The TSA is now imposing a temporary new ban on most aerosols, gels, powders, and liquids in carry-ons on U.S. flights to Russia — bringing American regulations into line with the rules that Russia itself imposed earlier this week.
Prescription medications will, however, be allowed.
The new restriction applies only to flights from the U.S. to Russia — and apply for the next 30 days. The TSA will decide next month, after the Olympics are over, whether to renew it.
One U.S. official says the decision to impose the carry-on ban today is not based on new intelligence.
Instead, it's the result of the advisory yesterday about toothpaste tubes and similar containers. A decision was apparently made yesterday to adopt this temporary restriction, but it took time to decide on its precise form, another official said.