- 1. Puerto Rico defaulting on $422 million debt payment
- 2. Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright says he's Bitcoin creator
- 3. Halliburton and Baker Hughes call off $28 billion merger
- 4. Warren Buffett says Berkshire Hathaway doesn't profit from central bank moves
- 5. Ringling Brothers elephants perform in last show
1. Puerto Rico defaulting on $422 million debt payment
Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla on Sunday declared a moratorium on a $422 million debt payment due on Monday to the island's Government Development Bank. The default is the most significant one yet for the U.S. Caribbean island territory. Garcia Padilla said he made the "painful decision" due to Congress' failure to pass a legislative solution to Puerto Rico's $70 billion debt burden.
2. Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright says he's Bitcoin creator
Craig Wright, an Australian businessman, publicly identified himself as the creator of digital currency Bitcoin on Monday. Wright, a computer scientist and entrepreneur, released evidence purporting to prove that he is indeed Bitcoin's pseudonymous inventor "Satoshi Nakamoto," saying he was coming forward reluctantly to stop the spread of "misinformation." "It's not because of my choice," he said. Wired and Gizmodo claimed Wright was the Bitcoin creator back in December.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
3. Halliburton and Baker Hughes call off $28 billion merger
Oil services companies Halliburton and Baker Hughes are planning to call off their $28 billion merger after meeting opposition with antitrust regulators that "severely damaged deal economics," Halliburton Chairman Dave Lesar said. The proposed merger would have joined the world's second- and third-biggest oil services firms. Halliburton started its takeover bid in November 2014 in an effort to compete with industry leader Schlumberger Ltd.
4. Warren Buffett says Berkshire Hathaway doesn't profit from central bank moves
Berkshire Hathaway leader and investment guru Warren Buffett said Monday that his company has not tried to profit from central bank monetary policies aiming to stimulate global economies. "It's a fascinating movie to watch," Buffett told CNBC. "I don't try to make money off the movie." The comments came after Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting over the weekend, a closely watched event where Buffett said hedge funds get "unbelievable" fees for poor performance, and warned that banks' derivatives holdings were "still a potential time bomb."
5. Ringling Brothers elephants perform in last show
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus held its final performance with elephants Sunday in Providence, Rhode Island. The circus decided to speed up the retirement of its elephants, originally scheduled for 2018, under continuing pressure from animal rights groups. The circus company has used elephants for 145 years. "It is a bittersweet decision, there is no question about that, but it is the best thing," Kenneth Feld, chairman of the parent company who owns Ringling Brothers, said.
-
Why are Trump's health rumors about more than just presidential fitness?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Extended absences and unexplained bruises have raised concerns about both his well-being and his administration's transparency
-
Earth's seasons have gone wackadoodleUnder the radar It may have impacted biodiversity and evolution
-
How much does it cost to move? Here's how to budget and save.the explainer Factors like move distance and the weight of your furnishings can affect the total cost — but there are several ways to economize
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weaponsThe Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarrayIn the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
