Protests Erupt in Italy, Belgium, and Albania Over Economic and Political Grievances

Violent protests erupted across Italy, Belgium and Albania on Saturday, with police using tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators clashing over economic hardship, government policies and public services in cities including Rome, Milan, Brussels and Tirana. In Italy, clashes broke out in five cities as protesters threw bottles and firecrackers, prompting water cannon responses, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni deployed 500 additional soldiers to Milan following earlier unrest. Albanian riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets against student-led demonstrators demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over corruption allegations. Belgian police clashed with hundreds of protesters demanding better education funding, detaining nine people. The unrest follows months of demonstrations across Europe, including French protests drawing 410,000 participants on Saturday, as governments face mounting pressure over economic and social grievances.