UNITED NATIONS – Passengers aboard foreign flights originating from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa will soon be forced to place all large electronic devices in their checked baggage, according to a new Department of Homeland Security rule rolled out on Monday. The U.K. is reportedly considering implementing a similar restriction, a sign the two countries are responding to the same intelligence threat. Not specified in the U.S. order is the precise size of electronic devices subject to the new rule. Notably exempt from the ban are American carriers flying out of those same airports, including foreign airlines that use U.S. security personnel to carry out security screening overseas. Now have to fly to, say, Istanbul via Frankfurt, London, or Paris — Tom Pepinsky (@TomPepinsky) March 21, 2017The DHS/TSA electronics restrictions are scheduled to expire on Oct. 14.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 21, 2017 16:18 UTC