Senator Robert Menendez in spotlight over campaign funds

Call-girl withdraws allegations after admitting she was paid to make it all up claims New Jersey Democrat in clear over sex orgy scandal but is still under investigation

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Consumers' friend 'defrauded millions'

Washington - Irwin "Sonny" Bloch is among America's most popular and durable financial talk radio hosts. It now transpires, if a slew of charges from federal prosecutors is upheld, that he may be one of the most dishonest, writes Rupert Cornwell. He is accused of using his nationally syndicated programme to defraud listeners out of more than $20m (pounds 12.5m).

WAYNE McCULLOUGH TO FIGHT JOSE PENTALENON

BOXING

Haiti leader expected to go today

THE ARMY commander in Haiti, General Raoul Cedras, is expected to step down today as the military regime is dissolved. He will probably go into exile in Spain. His chief of staff, General Philippe Biamby, is also expected to leave office today and is likely to live in the Dominican Republic.

Anxiety grows across Haiti border: Washington must calm nerves in the Dominican Republic if it is to mount a successful invasion of its neighbour on Hispaniola, writes Phil Davison in Santo Domingo

UNITED STATES forces poised to invade Haiti will have the delicate task of doing so without upsetting the uneasy political balance in its neighbour, the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola and has opposed an invasion.

Funds poised for a post-Castro boom

AMERICANS can't go there, let alone trade there, and there is nothing to invest in even if they could. But that hasn't stopped US investors, in their quest for the ultimate emerging market, from rushing to buy a handful of new mutual funds established specifically for that purpose.

Latin America File: Eyes on Haiti, but watch its backyard

THE EYES of the world are on Haiti, which faces the threat of a US-led military intervention, but President Bill Clinton's contingency planning may be complicated by unrest in Haiti's neighbour, the Dominican Republic.

Balaguer wins

(First Edition)

Confusion over Jackson's marriage

NEW YORK - Michael Jackson's spokesman denied his client had married Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie, despite such claims by a judge in the Dominican Republic. But a leading handwriting expert said he was '75 per cent certain' that the marriage certificate produced by the judge was signed by Jackson. Reuter

Racist murderers get long jail terms

MADRID - A Spanish court sentenced four men to jail terms totalling 126 years over the murder of a woman from the Dominican Republic, which sparked a nationwide debate about racism. The court ruled that former civil guard Luis Merino, along with Felipe Carlos Martin, Julian Flores and Javier Quilez, had entered a building where 30 Dominican immigrants lived with 'the premeditated idea of assault to cause bodily harm'. Reuter

TRAVEL / Eat, drink and merengue: There is a pleasing rhythm to life in the Dominican Republic, if you can ignore the poolside disco music. Andrew Purvis reports

'WHERE is the Dominican Republic?' the travel agent asked, leafing distractedly through yet another brochure. At first I took this for ignorance, a plea for help, but her expression betrayed a darker purpose. She was trying to catch me out. 'Central America,' I said, with an inflection that made it sound a bit like a question but not quite. I'd confirmed the booking and was signing a cheque, so of course I knew where I was going. 'Wrong,' she said triumphantly. 'Let's look at the map.'

Impatient Clinton tightens Haiti grip

BILL CLINTON said yesterday he was tightening sanctions on Haiti, including an end to all commercial flights to the island, in an effort to force out the military regime which seized power three years ago.

Boxing: Robinson's risky fight

STEVE ROBINSON risks a lucrative meeting with Duke McKenzie by taking on the elusive substitute Freddy Cruz in the fourth defence of his World Boxing Organisation featherweight title at the Cardiff Ice Rink tomorrow.

Dominican fraud charges to go to UN

The main opposition candidate in the Dominican Republic's allegedly fraud-marred presidential vote pledged yesterday to take his fight to the UN and the Organisation of American States, AFP reports from Santo Domingo. No winner has been announced in the 16 May vote, which Jose Francisco Pena Gomez says was rigged to keep him from defeating the incumbent, Joaquin Balaguer.

Letter: Haiti sanctions must be enforced

Sir: Your article 'Desperate Haitians vote with their fleet', 23 May) is correct in highlighting the new wave of Haitians building boats to flee their country. Their reversion to such a course has less to do with President Clinton's modified immigration policy and more to do with months of terror and deprivation.
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Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions

He's worked with Modest Mouse, the Pet Shop Boys and Beck, to name a few, and recently released his first solo album. So why, wonders Johnny Marr, do people still hark on about The Smiths?
After the flood: From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands

In pictures: After the flood

From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands
Death becomes her: Meet the very modern mortician who champions 'cool' funerals

Death becomes her: A very modern mortician

Ever considered baking a loved one's remains into a cake or putting their ashes in fireworks? If so, talk to Caitlin Doughty, champion of the alternative death industry.
How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

At first it seemed clever and cute. Then the 'Keep Calm' motif went mad, spawning endless offshoots.
The man who built Brum: A lament for the demise of John Madin's Brutalist Birmingham

John Madin: The man who built Brum

The architect's buildings were supposed to leave an indelible, futuristic mark on his beloved hometown but they are now being inexorably torn down.
School of chop: Learning the art of butchery at the Ginger Pig

School of chop: Learning the art of butchery

How do you butcher a lamb? Or make Mexican street food in a British kitchen? Christopher Hirst finds out.
James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats