These are the headlines from Friday 31 January.

Since 11 January, more than 110,000 Albanians living in the diaspora have registered to vote in the 11 May general elections. The numbers show that the vote of those living outside the country could be enough to change the outcome of the vote.

Some 82% of Albanian citizens trust the police, according to Prime Minister Edi Rama. He presented the results of a government financed study that found citizens feel secure due to the police and the perception of corruption in their ranks has decreased. However recent data from the regional cooperation council found only 54% trust the police while data from Barometri at euronews in May 2024 shows just 24%.

The government of Kosova has donated a million euros of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has facilitated the delivery of aid.

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has cut funding for projects in several countries including Albania. The news comes just one day after the announcement by the US Embassy in Tirana, that Albanian institutions will see funds suspended for 90 days. This action is the result of President Donald Trump’s executive order, which ordered the review of all foreign aid programs and their adaptation to the new foreign policy priorities of the Trump administration.