Early stumble as El Salvador starts Bitcoin as currency

13 Sept 11:16 Key points summarised by AI

El Salvador became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, alongside the U.S. dollar, on Tuesday.
The rollout immediately faced technical issues, with the government's digital wallet, Chivo, experiencing server capacity problems, prompting President Bukele to address users via Twitter.
Bitcoin's value plummeted significantly on the day of adoption, dropping from over $52,000 to $42,000 before recovering, underscoring its inherent volatility.
Public reception was mixed; while the government offered a $30 incentive, many Salvadorans expressed doubts or had not yet downloaded the app, and critics warned of potential criminal activity and financial instability.

Son of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi says had first call in five years

Yesterday 17:18 Key points summarised by AI

Kim Aris, son of Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, spoke with his mother for the first time in over five years, expressing immense relief but underscoring her ongoing unjust detention.
Suu Kyi, 81, has been under house arrest since the 2021 military coup, with her son emphasizing that a single conversation does not constitute regular family access.
This rare contact follows recent, limited relaxations of her detention by Myanmar authorities, including public appearances and receiving a package from King Charles III, which analysts suggest may be an attempt to court international legitimacy for the military regime.