Showing posts with label double. Show all posts
Showing posts with label double. Show all posts

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Tardelli on the double as Brazil down Argentina 2-0

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Lionel Messi missed a first-half penalty as Brazil beat Argentina 2-0 in a fiercely contested “Superclasico” friendly in Beijing yesterday.

Journeyman Diego Tardelli was the unlikely hero with his first two goals for Brazil as Messi fluffed his lines with a tame spot-kick at the Bird’s Nest stadium.

Atletico Mineiro striker Tardelli, 29, put Brazil ahead on 28 minutes, before Messi curled his soft penalty attempt close to goalkeeper Jefferson just before half-time.

Tardelli was on target again in the second half as Brazil restored pride after the World Cup, when the hosts were hammered in the semis while Argentina reached the final.

“Brazil are the best team in the world with a great tradition,” beamed their coach Dunga, who is rebuilding following the 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Germany.

“We have no big players, we are now acting as one team… The whole team is evolving, including me.”

Dunga brought on former national hero Kaka for a late cameo and he indicated the Sao Paulo FC midfielder could be set for a more regular role after 18 months on the sidelines.

“We need Kaka’s speed and control, he is an important part of our team,” he said.

Fears over Beijing’s choking smog had dominated the build-up but in a relief to players and organisers, air quality and visibility lifted on a breezy day in the Chinese capital.

Argentina were on top early in the match and Sergio Aguero fired an inviting chance over the bar before Angel Di Maria threatened with a drive from distance.

But it was Tardelli who broke the deadlock when he pounced on a loose ball and volleyed past Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero on 28 minutes.

Brazil superstar Neymar should have made it 2-0 shortly afterwards but after wriggling his way free on goal, he made a hash of his shot and the ball rolled harmlessly wide.

The game had come alive and Argentina got a golden chance to equalise when Danilo was judged to have fouled Di Maria in the box, prompting angry Brazilian players to surround Chinese referee Fan Qi.

Messi looked certain to bury the spot-kick but the four-time world player of the year shot too close to Brazilian ‘keeper Jefferson, who dived to his right for a simple stop.

It was the Barcelona icon’s second penalty miss in two weeks after he also miscued one for his club last month against Levante.

“We always try to win but today we couldn’t. It was a match defined by our two mistakes,” said Messi.

“The error for the first goal and the penalty were crucial. If I had converted, it could have changed the game.”

Filipe Luis and Di Maria had chances at either end as the second half started energetically, and Oscar went close with a free kick after Martin Demichelis chopped down Neymar.

But again Tardelli was in the right place at the right time as he nodded in Oscar’s cross at the back post to give Brazil breathing space on 64 minutes.

Tardelli was eventually replaced by Kaka, who drew a huge roar when he came on in the final minutes to end his prolonged spell in the international wilderness.

And there was time for Neymar to twice go close before Brazil were able to celebrate their win in front of more than 50,000 fans at the 2008 Olympic stadium.


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Tardelli on the double as Brazil down Argentina 2-0

Saturday, October 11, 2014

DOUBLE STANDARD? Pols question WH review of prostitution scandal

While government investigators interviewed hundreds of personnel to get to the bottom of the Secret Service prostitution scandal in Colombia in 2012, congressional Republicans suggest the White House barely lifted a finger to investigate similar allegations involving one of their own.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, questioned how seriously the White House handled claims that a member of their team may have been “intimately involved with a prostitute.”

He said he’s concerned, further, about a “cover-up.”  

But even as far back as November 2012, in a letter obtained by FoxNews.com, another top Republican pointedly accused the White House of conducting a flimsy review into the allegations.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., charged at the time that documents reviewed by his committee staff showed the White House review was “woefully inadequate.”

Issa, in his Nov. 2, 2012, letter to then-White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler, claimed the Secret Service director had given Ruemmler records from the Hotel Hilton Cartagena that “suggested” someone on the White House advance team signed in a 28-year-old female guest. Issa said documents show the guest entered at 12:02 a.m. and left at 9:46 a.m. (This claim appears to align with details reported late Wednesday by The Washington Post, which identified the advance team “volunteer” as Jonathan Dach, then 25, whose father Leslie is a consistent Democratic donor.)  

But according to Issa, “the initial White House review” of this incident – before that information was turned over — “appears to have consisted of talking to one person,” the advance team member in question, who was asked whether he had engaged a prostitute. 

“Like several Secret Service agents who subsequently failed polygraph tests, the White House staff denied that he had,” Issa wrote.

