China has issued a pair of travel warnings for the United States, warning its citizens that they could be subjected to police harassment and fall victim to criminals.

The Foreign Ministry warned citizens Tuesday that Chinese nationals traveling to the U.S. are "repeatedly harassed" by law enforcement agencies through "border interrogations, "drop-in visits and various other means." The ministry urged Chinese citizens to step up the safety awareness and respond “actively and appropriately."

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a separate travel warning citing a high frequency of shootings, robberies and thefts in the U.S.

Tuesday's alerts were issued a day after the education ministry warned that Chinese students and academics are facing strict visa restrictions imposed by the U.S. government, including delays or even rejections in receiving a visa.

The warnings come amid a sharp erosion of bilateral ties between Beijing and Washington amid a months-long trade war that has led to a series of retaliatory tit-for-tat tariff increases.

The two global economic superpowers have held numerous talks aimed at resolving their differences, but U.S. President Donald Trump recently boosted taxes on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods after accusing Beijing of reneging on promises to make structural changes to its economic practices.

The Trump administration has also banned American companies from doing business with Chinese technology giant Huawei, alleging the company's technology could be used to spy on Americans for the Chinese government - allegations which Huawei has repeatedly denied. </s> BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China warned its companies operating in the United States on Tuesday they could face harassment from U.S. law enforcement agencies, as it also rebuffed U.S. criticism of a trade white paper as “singing the same old tune”.

Relations between the world’s two largest economies have nosedived in recent months due to a bitter trade war, U.S. sanctions against Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and U.S. support for Chinese-claimed Taiwan.

Tensions rose sharply in May after U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration accused China of having “reneged” on its previous promises to make structural changes to its economic practices.

Washington later slapped additional tariffs of up to 25% on $200 billion of Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate.

After having warned Chinese students and academics on Monday about risks involved in studying in the United States, the government on Tuesday widened its warning to include Chinese companies and tourists.

“In recent days, there have been incidents of gun violence, robberies and thefts in the United States,” China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism said.

“The department reminds Chinese tourists to fully evaluate the risks of going to the United States, to understand the maintenance of public order of their destination, the laws and regulations, and to conscientiously raise their awareness of safety measures to ensure their safety.”

Chinese companies and citizens in the United States should also be aware of harassment from law enforcement agencies, China’s Foreign Ministry added.

Trump’s administration said on Monday that China was pursuing a “blame game” in recent public statements and a weekend white paper that misrepresented the trade negotiations.

In a joint statement, the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office and the U.S. Treasury reiterated their view that China’s negotiators had “back-pedalled” on important elements of a deal that had been largely agreed, including on an enforcement provision.

“Our insistence on detailed and enforceable commitments from the Chinese in no way constitutes a threat to Chinese sovereignty,” USTR and the Treasury said. “Rather, the issues discussed are common to trade agreements and are necessary to address the systemic issues that have contributed to persistent and unsustainable trade deficits.”

RISING ACRIMONY

China on Sunday issued a government policy paper on the U.S.-China trade dispute in which it asserted that the United States bore responsibility for setbacks in the talks, citing three instances in which Washington had backtracked on commitments made during the negotiations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters that the United States was “singing the same old tune”, and urged Washington to read China’s white papers and stop telling itself it is infallible.

Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen, a prominent member of Beijing’s negotiating team, said in presenting the paper to the media that it would be impossible for the United States to use “extreme pressure” to force concessions from China.

Acrimonious rhetoric between Beijing and Washington has steadily increased since talks broke down in early May over U.S. accusations that Beijing had backtracked on commitments to codify in law changes to its intellectual property and technology transfer practices to address U.S. demands.

Flags of U.S. and China are displayed at American International Chamber of Commerce (AICC)'s booth during China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing, China, May 28, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee

“The United States is disappointed that the Chinese have chosen in the ‘White Paper’ issued (on Sunday) and recent public statements to pursue a blame game misrepresenting the nature and history of trade negotiations between the two countries,” USTR and Treasury said in the statement.

