CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago judge says “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett can travel out-of-state to meet his lawyers while he’s free on bond on charges he falsely reported being attacked by two masked men. Anne Kavanagh is a spokeswoman for Smollett’s attorneys, who say he’s innocent. Kavanagh says attorney Mark Geragos, who’s based in Los Angeles, is Smollett’s lead attorney. She says a defense lawyer asked Monday that Smollett be allowed to travel to California and New York for meetings with his legal team. Chicago police charged Smollett with disorderly conduct. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson says Smollett, who is black and gay, staged a racist and homophobic attack , then told police his attackers yelled racial and anti-gay slurs and referenced President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan. He was released last week after posting $10,000 cash. He was ordered to surrender his passport. … [Read more...] about Judge Grants Jussie Smollett Special Permission to Travel While Free on Bond
Special permission
Trump Lied About Getting Special Permission From El Paso Fire Dept, Says Fire Dept
POLITICS 02/12/2019 12:18 pm ET The president bragged about his crowd size and claimed he got special permission to let 10,000 people inside the venue for his rally in El Paso on Monday. By Jenna Amatulli President Donald Trump told the crowd at his rally in El Paso, Texas, on Monday that he got special permission from the El Paso Fire Department to let 10,000 people inside the El Paso County Coliseum. El Paso Fire Department spokesman Enrique D Aguilar told The El Paso Times that not only did the fire department not give Trump special permission, but the Coliseum had about 6,500 people in it during the president’s rally. Aguilar says that number was at capacity and well within its standard allowance. The spokesman added that “it might be 10,000 with the people outside” total, but the fire department didn’t track the number of people outside the venue. While the number Trump quoted about his attendees might not have been … [Read more...] about Trump Lied About Getting Special Permission From El Paso Fire Dept, Says Fire Dept
Syria’s Assad suspends special visas for EU diplomats
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Thursday that Syria's President Bashar al-Assad had suspended special visas for European Union diplomats to Damascus, confirming a Reuters report earlier this week. "The Bashar al-Assad regime has suspended multiply entry visas," a spokeswoman told a regular Commission briefing. "We are continuing as the EU ... to do whatever we can to avoid it having an impact on the important work we are doing on the ground." The special permission to use multiple-entry Syrian visas for access to Damascus was rescinded at the start of January with no explanation from the Syrian government, EU diplomats told Reuters, complicating efforts to distribute humanitarian aid to civil war victims. (Reporting by Robin Emmott) … [Read more...] about Syria’s Assad suspends special visas for EU diplomats
BBC refused permission to challenge Sir Cliff Richard privacy ruling
News / UK and world by Press Association July 26, 2018, 3:10 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter BBC bosses have failed to persuade a High Court judge to give them the go-ahead to challenge his ruling on a privacy fight with Sir Cliff Richard. The 77-year-old singer sued over BBC coverage of a South Yorkshire Police raid on his home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in August 2014, following a child sex assault allegation. Earlier this month Mr Justice Mann ruled in Sir Cliff’s favour following a High Court trial in London. The judge concluded coverage was a “very serious” privacy invasion and awarded Sir Cliff £210,000 damages. He said the award would be made up of £190,000 to cover the “general effect” coverage had on Sir Cliff’s life, plus £20,000 because the BBC had aggravated harm by nominating coverage for an award. BBC bosses have to get permission to appeal by showing they have … [Read more...] about BBC refused permission to challenge Sir Cliff Richard privacy ruling
Rightmove apologises as advert offering low rent for ‘special favours’ is posted
News / UK and world by Press Association July 26, 2018, 3:05 pm Updated: July 26, 2018, 3:08 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter Property website Rightmove has apologised after an advert offering reduced rent in return for “special favours” appeared on its website. The advert, posted on Wednesday, featured a two-bedroom terraced house near Longbridge station in Birmingham. The property was listed at £23 per person per week for a female student tenant with “reduced rent for special favours”. A number of Rightmove users took to social media to share their dismay at the advert’s implication. Rosh Rashid, 21, a student who is looking for a two-bedroom property to rent in the area, shared a screenshot of the advert on Twitter, writing: “Available to ‘female students’ .. available on a reduced rent for ‘special favours to be discussed.’ Wow” Miss Rashid said she … [Read more...] about Rightmove apologises as advert offering low rent for ‘special favours’ is posted