US Federal prosecutors said they will not bring criminal charges against Eliot Spitzer for his role in a prostitution scandal, removing a legal cloud that has surrounded the former New York state governor since his epic downfall eight months ago.

WITH his predecessor’s term doomed by a sex scandal, New York Governor David Paterson came clean about his own skeletons just hours after assuming office by acknowledging he had affairs with several women, including a state employee.

GOVERNOR Eliot Spitzer’s resignation became official yesterday, paving the way for Lieutenant Governor David Paterson to take the oath of office and become New York’s chief executive.

Rescuers in New York City are trying to find three people still missing after a crane smashed into a townhouse.

A crane rising 19 stories alongside a New York skyscraper under construction toppled like a tree across a city block, crashing into apartment buildings, killing four people and setting off a scramble for survivors.

Disgraced New York governor Eliot Spitzer has said he was “deeply sorry” as he resigned following his involvement in a worldwide prostitution ring.

A PROMINENT politician, especially one known for a certain righteousness, is alleged to be a customer of high-priced call girls. For comics, that’s a hanging curveball over the plate.

New York governor Eliot Spitzer, a crusader against corruption and the “Sheriff of Wall Street”, resigned today following his involvement in a worldwide prostitution ring.

PRESSURE mounted yesterday on New York governor Eliot Spitzer to resign because of a prostitution scandal, with a senior state Republican threatening to push for impeachment proceedings if the governor doesn’t step down in 48 hours.

New York governor Eliot Spitzer – known as a crusader against corruption and the “Sheriff of Wall Street” – faced mounting calls for his resignation today after he apologised following reports of his involvement in a worldwide prostitution ring.

New York governor Eliot Spitzer has apologised to his family and the public following a report that he was involved in a multi-million pound worldwide prostitution ring.

A torrential downpour sent water surging through New York’s tube system, highway tunnels and across airport runways, leaving thousands stranded and one big question: How could 3ins of rain bring the country’s largest transport system to a halt?

Coastal Long Island in the US could see some of its worst flooding in 14 years when a hard-blowing nor'easter begins whipping through New York today, officials said.

Snow-laden western New York state braced for another wintery onslaught today, while in communities from the US Midwest to the Northeast storms closed schools, hit motorists and knocked out power.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer cruised to landslide victories in New York state’s Democratic primary day, turning back long-shot challengers on a night that produced a string of lopsided state-wide contests.

New York’s chief law officer has subpoenaed many of America’s largest radio conglomerates in his “payola” investigation of major artists and songs, reported to include Jennifer Lopez, REM and Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand.

New York’s Republican Party leaders were meeting behind closed doors today to sort out who should run for governor and whether Jeanine Pirro should abandon her struggling campaign to challenge Senator Hillary Clinton.

Surging oil prices prompted new worries about the US economy and sent stocks lower on Wall Street today as investors locked in profits from the market’s recent rally. The concerns over oil overshadowed a strong report on manufacturing orders.

Stocks managed to squeeze out modest gains in a volatile session Monday as crude oil futures, which briefly topped $US58 per barrel in early trading, settled lower.

GENERAL Re, the reinsurance company whose Dublin branch is at the centre of an international investigation, yesterday agreed to respond to a regulatory probe in Australia.

American insurance broker Marsh & McLennan could cut hundreds of jobs in the UK this spring, it emerged today.

US stocks barely moved today while investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates.

Marsh & McLennan, the world’s largest insurance brokerage, is to axe 3,000 staff as it struggles with the fallout from a kickbacks probe by New York’s attorney general.

The prospect of a tight race for the presidency – and a repeat of the 2000 court battle – prompted a late selloff on Wall Street tonight, with stocks finishing the session mixed despite a fresh drop in oil prices.

Wall Street strode higher today, rallying along with insurance stocks on Marsh & McLennan’s decision to fire its chief executive in the face of an ongoing probe.

Marsh & McLennan directors may force chief executive Jeffrey Greenberg to step down after the world’s largest insurance brokerage lost two-fifths of its market value following a lawsuit by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, investors said.

Stocks slumped today as oil prices inched back up from earlier lows and an investigation of the insurance industry pressured managed care stocks, trumping better-than-expected earnings from IBM and Texas Instruments.

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is suing Marsh & McLennan, the world’s number one insurance broker, for steering unsuspecting clients to certain insurers in exchange for lucrative payoffs.

British pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline today agreed to make public information about all its clinical drug trials following accusations that it misled doctors about the safety of an anti-depressant for children.

Former New York Stock Exchange chief Richard A Grasso lashed back at the exchange yesterday, suing it for at least $50 million, claiming breach of contract and defamation on the part of current NYSE chairman John Reed.

British pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline was hit with a multi-million pound lawsuit today after allegedly misleading doctors about the safety of an anti-depressant drug for children.

DOZENS of same-sex couples lined up outside New York city clerk’s office to obtain marriage licences yesterday, but were turned away with a letter explaining that gay marriages were illegal in the state.

The California Supreme Court has declined a request by the state attorney general to immediately shut down San Francisco’s gay weddings and to nullify the nearly 3,500 marriages already performed.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) yesterday called in securities regulators and the state attorney general Eliot Spitzer to investigate the circumstances that led to a $188m (€147.8m) windfall for Richard Grasso, its former chief executive and chairman.

THE board of the National Pension Reserve Fund will meet later this month to discuss the possibility of sacking two of its fund managers.

THE Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (IFSRA) confirmed yesterday it was investigating claims fund managers had allowed preferred clients to get prices on trades that were better than those available to other investors.

WALL STREET’S biggest names are set to announce they have reached a deal with regulators over charges that they bamboozled investors during the boom years of the 1990s.

The New York state attorney general, a prominent abortion rights supporter, has withdrawn from a gathering celebrating Irish-American heritage in the wake of criticism from an anti-abortion group.

The New York state attorney general, who is a prominent abortion rights supporter, has withdrawn from a gathering celebrating Irish-American heritage in the wake of criticism from an anti-abortion group.

NEW YORK City prison governors fear inmates will erupt when one of their few privileges is taken away — smoking.

Merrill Lynch will pay a 100 million dollar (€108.2m) fine to settle charges that its analysts misled investors.

The Dow Jones was higher midsession while the Nasdaq was down along with confidence in technology stocks ahead of most earnings reports, dealers said.

Suspected September 11 fraudsters accused of inventing missing relatives to collect charity cash following the World Trade Centre terror attacks were revealed today.

A New York hotel that overcharged stranded travellers for rooms after the September 11 terrorist attacks has agreed to pay a $9,500 (£6,000) penalty, state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said.