Stories for July 18th 2011

Monday, July 18th 2011 - 11:40 UTC
Lula da Silva accuses the Brazilian elite of defending ‘social inequality’

Former Brazilian president Lula da Silva claimed elites defend social inequality and anticipated he would be active again in politics ahead of the 2012 municipal elections.
Monday, July 18th 2011 - 10:47 UTC
Hague announces UK will appeal EC decision on Gibraltar waters

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Government has a clear responsibility to uphold the UK's position over the waters around Gibraltar and will be appealing a European Commission decision benefiting Spain.
Monday, July 18th 2011 - 10:28 UTC
Hydrocarbons-rich province says Argentina has no need to import natural gas

The governor of hydrocarbon-rich Neuquen Province wants to convince Argentina's government it can get all the natural gas it needs from Neuquen and doesn't need to spend billions to import the fuel from Qatar.
Monday, July 18th 2011 - 10:22 UTC
US congress closer to deal on debt-ceiling but with Obama paying the political cost

United States government and opposition senators are crafting a plan that could avert an unprecedented US government default if by next 2 August the national debt limit is not raised.
Monday, July 18th 2011 - 10:04 UTC
Animal rights organizations claim Japan is corrupting the Whaling Commission

Animal rights organizations claim Japan has been handing out generous grants to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to support turning the International Whaling Commission into a “toothless paper tiger” undermining the whaling-moratorium.
Monday, July 18th 2011 - 08:59 UTC
Chavez delegates some powers to his Vice-president and Finance minister

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez delegated some powers to his vice president and finance minister on Saturday, hours before a planned departure to Cuba for cancer treatment.
Monday, July 18th 2011 - 08:50 UTC
Brazil launched the construction of four Scorpene-class attack submarines

The construction of four diesel powered Scorpene-class attack submarines for the Brazilian Navy was launched on Saturday at a plant near Rio de Janeiro.
Monday, July 18th 2011 - 08:44 UTC
Iran ready to help investigate 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires of Jewish centre

Argentina on Sunday welcomed an offer from Iran to help investigate the 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish centre that killed 85 people and which local prosecutors blame on Iranian officials.
Monday, July 18th 2011 - 08:35 UTC
Uruguay’s former president turned dictator Bordaberry (83) dies under home arrest

Juan Maria Bordaberry, the elected president who turned dictator in 1973 by supporting a military coup and opening the way for twelve years of military rule, died Sunday while under house arrest.