Who's Who? Obama Lookalike Snapped At G20

Various security measures are used to protect the US President when he travels: a rocket-grenade launching limo, hundreds of Secret Service staff - and perhaps even a body double.

When Barack Obama rolled into town for the G20 summit in Australia , it seems his lookalike wasn't far away.

As the President was driven through the streets of Brisbane in his heavily guarded limousine dubbed The Beast, a "decoy" Barack Obama was snapped by a local newspaper photographer - apparently in a decoy Beast.

The unnamed possible Obama lookalike even did the obligatory wave for the cheering crowd, the Courier-Mail reported.

If this is a presidential decoy, it's not the first time a world leader has had a body double.

Former dictator Saddam Hussein apparently had multiple lookalikes during his time as head of Iraq and it has been claimed Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had up to six.

The leader of the free world and his decoy are photographed in separate Beasts as the US president rolls into town for the summit.

Government faces criticism over end of UK Vehicle tax discs

Drivers 'not adequately warned' over end of tax discs

Government faces criticism for leaving motorists confused and at risk of fines

Thousands of United Kingdom drivers are at risk of fines because they have had insufficient warning about the abolition of tax discs by the Government, motoring experts said last night.

Paper discs on car windscreens are due to vanish from October 1, and will be replaced by electronic records that will use police cameras to check number plates to catch owners who have not paid.

A survey published yesterday found fewer than half of drivers are aware of the changes, which prevent the discs being passed to new owners when cars are sold.

Nearly three million used cars change hands each year and drivers who inadvertently flout the new rules face fines of up to £1,000.

Motoring organisations said the Government had failed to provide enough information on the reforms, causing confusion among motorists and car dealers.

Tim Marriott, a spokesman for the Auto Trader website, said: “There has been a lack of guidance and advice.

“Anyone buying a new car will no longer be able to benefit if there are months left on a car’s tax disc as their tax will no longer be transferred with the car, so buyers will need to renew their disc straightaway or risk facing a fine.”

Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA, said: “Vast numbers of people could be hit, as many car sales involve someone saying ‘I’ve put tax on the car for you’.

“That this will no longer be possible has not been well-communicated at all.” Under the new rules, car sellers must tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) immediately of the change of ownership, and the new owner must register to pay tax before driving the car away.

Motorists who drive a car away with the intention of asking the DVLA to transfer a disc to their name will be breaking the law, Mr Watters said. He also said that people who rented or borrowed vehicles would have “no way of knowing” whether the car tax was up-to-date without checking an online register first. Drivers of borrowed or rented vehicles which are untaxed face £50 fines.

A poll by Money site found 50 per cent of drivers could not name the date the reform took effect.

The price comparison website found six per cent of motorists believed the changes were not coming into force until next year.

Car dealerships have also been “left in the dark” over the changes, industry sources said, and could accidentally break the law. James Batchelor, editor of Car Dealer Magazine, said: “Car dealerships are extremely confused and angry.

"The government hasn't gone nearly far enough to educate the buyers or sellers on how the new tax disc system will work.” He said second-hand car sales could take “far longer” due to the complexities of ensuring a vehicle is properly taxed.

The DVLA only began sending notifications to a small number of drivers this month.

A spokesman said there was information online and “good coverage on social media”. “We’ve been working with stakeholders and commercial customers to make sure businesses and the public are aware of what the changes will mean for them," the spokesman said.

The car tax disc, which was introduced in 1921, will cease to exist in paper form from October 1. A new electronic system will take its place.

No more tax?

Not quite. You can tear up the disc police will no longer check them but tax will still be due.

Why the change, then?

The move should 'save taxpayers £10 million' in the hunt for tax dodgers, government estimates suggest. The digital system should streamline services, saving businesses millions of pounds a year in administrative costs, the DVLA said.

What do I have to do?

Nothing until your disc is due for renewal. At that point, you will receive renewal notice to pay online, by phone or in the Post Office. You will be able to reduce the hassle by setting up a direct debit under the new system.

How will those who don’t pay be spotted?

