
The media’s search for new business models and the potential of new and social media has brought about a wave of enterprises and entrepreneurs across EU member states. What are Europe’s most innovative news applications and initiatives? EurActiv asked the experts.

Greeks vote in a general election, with the anti-austerity Syriza and the centre-right New Democracy parties seen as frontrunners in a tight race.
The election is vital because at stake are two broader EU problems: the absence of a right to organise substantive opposition, and the de-democratisation of political decision-making.
The EU is following a bizarre logic, where support is given to autocratic regimes who benefit from the rise of extremist groups, instead of seeking reasons for the rise of radicalization among European youth. Why?

Police in Kosovo have fired teargas to disperse thousands of ethnic Albanians after violence at the end of an anti-government protest in the capital Pristina on Saturday.

US Broadcaster Fox News issues an on-air apology for televising a claim that Birmingham is a “Muslim-only city” where non-Muslims “don’t go”.

After deadly attacks, French Jews are conflicted whether to risk life in France or move to Israel.

A planned rally by Germany’s “anti-Islamisation” Pegida group is called off after police receive a “concrete” threat against one of the organisers.
Back in the 1980s Australians, many of them farmers, were offered low-interest loans, appealing in a high-interest environment. With changes in currency rates the loans in Swiss francs and Japanese yen quickly became much beyond the means of the borrowers to service with ensuing pain and suffering. Icelanders felt the pain of FX loans as the Icelandic króna depreciated in 2008 as did many Eastern-European countries. – The same story has played out in country after country with the obvious lesson reiterated: for people with income only in their domestic currency FX borrowing is far too risky. All these loans, often the result of predatory lending, follow the same pattern and it is no coincidence where they hit. There is now ample case for countries to take action: banks should be forbidden to lend in FX to private individuals with no FX income.
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