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Two men who murdered a Welsh couple on honeymoon on Antigua have been given three consecutive life sentences but have escaped the death penalty. Avie Howell and Kaniel Martin shot dead Ben and Catherine Mullany, who were 31 and from Pontardawe, Swansea Valley. Justice Richard Floyd said the "cold-hearted killers" had acted with "extreme violence" but the murders were not the "worst of the worst". Martin, 23, and Howell, 20, also shot dead a shopkeeper two weeks later. The pair now face two more murder charges but Justice Floyd said the crimes they have been found guilty of did not...

ST JOHN'S, Antigua — Antigua's highest mountain officially became "Mount Obama" on Tuesday as the small Caribbean nation celebrated the American president on his birthday and saluted him as a symbol of black achievement. Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer presided over the re-christening ceremony at the base of the mountain, unveiling a stone sculpture and plaque honoring the president as an inspiration in the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda and throughout the Caribbean.

The bizarre fraud case of wealthy Texan R. Allen Stanford took a turn yesterday after federal prosecutors pointed a finger at a high-ranking Antiguan financial regulator, who they say accepted bribes from Stanford in exchange for covering up a $7 billion Ponzi scheme.That revelation came as Stanford, 59, and a cadre of cohorts were indicted in connection with the alleged fraud, which has extended from Stanford's Houston headquarters to the tropical island of Antigua, where Stanford was knighted and is referred to as "Sir Allen." In addition to Stanford, his former chief investment officer, Laura Pendergest-Holt, 35, was indicted for...

Antigua plans to do more than just rename its highest peak to honor President Barack Obama. Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer says his government wants to create Mount Obama Monument and National Park with a new network of hiking trails. He also plans a museum with entertainment and educational facilities. Spencer says Mount Obama will be a "beacon of hope for all people." He outlined his plan to reporters Monday. He did not say how much it would cost or how the government of the dual-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda would pay for it.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — When Robert Allen Stanford arrived here in the early 1990s, few locals had ever heard of the Texas financier. Today, he dominates so many aspects of life on this sun-drenched Caribbean island that some have taken to calling it “Stanford Land.”

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (AP) — Caribbean regulators Friday took control of an Antiguan bank owned by Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford to prevent its collapse as depositors rushed to pull their money after American financier was accused of fraud. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the monetary authority for eight island economies in the region, said the Bank of Antigua's board of directors requested the intervention because of the "untenable situation" at its three branches in the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. "There has been an unusual and substantial withdrawals of funds by depositors from the bank precipitated by recently...

The head of Stanford Financial Group charged with orchestrating an $8 billion fraud tried Tuesday to get a one-way flight out of the country, a source told CNBC. R. Allen Stanford tried to arrange the direct flight to Antigua, where his offshore banking operations are based. He contacted a private jet owner at 3 pm and attempted to pay for the flight with a credit card, but was refused because the company would only accept a wire transfer, a source in the private jet industry said. Stanford had asked to leave by 6 pm.

ST JOHN'S, Antigua -- Antigua's prime minister wants to rename the island's highest mountain peak "Mount Obama" in honor of the U.S. president-elect. "Boggy Peak," as it is currently known, soars more than 1,300 feet (396 meters) over the island's southern point and serves as a transmission site for broadcast and telecommunication providers. It also is a popular hiking spot. Political analyst Avel Grant says the name change could draw more tourists to the island. Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer announced the plans Wednesday in a congratulatory letter to President-elect Obama.

Pentagon Makes Fighting Extremism Top Priority Seven years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Pentagon on Thursday officially named "the long war" against global extremism as its top priority and pledged to avert any conventional military threat from China or Russia through dialogue. The Defense Department, in a new national defense strategy, also emphasized the need to subordinate military operations to "soft power" initiatives to undermine Islamist militancy by promoting economic, political and social development in vulnerable corners of the world. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he hoped the change would help establish permanent institutional support for counterinsurgency skills...

But then there is nothing run-of-the-mill about the case that Mr. Mendel, a Texan who was born and raised in Southern California, has been waging against his own government before the World Trade Organization, the body in Geneva that sets the ground rules for global trade. The dispute stretches back to 2003, when Mr. Mendel first persuaded officials in Antigua and Barbuda, a tiny nation in the Caribbean with a population of around 70,000, to instigate a trade complaint against the United States, claiming its ban against Americans gambling over the Internet violated Antigua and Barbuda’s rights as a member...

The New York Times has details of this interesting story. The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled the US violated Antigua's rights by prohibiting Americans from gambling over Internet sites based in Antigua. Now the lawyer for Antigua is asking the WTO to compensate the island nation by allowing it to set aside US intellectual property laws and to distribute copies of American music, movie and software products, among others with impunity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ '...For the W.T.O. itself, the decision is equally fraught with peril. It cannot back down because that would undermine its credibility with the rest of the world. But...