Number plates are all the police need to identify those breaching rules. An online database includes every car’s tax status next to the registration number. Drivers will be watched by cameras on the roads and inspectors armed with access the database. Non-payers will receive warnings when tax is overdue.

Can I sell my tax disc with the car?

No. This is the biggest departure from the paper-based system. Sellers will not be able to transfer tax with ownership of the vehicle. So anyone who buys a used car will no longer benefit if there are months left on the tax disc. This means buyers will have to renew their tax disc straight away, or risk being caught out on the road in an untaxed car.

The seller of the vehicle is responsible for informing the DVLA of a change of ownership, otherwise they could face a £1,000 fine.

Can I claim the tax if I sell?

Yes. When the DVLA is notified, vehicle sellers will get an automatic refund for any full calendar months left on the vehicle tax. This is the case today, but just seven in 10 sellers claim a refund.

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 Death of the tax disc: learn new rules or risk £1,000 fine

Private Hire Airport Taxis

Warning to Kenyans Citizen Travelling Through Heathrow Airport London UK

Kenya warns her citizen against travel through London's Heathrow Airport.

Kenya has issued travel advisory to her citizens travelling through Heathrow Airport after US officials said Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen and Syria were developing sophisticated bombs that could bring down a plane.
The information states that Britain would be the most likely country to be affected.
"Based on this information, Kenyans are advised NOT to travel through London Heathrow where there is substantial threat of a possible attack. Kenyans are therefore advised to seek alternative travel routes to connect to the United States and European countries. These include Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Amsterdam and Addis Ababa in order to minimize the risk and avoid possible delays," said Foreign Affairs PS Karanja Kibicho in a statement.
Britain has stepped up security at airports after U.S. officials said they were concerned that al Qaeda operatives in Syria and Yemen were developing bombs that could be smuggled onto planes.
"This is something that we've discussed with the Americans and what we've done is put in place some extra precautions and extra checks," Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters.
"The safety of the travelling public must come first. We mustn't take any risks with that. I hope this won't lead to unnecessary delays but it's very important that we always put safety first and we do," Cameron said.
The United States requested tougher security at overseas airports with nonstop flights to its cities.
The request came as U.S. security sources said bomb makers from the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula were believed to be working to develop explosives that could avoid detection by current airport screening systems.
The main concern is that militant groups could try to blow up U.S.- or Europe-bound planes by concealing bombs on foreign fighters carrying Western passports who spent time with Islamist rebel factions in the region, the U.S. sources said.
A spokeswoman for Britain's transport ministry declined to give any further details on the security measures but a witness at London's Heathrow Airport boarding a flight to the United States said shoes, bags and electrical equipment such as laptops were being checked.
Heathrow is the world's third busiest airport and the busiest in Europe, serving 191,200 passengers per day. American Airlines, Delta and United Airlines fly from the airport.
Britain, which lost 52 people when suicide bombers struck the London transport system on July 7, 2005, said its current threat level was 'substantial', a level that means there is a strong possibility of an attack.
That level has been in place since July 2011 when the level was lowered to 'substantial' from 'severe', a level that means an attack is highly likely.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-176371/kenya-warns-her-citizen-against-travel-through-londons-heathrow-airport#sthash.yZR00E0o.dpuf

Passengers head towards security control at Heathrow airport in London July 3, 2014. Britain has stepped up security at airports after U.S. officials said they were concerned that al Qaeda operatives in Syria and Yemen were developing bombs that could be smuggled onto planes.

Kenya has issued travel advisory to her citizens travelling through Heathrow Airport after US officials said Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen and Syria were developing sophisticated bombs that could bring down a plane.

The information states that Britain would be the most likely country to be affected. "Based on this information, Kenyans are advised NOT to travel through London Heathrow where there is substantial threat of a possible attack. Kenyans are therefore advised to seek alternative travel routes to connect to the United States and European countries. These include Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Amsterdam and Addis Ababa in order to minimize the risk and avoid possible delays," said Foreign Affairs PS Karanja Kibicho in a statement. 

