Brazilian President Enters Hospital

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva entered the hospital today for surgery to treat inflammation in his hip joint, caused by cartilage wear, which has caused him significant pain in recent months. Lula stated, "He has been suffering from persistent pain for over a year, but that has not prevented him from traveling to dozens of countries since taking office in January." Government officials noted that Vice President Geraldo Alckmin will take on some of Lula's duties, but there are no plans for him to become acting president at any time. The surgery, which will last two hours under general anesthesia, aims to restore function to the right hip by realigning the joint, which will require the removal of the femoral head to implant a replacement.