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European Union, Nintendo Switch, 'Logan': Your Friday Evening Briefing New York Times Rates remain low by historical standards, supporting economic growth by encouraging borrowing and risk-taking. The change would come earlier than expected. But officials say that the economy is nearing the end of its recovery from the 2008 financial ...

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European Union, Nintendo Switch, 'Logan': Your Friday Evening Briefing - New York Times

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Traveling to Europe may start feeling a lot more like trying to get into Cuba and Congo. For generations, skipping across the pond was as easy as catching your flight and clearing customs. But in an announcement on Friday, the European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans visiting five European countries which include Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania.

Normally, no visa is required for American to visit any European countries, but after the European Commission implements the new laws, American travelers will be required to apply for extra documents for any travel to the five countries for 12 months.

There is no word yet on when the visa requirements will take affect, but according to a report from Reuters, a Commission official said contacts are ongoing with the U.S. administration "to push for full visa reciprocity," but fell short of saying that immediate action would be taken. However, the vote to implement visas also urged the Commission to adopt restrictive measures against U.S. citizens "within two months" so anyone planning to take a trip to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania might have a few new and unexpected hoops to jump through starting in May.

The change in visa requirements is the continuation of what some are calling a visa war between the European Commission and the US, and comes on the tail of a recent discovery by the EC. The commission found three years ago that the US (along with Australia, Brunei, Japan and Canada) have not met obligations under the reciprocity agreement. However, no visa requirements are being made for Australia, Brunei, Japan and Canadaonly the U.S.

Requiring visas from U.S. travelers is a response from the U.S. Capitals refusal to grant visa-free access to people from four east European states and Cyprus, while those from the other 23 member states can enter using the U.S. visa waiver program. Since EU law requires equal treatment for all Union citizens, this seems to be a tit-for-tat response to Washington.

The visa requirement will surely have a negative affect on tourism dollars, but as for how it will affect travelers, experts say that any real inconveniences may just be a flash in the political pan. In light of the recent announcement by the EU Parliament, we do not anticipate any changes for American travelers, with several reports indicating that actual policy change is highly unlikely."

Leigh Barnes, the regional director of Intrepid Travel in North America, says. Intrepid Travel, the world's largest adventure travel company, offers trips to all five of the European countries affected by the visa requirements besides Cyprus. "Europe, specifically Croatia, has been among our most popular destinations for American travelers in 2017. This announcement should be seen first and foremost as a political statement and we do not foresee it effecting travel between the United States and European Union."

As far as it goes for those with travel plans to Poland or Cypris within the next few months, Barnes recommends that travelers not let let political pettiness get the best of their chance to experience the world. "Amidst this on going visa-saga, the most important and impactful thing people can do is to continue traveling, crossing borders and fully embracing all this world has to offer," he says.

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The European Union Announces the End of Visa-Free Travel - Men's Journal

The former Soviet nation, which Britains Foreign Office advises against travel to conflict-ravaged areas, are set to defy Vladimir Putins wishes to sign the deal with Brussels.

The Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement was finalised in time for president Serzh Sargsyans visit to Brussels earlier this week.

European Council president Donald Tusk after Mondays talks said it will broaden the scope of our relations.

In an interview with Euronews, president Sargsyan said: Because of the will of both sides, this agreement isnt so much different from the previous one.

EURONEWSGETTY

I think we can be useful for the European Union with the exports

president Serzh Sargsyan

They are no much different in political part, we have to make sure there are no contradictions with our commitments to the Eurasian Economic Agreement, which we are a member of.

Armenia has close ties with Russia, with Moscow supplying energy to the nation as well as maintaining a constant military presence there. President Putins troops have conducted several military exercises there amid heightened tension with the West.

However, president Sargsyan has stressed Armenias closer integration with the EU will bring Europe closer to Russias Eurasian Economic Union.

he said: At the very beginning of the negotiations, our understanding was that we can have both the association agreement with the EU and close integration with the Eurasian Economic Union.

