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The Amazon rainforest in Brazil is facing a severe drought that may affect around 500,000 people by the end of the year, authorities said on Tuesday. Many are already struggling to access essential supplies such as food and water, because the principal means of transportation in the region is waterways, and river levels are historically low. Droughts also impact fishing, a means of subsistence for many riverside communities. Amazonas state declared an environmental emergency two weeks ago in response to the prolonged drought and launched a response plan valued at USD 20 million. Authorities will also distribute food and water supplies as well as personal hygiene kits, the state's civil defence agency said in a statement. Gov. Wilson Lima was in Brazil's capital, Brasilia, on Tuesday to meet with representatives of the federal government. Lima spoke with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to discuss the drought. The different levels of government will coordinate measures in suppor
On the campaign trail, Luiz Incio Lula da Silva promised to sustain a massive welfare programme, increase the minimum wage and boost health and education spending. Now, Brazil's president-elect is trying to make good on those pledges -- and investors are showing concern. Da Silva's transition team on Wednesday night presented Congress with an outline of a proposal to skirt a constitutionally imposed spending cap by creating a carve-out for welfare. Then, at the climate talks in Egypt on Thursday, he reiterated that he pays little heed to whether his plans to lead a socially responsible government might cause jittery speculators to sell off. When trading opened on Thursday, Brazil's currency slid to its weakest level against the dollar since July and the benchmark Bovespa stock index fell more than 2.5 per cent, before trimming losses hours later. Traders have begun pricing in interest-rate hikes next year rather than cuts, as da Silva's proposal "confirmed (fiscal) risk that before .
US President Joe Biden on Sunday congratulated Luiz Incio Lula da Silva on his election to be the next president of Brazil. I send my congratulations to Luiz Incio Lula da Silva on his election to be the next president of Brazil following free, fair, and credible elections, Biden said in a statement. I look forward to working together to continue the cooperation between our two countries in the months and years ahead, he said.