Nikinawa Okeguchi, Nigerian Consul General to South Africa, and this is what she had to say.

[Thomas Morgan]

You can't talk about unemployment and talk about migrants. The migrants, the percentage of migrants in South Africa, or let me say foreigners, it's like 7 to 8% thereabouts. They are not and cannot be the problem now that they're leaving. How many jobs are you getting? So migrants are basically being scapegoated. 7 to 8% of a population cannot be the problem or cannot be blamed for broken systems in education, health care, policing, unemployment.

[Maenie Jones]

Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation over the weekend. He says that they're implementing new measures to tackle illegal migration, including setting up special courts to make sure people can be deported rapidly and prosecuting employers who are found to be recruiting undocumented migrants. But he also cautions South African citizens against seeking justice into their own hands.

[Alex Ritson]

Maenie Jones. Tens of thousands of people gathered in Barcelona on Wednesday to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of the Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudi. The celebrations included a special mass by Pope Leo at Gaudi's masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia Basilica, which is the world's tallest church. The Pope blessed the recently completed Tower of Jesus Christ at 172 and 100, the Sagrada Familia's highest spire, and lit a candle at the tomb of Antoni Gaudi.

[Thomas Morgan]

This church is a single building made of many stones, a house that grows steadily over the years following a single plan. We are all the living stones of this edifice which has Christ as its foundation.

[Alex Ritson]

Stephen Bergin, a freelance journalist in Spain, told James Menendez that the completion of the spire is a significant development for the Sagrada Familia and the city.

[Stephen Bergin]

I would be lying if I said there's been, you know, massive excitement about this. I think obviously everyone's, you know, a papal visit is a big event and it's been played up. I haven't felt that, you know, thousands and thousands of people flooding into the streets for it. There were about. For his short journey to the Sacvado Familia, there were about 70,000 people lining the short route, you know, which is impressive. But only a couple of weeks ago, 650,000 people turned out to salute the Barcelona Football Club for winning the league. This is not the most religious of cities, I would say.

[Alex Ritson]

Well, that also says something about modern priorities, doesn't it?

[Dan Johnson]

The Pope blessed the tower. I mean, that's the completion of one

[Alex Ritson]

stage of the cathedral.

[Dan Johnson]

I mean, this has been a real. A real saga, hasn't it?

[Stephen Bergin]

Well, I think it's a major stage in that, in terms of the. What you will see of the building, in terms of the skyline, it's reached its maximum height. The change is actually, I think, in the last few months, been quite dramatic. You now see the Sagrada Familia from all sorts of points of the city where you perhaps didn't notice it before. It's a work in progress. There's probably at least another 10 years left to finish one of the facades, and there are other things to do. But I think, as, you know, somebody described it, you know, as the icon of the city. I think in that respect, it's complete. It's not getting any taller.

[Dan Johnson]

Why is it considered the sort of

[Alex Ritson]

pinnacle of Gaudi's work?

[Stephen Bergin]

Well, I suppose because that's what he felt. I mean, he made all sorts of extraordinary buildings, not only in Barcelona, although most of them are here, apartment buildings for wealthy people. But, you know, he was always very devout and once he got going on this project, it became the thing that he devoted the last 15 years of his life to. And he did very little otherwise work, but it was also on a scale that was quite different from building an apartment.

[Alex Ritson]

Stephen Burgeon and that's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email [e-mail]. you can also find us on X@BBC World Service. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. And don't forget our brother podcast, the Global Story, which goes in depth and beyond the headlines on one big story. This edition of the Global News Podcast was mixed by Joe McCartney and the producer was Muzaffar Shakir. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Alex Ritson. Until next time. Goodbye. Listener Mark H was the inspiration for that little change to the usual script in the name of equality. Thanks, bro.

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[Maenie Jones]

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