In a show of defiance to Moscow, president Sargsyan added: Russians never told us we could never sign such an agreement, they told us, You can, but youll have to pay for energy at world market price.

The Armenian leader has used the potential deal, which could be signed as early as May, as a springboard to bring Nato and Russia together.

Ive met with the Nato secretary general. I invited him to Armenia for us to celebrate our work of the past 25 years, he added.

We dont see any contradiction between this partnership and our alliance with Russia within the framework of the CSTO.

On a lighter note, president Sargsyan was happy to crack a joke by suggesting Manchester United star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has already been a good export to Europe from Armenia.

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We have many famous people like Henrikh Mkhitaryan or chess player Levon Aronian, we have Olympic champions, he said.

I think we can be useful for the European Union with the exports of our wonderful agricultural products, IT is also very rapidly developing in Armenia, however, first of all, we can be a reliable and predictable neighbour for the EU.

The Foreign Office advises against travel to areas affected by the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, which have causes fierce clashes between the two nations.

On the night of February 24, the Armenian army attempted to infiltrate through Azerbaijani positions along the line of contact and seize favourable positions on the frontline.

However, the attack failed after Azerbaijani forces pushed back in a heavy battle. The neighbouring countrys defence ministry has claimed Armenias armed forces have violated ceasefire terms 265 times on March 3.

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EU expansion? War-ridden Armenia CONCLUDES European Union partnership deal - Express.co.uk

The European Union has received formal notification of 21st Century Foxs intention to takeover European pay-TV operator Sky in a 11.7 billion ($14.3 billion) deal. The move triggers a regulatory process that could result in the deal being blocked.

Karen Bradley, the U.K.s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said Friday that she is likely to refer the deal to the media regulator on two public interest grounds: media plurality and broadcasting standards.

Fox and Sky can now make further written representations, and Bradley has 10 working days to decide whether to issue a European Intervention Notice. This would trigger action by media regulator Ofcom to look at the issues and report back to Bradley, who would have the final say.

The proposed deal was first announced on Dec. 9 when Sky revealed it had received an approach from Fox to acquire the remaining 61% share of Sky it does not already own.

Bradley will inform the U.K. Parliament on progress of the take-over and her role in relation to it on Monday.

A Fox spokeswoman said: As we have previously indicated, we anticipate regulators will undertake a thorough review of the transaction, and we look forward to engaging with them as appropriate. We are confident that the transaction will be approved based on a compelling fact set.

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Fox Formally Notifies European Union of Sky Takeover - Variety

European Union HQ in Brussels. | File Photo

WARSAW: A Polish member of the European Parliament has launched another sexist tirade, calling it a "20th-century stereotype that women have the same intellectual potential as men," and that the stereotype "must be destroyed because it is not true."

Janusz Korwin-Mikke's insults on Friday in Warsaw came two days after he told the European Parliament that "women must earn less than men because they are weaker, they are smaller, they are less intelligent."

The president of the Parliament opened an investigation Thursday into the comments, for which Korwin-Mikke could face sanctions such as a reprimand, a fine or a temporary suspension.

His latest blast came after he was challenged by female lawmakers during a visit to the Polish parliament in Warsaw. Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, from the Modern party, accused him of offending women and said she would not allow him to do it again.

"There are more women than men in Poland, we're better educated, and I will not let you offend Polish women, European women and women all over the world. It's a disgrace," she told him.

Korwin-Mikke has a history of getting attention for outrageous comments, including comparing the European Union to the Third Reich.

In 2015, he raised his arm in a Nazi salute to make a political point in the European Parliament, the EU's elected legislative arm, forcing the centrist government in Warsaw at the time to apologize and express shame for his behavior.

Korwin-Mikke heads a small party which won just under 5 percent of the vote in Poland's last parliamentary election in 2015, failing to clear the 5 percent threshold to get any seats.

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Polish European Union lawmaker says women intellectually inferior to men - The New Indian Express