GENEVA - The U.S. has failed to change its ban on Internet betting to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling that said the legislation unfairly targets offshore casinos, the global trade body said Friday. The ruling opens the door to possible commercial sanctions against the U.S. In a 215-page decision, a three-member WTO compliance panel sided with the twin Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, which has argued that Internet gambling is a lucrative source of revenue and provides an income for hundreds of islanders. The Geneva-based trade referee has said Washington can maintain restrictions on online gambling,...

Jade find in Antigua produces links to Central America Tuesday June 20 2006 A discovery of ancient jade could shake up old notions of the New World before Columbus. Scientists say they have traced 1,500-year-old axe blades found in the eastern Caribbean to ancient jade mines in Central America 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) away, New York’s American Museum of Natural History announced late last month. The blades were excavated in the late 90s by a Canadian archaeologist on the island of Antigua in the West Indies But the jade used to make the blades almost certainly came from Maya mines...

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua -- The president of Antigua and Barbuda senate was raped during an assault in her home last week, police said Monday. Hazelyn Francis, 66, was briefly hospitalized after an unidentified assailant broke into her home in St. John's on Friday and attacked her. Police spokesman McClean Hunte said Francis, who lived alone, told authorities she was raped and that a medical examination confirmed the claim. Hunte said police have yet to make any arrests but were "working on some leads." Police haven't confirmed reports that Francis was also robbed during the attack, but have said she was...

Is the world indeed moving toward a "new world order," a "one world government"? You may not like to think so, but it's difficult not to give this serious consideration. For those of you old enough, you may recall an ad campaign back in the 1950s and '60s that wanted to "Get the U.S. out of the UN," partly because there was concern that U.S. sovereignty might be compromised by decisions made by the United Nations. The ad campaign sponsors wanted to make sure that no world government would be making decisions on behalf of the U.S., or imposing its...

In a ruling that could open the United States to offshore Internet gambling, a World Trade Organization panel Wednesday said Washington should drop prohibitions on Americans placing bets in online casinos. In its final 287-page report, the WTO panel confirmed the preliminary ruling it issued in March in a dispute pitting the United States against the tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, saying the ban represented an unfair trade barrier.

<p>WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration said Wednesday it would vigorously fight a preliminary ruling by the World Trade Organization that could open the United States to offshore Internet gambling.</p> <p>The preliminary decision came in a trade dispute with Antigua and Barbuda. The tiny Caribbean nation had contended that U.S. restrictions on Internet gambling violated trade commitments the United States has made as a member of the WTO.</p>

The Caribbean state of Antigua and Barbuda has beaten the US in a dispute over internet gambling. The country relies on online gaming for much of its foreign currency earnings but was shut out of the US market by laws banning cross-border gambling. It took the US to the World Trade Organisation, claiming that the ban was designed solely to protect the huge US betting business - and won. The US says it will appeal against the WTO decision. Federal law The ruling at the WTO is only a preliminary one, and will now go to a seven-member appellate panel....

Attorney John Fuller has said that anyone who is connected with US sniper John Allen Muhammad will not leave the country. The head of the task force looking into the activities of US Sniper John Allen Muhammad has confirmed that one of Muhammad’s acquaintances in Antigua, Peter John Gianquinto jr. has been arrested in New York by federal authorities. The FBI is investigating connections between Muhummad and Gianquinto. According to an article in the Washington Post, Gianquinto left Antigua on 27 May, 2001, four days before Muhammad and John Lee Mavlo. He is now part of the broader inquiry into...

A number of steps are being taken to beef up security in the country. This follows information coming out of the preliminary report of the task force put in place to look into the circumstances of US sniper suspect, John Allen Williams-Muhammad, being able to obtain an Antigua & Barbuda passport. According to sources close to the investigation, indications are that Mohammad was able to slip forged documents past officials at the passport office. It was also revealed that Muhammad was part of a plan to kidnap Prime Minister Lester Bird for a ransom, as well as plans to rob...

The task force looking into the activities of US sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad is awaiting a report from the Commissioner of Police Truehart Smith as to whether any police officers aided Muhammad to escape from the St. John’s Police Station last March. Muhammad was detained by the police on 13 March, 2001 for attempting to check in someone under the name of Dwight Russell at the V.C. Bird International Airport, but later walked out of the Newgate Street police station. According to head of the task force Attorney John Fuller, based on the entry in the station’s diary, the...