London Heathrow Cabs

 

Britain has stepped up security at airports after U.S. officials said they were concerned that al Qaeda operatives in Syria and Yemen were developing bombs that could be smuggled onto planes.

"This is something that we've discussed with the Americans and what we've done is put in place some extra precautions and extra checks," Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters.

"The safety of the traveling public must come first. We mustn't take any risks with that. I hope this won't lead to unnecessary delays but it's very important that we always put safety first and we do," Cameron said.

The United States requested tougher security at overseas airports with nonstop flights to its cities.

The request came as U.S. security sources said bomb makers from the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula were believed to be working to develop explosives that could avoid detection by current airport screening systems.

The main concern is that militant groups could try to blow up U.S.- or Europe-bound planes by concealing bombs on foreign fighters carrying Western passports who spent time with Islamist rebel factions in the region, the U.S. sources said.

A spokeswoman for Britain's transport ministry declined to give any further details on the security measures but a witness at London's Heathrow Airport boarding a flight to the United States said shoes, bags and electrical equipment such as laptops were being checked.

Heathrow is the world's third busiest airport and the busiest in Europe, serving 191,200 passengers per day. American Airlines, Delta and United Airlines fly from the airport.

Britain, which lost 52 people when suicide bombers struck the London transport system on July 7, 2005, said its current threat level was 'substantial', a level that means there is a strong possibility of an attack.

That level has been in place since July 2011 when the level was lowered to 'substantial' from 'severe', a level that means an attack is highly likely. 

 See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-176371/kenya-warns-her-citizen-against-travel-through-londons-heathrow-airport#sthash.yZR00E0o.dpuf

Kenya has issued travel advisory to her citizens travelling through Heathrow Airport after US officials said Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen and Syria were developing sophisticated bombs that could bring down a plane.
The information states that Britain would be the most likely country to be affected.
"Based on this information, Kenyans are advised NOT to travel through London Heathrow where there is substantial threat of a possible attack. Kenyans are therefore advised to seek alternative travel routes to connect to the United States and European countries. These include Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Amsterdam and Addis Ababa in order to minimize the risk and avoid possible delays," said Foreign Affairs PS Karanja Kibicho in a statement.
Britain has stepped up security at airports after U.S. officials said they were concerned that al Qaeda operatives in Syria and Yemen were developing bombs that could be smuggled onto planes.
"This is something that we've discussed with the Americans and what we've done is put in place some extra precautions and extra checks," Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters.
"The safety of the travelling public must come first. We mustn't take any risks with that. I hope this won't lead to unnecessary delays but it's very important that we always put safety first and we do," Cameron said.
The United States requested tougher security at overseas airports with nonstop flights to its cities.
The request came as U.S. security sources said bomb makers from the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula were believed to be working to develop explosives that could avoid detection by current airport screening systems.
The main concern is that militant groups could try to blow up U.S.- or Europe-bound planes by concealing bombs on foreign fighters carrying Western passports who spent time with Islamist rebel factions in the region, the U.S. sources said.
A spokeswoman for Britain's transport ministry declined to give any further details on the security measures but a witness at London's Heathrow Airport boarding a flight to the United States said shoes, bags and electrical equipment such as laptops were being checked.
Heathrow is the world's third busiest airport and the busiest in Europe, serving 191,200 passengers per day. American Airlines, Delta and United Airlines fly from the airport.
Britain, which lost 52 people when suicide bombers struck the London transport system on July 7, 2005, said its current threat level was 'substantial', a level that means there is a strong possibility of an attack.
That level has been in place since July 2011 when the level was lowered to 'substantial' from 'severe', a level that means an attack is highly likely.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-176371/kenya-warns-her-citizen-against-travel-through-londons-heathrow-airport#sthash.yZR00E0o.dpuf

Kenya warns her citizen against travel through London's Heathrow Airport - See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-176371/kenya-warns-her-citizen-against-travel-through-londons-heathrow-airport#sthash.yZR00E0o.dpuf