The agencies, which have taken the lead in negotiations for the U.S. side, said that the impetus for the negotiations was China’s “long history of unfair trade practices” and U.S. negotiating positions have been consistent throughout the talks.

There have been no talks scheduled since the last round ended in May, and it remains unclear whether Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet when they both attend the G20 leaders summit this month in Japan. </s> Image copyright Getty Images

China has warned its citizens to "fully assess the risks" of travelling to the US given recent "shootings", as tensions between the superpowers rise.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism warned of threats such as robbery and gun violence, state media said.

China's foreign ministry also said US law enforcement agencies have been "harassing" its citizens with interrogation.

It comes amid a power struggle between China and the US over trade.

The US reignited the trade war with tariff hikes in May, and broadened the conflict by blacklisting Chinese tech giant Huawei.

Both sides have imposed tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's goods over the past year, disrupting trade and hurting the global economy.

What exactly did China say?

"Recently there have been shootings, robberies and thefts happening frequently in the US. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reminds Chinese tourists to fully assess the risks of going to the US for travel," said an anchor on Chinese broadcaster CCTV, according to a Reuters translation.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang told a press conference the warning was "necessary in light of current circumstances".

"For some time, US law enforcement agencies have been harassing Chinese citizens with interrogation upon entry or exit, and on-site interviews, among other forms," he said, according to China's foreign ministry website.

"Therefore the Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued the tourism reminder, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy and consulates in the US decided to issue the safety reminder to raise safety awareness. That, I believe, is what a responsible government should do."

What's behind the US-China tensions?

The US accuses China of playing unfairly in trade for years and says tech company Huawei poses a risk to its national security.

The Chinese refute this and increasingly see US moves as an attempt to curb China's growing global influence.

Only recently, the world's two largest economies seemed to be nearing a deal. But while negotiations were still ongoing, the Trump administration accused China of reneging on its promises and more than doubled tariffs on $200bn of Chinese goods.

It also added Huawei to a list of companies that American firms cannot trade with unless they have a licence.

China has retaliated with some tariff hikes of its own.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Why the US-China trade war will hit most of our pockets

Even though there are no known talks scheduled for now, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump are expected to meet at the G20 meeting of leaders in late June.

Analysts are not optimistic about the prospect of a breakthrough, particularly after both sides recently pointed fingers at one another for the trade impasse. </s> Fourteen people were murdered in just 36 hours in the Mexican city of Cancun last week.

All are considered to have been cartel-related but they were dangerously close to popular tourist hotspots. On April 4 alone, nine people were killed and one person was shot.

Five of them were killed in a home where neighbors said the occupants were drug dealers. Another three were killed standing outside a tamale stand next to a clothing store.

On Thursday April 5, another five were murdered in separate incidents in the city, Noticaribe reports.

The spate of violence is the worst in the city since 2004 and occurred as thousands of tourists partied in the town's notorious hotels, bars and clubs for Spring Break.

According to the office of Civil Protection, 112,000 people flocked to Cancun for the holiday.

On April 11, in a separate incident, a woman's body was found in the street with a 'message' left on it.

She had been shot several times in the face.

Since the start of the year, more than 100 people have been shot in the party town.

Earlier this year, locals told SBS the extent of the problem across the country.

'It's not nice to walk in the street and find someone's head. It's very sad to know that your friends have been executed.

'Medics, taxi drivers, doctors, business people - no social class is exempt,' Laura Cabellero, a businesswoman from Acapulco, said.

Acapulco is on the other side of the country where gang violence was mostly contained.

In the last year, the number of murders in Cancun have doubled.

It is enough to prompt warnings from the British foreign office about travelling to the popular holiday destination.

In March, the US State Department issued a warning about the resort of Playa Del Carmen which sits in between Cancun and the celebrity-magnet resort Tulum.

The warning was directed towards ferries between Playa Del Carmen and the snorkelling-hub Cozumel after a boat exploded mid-journey.

