Developing countries participating in trade talks at the World Trade Organisation have rejected an offer by the US for Washington to cut its farm subsidies.

	US trade representative Susan Schwab explaining farm subsidies reduction offer

Negotiators have been urging a quickening of pace after the first two days of crucial WTO talks in Geneva.

But Brazil, acting as an unofficial spokesman for the developing countries, said the US offer to cut aid to its farmers to 15 billion dollars a year was still too high.

And there was no immediate solution in sight to the long-running dispute over bananas that threatens to derail the talks on a new global trade pact.

The row turns on the terms for European Union imports, with producers from Latin American countries and the United States on one side of the dispute and African Caribbean Pacific states on the other.

EU officials in Geneva said they hoped they could have contact with some of the banana countries in the next 24 hours to see what prospects there are for working together, but no formal negotiations were scheduled.

Cuba clarifies position

The United States has warned Moscow not to place long range bombers on the island of Cuba.

	Cuba says it wants to normalise relations with the United States

This follows a report in the newspaper Izvestia that Russia was considering the move in response to the US building a new missile defence system in Europe.

The Cuban authorities say they have no knowledge of any such plans.

One deputy minister of foreign affairs, Dagoberto Rodriguez, said Cuba would prefer to normalise relations with Washington.

Another call for EPA consultation

St Lucia's opposition leader Kenny Anthony has suggested that the Stephenson King administration should follow Guyana's example and allow for greater consultation on the economic partnership agreement Caricom states and the Dominican Republic have negotiated with the European Union.

The EPA has been criticised by Guyana and labour groups, and its signing has been delayed to take account of these objections.

But Prime Minister King told BBC Caribbean last week that St Lucia was ready to sign the pact.

Dr Anthony says Mr King needs to explain its benefits to parliament and the St Lucian people.

Jamaica about to get tough on gun crime

New measures to fight crime announced in parliament by Jamaican prime minister Bruce Golding include a minimum ten year sentence for gun crime.

Prime Minister Golding told the House of Representatives that legislation would be introduced to specify that individuals convicted of serious gun crimes, would not be eligible for parole before ten years.

Other anti-crime initiatives announced include extended detention of criminal suspects for up to 72 hours, denial of bail for those charged with serious crimes for up to 60 days, and provisions for a majority of nine jurors out of 12 to decide on non-capital murders.

The measures have been criticised by one rights group as draconian.

Nevis-based Internet company in trouble

Three Americans who ran an Internet money-transmitting company in Nevis have pleaded guilty to money laundering and other charges.

US Justice Department officials say Douglas Jackson of Florida pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.

Also pleading guilty were Baltimore attorney Barry Downey and Reid Jackson of Melbourne.

Their Nevis-based business allowed clients to buy "e-gold", and use it as money for international transactions, according to the e-Gold Website.

The Justice Department said directors of e-Gold and its corporate affiliate knew that funds from their company were being used for criminal activity including identity theft and investment scams.