Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tirana on Saturday, protesting for the 35th consecutive day against plans to build a tourist resort linked to the Trump family.

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It is thought to have been the largest demonstration since the protests began in late May against the construction of a luxury hotel connected to Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner, who advises and negotiates on behalf of the president, in the protected area of Zvërnec, in southwestern Albania.

What started as an environmental protest has now turned into a major anti‑government revolution. Protesters accuse the government of corruption and are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who approved the Kushner-Trump project.

“What began as the ‘pink flamingo revolution’ has turned into widespread public discontent,” protester Alketa Ademi told the French news agency AFP. “The lack of transparency, the arrogance – enough! The prime minister has to go,” she added.

Many protesters carried giant pink flamingos as they marched towards the country’s parliament building on the main boulevard of the Albanian capital Tirana.

One group was carrying a large concrete cake, a double reference both to Prime Minister Edi Rama’s birthday – who turned 62 on Saturday – and to plans to pour concrete over protected ecosystems.

Protesters also set up a bust of Edi Rama and then toppled it with the help of a rope, in an action reminiscent of the iconic overthrow in 1991 of the statue of communist dictator Enver Hoxha, which marked the end of his rule.

‘Albania is not for sale’

On Saturday evening, a large group of protesters broke away from the main march and headed towards the police station where 19 detained protesters are being held after their arrest during Thursday’s march near the parliament building.

Demonstrators smashed the windows of the police precinct, and were met with a violent response from security forces who reportedly deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.

“Release the kids,” the protesters shouted.

Some carried banners reading “Albania is not for sale” and “Repeal the law on protected areas”, referring to the legislation that enabled the government to fast‑track procedures for building tourist resorts.

The violent incidents contrast with the generally peaceful nature of the gatherings that have been held since the start of the movement, drawing thousands of citizens from all over the country.

Last week, large groups of demonstrators gathered outside the parliament, trying to block lawmakers from accessing the building.

Hundreds of protesters broke through the police-installed security cordon, and officers pushed them back, sparking clashes and leading to dozens of arrests.

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse those crowds as well, according to eyewitnesses, while some protesters threw eggs, stones and other objects at the security forces.

Officials later announced that 15 police officers were injured and 25 protesters were detained in those clashes.

The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), a human rights organisation, expressed on Saturday “its concern at the escalation of the situation”.

“Individual acts of violence cannot justify the disproportionate use of force,” it said, condemning the use of tear gas without warning, batons and beatings by law enforcement officers against protesters and calling for a swift, independent investigation.

The movement has been dubbed the ‘Pink Flamingo Revolution’, a reference to the migratory birds that pass through the protected area where the tourist complex is planned.

Protesters argue that the luxury hotel complex, whose cost is estimated at $4.6 billion (€4.02 billion) and which is to be built in a protected area on the Adriatic Sea, threatens the fragile ecosystem of the neighbouring lagoon.

Investors, for their part, aim to turn the uninhabited island of Sazan, a former military base from the communist era, into a high‑end tourist destination. The project has been strongly opposed since it was first announced back in 2024.

The latest wave of protests erupted after barbed‑wire fencing and excavators appeared on nearby beaches in late May, indicating to the public that their concerns are being overlooked and that the development will proceed against their will.

Despite recently obtaining his Polish citizenship, “A Real Pain” director Jesse Eisenberg is not thinking about leaving the U.S. anytime soon. Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, where he is the recipient of this year’s President’s Award, the actor-turned-director said he feels a “responsibility” to stay in New York City as his home country grapples with Trump’s presidency. 

“I am a very lucky American,” he said. “I have a nice life. My wife is a teacher, and she teaches a lot of students who are not as lucky as we are. I think we feel, if anything, a responsibility to stay in New York and help those who are struggling through a tougher period in American history. No, I’m not going to leave because I don’t like the politics of America. That seems a little silly, because my life is very good.”

Eisenberg’s next directorial effort is the musical comedy “The Debut,” starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti and scheduled to come out in the U.S. on Dec. 3, courtesy of A24. The first official trailer for the film came out last week, just a day after it was announced that the American film company had struck an AI research partnership with Google that will see the independent studio work with Google’s DeepMind unit to develop new AI-powered technologies for filmmakers. Many disappointed film fans rushed to social media posts of the trailer to express their disappointment with the partnership and their refutal of AI interference in filmmaking — particularly artist-focused, independent filmmaking.

