Ceuta prominently featured in Spain’s National Day parade, despite no soldiers from the autonomous city participating due to ongoing tensions after a July migrant crisis. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will visit Ceuta on Tuesday following the parade, which showcased new military technology and saw Prime Minister Sánchez face public discontent.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez launched his election campaign for the 29 November election in Dos Hermanas, Seville, addressing over 5,000 supporters. With a focus on housing protests, he emphasised the need to regain voter trust following recent electoral losses, while opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo also initiated his campaign in Madrid.

Concerns over school safety escalated in Poland following two violent attacks and alarming social media claims of a “bloody Friday.” In response, police announced increased patrols around schools and encouraged reporting of any credible threats to ensure the safety of students and staff.

France has suspended police use of stun grenades at high school protests after a 15-year-old lost a hand following an incident with a stun grenade. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed the suspension will remain in place until investigations into alleged police misconduct are completed.

Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst highlighted ongoing plague cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar, stating the laboratory connection makes the current incident more concerning. He also noted that COVID-19 has returned this winter in a milder form, differing from previous years.

Former German intelligence chief August Hanning is under investigation by Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly obtaining classified information, including state secrets, from a former employee of the Federal Intelligence Service. Accusations involve espionage and the continued receipt of confidential documents after his tenure.