TRAVEL SECURITY NEWS UPDATE.

The U.S. Department of State is alerting U.S. citizens to the possibility of escalating civil unrest in Bangladesh. On Aug. 21, there was an assassination attempt on a political leader and senior members of her party involving grenades and gunfire. At least 19 people were killed and 200 injured. There has since been vehicle burning in Dhaka and a few other cities. A train was firebombed in Bhairab. There are no reports of Americans being attacked in the country yet. State says they should, however, avoid all demonstrations and large crowds. Aug 25, 2004

US Transportation Security Administration began the Registered Traveler Pilot Program at Logan International Airport in Boston in conjunction with American Airlines. Similar pilots have been launched in Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Houston. TSA said it is on track to expand the pilot program to Reagan Washington National Airport, also with American, by the end of this month. The pilot will last about 90 days at each airport. Aug 18, 2004

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Aug. 3 2004 that it will pilot and evaluate US-VISIT automated biometric exit procedures for foreign visitors. The program will expand from its current locations in Baltimore and Miami to Chicago this month, and in September will be piloted in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Juan, Seattle and Los Angeles. Any foreign visitor with a visa leaving the U.S. through one of these pilot sites will be required to comply. In addition, after Sept. 30 visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program will be required to comply as well. The exit procedures will require foreign visitors to check out at an automated exit station, or with a US-VISIT exit gate attendant. Aug 3, 2004

BAE Systems was selected by the US Dept. of Homeland Security to participate in Phase II of its Counter-MANPADS program to protect commercial aircraft against threats posed by infrared guided missiles. Under the $45 million contract, BAE Systems' Information and Electronic Warfare Systems will develop, test and evaluate a prototype system using existing military and commercial technology. Phase II is expected to last 18 months, followed by a DHS recommendation to the Bush administration and Congress. Aug 27, 2004

Southwest Airlines awarded Kroll Background America a two-year contract to provide the airline with background checks on all employees and contractors, including pilots, flight attendants, security personnel, ground operations crews and ramp and reservation agents. Aug 19, 2004