Islamabad, 29 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Opposition lawmakers in Albania disrupted a parliamentary session on Thursday by setting off flares, following weeks of violent anti-government protests led by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Members of the opposition Democratic Party of Albania also blocked access to the podium during a vote on a Central Bank law. Opposition leader Sali Berisha accused ruling lawmakers of being criminals and said they deserved tear gas, rubber bullets and physical injuries rather than young protesters, before his microphone was switched off. Other opposition members surrounded him while holding photographs of demonstrators injured by rubber bullets, and some raised blue flares representing their party. Student-led demonstrations, fuelled by allegations of government corruption, a lack of employment opportunities and poor education standards, have spread across central Tirana and other cities since mid-October. Protesters demanding Rama’s resignation have set fire to government buildings and banks, smashed shop windows and thrown paving stones at police. The unrest, which followed months of largely peaceful summer demonstrations against a luxury coastal development backed by US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, has emerged as the biggest challenge yet to Rama, who has governed since 2013 and secured a fourth term last year. On Sunday, Rama announced measures to curb violence, including fines of 500,000 lek ($6,200) for anyone participating in a protest that turns violent, even if they do not personally engage in violence. Protests remained largely peaceful this week, with another demonstration planned for Saturday. Rama has again urged students to engage in dialogue and introduced economic measures, including cheaper fuel and increased financial assistance for low-income families, in an effort to ease public anger and prevent further street violence.