But even after then-Director Mark Sullivan handed over the additional details, Issa said the White House claimed to have simply “re-interviewed the staff member” and interviewed several colleagues, “who vouched for his character.”

By contrast, the Secret Service interviewed “dozens of hotel staff and female foreign nationals,” while the DHS inspector general’s team interviewed 251 Secret Service personnel. The investigation included a review of hotel records, polygraphs and even drug tests, Issa wrote.

But Issa claimed there is, by contrast, “no indication” that Ruemmler’s office interviewed hotel staff or the woman said to be involved.

The letter from Issa was sent after he initially questioned the internal review on Oct. 11, 2012. In that letter, he noted that then-White House Press Secretary Jay Carney had claimed in April 2012 “there have been no specific, credible allegations of misconduct” by a White House team member, and their review likewise produced “no indication” of any misconduct. 

Ruemmler eventually wrote back to Issa, on Nov. 9, 2012, asserting the same: “We did not identify any inappropriate behavior on the part of the White House advance team.” Even after learning additional information, she wrote, “our conclusion did not change.”

Issa said the individual in question had done advance work for President Obama on “eight prior official overseas trips,” including in Tokyo, Brazil and Baghdad. He said correspondence attached to his request for a passport reflected him as “White House staff with the Executive Office of the President.”

The White House says he was a volunteer. The Post reports he was not paid a salary but was paid a per diem and reimbursed for expenses. 

White House visitor logs for 2012, meanwhile, recorded several visits to the White House by people named Jonathan Dach and Leslie Dach in 2012. The records show a Jonathan Dach visited the White House in March 2012 – the records say he was visiting “POTUS,” which is short for president of the United States.

The records show that shortly after the Colombia controversy in April 2012, a Leslie Dach visited on April 24 for a meeting with Alan Krueger, then chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

The records also reflect a June 3, 2012 visit by Jonathan, Leslie and Elizabeth Dach. (Eliza Dach is apparently the name of Leslie Dach’s daughter.) Other key details about that visit, though, were not entered into the official White House log.

Leslie Dach’s name shows up in the logs for other visits during the rest of the year.  

After The Washington Post reported that senior White House aides had information about these allegations and never thoroughly investigated them, the White House stuck by its claims.

“As was reported more than two years ago, the White House conducted an internal review that did not identify any inappropriate behavior on the part of the White House advance team,” spokesman Eric Schultz said.

Schultz said the White House counsel asked the Secret Service for information at the time, which turned up a hotel log. But the White House previously has claimed the volunteer was wrongly implicated based on inaccurate hotel records.

Questioned by reporters on Air Force One, Schultz reiterated Thursday afternoon that the White House reviewed the evidence and stands by the conclusion of that inquiry. He said it was a careful review, and noted that a Secret Service agent similarly implicated through a hotel log was later exonerated.

Richard Sauber, an attorney representing Jonathan Dach, also denied the allegations in a statement to Fox News and said his client was not even standing with the woman in question when she presumably put down her information in the hotel log. He said his client did not sign the paper with the woman’s information on it.

“The allegations about any inappropriate conduct by Jonathan Dach in Cartagena are utterly and completely false. Anyone who knows Jonathan knows how ludicrous these allegations are,” Sauber said.

“The Post bases its allegations almost exclusively on a hotel log with the name of a prostitute and a room number. Yet neither Jonathan Dach’s name nor his signature appears on the hotel log or any piece of paper with a foreign national,” he said.

Chaffetz, in an Oct. 3 letter to White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, has asked for “all documents” related to the White House counsel review.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also sent a letter on Thursday to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson requesting the same documents, saying he’s “concerned” the administration did not “properly investigate or discipline its own staff.”

FoxNews.com’s Jana Winter and Judson Berger, and Fox News’ Catherine Herridge, Kelly Chernenkoff and Lesa Jansen contributed to this report.


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DOUBLE STANDARD? Pols question WH review of prostitution scandal

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Wiz Khalifa, double trouble

Wiz Khalifa

Amber Rose caught Wiz Khalifa cheating on her with twin sisters. DJ Peter Rosenberg, a close friend of the 30-year-old model, claims she walked in on her husband with fashion designers Jas and Ness Rose in their family home before they decided to end their relationship.

He said: “Amber walked in on him with two women at the same time. Twins, twin sisters, twin biological sisters.” However, the DJ admitted the couple, who have 19-month-old son Sebastian together, had been unhappy for some time, though his friend hoped they could work through their problems once Wiz, 27, had finished touring.

