New rules for electronic device searches at U.S. points of entry.
New rules introduced last week will require U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to have “reasonable suspicion” of criminal behaviour in order to carry out advanced searches of electronic devices held by individuals entering or exiting the country.
While agents will be able to continue to examine data stored on a device, they will need to demonstrate a reasonable suspicion of criminal intent or a ‘national security concern’ to further analyze that data, such as connecting a smartphone to an external device to inspect or copy its contents.
They say that in this digital age, border searches of electronic devices are essential to enforcing the law at the U.S. border and to protecting the American people.
At the same time CBP is committed to preserving the civil rights and civil liberties of those encountered, including the small number of travellers whose devices are searched, which is why the updated directive includes provisions above and beyond prevailing constitutional and legal requirements.
According to the agency, 30,200 border searches, both inbound and outbound, of electronic devices were conducted in 2017, approximately 0.007 per cent of the more than 397 million arriving international travelers processed by CBP officers. By comparison, in 2016, 0.005 per cent - more than 18,400 - of the more than 390 million arriving international travellers had their electronic devices searched.
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China Extends Visa-Free period up to 144 Hours.
China has extended its visa-free period for travellers passing through the Beijing region to 144 hours.
Six points of arrival in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, including the Beijing Capital International Airport, Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Shijiazhuang International Airport, will permit travellers from 53 countries, including Canada, to enjoy visa-free transit treatment for a period of 144 hours when they have a valid connecting flight ticket for a third country or region.
China has extended its visa-free period for travellers passing through the Beijing region to 144 hours.
Six points of arrival in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, including the Beijing Capital International Airport, Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Shijiazhuang International Airport, will permit travellers from 53 countries, including Canada, to enjoy visa-free transit treatment for a period of 144 hours when they have a valid connecting flight ticket for a third country or region.
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BA unveils multi-million pound investment in World Traveller catering.
British Airways has unveiled a multi-million pound investment in its long-haul economy catering, which will improve the meal service on their Vancouver-London service.
From January 17, it will introduce an 'exciting and expanded' new World Traveller menu that will change every six months.
It claims the move will improve both the quantity and quality of its m
Changes include pretzels with the welcome drink, a four-course meal with a bottle of water, a second light meal of a sandwich or pizza wrap, Magnum ice creams and snack boxes.
Passengers will be able to save some items for later in the flight, so the water cup is being replaced with a bottle of Highland Spring on the first meal, and additional Graze snack boxes will be added on their longest flights including Vancouver.
Magnum ice-creams are also being offered on daylight flights from London and a Tuck Box on inbound and overnight flights.
Today's announcement comes as the airline confirmed the introduction of seats that passengers are unable to recline on short-haul flights.
The new seats, designed to help BA keep prices low, will be set to a 'gentle' recline but won't allow passengers to recline them any further.
The new seats will be on 35 brand new short-haul planes arriving over the next five years and in the cabins of all of BA's existing A320 and A321 aircraft at Heathrow.
BA is also installing at-seat power throughout the aircraft and is introducing onboard Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi is already being rolled out on long-haul aircraft.
There are two paid-for WiFi packages - 'Browse' and 'Stream', and for one hour, four hours or the full flight. Browse starts from £4.99 and Stream start from £7.99.
BA is investing a total of £4.5 billion in improvements over the next five years, installing Wi-Fi, in-seat power, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft.
The airline is also investing £600 million specifically in Club World.