Category: News

Opposition MPs disrupted a session of Albania’s parliament by setting off smoke bombs and displaying photographs of injured protesters. They accused police of using force against demonstrators demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, Euronews reported.

Democratic Party MPs blocked the podium as they set off the smoke bombs and displayed photographs of protesters allegedly injured by police.

The disruption began during a vote on a bill concerning the central bank, which members of the ruling Socialist Party were pushing forward despite the protests. Four opposition MPs were removed from the chamber.

The parliamentary protest followed repeated demonstrations in Albania demanding Rama’s resignation. Opposition MPs accused police of using unlawful force against protesters. By bringing photographs of injured demonstrators into parliament, Democratic Party members sought to draw attention to their allegations against the security forces.

President Vladimir Putin hailed Elon Musk as a genius on Wednesday, acknowledging Russia is only beginning to roll out its ‌answer to his Starlink satellite internet system, Reuters reported.

Putin made the remark while listening to a presentation by Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev, who said Russia had launched more than 30 satellites as it builds its own Starlink equivalent.

“Just a second, ⁠I want to point out this is just our first step. Elon Musk is a genius, he’s just a real genius,” said Putin, who was accompanied by a group of African leaders attending a summit in Moscow.

Shadayev said in reply to a question from Putin that Musk had more than 5,000 low-orbit satellites up and running — although the actual number is close to 10,000, according to independent tracking site Orbital Radar.

“Over 5,000 — while we are only taking our first steps. But we are proud that we have begun to do this, and started to do it independently,” Putin said, adding that the task now was “to move from quality to quantity”.

“We ‌are in ⁠close contact with our American partners — including Mr Musk — because it is very important, in orbit, not to get in each other’s way and to maintain a certain level of discipline and order,” he said.

Starlink uses a constellation of satellites that orbit far lower than traditional geostationary communications satellites, reducing signal travel time.

Ukraine has relied heavily on the system and its military version Starshield, but ⁠complained earlier this month of speed restrictions that hampered its ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some operations.

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro declared himself Brazil’s rightful leader on Wednesday after arriving in the United States, alleging he was the victim of an electoral coup by the country’s ‌Supreme Court and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won the vote by over 4 million votes, Reuters reported.

Bolsonaro arrived in Miami after leaving Brazil, where he refused to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports.

He thanked Argentine leader Javier Milei for helping him make the journey and US President Donald Trump, who granted him and his family entry visas, for welcoming him.

In an initial open letter posted on X, Bolsonaro declared himself “the elected president.” He then deleted that version and updated it with another letter in which he said he was the rightful “leader” of Brazil.

“I want to say, not only to my 60 million voters but to the Brazilian people, that I ⁠am the leader and that the criminals who stole Brazil’s election are part of a criminal organization that has established a tyranny,” he said in the updated version.

Lula’s victory has been recognized by Brazil’s federal electoral court, global leaders, international observers, and Bolsonaro’s own party.

Brazil’s election took place in full compliance with legal and constitutional requirements, electoral authority chief Kassio Nunes Marques said in a statement, without referencing Bolsonaro’s letter.

Asked by reporters at Joint Base Andrews about Bolsonaro’s comments, Trump declined to comment, reiterating earlier views that it was “a very strange election.”

Armenian national freestyle wrestling team member Vazgen Tevanyan opened his campaign at the World Championships with a victory.

Tevanyan faced Mongolia’s Zeneemeder Byambasuren in his opening bout in the 65 kg weight category at the Freestyle Wrestling World Championships underway in Astana, Kazakhstan, and won 9-3.

Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler Gevorg Tadevosyan said his World Championships bronze medal was the result of teamwork.

Armenia won two medals at the Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championships. Tadevosyan won bronze in the 87 kg category, while Karen Aslanyan became world champion in the 63 kg category.

“This was a long-awaited bronze medal for me. Although my goal was to win the World Championships, unfortunately, I fell short this time. I had to settle for bronze because I made mistakes during my bouts,” Tadevosyan told reporters at Zvartnots Airport.

Tadevosyan said he had been ready for both the semifinal and the bronze-medal bout.

“Individual medals are always the result of teamwork. I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, and everyone who helped me along the way,” he said.

Armenian national team freestyle wrestler Vazgen Tevanyan advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Wrestling Championships.

Tevanyan defeated Kazakhstan’s Ossimzhan Dastanbek 2-1 in the round of 16 in the 65 kg category in Astana.

Earlier, Tevanyan defeated Mongolia’s Zeneemeder Byambasuren 9-3.

Armenian wrestler Karen Aslanyan credited his gold medal at the Greco-Roman wrestling World Championships in Kazakhstan to calmness, focus and consistent work.

“I think I did the same work as at previous championships, but this time I was calmer, more composed and more focused. This is also the result of good teamwork. During the championships, I wasn’t aiming to finish my bouts as quickly as possible. I approached them very calmly,” Aslanyan told reporters at Zvartnots Airport after returning from the World Championships.

He believes his success was due to approaching the tournament without tension.

“What you saw on the mat was the result of years of experience, which led to this outcome. Every member of the national team contributed to this victory, especially my coaches,” he stressed.

Armenia won two medals at the Greco-Roman wrestling World Championships.

Gevorg Tadevosyan claimed bronze in the 87 kg category, while Aslanyan became world champion in the 63 kg category.

Armenian freestyle wrestler Vazgen Tevanyan (65 kg) has advanced to the semifinals of the World Wrestling Championships.

Tevanyan defeated Iran’s Rahman Amouzad Khalili, a two-time world champion, 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the 65 kg freestyle event at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Earlier, Tevanyan defeated Mongolia’s Zeneemeder Byambasuren 9-3 and Kazakhstan’s Ossimzhan Dastanbek 2-1.

Armenian national team freestyle wrestler Vazgen Tevanyan will compete for the gold medal at the World Championships after defeating Bulgaria’s Shamil Mamedov 3-1 in the 65 kg semifinal on October 29 at the championships underway in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The gold medal bout will take place on October 30.