metropolitan – Page 2 – 4VF News

Lawmakers, celebrities targeted in alleged phone-hacking scandal

British lawmakers demanded answers Thursday after a newspaper reported that a UK tabloid illegally hacked the phones of thousands of public figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, George Michael and Elle MacPherson. The commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police said he asked his assistant to look into the allegations and determine whether to investigate. It comes after The Guardian newspaper reported Thursday the cell phones of “several thousand public figures” were hacked into by reporters and staff of the News of the World tabloid during one month in 2006

Brooklyn subway stop named for British bank

The British are coming, the British are coming — to Brooklyn?

Judge seeks $170B in forfeitures from Madoff, who awaits sentence

As prosecutors asked to jail Bernard Madoff for 150 years, a U.S. District Court judge Friday entered a preliminary order calling on the convicted Ponzi schemer to forfeit more than $170 billion in assets, prosecutors announced. Madoff’s wife, Ruth, will be allowed to keep $2.5 million in funds “in settlement of the claims she would have otherwise brought against the property,” acting U.S.

First Gitmo detainee arrives in U.S. for trial

A Guantanamo Bay detainee indicted in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa arrived in New York on Tuesday to face criminal charges

Chicago’s Art Institute Expands, with Elegance

In a gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago, there’s a painting from 1913 by the German Expressionist Franz Marc called The Bewitched Mill.

Comment: Payback time for UK MPs as public anger deepens

The most telling reaction I have encountered in the row over excessive expenses claims by British lawmakers came from a London taxi-driver. "I am sick and tired" he said "of hearing them excuse themselves by saying that what they did was OK because it was within the rules.

Schools, agencies seeing big increase in homeless families

Sheila Wash greets her son and daughter, 13-year-old Cecil and 9-year-old Sheliah, every day when their school buses arrive "home." They talk about the school day, their homework and even joke that Sheliah can’t remember what she ate for lunch.

Anti-government protesters amass in Thailand

About 50,000 anti-government demonstrators amassed Wednesday in the capital in a push to topple Thailand’s prime minister. The “Red Shirt” protesters — named for the color of their shirts — had gathered outside Government House in Bangkok, according to the chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau. Demonstrations have intensified in recent weeks to destabilize the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Seven arrested as protesters focus on G-20 summit venue

Scattered demonstrations were taking place around East London as the G-20 summit got under way Thursday, but they were far smaller than the protests seen a day earlier. A total of seven people had been arrested by the early afternoon, police said

Iraq bombing leaves 22 dead

At least 22 civilians were killed and 38 other people were wounded Thursday in a Baghdad car bombing, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said. The number of protesters outside Government House had grown sharply since the afternoon, said Worapong Tuepreecha, the chief of the Metropolitan Police. He said they set up a stage and tents in front of the building.