US laptop ban on planes

THE United States last night announced a new swathe of tough security measures.

Passengers flying to the US from 12 foreign countries will be banned from taking electronic devices including iPads, laptops and Kindles into plane cabins.

The ban, which authorities said was a reaction to an unspecified terrorist threat, will be announced today by the Homeland Security Department and will be effective immediately. It apply to national airlines in Jordan and Saudi Arabia although it is unclear what other countries will be affected.

A US official said no American airlines were impacted by the ban, which would prevent any devices larger than a mobile phone being carried in hand luggage.