Authorities posted tropical storm warnings for parts of the Bahamas and hurricane warnings for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic on Sunday, as Tropical Storm Irene picked up steam near the Caribbean islands. The center of Irene was moving past St. Croix, with maximum sustained winds of about 60 mph (95 kph), the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported. At 8 p.m. ET, the most recent update, the storm was centered about 10 miles (15 kilometers) northwest of St. Croix and about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east-southeast from Puerto Rico, moving west-northwest at 15 mph (24 kph), forecasters said. Tropical storm warnings covered the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, the northern coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The storm was expected to pass near or over Puerto Rico overnight and be near hurricane strength Monday, forecasters said.  It's expected to move near or over the Dominican Republic on Monday, and forecasters expect it will weaken as it does. The hurricane center warned that Irene could dump heavy rain on the Dominican Republic and neighboring Haiti, where previous storms have caused deadly mudslides down deforested hillsides. The NHC said Haiti and the Dominican Republic could see up to 20 inches of rain in isolated areas, with six to 10 inches possible across the rest of Hispaniola. The Christian aid group World Vision is prepositioning supplies and mobilizing its staff to fan out across camps in Haiti Monday, to help residents prepare for Irene. "We are concerned that vulnerable families still living in temporary camps won't treat this storm as a serious threat, after Tropical Storm Emily didn't hit Port-au-Prince as predicted," warned World Vision's Meg Sattler in Port-au-Prince. "If flooding hits, people living in unsafe housing will be the worst affected. Heavy rain has the potential to worsen sanitation conditions in camps, which, with cholera still so prevalent in Haiti, is a major concern." Meanwhile, the storm known as Harvey strengthened slightly after weakening to a tropical depression.  The system continued unleashing heavy rainfall over parts of Guatemala and eastern Mexico on Sunday. At 8 p.m. ET, Harvey was about 60 miles (95 kilometers) north-northeast of the Mexican coastal city of Coatzacoalcos, packing top winds of about 35 mph. The storm could dump another two to four inches of rain over southeastern Mexico, with some areas seeing as much as 10 inches, forecasters said. Harvey struck land Sunday on the coast of Belize as a tropical storm, with top winds near 60 mph. It is expected to dissipate over southern Mexico by early Monday.

Write highlights.
Hurricane warnings are issued for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Forecasters expect Irene to become a hurricane by Monday. The storm could dump up to 20 inches of rain on parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Tropical Depression Harvey dumps heavy rain over parts of Guatemala and eastern Mexico.

By. Gerri Peev and Matt Chorley. PUBLISHED:. 21:31 EST, 28 July 2013. |. UPDATED:. 19:08 EST, 29 July 2013. A Cabinet minister’s proposal to allow shoppers to park for 15 minutes on double yellow lines has been dismissed by a Coalition junior minister as ‘dangerous and unworkable’. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, a Tory, suggested the scheme as a way to help ailing retailers. But transport minister Norman Baker, whose Liberal Democrat colleagues actually want to increase parking charges, claimed the plan would increase congestion and drive people away. Free for all: Motorists would not be hit with fines if they leave their car on double yellow lines for up to quarter of an hour. He said: ‘The idea of actually having. cars parked for a very long period of time on a double yellow line. undermines the purposes of the yellow line and I’m advised it’s. unworkable. They are there for a reason, often for safety reasons.’ He added: ‘I’m not in favour of motorists who park illegally, blocking parking spaces for those who want to use them properly.’ But sources close to Mr Pickles argue. that parking fines are doled out too eagerly, and are partly responsible. for killing off the high street. Brandon Lewis, the Tory communities. minister, said: ‘This Government has scrapped Whitehall rules that. previously told councils to hike up parking charges, adopt draconian. enforcement and impose arbitrary limits on off-street parking  spaces. Clash: Lib Dem transport minister Norman Baker (left) said the idea of allowing 15 minutes of free parking on double yellow lines was unworkable but Tory Eric Pickles (right) said it could help revive the high streets. 'Councils now need to play their part in reining back in the over-zealous culture of municipal parking enforcement. 'Councils now need to play their part in reining back in the over-zealous culture of municipal parking enforcement' Brandon Lewis, Tory communities minister. ‘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.’ Even Vince Cable, the Business. Secretary, signalled his support for Mr Pickles, rather than his Lib. Dem  colleague. He said he had ‘a lot of sympathy with what Eric Pickles. is trying to do’. ‘I think a lot of small businesses are. driven to distraction by over-zealous enforcement of the parking rules,. so  I think a little bit of common sense and flexibility is very much. to be welcomed,’ he said. Parking attendants would not issue fines to anyone nipping into a shop or leaving their car on double yellow lines for up to quarter of an hour. The Lib Dems want to lift the fines. cap for illegal parking. 'Many double lines are there for historical reasons and could be lifted' Edmund King, AA president. At present, it is set at a maximum of £70. outside London and £130 in the capital. AA president Edmund King said: ‘Rather. than just allow drivers to park on double yellow lines, a thorough. review of the lines would be more effective. ‘Many double lines are there for historical reasons and could be lifted.’

Write highlights.

Traffic wardens would not issue fines to drivers making short trips. Eric Pickles wants to encourage more trade to struggling town centres. AA says many 'historic' double yellow lines could be removed altogether.