Have you ever wondered where the government stores its most precious documents and artifacts, or where they process top secret information and carry out military attacks on the enemy? This is a list of 15 of the most secret and secure facilities on the planet, many of which you probably have never even heard of because their locations are classified. Many of these secret bases are hidden beneath the ground, inside of a mountain or located in the middle of nowhere, so it is difficult to establish exact information on them. However, it is intriguing to get a glimpse into these hidden and murky worlds, even if it is only from the outside.

In what could be viewed as history in the making, the UK government has made it mandatory for all domestic travellers between Northern Ireland and the mainland to carry and display ID cards to the authorities. The rule applies to all flights, ferries and all other modes of transportation from January 2008.

This exercise is on to curb the rise in terrorist activity that's on a high for the past few years. Carrying ID cards and being validated helps the authorities track down possible suspects or illegal immigrants.

Here's the rationale as provided by the Home Office publication: "It is often the case that domestic travel forms part of a journey beginning or ending overseas."

"For example, having arrived in the Republic or Northern Ireland from overseas, terrorist targets may then use domestic air and sea routes for travel to...the UK mainland."

"The lack of data on the domestic leg of such journeys creates a critical gap in the intelligence picture."

I have a feeling that the Muslim community might face the wrath as the ID cards make them identifiable.

This process will possibly be a bottle neck for travellers between the two states. A lot of inconvenience and delays will be a direct resultant. Heathrow is a practical example of such security checks.

Meanwhile MPs from Northern Ireland have shot down the new rule stating that the new exercise make the people from Northern Ireland look like second class citizens. There are reports that the ID card rule might be challenged in the courts.

via BNP

For many people, travelling with a Rottweiler is an inconvenient and inefficient method for staying secure. And, as you would have to struggle to get your CCTV system through customs, it's always useful to have a few tips at hand in order to stay a step ahead of petty hotel thieves.

Although much of these tips seem like common sense, there are still a staggering number of people who treat their hotel room like a casino safe - they leave everything they have on show while they tan by the pool and are surprised to come back and see their valuables gone. So be patient, and you just might save yourselves a lot of hassle, as well as a small fortune.

So here are a few tips to help you avoid getting your identity stolen when on the road!

The news about security getting beefed up isn’t new anymore to UK residents and travellers to UK. It has become routine and everybody seems to accept the fact that travellers coming in to the country or leaving have to go through the arduous lengthy process of security checks.

The British government in its ditch effort has decided to get more details about every traveller to UK. They are planning on obtaining 53 pieces of information on every tourist entering and leaving the country. Airlines and ships are expected to provide basic details like name, sex, date of birth, nationality, type of travel document, issuing state, date of reservation, passenger address, contact numbers of tourists and agents along with the hotels they plan on residing.

This whole exercise of comprehensive checks is expected to cost the government a whopping £1.2b. The cost of security checks may be levied on airlines and carriers which may in turn charge the traveller.

via IR News Agency

Terrorists try to target public places where the damage to human lives would be maximum. If there are long lines for people to clear the security checks, this itself could be potential targets, according to a report tabled by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee.

The Government is unnecessarily creating new volatile spots for terrorists to carry out their attack by accumulating tons of people in one small area.

Professor Alan Hatcher of the International School for Security and Explosives Education said: "One of my concerns is that we are creating new targets. We have lines of people in terminals now, 200, 300 people in a queue, your bag is not searched when you go in or out, you can take 23 kg of baggage with you and 23 kg of ammonium nitrate mix would... make a good impact."

Although the report didn’t provide a solution to the reminiscent problem, detection of a problem is as good as averting yet another suicide attack. There’s always a way out; for everything.

via Jane's