USA: extra checkpoint screening of airline passengers from 14 countries

Due to a new directive of the Transportation Security Administration airline passengers flying to the U.S. from 14 countries with terrorism problems will face extra checkpoint screening at overseas airports. The countries include Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudia Arabia, Somalia and Yemen as well as Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria.

The new directive will be in place indefinitely and replaces an emergency order the TSA imposed after a Nigerian passenger tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight near Detroit on Dec. 25.

Source: USA Today; find article here>> and TSA statement here>>.

Iraq: new focus on religious tourism

Hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims, particularly from Iran, visit the city of Najaf, which hosts the tomb of Ali bin Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Though religious tourism brings millions of dollars of revenue every year, local merchants have complained that Iranian companies have monopolised the industry.

Source: eTurboNews; find article here>>.

Austrian Airlines becomes first European airline to fly to Iraq

Austrian Airlines will become the first European airline to fly to Iraq, commencing its flights to the northern Iraqi city of Erbil on December 11. Erbil is Iraq’s fourth largest city and a burgeoning industrial center -- providing rapid and safe access to the cities of Mosul, Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah. Austrian Airlines sees the route to Erbil in the tradition of pioneering that has made Austrian the airline with one of the most comprehensive route networks not only in the Middle East, but also in Eastern and Central Europe and in the new republics that were formerly part of the USSR.
Further information here.