Airlines were unable to refuel at the V.C Bird International Airport yesterday. This is because line staff at Texaco West Indies Ltd., did not show up to work opting instead to take part in the civil disobedience, “down tools protest” called by the opposition United Progressive Party. The UPP is calling for a full probe in the passport scam. This forced the Gas Company, which is responsible for refuelling a number of airlines to make alternative arrangements. Area manager Ralphine Jackson confirmed to the SUN that a number of workers did not show up to work and as a result...

Protesters and supporters of the Opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) marched through the streets of St. John’s yesterday calling for a “ down tools protest” from businesses. The protest march caused a bottleneck of traffic in the City resulting in police re-routting traffic to ease the congestion. Chanting “We shall overcome” and “Lester you got to go” the protestors led by opposition leader, Baldwin Spencer headed up Market Street, down High Street, across Thames Street, up St. Mary’s Street, across Temple Street, down High Street up Long Street. They eventually wound their way down Corn Alley before making their way...

The task force set up to investigate allegations of passport racketeering is looking for two persons. This is in connection with the alleged kidnapping plot of Prime Minister Lester Bird, plans to bomb a commercial bank in St. John’s and the fraudulently acquisition of an Antigua & Barbuda passport. Attorney John Fuller, head of the task force looking into U.S sniper John Allen Muhammad activities while in Antigua, reported yesterday that another witness, Keithly Nedd, has come forward corroborating earlier evidence given to the task force about a plot by Muhammad to kidnapped the country’s prime minister. “This witness has...

By Mark Fineman, Times Staff Writer ST. JOHN'S, Antigua -- Eighteen months before the national shooting spree, sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad smuggled his teenage companion into America from this remote Caribbean island with forged documents identifying the boy as his firstborn son, according to Antiguan government documents and official accounts here Friday. Newly uncovered immigration documents have convinced Antiguan authorities that Muhammad illegally brought the Jamaican-born Lee Boyd Malvo into America along with three of his children in May 2001. Antigua's top investigator of Muhammad's 14-month stay here now says that trip culminated more than a year of "serial...

Early August 2002 - In Louisiana, John Muhammad showed his rifle to his first cousin Charlene Anderson, and also asked relatives where to buy ammunition. He eventually bought four boxes of .223 caliber ammo at a store on Hooper Road. Muhammad left his guns and ammunition padlocked in his duffel bag with Anderson for safekeeping while went away for a week. [This because of airport security]. He was then spotted by multiple persons on the island of Antigua shopping for furniture, and making some 'banking' arrangments. [Can anyone recall a certain $10 Million dollar electronic transfer ransom?] Muhammad and Malvo...

ST JOHN'S, Antigua: Protesters march in St John's, Antigua, yesterday. The march was called to pressure the government into setting up an independent probe into an alleged passport racket which came in the wake of revelations that US sniper suspect, John Allen Muhammad, fraudulently obtained an Antiguan passport. (Photo: AP) ST JOHN'S, Antigua (AP) -- Hundreds of people held a protest march yesterday over the government's stalled investigation into an alleged scam that allegedly awarded a passport to the US sniper suspect. Some 500 protesters chanted "We are not afraid of (Prime Minister) Lester Bird" and hoisted anti-government placards. Some...

ST JOHN'S, Antigua -- When two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents begin their probe in Antigua, they will be exploring if there were any links between US sniper suspect, John Allen Muhammad, and the man known as the shoe bomber, Richard Reid, a source close to the investigation revealed last night. Special agents John Groesher and Norman Embry arrived in St John's yesterday and will meet with Truehart Smith, Antigua's police commissioner, this morning to work out the parameters of the investigation. Attorney-General Gretel Thom, who set up a four-man team to investigate how Muhammad obtained an Antiguan passport...

The rented house where Muhammad lived in Antigua. ST JOHN'S, Antigua (AP) -- During his strange sojourn on this Caribbean island, John Allen Muhammad was a friendly mechanic, an itinerant salesman and reportedly a purveyor of Antiguan passports to people looking to emigrate illegally to the United States.The prime suspect in the US sniper shootings that terrorised residents in the Washington D C area also allegedly used a falsified birth certificate to obtain an Antiguan passport. Randy Nelson's pick-up which Muhammad repaired. When Muhammad's life started unravelling last year, he chose as a refuge this former British colony where...

A suspect in the serial sniper case is under investigation for fraud on the small Caribbean island of Antigua, where he was consorting with a man who has a history of running scams in New York and New Jersey, according to island officials and court documents. John Allen Muhammad, 41, also presented a falsified document to immigration officials last year when he tried to reenter the United States, law enforcement sources said last night. Immigration agents questioned Muhammad and then released him after federal prosecutors ruled that he had not committed a crime... ...The Immigration and Naturalization Service interrogated Muhammad,...