He told US radio station Hot 97: “I believe from my relationship with Amber, that she knew they had problems, she knew he wasn’t happy – she wasn’t happy either, but she was also like, ‘He’s touring, he’s going through a lot, and at some point we’re going to work on this again."”

Peter also dismissed suggestions the infidelity occurred at a property Wiz acquired after moving out of the couple’s home. He explained: “It was a home. It wasn’t some new home that was just his. It was a home that he had. That she slept in. That’s how she got in. She had a key. This wasn’t some separate thing. It’s a place she goes to.”

Peter went on to blast allegations Amber was having an affair with Mariah Carey’s estranged husband, Nick Cannon, 33. He added: “She signed with NCredible, Nick Cannon’s company. She would never then sleep with the dude that she signed with.”

Amber, who married the We Dem Boyz rapper in 2013, filed for divorce last week.


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Wiz Khalifa, double trouble

Wiz Khalifa, double trouble

Wiz Khalifa

Amber Rose caught Wiz Khalifa cheating on her with twin sisters. DJ Peter Rosenberg, a close friend of the 30-year-old model, claims she walked in on her husband with fashion designers Jas and Ness Rose in their family home before they decided to end their relationship.

He said: “Amber walked in on him with two women at the same time. Twins, twin sisters, twin biological sisters.” However, the DJ admitted the couple, who have 19-month-old son Sebastian together, had been unhappy for some time, though his friend hoped they could work through their problems once Wiz, 27, had finished touring.

He told US radio station Hot 97: “I believe from my relationship with Amber, that she knew they had problems, she knew he wasn’t happy – she wasn’t happy either, but she was also like, ‘He’s touring, he’s going through a lot, and at some point we’re going to work on this again."”

Peter also dismissed suggestions the infidelity occurred at a property Wiz acquired after moving out of the couple’s home. He explained: “It was a home. It wasn’t some new home that was just his. It was a home that he had. That she slept in. That’s how she got in. She had a key. This wasn’t some separate thing. It’s a place she goes to.”

Peter went on to blast allegations Amber was having an affair with Mariah Carey’s estranged husband, Nick Cannon, 33. He added: “She signed with NCredible, Nick Cannon’s company. She would never then sleep with the dude that she signed with.”

Amber, who married the We Dem Boyz rapper in 2013, filed for divorce last week.


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Wiz Khalifa, double trouble

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Motive unknown for double murder

No motive has been established for the deaths of a Kingston businessman and a sales representative employed to the RJR Communications Group, who were found in Red Hills, St Andrew, on Sunday.

Fifty-two-year-old Darol Lodge of Red Hills and 25-year-old Felicia Sutherland of Passage Fort in Portmore, St Catherine, were found on Sunday about 8:30 in the morning.

According to the Red Hills police, relatives went to Lodge’s home to visit him, but instead stumbled upon both bodies. They were faced down with their hands and feet bound. It is believed they may have been strangled.

The scene was processed and their bodies were removed to the morgue.

Investigations are ongoing.

In the meantime, comments of bereavement flooded Sutherland’s Facebook page as her friends expressed sadness at her passing.

A relative of Sutherland described her as a person who was not involved in any dispute with anyone. The relative was at a loss as to why someone would want to harm her.


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Motive unknown for double murder

Monday, July 28, 2014

Still no motive in Fairfield Road double murder

Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Up to late yesterday, police had not established a motive or identified any suspect(s) in connection with Saturday’s killing of two men at Fairfield Road, St Catherine.

Delroy Edwards, a businessman from the community, and who is employed to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), and another man, who was still unidentified, were shot to death inside a bar.

When The STAR visited the area yesterday, the community was still tense. Residents expressed concerns about the killings. “This killing now mean people have to lock up from early and start to fret about who might be next,” a female resident said.

It was reported that about 9:30 p.m., Edwards who is also the nephew of Jennifer Edwards, the NSWMA’s executive director, was inside a bar he operated. Police said a man walked in, brandished a handgun and fired shots hitting Edwards and an unidentified male patron.

The man escaped in the community.

The St Catherine North Major Investigation Task Force is probing the matter.


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Still no motive in Fairfield Road double murder

Monday, July 21, 2014

Police making headway into double murder of Trelwany children

The Trelawny Police are reporting that they have made headway in the probe into the murder of  two children this week and expect an imminent  breakthrough. One person is in custody in relation to the case and they expect to make another arrest soon.

