Albania

According to the latest World Economic Outlook of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was released on Tuesday, the Bulgarian economy is expected to register a growth of 1.7 % in 2015.

Thus Bulgarian GDP will retain its 2014 level and it is projected to increase further to 1.9 % in 2016.

Lukoil Neftochim Burgas, the largest crude oil refinery in Southeastern Europe and the largest industrial enterprise in Bulgaria, retained its third position in the latest annual ranking of SeeNews released on Tuesday.

The company which specialises in the production of fuel, petrochemicals and polymers retained its ranking from 2013.

Improving connectivity in the sectors of energy and transport dominated talks between the presidents of Bulgaria and Albania in Sofia on Tuesday.

Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev and his Albanian counterpart Bujar Nishani, who arrives in Sofia Tuesday, will discuss cooperation in the spheres of trade, economy and culture, the EU integration of the countries of the Western Balkans, and the increased migratory pressure on Europe.

Nishani arrives in Bulgaria at the invitation of Plevneliev.

Albanian police spokesman Gentian Mullai told BIRN on Monday that tough measures are planned to secure a potentially high-risk football match between Albania and Serbia in Elbasan on Thursday.

While participating in the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly, in New York City, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias accompanied Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to meetings with the Presidents of China, Xi Jinpin; Egypt, Abdel Fatah Al Sisi; the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades; Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas; Brazil, Dilma Rousseff; and Equador, Rafael Correa. Mr.

Albania's Speaker of Parliament, Ilir Meta, on Thursday angrily denied allegations of taking bribes following BIRN's investigations into corrupt dealings involving the electricity distributor CEZ Shperndarje and the debt collection company DIA.

A group of 70 Serbian students will support the Serbian football team during the game in Elbasan, which is widely seen as a risky event after a match between the two teams in Belgrade ended in a brawl last year.

The Albanian football association announced on October 1 that the Serbian students had been invited to Elbasan by their Albanian colleagues.  

Albanian media have published leaked photos and tape allegedly featuring a former energy minister in intimate positions with a woman, in what his supporters say is retaliation for his role in uncovering corruption.

Online portals in Albania have published pictures of the former Economy and Energy minister Dritan Prifti, and they say that a full video will be released soon.

Self-Determination Movement founder Albin Kurti says opponents of the future Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) want a referendum called on this issue.

The former leader of the party told a panel held in Tirana, Albania that they had gathered 100,000 signatures in support of the initiative.