Man tries to charge through palace gate
LONDON – A man with a knife is facing charges after he tried to dart through a gate at Buckingham Palace in London on Monday, police said. The palace said Queen Elizabeth II was not in residence.
Breaches of royal security are rare, but just a month ago police arrested two men over a suspected break-in at the palace.
Metropolitan Police said David Belmar, 44, was charged with trespassing on a protected site and possession of an offensive weapon. He will appear in court on Tuesday.
Belmar was apprehended as he tried to run through security at a palace gate that serves both pedestrians and vehicles.
Police searched him and found a knife.
Officials hopeful about new talks with Iran
VIENNA – Don’t expect a breakthrough – but the chances for progress have seldom been better. This is the message coming from Iran and six world powers ahead of renewed talks this week meant to end a decade of deadlock on Tehran’s nuclear program.
The two sides come to the negotiating table in Geneva today and Wednesday amid a feel-good atmosphere that began with the June election of centrist Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Subsequent conciliatory comments by Iranian officials were capped last month by a phone call between Rouhani and President Barack Obama – the first conversation between U.S. and Iranian leaders in more than three decades.
Iran insists it does not want nuclear weapons. But Iranian officials from Rouhani down say their country is ready to meet some international demands to reduce its nuclear activities.
Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a senior member of the Iran negotiating team, said Sunday that Tehran is bringing a new proposal to the talks meant to dispel doubts that his country nuclear program is anything but peaceful.
Associated Press