Asked by Variety how he felt about the unfortunate timing and if it might have affected him in any way, Eisenberg said he did not dwell on it as “it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

“A24 could not have been better about making our movie analog,” he continued. “The movie takes place in the 1990s, with two stars who have been working forever and who are just brilliant in the movie. We shot on film, which is very rare, so the movie felt like a movie from the 90s, which was my era growing up and starting to watch independent movies. Our movie could not have been more analog.”

The director emphasized how A24 “said yes” to all his requests, from Moore and Giamatti to shooting on film and setting the story in the 90s. “Our movie is the opposite of AI,” he added. “It really doesn’t affect our movie at all. A24 is a really smart studio. All I could say is that my interactions with them over the last five years have been the most artist-friendly. I’ve never worked with a studio so closely, where every decision they make is about what would make the thing better. I’m sure they’re worried about economics, but never to me. It feels like winning the lottery to work at a company like that, where the only thing they seem to care about — and the only thing they ask from you — is to make the best possible version of your movie.”

Enquired by Variety as to whether it was different heading into “The Debut” after having an Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed directorial project in “A Real Pain” versus directing a film after the poor critical reception and lukewarm box office of his directorial debut, “When You Finished Saving the World,” Eisenberg said he “felt more comfortable directing” this time around. 

“I didn’t feel like there was any opposition,” he went on. “With my second movie, ‘A Real Pain,’ I did feel a little bit like I had to prove myself even further. I noticed this thing [that] when actors are making their first films, there’s this feeling that this person might be a genius. If that movie doesn’t work, you’re starting way below genius because now you’re an actor who can’t direct. When I was doing ‘A Real Pain,’ I was like: Now I’m an actor who lost money for a studio. That was worse than starting out. The last movie I did feel a little more comfortable.”

The “Zombieland” star also noted that circumstances — and, to a certain extent, the stakes — are slightly different for him as a writer-director. “Because I write scripts, it allows me to be the first person to get the job as a director. I feel if I write a good enough script, I can always direct it. For directors who don’t write, it’s tougher. If their movie doesn’t work, they’re not going to be the screenwriter’s first choice.”

Eisenberg might be preparing to launch “The Debut,” but the next big project in his life is something entirely different: he and his family are headed to Ukraine to conduct charitable work. “My wife teaches in New York City public schools. She teaches art and she’s really wonderful with kids. We found a program called The Campfire Project through Jessica Hecht, a wonderful American actress, and she offered us the opportunity to go work with kids in a camp. My wife is going to teach, my kid is going to play with the kids, and I’m going to be the videographer on my phone.”

“Our lives are so lucky,” he said earnestly. “If we ever find an opportunity to help, of course we take it. We’re not saving any lives, but it’s nice to be able to go and help.”

On Saturday, during a lengthy in-conversation event at the festival, Eisenberg spoke about not reprising his role as Mark Zuckerberg in Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming sequel to “The Social Network,” “The Social Reckoning.” “At the time, the movie seemed like such a strange thing to me because no one really knew who he was,” he said. “He was interviewed on ‘60 Minutes,’ which is our big news show, but otherwise he wasn’t in the public a lot. I thought of it like an interesting character. And then he’s become famous and now I don’t want to do the movie […] I don’t want to be associated with him anymore because I don’t really like the comparison.”

The Karlovy Vary Film Festival runs July 3-11.

America’s role in world affairs and its special relationships with allies and partners were on full display Saturday as world leaders offered congratulations and praise while the U.S. celebrated its 250th birthday.

“This year marks a truly historic milestone and a moment of great celebration for Americans everywhere,” the United Kingdom’s King Charles III wrote in a statement.

“It offers an opportunity to pause and reflect on the remarkable journey of the United States over the past two and a half centuries, and to honour all that has been achieved since 1776.”

MILITARY ALLIES, HISTORIC TALL SHIPS CONVERGE ON NEW JERSEY SHORES TO LAUNCH AMERICA 250 CELEBRATIONS

Pope Leo XIV, leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, extended his “heartfelt congratulations” to the American people on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“In marking this anniversary, it is important to recognize that freedom of religion has long been central to the American promise, protecting both individual dignity and the peaceful coexistence of a diverse people,” Leo wrote in a statement.

