A devastating Spain wildfire has killed at least 11 people and left 19 others missing after a fast-moving blaze swept through the village of Bedar in the Los Gallardos district of Andalusia.   According to AFP, as reported by Channels Television, authorities believe many of the victims are foreign tourists, although officials are still working to confirm their identities. Regional emergency minister Antonio Sanz said four of the victims were found inside a right-hand-drive vehicle, suggesting they may have been British nationals. However, their identities have not yet been officially confirmed. The wildfire spread rapidly through rugged woodland after witnesses reported that a fallen power line ignited nearby scrubland. The difficult terrain, which includes ravines and homes surrounded by forest, hampered evacuation efforts. Around 400 firefighters and military personnel were deployed to tackle the blaze, which has destroyed about 3,150 hectares of forest and farmland. Emergency services received more than 150 calls as flames approached homes and a major highway. About 150 residents were evacuated and accommodated in a local cultural centre. Authorities said eight people were injured, including four who remain in serious condition. Andalusia regional president Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla confirmed that 19 people remain unaccounted for as rescue and search operations continue. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences, saying he was “deeply saddened and devastated” by the tragedy. Earlier this year, his government announced Spain’s largest-ever summer wildfire response amid growing concerns over increasingly severe fire seasons. The disaster comes as Spain and neighbouring France endure another intense heatwave, with temperatures forecast to reach 40°C in parts of both countries. Scientists have linked the country’s increasingly frequent and prolonged heatwaves to worsening wildfire conditions. Spain recorded its third-warmest year on record in 2025, while the European Forest Fire Information System reported that nearly 400,000 hectares of land were destroyed by wildfires across the country last year.

The Edo State Police Command has announced a statewide restriction of movement from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2026, ahead of the state’s local government elections.   According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, the restriction is part of security measures aimed at ensuring a peaceful, orderly and secure electoral process across Edo State. The police said all vehicular and pedestrian movement would be prohibited during the period. However, officials of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), accredited election observers, accredited media personnel, security agencies, emergency responders and other essential service providers on election duty are exempt from the restriction. The command added that security personnel have been deployed across all 18 local government areas to enforce the restriction, protect voters, electoral officials and sensitive election materials, and prevent any breakdown of law and order. The police warned that anyone found violating the movement restriction or engaging in activities capable of disrupting the elections would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika assured residents that adequate security arrangements had been made to safeguard the polls. He urged eligible voters to remain peaceful while exercising their civic responsibility and to comply with guidelines issued by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission. Agbonika also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring that the local government elections are conducted in a free, fair, peaceful and credible atmosphere. The development comes as security agencies continue preparations for the elections, with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps recently deploying 1,300 personnel across the state.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Friday presented a proposed ₦1.854 trillion Appropriation Bill for the 2026 fiscal year to the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly, marking his first appearance before the legislature since the political crisis that split the Assembly in 2023.   According to Punch, the presentation followed a motion by Majority Leader Major Jack, seconded by Minority Leader Sylvanus Nwankwo, inviting the governor into the chamber after Speaker Martin Amaewhule took his seat. Tagged “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” the proposed budget is aimed at sustaining economic growth, improving infrastructure, strengthening social services and advancing human capital development across Rivers State. Fubara said the ₦1.854 trillion proposal represents a 24.49 per cent increase over the adjusted 2025 budget. He attributed the projected revenue growth to improved allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, higher derivation earnings and increased internally generated revenue. The governor proposed ₦413.1 billion for recurrent expenditure and ₦1.405 trillion for capital projects. Capital spending includes: ₦533.3 billion for works and infrastructure ₦315 billion for education ₦105.4 billion for healthcare ₦41.4 billion for the Rivers State House of Assembly ₦30 billion for the judiciary ₦19.3 billion for agriculture Fubara also announced plans to increase overhead allocations to Ministries, Departments and Agencies by at least 50 per cent to improve public service delivery. He said his administration would also clear outstanding gratuities and death benefits owed to retired civil servants as part of efforts to improve workers’ welfare. The governor stated that prudent management of public resources had enabled his administration to maintain fiscal stability despite prevailing economic challenges. “We will ensure every kobo is spent wisely to create jobs for our people. The collective interests of our people are most important to us as a government,” he said. Fubara described the appropriation bill as a development-driven budget designed to stimulate economic growth, attract investment, expand employment opportunities and improve residents’ quality of life. He urged lawmakers to give the proposal speedy consideration and approval, saying, “Let us join hands to make sure Rivers State continues to stand out in good governance.”

The wife of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, has dismissed reports claiming she has filed for divorce, describing the story as false and misleading.   In a statement published on her verified X account on Friday, Okwu-Kanu said she had not initiated any divorce proceedings against her husband and urged the public to disregard the reports. “For the avoidance of doubt, I have not filed for divorce. The publication is entirely false and should be treated as misinformation,” she stated. She criticised those responsible for spreading what she described as fabricated stories about her family without proper verification, saying such actions undermine responsible journalism. Okwu-Kanu urged members of the public to rely only on information released by her or her authorised representatives. She also thanked those who contacted her to verify the claim before sharing it. According to Punch, the denial follows the circulation of online reports alleging that she had sought to end her marriage to the IPOB leader. Nnamdi Kanu and Uchechi Okwu-Kanu were married in 2009. Kanu is currently serving a life sentence at the Sokoto Custodial Centre after he was convicted on terrorism-related charges by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025. He was found guilty on seven counts and received life sentences on five counts, alongside 20 years on one count and five years on another, with all sentences running concurrently. Kanu has appealed the conviction, filing a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal on February 4, 2026.