The government has moved its main passenger data processing centre from Heathrow to a larger hub in Manchester as part of its plans to increase the amount of passenger screening at UK airports. The high-technology Manchester hub, called the National Border Targeting Centre (NBTC), was opened on Thursday by home secretary Alan Johnson. It will perform checks on passengers entering and leaving the UK, and will contribute to the government’s aim of screening 100 percent [...]

Heavily-armoured trucks meant for British soldiers in Afghanistan have been stuck hundreds of miles away in another country for nearly three weeks, it has emerged. As the Ministry of Defence prepares to name the latest British soldier killed in a roadside explosion in southern Afghanistan, officials blamed “operational priorities” for delays in transferring a fleet of Ridgback vehicles from Dubai since July 16. Of the nine trucks – which are built to withstand mines and [...]