Puerto Rico to default on debt payment after crisis talks failMay 2, 2016 - 16:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Puerto Rico has halted a $422m debt payment due on Monday, May 2 after talks to ease the U.S. territory's crisis ended without a deal, BBC News reports. Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla said in a televised speech he had issued an executive order suspending payments. He described it as a "painful decision", but had been warning since last year that the island's public debt of more than $70bn was unpayable. The U.S. Congress has tried without success to agree a solution. "Let me be very clear, this was a painful decision," Mr Garcia said in a speech. "We would have preferred to have had a legal framework to restructure our debts in an orderly manner." He acknowledged before the weekend that if the payment was not made, it was likely to spark legal action from creditors. A further debt payment of $1.9bn is due in July. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |