Albanian police and protesters clash for 8th day in Tirana

Albanian police used tear gas and water cannons Tuesday to push back anti-government protesters in Tirana, marking the eighth consecutive day of violent clashes in the capital. The demonstrations have drawn in students demanding lower tuition fees and greater education investment, alongside a broader movement calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation. Protesters have hurled rocks, flares, firebombs, and fireworks at police, who responded with batons and water cannons in the city center. Rama defended his government, calling the unrest a "hybrid war" based on real concerns like the cost of living and housing, while accusing protesters of extremism and attempting to overthrow his administration through violence. The protests follow months of rallies by the "Flamingo" movement, which opposes a luxury tourism development on Albania's southern coast linked to a firm founded by Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law. Similar demonstrations over housing and public services have occurred across Europe, including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece.