Durante más de dos años en Berlín, un pequeño distrito en la parte oriental de El Salvador, entusiastas de Bitcoin han creado un centro de aprendizaje y han proporcionado apoyo técnico a los propietarios de unas 200 empresas y empresarios sobre el uso de la criptodivisa, que actualmente tiene un valor de unos 115.000 dólares.

Berlin

In Berlin, a small town in El Salvador, locals continue to trade and use Bitcoin, even as the national government has made its acceptance voluntary for private parties and limited public sector involvement. The town has established a cryptocurrency learning center, supporting over 200 businesses and educating more than 500 students on digital currency as an alternative financial system. 

Despite the government's ongoing accumulation of Bitcoin reserves, concerns remain about the lack of broader educational efforts and the limited impact on the general population. A recent survey indicated that most Salvadorans do not see cryptocurrency as beneficial to their family's wealth, suggesting that Berlin's enthusiastic adoption of Bitcoin is not widely shared across the country.

Un pueblo salvadoreño mantiene la fe en Bitcoin pese a la volatilidad del mercado

En lo alto de una de las cordilleras cafetaleras de El Salvador, los granos y el Bitcoin se negociados. Los entusiastas de las criptomonedas en Berlín, al este del país centroamericano, están disfrutando de los beneficios de la subida de la moneda a niveles récord, actualmente en torno a los 115.000 dólares. Marta Navarro, vendedora del mercado local, es una de las afortunadas. Dejé el dinero allí y lo dejé trabajar. Lo dejaba allí, y de repente miraba y lo miraba. A veces subía, a veces bajaba. De repente, vi que había ganado bastante. Así que es muy agradable, porque cuando tienes suficiente dinero, ves el beneficio cuando sube. En septiembre de 2021, El Salvador se convirtió en el primer país del mundo en hacer Bitcoin moneda de curso legal junto con el dólar estadounidense. Sin embargo, en enero, el gobierno del presidente Nayib Bukele modificó la ley como parte de una acuerdo con el Fondo Monetario Internacional para obtener 1.400 millones de dólares de financiación. Eso hizo que la aceptación de Bitcoin fuera voluntaria para las partes privadas, y limitó el sector público la participación en cryptocurrency. Sin embargo, Berlín es uno de los lugares que está adoptando la idea. Hace más de dos años, la pequeña comunidad de unas 20.000 personas creó una criptomoneda centro de aprendizaje para ofrecer apoyo técnico a los propietarios de unas 200 empresas y empresarios. Dicen que han educado a más de 500 estudiantes sobre Bitcoin como una alternativa a las finanzas y afirman que los turistas extranjeros y la población local realizan transacciones en moneda digital con regularidad. Gail Weisenberg, propietaria de un hostal francés en Berlín, afirma que ha experimentado un cambio en actitud. Creo que quien vive en Berlín ahora vive en dólares estadounidenses y en Bitcoin estándar, pero Creo que hay más gente en el estándar Bitcoin. Pero Quentin Ehrenmann, un ciudadano francés que trabaja con una organización no gubernamental, MyFirstBitcoin, está preocupado por el cambio de la ley. Desde que el gobierno entró en este contrato con el FMI, Bitcoin ya no es de curso legal y no hemos visto ningún otro esfuerzo para educar a la gente. El gobierno aparentemente sigue acumulando Bitcoin, lo cual es beneficioso para el gobierno. No es directamente bueno para la gente. El gobierno dice que ha seguido aumentando sus reservas hasta alcanzar un total de 6.246 Bitcoins, por valor de más de 700 millones de dólares. Y el FMI dijo el jueves que las tenencias de cripto de El Salvador siguen siendo coherentes con los compromisos que el país hizo a principios de este año. Pero la entusiasta adopción de Bitcoin por parte de Berlín podría seguir siendo una excepción. Una encuesta realizada en 2024 por la Universidad Jesuita Centroamericana mostró que el 80% de los salvadoreños creía que las criptomonedas ayudaban poco o nada al patrimonio de sus familias.

Israel's military has called up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for an expected assault on Gaza City, as the Israeli government considered a new proposal for a ceasefire after nearly two years of war.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of Gaza City operation

The Trump administration says it is adding 407 items to the list of "derivative" steel and aluminum products subject to higher tariffs. The list includes products like car parts, household appliances, baby strollers, fire extinguishers and spray deodorants.

Washington

Global Tariffs

Trump expanding steel and aluminum tariffs

NATO military chiefs met virtually Wednesday for what was described as a candid discussion about security guarantees the alliance would be willing to provide to Ukraine in an effort to end Russia's war in the region.

Brussels

Ukraine Invasion

NATO chiefs meet virtually about potential Ukraine security guarantees

Israel's military leaders approved the next phase of their ongoing offensive in the territory. The operation will shift focus to Gaza City, targeting areas where Hamas is believed to still be active and where Israeli forces have not yet operated.

Israel approves next phase of Gaza offensive, focus on Gaza City

Despite not making landfall, Hurricane Erin is forcing mandatory evacuation orders in parts of North Carolina and is expected to cause rip currents for days along the U.S. East Coast.

North Carolina

Hurricane Erin forces evacuations on U.S. East Coast

The White House says it is working to secure a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, which both have agreed to, while plans continue to create security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump says no U.S. ground troops will be sent to Ukraine

Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but mediators are still waiting for an official response from Israel. CBS News contributor Robert Berger has the latest from Jerusalem.

Mediators await Israeli response to Gaza ceasefire proposal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s top diplomat on Tuesday and hailed the “steady progress” made in improving the bilateral relationship after a yearslong standoff between the nuclear-armed Asian powers.

New Delhi

India's Modi meets China's foreign minister to rebuild ties

Texas Democrats who ended a walkout found themselves shadowed by law enforcement officers to keep them from repeating the protest that stalled Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts and fulfill President Donald Trump's desire to reshape U.S. House maps.

Austin

Police escort Texas Democrats to prevent new redistricting walkout

Air Canada has reached a tentative agreement with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), ending the strike that began over the weekend involving 10,000 members and disrupted travel for more than 100,000 travelers per day.

Toronto

Air Canada reaches tentative agreement with flight attendant union

Exiled former Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui hailed Australia's grant of asylum status as a key acknowledgement of the territory's human rights infringements since its authorities quelled massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Hong Kong Island

Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker granted asylum by Australia

Forecasters are giving urgent warnings to millions of people who live along the East Coast as Hurricane Erin churns in the Atlantic. The storm will not make direct landfall but is expected to bring dangerous rip currents.

East Coast of the United States

Hurricane Erin to bring dangerous rip currents to U.S. East Coast

Jasveen Sangha, a Los Angeles woman known as the "Ketamine Queen," has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry. Sangha could face up to 45 years in prison.

Los Angeles

"Ketamine Queen" to plead guilty in Matthew Perry's death

European leaders who converged on the White House for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war demonstrated a united front regarding Ukraine's security on Monday, underscoring the issue as pivotal for the entire continent, not just Ukraine.

EU leaders show cautious optimism following Zelenskyy, Trump talks

As Hamas reportedly agreed to some ceasefire terms that would include the return of more hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to take more of Gaza.

Israel digs in on Gaza takeover as Hamas softens on ceasefire

President Donald Trump said that the United States would help Europe in providing security for Ukraine as part of any deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

Trump tells Zelenskyy U.S. would help with security in a peace deal

Bolivia's presidential vote headed to an unprecedented runoff after elections Sunday that ended more than two decades of left-wing dominance in the Andean nation but signaled voters' trepidation about a major lurch to the right.

La Paz

Bolivia heads to runoff after historic defeat for the left

All Air Canada planes were grounded on Monday (August 18) after its 10,000 flight attendants refused a return-to-work mandate from the Canadian government.

Air Canada delays plans to resume operations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House Monday (August 18) for his meeting with President Donald Trump and other European leaders about Russia's war in Ukraine. CBS News White House reporter Taurean Small has more.

Trump meeting with Zelenskiy, European leaders at White House

Hamas on Monday informed mediators that it had accepted a ceasefire deal proposal submitted to it the day before, according to international and Israeli outlets.

Reports: Hamas accepts latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

Hurricane Erin will bring dangerously rough surf to parts of the U.S. East Coast. Over the weekend, Erin's outer bands lashed Puerto Rico with up to 7 inches of rain and flooding parts of the island.

Erin expected to bring dangerous conditions to U.S. East Coast

Ahead of his Monday meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenksyy says his country will not give up any territory to Russia, even as the White House insists potential land swaps will be necessary. Willie James Inman reports.

Kyiv

Ahead of Trump meeting, Zelenskyy says won't give territory to Russia

Thousands of Israeli protesters demanded a deal to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas in one of the biggest demonstrations since the war in Gaza began. Debora Patta reports.

Thousands of Israelis protest in Gaza, call for end to fighting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flies to Washington on Monday under heavy U.S. pressure to agree to a swift end to Russia's war in his country, but determined to defend Kyiv's interests — without sparking a second Oval Office dust-up with Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy, European allies to meet with Trump to discuss peace

European leaders voiced strong support for Ukraine ahead of a Washington summit with U.S President Donald Trump. They emphasized unity, territorial integrity and security guarantees as essential to any peace deal.

Paris

European leaders stress unity with Ukraine ahead of peace talks

International condemnation and pressure from allies have done nothing to stop Israel's plan to displace the people of northern Gaza. Israel on Saturday (August 16) said it is preparing to move Palestinians from combat zones to southern Gaza.

Israeli military prepares to move Palestinians to southern Gaza

Thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday in a nationwide strike amid fears further fighting could endanger the 50 hostages believed to still be in Gaza.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Dozens of Israelis arrested in protest to demand end to Gaza war

Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities firing hundreds of missiles and projectiles daily despite ongoing peace efforts, led by the United States. Ukrainian officials say their unwillingness to dial back their offensive reflects their lack of sincere interest in peace.

Five killed as Russia continues to pummel Ukrainian cities

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Ukraine should make a deal to end the war with Russia because "Russia is a very big power, and they're not," after a summit where Vladimir Putin was reported to have demanded more Ukrainian land.

Breakdown