Authorities later found explosives on another boat. It is not clear if they were planted.

The advisory was lifted afterwards and there are no warnings in place regarding Cancun or the recent gun violence. </s> Fourteen people were murdered in just 36 hours in the Mexican city of Cancun last week.

All are considered to have been cartel-related but they were dangerously close to popular tourist hotspots. On April 4 alone, nine people were killed and one person was shot.

Five of them were killed in a home where neighbors said the occupants were drug dealers. Another three were killed standing outside a tamale stand next to a clothing store.

On Thursday April 5, another five were murdered in separate incidents in the city, Noticaribe reports.

Cancun is a tourist hotspot on Mexico's Caribbean coast (file image from a separate shooting last year)

Fourteen people were murdered in just 36 hours in the Mexican city of Cancun

The spate of violence is the worst in the city since 2004 and occurred as thousands of tourists partied in the town's notorious hotels, bars and clubs for Spring Break.

According to the office of Civil Protection, 112,000 people flocked to Cancun for the holiday.

On April 11, in a separate incident, a woman's body was found in the street with a 'message' left on it.

She had been shot several times in the face. Since the start of the year, more than 100 people have been shot in the party town.

The closest murders last week were around eight miles from the hotel zone which tourists flock to.

Earlier this year, locals told SBS the extent of the problem across the country.

'It's not nice to walk in the street and find someone's head. It's very sad to know that your friends have been executed.

'Medics, taxi drivers, doctors, business people - no social class is exempt,' Laura Cabellero, a businesswoman from Acapulco, said.

Acapulco is on the other side of the country where gang violence was mostly contained.

A police officer in Cancun stands guard at a crime scene where a truck containing the bodies of six men was found on March 6, 2018. Since the start of the year, more than 100 people have been murdered in the town

A soldier of the Mexican Army patrols Acapulco on the other side of the country where violence is also rife

In the last year, the number of murders in Cancun have doubled.

It is enough to prompt warnings from the British foreign office about travelling to the popular holiday destination.

In March, the US State Department issued a warning about the resort of Playa Del Carmen which sits in between Cancun and the celebrity-magnet resort Tulum.

The warning was directed towards ferries between Playa Del Carmen and the snorkelling-hub Cozumel after a boat exploded mid-journey.

Authorities later found explosives on another boat. It is not clear if they were planted.

The advisory was lifted afterwards and there are no warnings in place regarding Cancun or the recent gun violence. </s> WASHINGTON: One month to the day after a 19-year-old shooter unleashed a hail of gunfire at a Florida high school, tens of thousands of American students will stage a school walkout in a politically charged tribute to the victims.

The "National School Walkout" slated to begin on Wednesday at 10.00am will last 17 minutes - one for each victim shot dead during the Valentine's Day massacre in Parkland.

The event to honour those slain at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School - organised by the same group behind the Women's March, which in January 2017 saw millions of demonstrators take to the streets against Donald Trump's White House inauguration - say the walkout is also an act of protest against the gun violence plaguing the United States.

Those launching calls for action, many under the hashtag #Enough, are urging measures including expanding the background check system and curbing sales of assault-style rifles.

"Students and staff have the right to teach and learn in an environment free from the worry of being gunned down in their classrooms or on their way home from school," wrote organisers on their website.

"We are not safe at school. We are not safe in our cities and towns. Congress must take meaningful action to keep us safe and pass federal gun reform legislation that address the public health crisis of gun violence."

The #Enough movement has also voiced resolute opposition to arming school staff members as a means of defense against future shootings.

Some staunch defenders of gun access floated that proposition in the wake of the Florida bloodbath - and just last week the southeastern state's governor signed into law a measure that would pave the way for such a system.

Meanwhile, both the White House and Congress have shied away from putting forth major reforms on gun sales.

