LATAM POLITICS TODAY-Lula's lead over Bolsonaro narrows in Brazil vote -poll

The latest in Latin American politics today: Lula's lead over Bolsonaro narrows in Brazil vote - poll SAO PAULO - Brazilian presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's lead over President Jair Bolsonaro has shrunk to 5 percentage points ahead of a runoff vote set for Oct. 30, according to a new poll by Genial/Quaest.

The latest in Latin American politics today: Lula's lead over Bolsonaro narrows in Brazil vote - poll

SAO PAULO - Brazilian presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's lead over President Jair Bolsonaro has shrunk to 5 percentage points ahead of a runoff vote set for Oct. 30, according to a new poll by Genial/Quaest. Former President Lula has 47% voter support, down from last week's 49%, while Bolsonaro gained 1 point to 42%.

Pollsters were widely criticized after the first-round vote for significantly underestimating support for Bolsonaro. Lula aide calls for Amazon rainforest summit in early 2023

SAO PAULO - Brazil presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva should hold a summit of Amazon rainforest nations in the first half of 2023, if elected, along with developed countries interested in its conservation, his top foreign policy adviser told Reuters. Celso Amorim, foreign minister during Lula's 2003-2010 presidency, said the summit could give renewed political meaning to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT) signed in 1978 by Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.

Colombia congress approves 2023 budget bill, increasing funding for social programs BOGOTA - Colombia's congress approved an $85.5 billion budget for 2023, increasing spending for education, health and agriculture amid promises by leftist President Gustavo Petro to increase support for social programs.

The 405.6 trillion peso figure for the bill, the highest budget in the country's history, was approved last month. Tuesday's vote enshrined spending for individual programs and ministries. Mexico president says he discussed migration, security and development with Biden

MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said he discussed migration, security and cooperation on development with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden during a Tuesday afternoon call. Biden also confirmed he would travel to Mexico for the North American Leaders' Summit, set to take place in December, Lopez Obrador said on Twitter.

The White House said in a statement the two leaders discussed "actions to reduce the number of individuals who unlawfully cross the U.S.-Mexico border and to expand legal pathways as an alternative to irregular migration." (Compiled by Steven Grattan Editing by Chris Reese)

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