In France, authorities illuminated the Eiffel Tower in red, white and blue in what Paris described as a “heartfelt tribute to America’s 250th anniversary” and “a powerful reminder that the friendship between our two nations dates back to the 18th century.” President Emmanuel Macron posted a picture of the Statue of Liberty during a flyover by France’s elite aerobatic team on his X account.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that the United States was “founded on freedom, democracy, and responsibility.

“Germany and the USA have always enjoyed a close friendship. Especially in challenging times, our transatlantic partnership remains indispensable,” he wrote on X.

AS AMERICA TURNS 250, A RARE 1790 EXCHANGE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BISHOP CARROLL TAKES ON NEW RELEVANCE

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote that July 4th marks “one of humanity’s brightest, strongest, and most influential dreams – the American Dream of an independent, free, and prosperous nation that defends people’s freedom, faith, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry shared a statement from President Vladimir Putin to his American counterpart: “Donald, I wish you and your loved ones health, well-being and every success, and I wish all citizens of the United States happiness and prosperity.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday spoke with President Trump to congratulate him and the United States. He also released a video message Saturday where he said in part, “America has been the greatest force for liberty the modern world has known. Israel is proud to stand beside her, Israel is proud to stand beside all of you, because our alliance is built not only on shared interests, but it’s built on shared values.”

MIKE PENCE: THE NEXT GENERATION NEEDS FAITH IN GOD AND CONFIDENCE IN THE AMERICAN IDEAL

“The prime minister said in their conversation that the U.S. is a guarantor of global freedom, and Israel greatly values the close ties between nations,” according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee at the American embassy in Jerusalem on Friday.

“I am extremely moved and happy to be here at the American Embassy in Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel, at the Embassy which was launched by President Trump in his historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,” said Herzog. “American Independence is one of the greatest moments in history, and it has changed the fate of humanity.”

AMERICA AND ISRAEL: A COVENANT, NOT A CONTRACT

In a letter to Trump, Herzog wrote, “This is also a time to express our deepest appreciation for the unique and unbreakable partnership between the United States of America and Israel. Our two nations draw from the same wellsprings of the Bible, and we share the same fundamental values of freedom, democracy, and human dignity.”

Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, attended the U.S. Embassy in Argentina’s Independence Day celebration, which included the national anthems of both countries, live music and celebrity lookalikes. 

Milei posted on X stating in part,“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN: 250 years ago, a group of men founded a republic on a simple yet profoundly revolutionary idea: that all men are equal before God, and that they are endowed with inalienable natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Under this premise, that country quickly became the absolute opposite of those that embraced contrary ideas: those of communism. The prosperity of the USA is the envy of all oppressed peoples, but it pales in comparison to the freedom enjoyed by its citizens and is, in fact, merely a consequence of its preservation.”

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi noted that her country had gifted America 250 cherry trees. 

“Going forward, Japan and the United States will continue to work together to further strengthen the bonds between our two countries,” she wrote on X.

Hsiao Bi-khim, vice president of Taiwan, threw the first pitch at an American Institute in Taiwan baseball event celebrating America’s founding. 

“Our countries share beliefs in freedom & democracy, & baseball is loved by both our peoples. Congrats and Happy July 4,” she wrote.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, said the “journey of the United States’ founding is one of determination and resolve, values that continue to underpin the enduring partnership and mutual trust our countries share today.”

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent a cable of congratulations to Trump, wishing the president “continued good health and happiness, and the government and people of the US steady progress and prosperity.”

Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator in ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran, extended “warmest congratulations and best wishes to the United States of America and its people on its 250th Independence Day.”

Qatar, another mediator in the talks with the Iranian regime, released a statement from Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani who sent a cable of “congratulations to HE President of the United States of America Donald Trump on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.”

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted his country’s best wishes on X: “On behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, I extend my warmest congratulations to President Trump and the people of the United States on the historic 250th anniversary of your Independence. India and the United States share more than a strategic partnership. Our shared belief in democracy, rule of law and the limitless potential of our people make our friendship a force for global good. May the next 250 years bring even greater prosperity, peace and progress for America and take the India-US partnership to new heights.”

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said the Declaration of Independence “gave birth to a new nation founded on the ideals of liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

“For 250 years, our transatlantic partnership has been shaped by our shared values and family bonds. And, at times, it has been strengthened by the immense bravery and lives lost in the defence of freedom,” she added.