Donald Trump had momentarily signaled support for increasing restrictions, but now stands accused of bowing to the US gun lobby: a new policy statement emphasising the US president's motion to arm school personnel would make "sure our schools are safe and secure, just like our airports, stadiums and government buildings."

It did not, however, mention new federal purchasing age limits or expanding firearms vetting.

The US has seen a spate of fatal school shootings in recent years, posing a threat to students of all ages.

Some parents and teachers have said protesting around the sensitive issue could be particularly traumatic for America's youngest.

To prepare for Wednesday's planned walkout, organisers therefore fostered debate among students of various ages to discuss forms of expression like rallies and posters, as well as slogans.

Some schools have also raised the issue of allowing students to leave their high school campuses even if parents grant permission.

One Texas district warned that school authorities would slap any student who walked out with a three-day suspension.

"We will discipline no matter if it is one, fifty, or five hundred students involved," said the Needville schools superintendent in a statement widely published on US media. "A school is a place to learn and grow educationally, emotionally and morally."

"A disruption of the school will not be tolerated."

Sarah Hinger of the American Civil Liberties Union - an organisation working to protect constitutional rights including the right to free speech - called that stance a "disservice."

"A disciplinary response is a disservice to young people and a missed educational opportunity," she said. </s> Attacker detained and taken for questioning

ISTANBUL: A researcher killed four fellow staff members in a shooting yesterday at a university in the western Turkish city of Eskisehir, in one of the deadliest incidents of its kind seen in Turkey. Deadly shootouts-often caused by arguments that degenerate into violence are relatively common in Turkey. But a shooting on a campus is highly unusual. Those killed were the deputy dean of the education faculty, faculty secretary and two lecturers at Osmangazi University, the university said in a statement.

The attacker, himself a researcher at the education faculty, was later detained after initially trying to flee the scene, the Dogan news agency said. Police were questioning him. The university’s rector Hasan Gonen confirmed to CNN-Turk television that four people had been killed. He said the attacker-named by state media as Volkan B-initially went to the dean’s office and shot at the others after finding it empty.

Gonen described the individual as a “problematic” person who had been verbally insulting the academic personnel. “We are launching an investigation into the researcher. He was a problematic person… I believe he targeted the personnel as a result of psychological problems,” he said. He added the university did not know how the man had entered the university grounds with a gun but did not think the incident had any links to terror. Campuses in Turkey are usually well guarded.

Shock and panic

 Eskisehir, a city of nearly one million, is on the railway line between Ankara and Istanbul and has rarely been the scene of any kind of violent attack. “We are extremely sad. The chief prosecutor’s office is tackling the incident,” said Eskisehir governor Ozdemir Cakacak. Some reports said the attacker had also upset staff members by alleging that they were members of the group of Fethullah Gulen blamed for the 2016 failed coup.

Dogan said that the attack sparked panic at the university, with both students and teachers in a state of shock. Television pictures showed shocked staff and students gathering outside the university’s main entrance. Many ambulances were sent to the area. Some pictures showed tearful staff speaking on mobile phones seeking to assure relatives that they were not harmed. Turkey has in recent years been hit by a string of deadly attacks blamed on Kurdish militants and jihadists. However there was no indication of any link between yesterday’s shooting and extremist activity.–AFP </s> NEW YORK, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines and United Airlines on Saturday became the latest major corporations to sever marketing ties with the National Rifle Association as the fallout from last week’s massacre at a Florida high school took its toll on the gun advocacy group.

The exodus of corporate names, ranging from a major insurer to car rental brands and a household moving company, began after the NRA launched a counter-offensive against a student-led campaign for tighter U.S. gun laws.

In tweets on Saturday, Delta and United said they were no longer offering NRA members discounted rates and that they would ask the NRA to remove their information from its website.

NRA officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In recent days, NRA spokespeople have lashed out at gun control advocates, arguing that Democratic elites are politicizing the deadly rampage in Florida to erode gun owners’ rights.

The issue of gun control, and the NRA’s role in opposing it, became the focus of renewed national debate after a former student killed 17 people on Feb. 14 at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Parkland, using an AR-15 assault rifle he had purchased legally.

