Pompeo Pledges US Support to Ease Greece–Turkey Dispute
THESSALONIKI, Greece—U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sept. 28 that Washington will use its diplomatic and military influence in the region to try to ease a volatile dispute between NATO allies Greece and Turkey over energy rights in the eastern Mediterranean. Pompeo began a five-day regional tour in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, days after Greece and Turkey committed to restarting a diplomatic dialogue on the dispute that triggered a dangerous military build-up—and fears of military conflict—in the disputed maritime area over the summer. The United States and Greece “reiterated their dedication to enhancing their close cooperation as NATO allies, using all appropriate means at their disposal, in order to safeguard stability and security in the wider region,” the two countries said in a joint statement after…
Police in Fullerton were pleasantly surprised when multiple calls about a home invasion robbery in progress involving men with guns and ski masks turned out to be nothing more than a film shoot.
Fullerton Police Department Cpl. Billy Phu told The Epoch Times that the department received multiple calls “where people saw subjects with masks, and what they believed to be guns. And they believed that someone was being robbed.”
The armed men in ski masks were caught appearing to break into an apartment complex in the 200 block of East Orangefair Mall at about 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 27.
Phu said when officers arrived on the scene, a passerby informed them that they might just be filming at the apartment. A few people from the film crew then came down to meet the officers and explained the situation.
“We officers still did our due diligence and went up to contact the owner of the apartment, and he gave the same information,” Phu said.
“We checked the apartment, saw the camera equipment, and then basically rendered the opinion that it was ultimately not a crime.”
The weapons were prop replicas. Because the film shoot involved a private home, police were not notified of the production.
“If there’s going to be commercial filming within a city, I highly recommend that they contact the city and acquire the proper permits, so that we can avoid circumstances like this,” Phu said.
Focus News: Film Shoot in Fullerton Mistaken for Armed Robbery
‘Ashamed’: Lebanese Despair at Leaders After Macron’s Rebuke
BEIRUT鈥擫ebanese are in despair at their sectarian leaders who have left the nation without a government during the worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war that has already driven many into poverty. Emmanuel Macron, president of Lebanon’s former colonial power France who has led international efforts to offer support, also rebuked politicians after his initiative faltered when the prime minister-designate quit amid bickering for ministerial posts. With politics deadlocked and the economy crushed by debt, Lebanon’s pound took a further dive, adding to the pain of citizens, many of whom have struggled to make ends meet since the economic crisis erupted in 2019. “The first thing we need is a government,” said Taleb Tamer, a 31-year-old baker in Beirut, which was hammered by a devastating port blast in August that…
