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Negative coverage of the European Union in British newspapers nearly doubled over the last 40 years, a study has found.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)found negative coverage of the EU increased from 24 per cent to 45 per cent between 1974 and 2013, at the expense of positive and neutral coverage.

Positive coverage fell from 25 per cent to 10 per cent over the same period.

The study, published in the Journal of Common Market Studies,analysed16,400 newspaper articles during five periods from 1974 to 2013 duringwhich the EU washighly prominent in UK news.

Government suffers defeat in Lords over plan to begin Brexit negotiations

By individually analysing each newspaper, the authors showed negative coverage increased steadily fromthe mid-1970sto themid-2010s, a period in which centre-right tabloids increased their EUcoverage.

By the mid-2010s, 85 per cent of EU coverage in the Daily Mailwas negative, compared with less than 25 per cent in the mid-1970s.

Coverage of the EU in centre-right broadsheet newspapers such asThe TimesandtheFinancial Timesremained stable and tended to be factual and based on a pragmatic cost-benefitperspective, the study found.

The researchers said the study illustrates how a minority view can come to be accepted into the mainstream.

Dr Paul Copeland, senior lecturer at QMUL, said:While coverage across the 40 year period stays fairly stable in terms of volume, theres a significant increase of negative coverage in centre-right tabloids.

Our results show that with the exception of the Daily Mirror, the only counter-weight to the noisy and negative minority is factual and neutral reporting: good journalism, but not necessarily effective as a spirited public defence of the EU.

He added: What is interesting is that the noisy minority in the media is reflected so acutely in politics. The pro-European cause is made without passion or vigour.

It is the absence of a truly pro-EU faction that gives the impression that the UK is more Eurosceptic than it truly is. There are no real defenders of the EU to be found.

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Negative coverage of EU in UK newspapers nearly doubled in 40 years, study finds - The Independent

Lord Lamont, another Eurosceptic former Chancellor, added: I have always thought the question of any payments by the UK after Brexit was a political issue not a legal one.

Steve Baker, a leading Eurosceptic Tory MP, added: I am delighted the Lords are playing their part in recalibrating the EUs speculative and unjustified demands.

Of course after we leave we are obliged to pay nothing and their lordships are right to set out the legal position.

Jean Claude Juncker, the EU President, warned the UK would face a very hefty Brexit divorce bill.

The EU wants Britain to be paying as much as 50billion into EU projects for four years after Brexit, with final payments continuing up until the end of 2023.

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'Britain will not have to pay a penny to leave the European Union' - peers hand Theresa May major boost ahead of ... - Telegraph.co.uk

New York Times

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

Credit: W Szymanowicz / Barcroft / Getty Images

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