Brazilian police arrest 5 officers in alleged 2022 coup plot to kill President Lula

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s federal police have arrested five officers accused of plotting a coup that included plans to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections and kill then-President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Police say the coup plotters also planned to kill Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The police said that five arrest warrants have been carried out, as well as three search warrants and other measures. The suspects’ passports were seized and they have been prevented from contacting others. De Moraes, who authorized Tuesday’s arrests, said a police investigation revealed the coup plot involved military personnel trained in the Army’s Special Forces and also a retired high-ranking official.

US envoy says Israel-Hezbollah truce is ‘within our grasp’

BEIRUT (AP) — US envoy Amos Hochstein says an agreement to end the Israel-Hezbollah war is “within our grasp” after meeting with officials in Lebanon. There is no such optimism in the Gaza Strip, where the looting of nearly 100 aid trucks by armed men has worsened an already severe food crisis. Hochstein, the Biden administration’s point man on Israel and Lebanon, arrived on Tuesday as Hezbollah’s allies in the Lebanese government said it had responded positively to the proposal. It’s unclear how close they are to an agreement, which would likely entail both the militants and Israeli ground forces withdrawing from a U.N. buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

Iran increases its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, UN says

VIENNA (AP) — The U.N. nuclear watchdog says Iran has defied international demands to rein in its nuclear program and has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. In a confidential report seen Tuesday by The Associated Press, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that as of Oct. 26, Iran has just over 400 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60%, up 38.8 pounds since the last report in August. Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The IAEA estimates around92.5 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity would be needed to create one atomic weapon — if the material is enriched further, to 90%.

Romanian court finds irregularities in prosecutors’ case against Andrew Tate

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A court in Romania has ruled that prosecutors’ indictment against influencer Andrew Tate contains multiple irregularities. It gives them less than a week to amend or withdraw the case of alleged human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. The ruling by the Bucharest Court of Appeal is a major setback for Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, which must act within five days. Tate and his lawyer are celebrating. Tate has denied all the allegations.