In the nearly 10 years since the September 11 attacks in the US, we have had a shoe bomber in December 2001, the liquids scare in 2006 and the underwear bomber last Christmas Day. The latest incident may represent a new threat involving explosive powder, or may just be a twist on the liquids scare. An investigation was ordered by the White House and is under way.
If the explosive powder case does add a new element, it could trigger a new wave of air security rules.
Some would be publicised, while others would not. That is because US federal law bars airlines flying to the US from revealing the directives they receive from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The reasoning is valid - if would-be hijackers know what screening procedures the US employs, they would have a higher chance of evading them.
Immediately after the incident, new directives were issued for US flights regarding passengers' use of blankets and lavatories, although these were eased a few days later.
Attention has also focused on body scanners that can detect hidden items such as the explosive device that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had allegedly sewed into his underwear in preparation for his attack aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it was arriving in Detroit from Amsterdam.
Body scanners are likely to become more common, and the US government plans to have 450 devices in place by September for use as a front-line screening tool. There has been speculation that the TSA may take such extra measures as patting the soles of passengers' feet, searching bags even after they pass the scanner, and banning extra carry-on bags.
Immediately after the Christmas Day incident, the US ordered new procedures for travellers going to the US from any of 14 listed countries. All of the countries except Cuba, Afghanistan and Pakistan are in the Middle East and Africa, meaning Gulf airlines are on the front lines of this issue. Their business plans call for connecting the East and West via their hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. That means Etihad Airways, Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways, which collectively serve six US cities, carry passengers from most of the source countries the US is concerned about. All of this extra screening will complicate the picture for Middle East carriers, says Doug McVitie, the chief consultant for Arran Aerospace.
"For airlines such as those in the Middle East who rely on composite travel - filling their US-bound flights with transit passengers from a variety of countries in the region and in Africa - the scenario is clearly one of more delays, more cost and more inconvenience as additional checks are made and security is tightened across the board," he says.
These carriers have long been pushing into emerging markets that have strong demand but have traditionally had weak locally based air services. Etihad, for example, has announced it will fly to two cities in Nigeria, although it has not scheduled a launch date yet.
The three big Gulf carriers operate in dynamic environments, and all have had to scale back services in response to market changes and geopolitical instability, such as when the civil war in Sri Lanka dragged down tourism, or when the security situation in Pakistan caused a rerouting of Peshawar services to Islamabad last year.
If anything, the air travel industry teaches us that we are all in the security fight together, since air travel is arguably the world's most globalised industry.
When a passenger arrives in Dubai from London's Heathrow, the UAE is relying on the screening procedures by UK authorities to prevent dangerous persons entering the country, and vice versa when passengers fly in the opposite direction.
A number of governmental and non-governmental organisations work together to ensure safety procedures are up to date, including the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For flights to the US, the TSA also has regulatory control, and a TSA representative is based in Abu Dhabi.
It is the TSA that approves screening procedures for US-bound flights, such as certifying certain gates and terminals from which such flights may operate. Both Emirates and Etihad have vowed to remain "in full compliance" with the TSA's evolving security measures.
Among the questions the US investigation over the Christmas incident aims to answer is why Mr Abdulmutallab's alleged attack failed, and whether there are implications for updated screening procedures. Also needing to be answered will be questions such as why the red flags raised by Mr Abdulmutallab's father in Nigeria did not lead authorities to place the suspect on a no-fly list and revoke his US visa; and whether there were lapses at the Amsterdam airport, where Mr Abdulmutallab boarded the Northwest flight.
Some of the findings could have implications for the travel experience of all passengers, as security procedures seek to stay one step ahead of the technology that would-be attackers use for smuggling explosives on to flights. Some of the screening rules may seem onerous, but just remember: we are all in this together. And don't forget to take that laptop out of your bag.
@Email:igale@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Company%20Profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPECS
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
WIDE%20VIEW
%3Cp%3EThe%20benefits%20of%20HoloLens%202%2C%20according%20to%20Microsoft%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EManufacturing%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Reduces%20downtime%20and%20speeds%20up%20onboarding%20and%20upskilling%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngineering%20and%20construction%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Accelerates%20the%20pace%20of%20construction%20and%20mitigates%20risks%20earlier%20in%20the%20construction%20cycle%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EHealth%20care%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Enhances%20the%20delivery%20of%20patient%20treatment%20at%20the%20point%20of%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Improves%20student%20outcomes%20and%20teaches%20from%20anywhere%20with%20experiential%20learning%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
HEY%20MERCEDES%2C%20WHAT%20CAN%20YOU%20DO%20FOR%20ME%3F
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Superliminal%20
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Pillow%20Castle%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Pillow%20Castle%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20One%20%26amp%3B%20X%2FS%2C%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PC%20and%20Mac%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
The Old Slave and the Mastiff
Patrick Chamoiseau
Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
