European nations tighten US travel advisories amid detentions

Several European countries have updated their travel advisories for the United States this week following the detention of multiple European nationals, including German citizens, upon arrival.

Germany's Foreign Office said it is taking the recent incidents involving German travelers seriously.

It has been clarified that an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval or a U.S. visa does not, in every case, authorize entry into the United States, a spokesperson told public broadcaster ARD's Tagesschau.

The advisory update follows reports of three German nationals being detained at U.S. entry points, including one green card holder. Two of the individuals have since returned to Germany.

In response to the incidents, Britain also revised its travel advice, warning of strict enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. People may be liable to arrest or detention if breaking the rules, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said on Thursday.

Britain's foreign office confirmed earlier this month that it was providing support to a British national reportedly detained at the border in the United States.

Finland issued a similar update on Friday, cautioning that even valid travel documents might not guarantee entry under current U.S. policies. The Finnish Foreign Ministry also noted recent changes requiring visa or ESTA applicants to declare both their gender and gender at birth, which could result in denied entry if inconsistencies are found.

Additionally, Finnish authorities warned travelers to avoid large gatherings in major U.S. cities, citing the risk of politically motivated demonstrations turning violent.

Furthermore, French officials have recently disclosed that a French researcher who went to the United States for a meeting was found by U.S. border agents to have chat messages criticizing U.S. government policies when entering the country. As a result, his equipment was confiscated, and he was banned from entering the country, and was deported the next day.

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 20 pips to 7.0108 against the U.S. dollar Monday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.

In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.

The central parity rate of the yuan against the U.S. dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.