Albanian police fire rubber bullets and arrest hundreds as protests enter fifth day

Albanian police fired rubber bullets and arrested hundreds as anti-government protests entered their fifth day, with violent clashes reported in Tirana where protesters threw stones and police responded with tear gas. The unrest has spread across cities nationwide. Demonstrations intensified after students joined a broader movement demanding Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over corruption allegations, alongside calls for better education, financial support, and job opportunities. Police reported 167 arrests and 132 officers injured, while seven officers were suspended over excessive force claims. Rama, in power since 2013 and serving his fourth term, has ruled out resigning and blamed conservative opponents for inciting clashes. The movement has also been fueled by opposition to a luxury tourism development linked to Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law.