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BBC NEWS — BBC News
Sunday 26 July 2026 · 01:00 BST · 30m · 6 stories · 14 annotated moments · 26 of 30 min on news stories (86%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
Firefighters are struggling to contain wildfires in southwest France, with tens of thousands ordered to leave their homes. Spain declared a national emergency due to wildfires displacing more than 70,000 people, and the fires threaten the capital Madrid. In Italy, over 100 localized blazes and 10 major wildfires have hit southern regions, with at least one firefighter killed. In Scotland, police declared a major incident as a wildfire burned in the Cairngorms National Park, and the Scottish government requested military aerial support.
In a BBC News exclusive, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham gave his first interview since taking office, discussing his policies and facing criticism for not speaking regularly to the media. Separately, the BBC learned that police are investigating donations made to Reform UK by a company controlled by its Deputy Leader Richard Tice, expanding the scope of a previously reported investigation. In Essex, a fire at an industrial complex triggered a large explosion; 20 firefighters were taken to hospital but all have been discharged.
In India, leaders of the youth-led cockroach movement called off protests after the Education Minister resigned, a key demand of the movement which began over exam paper leaks. In the Middle East, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported an incident involving a tanker outside the Strait of Hormuz. No strikes were reported overnight for the first time in two weeks in the conflict between Iran and the US, while Saudi air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen targeting oil refineries.
- 0:10
- 0:21
Claim Wildfires in France and Spain displace over 200,000, states of emergency declared
The Spanish government declared a national emergency in the Madrid region and the neighbouring province of Avila.
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 0:21-0:27
- 0:21
Claim Wildfires in France and Spain displace over 200,000, states of emergency declared
The Spanish government declared a national emergency in the Madrid region and the neighbouring province of Avila.
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 0:21-0:27
- 1:15
Claim Wildfires in France and Spain displace over 200,000, states of emergency declared
Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from wildfires in France and Spain.
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 1:15-1:25
- 1:17
Claim Wildfires in France and Spain displace over 200,000, states of emergency declared
More than 270,000 people were forced to evacuate across Europe due to wildfires.
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 1:17-1:25
- 1:38
Claim Wildfires in France and Spain displace over 200,000, states of emergency declared
France recorded over 98,000 hectares burned, a historic record.
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 1:38-1:44
- 1:38
Claim Wildfires in France and Spain displace over 200,000, states of emergency declared
France recorded over 98,000 hectares burned, a historic record.
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 1:38-1:44
- 2:32
Charged quote Wildfires in France and Spain displace over 200,000, states of emergency declared
now threaten the capital, Madrid. It's not just Spain that is facing unprecedented wildfires. In Gironde, one of France's most popular tourist regions, now an apocalyptic scene. Local people try to help, but there is little they can do in the face of these record fires. Evacuation notices were sent to phones in the early hours
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 2:32-2:35
- 3:43
Charged quote Wildfires in France and Spain displace over 200,000, states of emergency declared
In some areas, people are now able to return to what is left of their lives. Yes, all this is my home. Well, it used to be my home. I don't see anything anymore. I see desolation. I see my ancestor's house. My grandmother was born in that house. There's nothing left. While wildfires are a naturally occurring phenomenon,
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 3:43-3:45
- 3:49
Charged quote Wildfires in France and Spain displace over 200,000, states of emergency declared
I don't see anything anymore. I see desolation. I see my ancestor's house. My grandmother was born in that house. There's nothing left. While wildfires are a naturally occurring phenomenon, there is nothing natural about the scale of these. An exceptionally wet winter led to high levels of plant growth, which was then dried out
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 3:49-3:52
- 4:06
Charged quote Wildfires in France and Spain displace over 200,000, states of emergency declared
An exceptionally wet winter led to high levels of plant growth, which was then dried out by the hottest start to the year on record, human-induced climate change to blame. It is a point repeatedly made by Spain's prime minister, who called for international action. We should work on a state agreement against the climate
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 4:06-4:09
- 11:23
- 13:02
- 13:50
Claim Police investigate donations to Reform UK from Richard Tice's company
The investigation also covers two donations of £250,000 each made in June 2024 by Britain Means Business, a company controlled by Richard Tice.
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 13:50-14:02
- 14:24
Claim Police investigate donations to Reform UK from Richard Tice's company
Richard Tice said he was unaware of the investigation and accused the Met Police of a politically motivated smear campaign.
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 14:24-14:30
- 14:26
Claim Police investigate donations to Reform UK from Richard Tice's company
Richard Tice said he was unaware of the investigation and accused the Met Police of a politically motivated smear campaign.
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 14:26-14:35
- 14:51
- 15:18
Claim India's education minister resigns after exam leak protests
Education Minister resigned after more than a week of protests.
BBC NEWS, BBC News, 26 July 2026, 15:18-15:28
- 19:36
- 21:37 Story begins Houthi attacks two Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea
- 26:03 ~4 min without annotations
Source: BBC NEWS, "BBC News", Sunday 26 July 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.