Unrest spreads across European cities with water canons deployed

Meanwhile, waves of protests swept across major European cities on Saturday, with demonstrators voicing grievances over issues ranging from living conditions to disputes involving public institutions.

Calls for gatherings on social media prompted police to step up security in several cities.

Downtown Barcelona appeared calm on Saturday locals and tourists filling the streets. But many shops were shut and boarded up and anti-riot police were out in force to prevent rioting

and looting similar to those that took place on October 24. A thousand young people were searched and one was detained.

This student said, "I don't think riots are the right thing to do. Each person has their own motives. Knowing certain people, the way they are, it may be that some of them came here to

steal instead of protesting.

Scenes on the streets of Tirana, Albania's capital Saturday as anti-government demonstrations continued to escalate.

Clashes continued into the evening with police using tear gas and water canons to disperse the crowds.

The Albanian government has introduced new measures to curb violence,including fines of 500,000 lek, roughly 50,000 Hong Kong dollars,for anyone who participates in a protest that turns violent, even if they do

not personally commit acts of violence.

Protester Fadil Dia said "Older generations were already lured by fake promises and by fake dialogue. This is not something we want. We won't fall

into this trap. It is very clear what we want. Dialogue is worthless because we want for him (Edi Rama) to resign"

As protests enter their third week, Paris police Saturday banned union and yellow vest marches from the city centre, directing demonstrations along a single

route on the capital's outer boulevards, from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton.

This 21-year-old student said "around 40 metro stations across the city are closed, the entire city is under police occupation, and in all the major squares there are police officers present,

checking groups of people who are out and about. This is truly serious. It is a grave attack on the democratic right that are supposed

to be guaranteed by the French Constitution and we are here to fight to have our rights respected."