In Albania, mass student protests calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama entered their fifth day on Saturday. Tensions escalated outside the education ministry when police were observed firing what appeared to be rubber bullets into the crowd. Reuters reported that their journalists and several protesters were struck by pellets, with physical evidence of the munitions found at the scene. This marks a significant increase in the intensity of the ongoing confrontation between the government and the student movement.

Separately, in France, student protests regarding school conditions and teacher shortages have continued for a third week. Reports have emerged that French police utilized 4x4 vehicles to charge at student protesters in Dunkirk. These specific vehicles were reportedly funded by the British government for the purpose of preventing asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel. The French government has confirmed that an official investigation is underway to determine why these specific vehicles were deployed for domestic crowd control during the student demonstrations. While the Albanian protests are centered on political leadership, the French protests are focused on educational infrastructure and resource allocation. Both incidents have drawn scrutiny regarding the methods employed by law enforcement when managing student-led demonstrations.