Ten-year-old Meleeka Mitchell and 12-year-old Omari Sterling, were kidnapped on the weekend and their bodies found on Tuesday. Meleeka’s body was found in bushes with the feet and hands bound, while Omari’s body was found in a pond a few feet away.

Head of  the Trelawny Police Superintendent, Willford Campbell, states that a main suspect has been identified. He has indicated that the father of one of  the children is facing prosecution in the matter as a result of negligence.


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Police making headway into double murder of Trelwany children

Saturday, August 24, 2013

LIME sees mobile subscriber base jump, but losses double

Business

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

CONSUMERS flocked to LIME Jamaica’s mobile network but the company still recorded a $808-million net loss for the three months to June, or more than double year-earlier losses.The telecom’s mobile subscriber base jumped nearly one-quarter as rates were slashed by some two-thirds in early June as part of a marketing campaign facilitated by regulatory rate cuts.LIME indicated that total revenues dipped 10 per cent to $4.3 billion due to fixed line and broadband declines but mobile revenues actually grew 10 per cent over the period.Consequently LIME’s management is encouraged by the results.“We continued the encouraging progress in our mobile business with a 10 per cent increase in mobile services revenue over the same period,” stated LIME Jamaica’s CEO Garry Sinclair in a statement accompanying the financials.The reduction in LIME rates actually preceded a regulatory adjustment by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR).“We took a strategic decision to launch our anywhere, anytime, anyone talk EZ plan on June 7 prior to the OUR’s implementation of final and further reduced mobile termination rates on July 1,” indicated Sinclair in the statement accompanying the financials. “The new plan has resonated well with customers and has already resulted in a 22 per cent increase in our subscriber base year over year.“We expect to continue increasing market share in the mobile business.”LIME tightly manages information on its network size, and did not disclose its size in the June quarterly report.The OUR in its Cost Model for Mobile Termination Rates – Determination Notice, May 2013 described Digicel Jamaica as holding 84 per cent mobile market share in a two player market which places LIME at 16 per cent prior to the rate cut.LIME cut rates from $6.99 to $2.99 across networks and for international calls to the diaspora since June.The OUR implemented a new mobile termination rate of $1.10 per minute in July which followed resistance and legal fights from stakeholders over a decade.Sinclair explained that the fixed line business continues to suffer declines due to the “diminishing subscriber base and a reduction in the fixed termination rate which was effective from June 2012″.Broadband revenues declined by 11 per cent as a result of net reduction in subscribers and the introduction of low priced packages such as browse and talk, said Sinclair.LIME Jamaica recorded a J$4.9-billion total loss for its March 2013 year end compared with a $20-billion loss a year earlier.LIME Jamaica’s CEO Garry Sinclair said the company expects to continue increasing mobile market share, but gave no indication when the company may exit its profit slump.

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LIME sees mobile subscriber base jump, but losses double

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Shelly-Ann double success no surprise, say coach Francis

MOSCOW, Russia — Stephen Francis, the man who coached Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to a rare women’s sprint double at the 14th IAAF World Championships, is not surprised by his prized pupil’s success here in Moscow.

On Friday night amid wild celebrations by Jamaicans during and after the race at the Luzhniki Stadium, Francis, who was patiently waiting for the athlete to complete her obligations inside the massive complex, said simply that she would not have been entered in the double if she did not have the chance to win it.“The only reason she was sent to do two events was because it was felt she had a chance to win, so I can’t say it was unexpected,” he told reporters. “It was something which was done because she had a very good chance to win both.”Fraser-Pryce joined two others who completed the double after Silke Gladisch of the former East Germany in 1987 in Rome, Italy, and Germany’s Katrin Krabbe in 1991 in Tokyo, Japan.Four men, including Jamaica’s Usain Bolt has done the double, Maurice Green in 1999, Justin Gatlin in 2005, Tyson Gay in 2007, and Bolt in 2009.Fraser-Pryce, who had won the 100m last Monday evening, used her bullet start to great effect, taking charge of the race early before powering away in the straight to win in 22.17 seconds ahead of Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast and Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare, both given the same time of 22.32 seconds.And given the conditions, Francis said that was the only way she could have won. It was also the only sprint event of the championships where none of the finalists managed either a season or personal best.“She ran the best way she could, given the type of anti-sprint atmosphere we have had in Moscow,” he said. “Given the (very cool) temperatures and lack of wind, it was the best way she could run…”The first few days of the championships that started last Saturday were hot and sunny, but the temperatures started to drop a few days ago and despite bright sunshine, the conditions, especially in the evening sessions, have been cool.In her post-race interviews, Fraser-Pryce spoke of “hating” the 200m event, but said after her pre-race talk with Francis, “I decided I was going to let it all out on the track, my coach, before I came out, said to me, for the past few meets I have not been running the corner how I should and he said to me ‘you won’t be tired in the end, don’t worry, you will feel some pain, but feel the pain’, and so I decided I was going to run that (first) 100m like a train, I was going to come off the corner and hit the straight and I was going to power home.”American Allyson Felix, who had won three gold medals in the event between 2005 and 2009, suffered an ankle injury early in the race, collapsing to the ground and was lifted off first by her brother then placed on a stretcher.

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2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.


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Shelly-Ann double success no surprise, say coach Francis

Friday, August 9, 2013

Bolt preparing for the double

Sport

Thursday, August 08, 2013 | 1:03 PM

MOSCOW, Russia — Jamaica’s sprint sensation Usain Bolt goes through his paces at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Thursday. Bolt is seeking to defend his IAAF World Championship 200m title and possibly win the 100m crown that escaped him in Daegu, South Korea, 2011 due to a false-start. The Moscow World Championships gets underway on Saturday until August 10.

HOUSE RULES


1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.


2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.


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Bolt preparing for the double

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Double The Honey on BG&LC race day

The $800,000 Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BG&LC) Trophy will headline a compact six-trophy, nine-race card at Caymanas Park today to continue the celebration of Emancipation Day that dates back to 1838.

Sponsored by the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission for the ninth year, the race programme will also feature the $370,000 Emancipation Day Trophy, the Albert Rose Memorial Trophy, the Josseth Grey Memorial Trophy, the Charles Randle Cup, and Carl Hill Memorial Trophy that calls curtains for local programming at 5:30 pm.Earlier, the BG&LC Trophy highlighter is scheduled to go to post at approximately 4:55 pm with first post at 1:00 pm.The BG&LC Trophy highlighter for Open Allowance horses three-year-old and upward has attracted a small but belligerent collection of sprinters going 1,100 metres, headlined by recent imported winners, stablemates Rio Cobre and Double The Honey, along with The Guv, who is no mug going this short, Palace Gold, whose last win is over this trip, and Lashing Force, who although has the speed to figure, may just fall short of the target as the aforementioned runners are better equipped to fill the upper rungs.Rio Cobre, who beat a not so strong field going 1,000 metres round on last, is up in class seeking win number two, and his first in the grade for the season. However, while better suited to 1,100 metres than 1,000 metres, he looks to have a bit more running to do here after coming in a bit on the heavy side at 55.0kg.Nonetheless, with in-form rider Dick Cardenas remaining in the irons, the five-year-old dark bay son of Chelsey Cat trained by Wayne DaCosta for owners Elizabeth DaCosta and Derrick Smith could still rise above the odds and claim victory.The very consistent five-year-old chestnut mare Palace Gold is another who should come in for a great deal of support, being the most recent winner at this level going the distance at hand. However, while Noon It Is was among her victims, the field never had the all-round competitiveness of today’s call and she may again fall just short of the target.So much for the previously mentioned and now the far-striding Double The Honey, who must not be left out of calculation as, with the exception of The Guv, when right, has the beating of this group of horses over short sprint distances.Now six-years-old, he may have lost some of his natural speed, but from his display when upsetting his more fancied rivals going 1,300 metres at the decent price of 32-1, should be given more than a useful shot at again taking this group apart.Double The Honey is owned by Carlton Watson and was a winner over the distance in a fine 1:05.3 minutes in his final race last season. None of the other runners has so far underscored this time since and the bay horse by Double Honor out of Ahoneyofabunny (Northern Prospect) bred by Manuel Andrade in the USA should have a very serious look-in after being eased at the handicaps to come in at 54.0kg for the 3.0kg claiming apprentice Orlando Foster.Ones To WatchRace 1 Rum Punch (Dick Cardenas)Race 2 Man Alive (Dane Nelson)Race 3 Concrete Jungle (Renardo McNaughton)Race 4 Top Ranking (Michael Grant)Race 5 Awesome Sensation (Dane Nelson)Race 6 Likkle Bit (Shane Ellis)Race 7 Ettu Oracle (Shane Ellis)Race 8 Double The Honey (Orlando Foster)Race 9 Step It Up (Shamaree Muir)

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Double The Honey on BG&LC race day

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Double yellow lines parking plan

29 July 2013 Last updated at 08:25 ET Illegally parked car Motoring groups say many double yellow lines are there for ‘historical reasons’ Motorists could be allowed to park free of charge on double yellow lines for up to fifteen minutes under plans being considered to help boost High Streets.


Drivers in England could be given a “grace period” to pick up goods from shops or leave their cars in bays for longer without being fined.


While the Conservatives are keen on the idea, their Lib Dem coalition partners are understood to have reservations.


Councils have rejected suggestions they are using parking fines as “cash cows”.


Parking and waiting on double yellow lines is prohibited – unless stated – for all vehicles except for those making commercial deliveries and pick-ups, blue badge holders and the emergency services.


Some councils already allow motorists to park free of charge for up to 30 minutes close to shops and Conservative ministers in the coalition government are to keen to extend that to give a shot in the arm to small shops.

‘Fortune in fines’

Making town centre parking more affordable was one of the main recommendations of a 2011 review into the future of the High Street led by TV retail expert Mary Portas.


Sources close to the communities secretary Eric Pickles told the Daily Telegraph that “over-aggressive” parking enforcement was one of the reasons why many High Streets were struggling.

“If people are worried about paying a fortune in fines, it will make them more likely to shop online or go to out-of-town shopping centres,” he said. “For too long, parking has been a revenue raiser. It is time to end that.”

Conservative ministers want to issue new guidelines before the general election to encourage councils to consider a grace period of between five and fifteen minutes on double yellow lines.


But the BBC News Channel’s chief political correspondent Norman Smith said their Lib Dem coalition partners believed it was “unworkable” and that no agreement had been reached.


“Councils need to play their part in reining back in the over-zealous culture of municipal parking enforcement,” a spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said.


“They should adopt a common sense approach. Ministers are considering what further steps can be taken to ensure that town hall parking policies and practices support local high streets.”

‘Impractical’

Speaking last month, Lib Dem transport minister Norman Baker said it would be wrong for ministers to interfere with councils’ parking policies. However, he confirmed the maximum and minimum fine levels that are set by the government are to be reviewed.


The Lib Dems are reported to be keen on raising the cap for parking fines but motoring groups have raised concerns that, if this was to happen, local authorities could become increasingly “reliant” on such income.


The Local Government Association, which represents more than 300 councils in England and Wales, said double yellow lines “kept people safe and traffic moving” and there were “better ways” to attract people to High Streets.


“Removing parking restrictions on these parts of the road could jeopardise the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists and create further traffic jams,” said Councillor Peter Box, chairman of its economy and transport board.


“A 15-minute window for parking would also be costly and impractical to monitor.”

‘Historical reasons’

The AA said a thorough review of yellow line restrictions was needed to ensure they do not “run out of control”.


“Many double lines are there for historical reasons and could be lifted,” its president Edmund King said.


“There is plenty of opportunity to ease back on the signs and lines in many places, giving drivers short-term waiting bays instead so they can stop briefly to buy a paper or loaf of bread.”


At the moment, the largest fine for illegal parking outside London is £70, while it is £130 in the capital.


Differential rates apply for different offences in most areas, with parking on double yellow lines generally incurring a larger penalty.


Appearing before MPs last month, council executives denied that parking officials had been set targets for the amount of tickets issued and that revenue from parking infringements was being used to compensate for cuts in funding from Whitehall.


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Double yellow lines parking plan

Monday, July 29, 2013

Man arrested after double stabbing

28 July 2013 Last updated at 05:57 ET A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two men were stabbed in Lurgan, County Armagh.


He was detained when police responded to a report of a disturbance in Brookvale Walk at about 13:50 BST on Saturday.


A 21-year-old man was stabbed several times and a 30-year-old man was stabbed once. They were both taken to hospital.


The 21-year-old’s condition is stable while the 30-year-old was discharged.


Police said the arrested man is still in custody and is assisting officers with their enquiries.


They have appealed for witnesses to contact them.


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Man arrested after double stabbing

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Introducing the Double Standard

Entertainment

KJFriday, July 19, 2013

MASTER One Productions/Born Fire Music has hit the road with its Double Standard beat.The company’s CEO Jyorken Kennedy explained the concept behind their latest release.“The project came out of a session in the studio where we wanted to get back to the more authentic dancehall sound.”Deejay JR Daine, Anthony B and Teflon are some of the artistes with songs on the Double Standard.“We have a family-like relationship with the artistes so it wasn’t difficult to get them on board,” Kennedy said.Master One Productions/Born Fire Music has done well with “riddims” such as the First Born and Cool Shade.

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Introducing the Double Standard