The attrition of NRA corporate partners began on Thursday when three rental car brands owned by Enterprise Holdings Inc said they were ending discount programs, and First National Bank of Omaha said it would not renew the NRA’s contract to issue a co-branded Visa card.

By Friday, the list of defectors grew to include Symantec Corp, which ended a discount program for its LifeLock identity theft product. Home security company SimpliSafe and Hertz Corp also terminated discount programs.

Chubb Ltd said it would stop underwriting a NRA-branded insurance policy for gun owners that covers legal costs in self-defense shootings. Another insurer, MetLife Inc , also said it had ended an auto and home incentive program for NRA members. And North American Van Lines said it was scrapping its an affiliate relationship with the NRA.

The U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment protects the right of Americans to bear arms. The NRA, which has long used campaign donations and effective lobbying to command political influence, argues that stricter gun control would erode individual rights. </s> The U.S. government will ban Americans from travelling to North Korea due to "the serious risk of arrest" after an American student was jailed while on a tour and later died, the State Department said on Friday.

WASHINGTON/SEOUL: The U.S. government will ban Americans from travelling to North Korea due to "the serious risk of arrest" after an American student was jailed while on a tour and later died, the State Department said on Friday.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson authorized a "Geographical Travel Restriction" on all Americans' use of a passport to the country, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

"Once in effect, U.S. passports will be invalid for travel to, through and in North Korea, and individuals will be required to obtain a passport with a special validation in order to travel to or within North Korea," Nauert said.

The move was due to "mounting concerns over the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention under North Korea's system of law enforcement," she added.

North Korea has detained two Korean-American academics and a missionary, a Canadian pastor and three South Korean nationals who were doing missionary work there. Japan says at least several dozen of its nationals are being held in the country.

The State Department plans to publish a notice in the Federal Register next week, starting a 30-day clock before the restriction takes effect, Nauert said.

Nauert said Americans who want to travel to North Korea "for certain limited humanitarian or other purposes" can apply for a special passport to do so.

Young Pioneer, a company that arranges tours to North Korea, took American student Otto Warmbier to the country at the end of 2015.

He was arrested there and sentenced to 15 years of hard labour for an incident at his hotel where he was accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner.

North Korea released the 22-year-old Warmbier in June in a coma and he died days after getting back to the United States. The circumstances surrounding his death are not clear, including why he fell into a coma.

North Korea has said through its state media that Warmbier's death was "a mystery" and dismissed accusations that he had died as a result of torture and beating in captivity.

The isolated North Korea allows foreign tourists to visit but their travel is strictly limited.

Hundreds of Americans are among the roughly 4,000 to 5,000 Western tourists who visit North Korea each year, according to U.S. Representative Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina.

Earlier this year Wilson introduced a bill with Democratic Representative Adam Schiff to ban Americans from travelling to North Korea as tourists.

Anthony Ruggiero, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former U.S. Treasury official, said the State Department's action is important because it limits North Korea's ability to use detained Americans as a bargaining chip with Washington.

A Treasury Department ban, which must be authorized by Congress, would be more effective than just the State Department ban, he said.

"Treasury has experience implementing a travel ban and an established procedure for issuing exceptions," Ruggiero said.

A Treasury Department spokesman did not immediately say whether the agency is considering such a ban.

Tom Bodkin, managing director of the UK-based adventure travel company Secret Compass, said the travel ban is "a bit of a shame."

"Travel between different cultures breaks down the preconceptions that you have about different cultures and breaks down the stereotypes that you have," he said.

Secret Compass has brought three Americans among the 19 people it took to North Korea since launching tours there last fall, he said.

North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to strike the United States with a nuclear missile - a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020.
China expands its warnings about travel to the U.S. issued for students and academics yesterday, to now cover tourists and businesses because, "in recent days, there have been incidents of gun violence, robberies and thefts in the United States".