Nov 15, 2026, 12:30 AM UTC

Anti-government demonstrations in Albania reached their 168th day on Saturday as students, citizens, and members of the diaspora assembled for a national protest in Tirana. Protesters gathered outside the Ministry of Education to reaffirm their demand for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, adhering to a schedule of biweekly national rallies intended to sustain pressure on the administration.

The ongoing movement continues to generate opposing interpretations. Supporters present the assemblies as a civic revolt against executive power, while pro-government commentators have characterized past clashes as an orchestrated coup attempt aimed at destabilizing constitutional order. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rama dismissed a recent incident in Dublin where protesters threw eggs at him, calling the act a normal element of democratic expression.

Sources: BalkanWeb, Gazeta Tema, Koha

Regional political commentators and figures are assessing the trajectory of Serbian governance and regional diplomacy following recent electoral shifts. In Cetinje, former Montenegrin President Milo Đukanović questioned whether the next administration in Belgrade will focus on domestic matters or attempt to govern Serbs across the broader region, emphasizing that rebuilding ties with Montenegro remains vital.

Concurrently, Dejan Šoškić, a potential contender for the Serbian premiership, argued that the political transition presents an opportunity for Serbia to become a source of stability and cooperation. Meanwhile, unresolved diplomatic and press freedom issues persist. A travel ban imposed last year on Željko Ivanović, founder of Montenegro's Vijesti media group, remains active ahead of a scheduled media conference in Belgrade.

Sources: Dan, Danas, Klix, N1, Vijesti

Albania's Socialist Party held a National Assembly meeting focused on internal restructuring and electoral preparations for the 2027 local elections. Prime Minister Edi Rama outlined party priorities, emphasizing European Union integration, justice sector relations, and broader public engagement across local communities.

Rama addressed recent political demonstrations, alleging opposition protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails during events. In response to ongoing political tensions, the ruling party plans to launch direct outreach initiatives in neighborhoods and villages.

Internal reorganization included shifts in political leadership within the capital, Tirana, aimed at mobilizing party structures ahead of upcoming electoral challenges.

Sources: BalkanWeb, Faktoje, Gazeta Tema

A major disruption to US air traffic on Friday may have been caused by routine maintenance work, according to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Duffy stated that efforts by contractor L3Harris to replace legacy copper cables could have triggered the air traffic control systems failure.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted all domestic departures for over four hours on Friday evening, citing safety concerns and extraordinary circumstances. While limited departures resumed earlier in select locations like San Francisco, the nationwide ground stop was officially lifted early Saturday morning. The outage resulted in thousands of flight cancellations and left more than 15,000 flights delayed across the United States. Authorities continue to investigate the technical failure.

Sources: Aftenposten, Dagens Næringsliv (DN), NRK, VG (Verdens Gang)