Revised Fijian currency unveiled 12 Dec 2012 Fiji`s new series of banknotes and coins with new designs were unveiled on the 12th of December 2012 and were put into circulation on the 2nd January 2013. Fauna and flora designs of Fiji replace the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. accross all denominations. The currency includes for the first time a $2 coin and a $5 polymer banknote. Read more ...

The new "Europa" series banknotes "Europa" series banknotes will be introduced across the euro area over several years. Starting with new € 5 banknote which was already unveiled on the 10th January 2013. The 5 Eur banknote is the first banknote in the Europa series to be introduced and will be issued on 2 May 2013 across the euro area. The new euro banknotes have incorporated enhanced security features, which are easy to locate on the banknotes, keep the new notes up to date in terms of image reproduction technology. Read more ...

Samoa new type 100-tala note confirmed 100-tala notes (CBS B19) have been confirmed with signatures of Faumuina Tiatia Faaolatane Liuga and Maiava Atalina Ainuu-Enari. Additionally, there is a new decorative pattern overprinted on the designs at top and bottom borders on front and back. Read more ...

Serbia new 500- and 2,000- dinar notes confirmed The National Bank of Serbia released revised 500- and 2,000-dinar banknotes on the 7th December 2012. The 500-dinar banknote will circulate in parallel with the earlier series of this banknote issued in 2004, 2007 and 2011, while the 2000-dinar banknote will be in parallel circulation with its 2011 issue. The release of revised 500- and 2000-dinar banknotes was scheduled by the annual programme of manufacturing banknotes and coins. Read more ...

Russia plans to print Olympic banknotes Russia`s central bank announced to start printing 100 ruble commemorative Olympic banknotes in March. Bank`s first Deputy Chairman Georgy Luntovsky said "the banknote will be beautiful", refusing to elaborate on its design except to say it would differ in colour from the regular red 100 ruble note. Read more ...

New commemorative 25 taka in Bangladesh Bangladesh has released a commemorative note of 25 taka in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Security Printing Corporation. The note has also been released in a special folder as a numismatic product and sold for 100 taka. Read more ...

Libya new banknotes issued on 31.01.2013 On the 31 January 2013 The Central Bank of Libya have issued new 1, 5, 10 and 20 dinars banknotes. A 50 dinar note was considered but not issued "in a bid to control the black economy". The new notes will slowly replace the old ones, but The Bank has not given a date as yet when the latter will cease to be valid tender. The old, large-size five and ten dinar notes were supposed to be no longer valid as of 1 November and all of them handed into the Central Bank by 31 December last year. However, this was then extended until 28 February 2013. Read more ...

New notes in United Arab Emirates On the 2nd February 2013 Central Bank of The United Arab Emirates put in circulation two currency notes reprinted with new security features, of AED one hundred and AED one thousand. Read more ...

Philippines: new 50-peso commemorative banknote According to an article in the Sun Star dated 2 February 2013, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has approved the proposal to allow the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to issue on 2 April 2013 a 50-peso note commemorating the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod by Pope Benedict XVI on 21 October 2012 in Rome, Italy. Read more ...

Canada - electronic passport From 1 July 2013 all new Canadian passports will be electronic or ePassports. The passports will have an electronic chip embedded in the back cover of the book. The chip in the ePassport will store the same personal information that you will see on page 2 of the passport (except for the holder`s signature), the photo and a country specific digital security feature (or signature) that proves the passport was issued by the Government of Canada. Adults applying and renewing for the first-time will have the option of a 5 or 10 year, while children`s ePassports will be issued for a maximum of 5 years. Read more...

Azerbaijan - ID cards of the new model With Azerbaijani ID cards the number of countries where you can travel will be expanded. The relevant authorities of several countries are underway of negotiations. According to the Economic Development Ministry, amendments were made to the legislation for ID cards to be used for exit and entry to the country, with which international agreements have been signed. The ministry announced that the list of countries where you can travel with the ID card will be made public after the completion of the work in this direction. The issue of ID cards of the new model, will start from 1 January 2014 and civil, service and diplomatic passports in June 2013. Read more...

Nigeria - biometric ID card 2013 The National Population Commission (NCP) has disclosed that Nigerians will have biometric identity card next year. The Federal government had approved the five-year strategic programme of the commission aimed at making the NPC the central database in the country. The NCP would begin the process of issuing biomeric identity card to all Nigerians as a means of identification. Read more...

China - New Passport Sparks Controversy Several Asian countries last week reacted with unusual fury over the new design of the Chinese passport, which features watermarks that include 90 percent of the South Chine Sea, Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin, as well as famous tourist attractions in Taiwan. Although Beijing`s move was mostly symbolic, it constitutes yet another escalatory step in China`s many territorial disputes and could, depending on how other countries respond, make already complex issues even more difficult to resolve. Read more...

Libya`s new biometric passport officially revealed Deputy Minister Abdulsalam Al-gadi has revealed Libya`s new biometric passports. He said that as the National Identity Number system had been completed, and that Libya`s border posts are linked by computer, the new biometric passport based on the National Identity Number could be issued. Nasseredine Ghulab, Head of the Technical and Cooperation Department at the Passports Department added that new systems will now be able to monitor all Libya`s border crossings, include photographing of all foreigner national arriving. All current old-type passports will remain valid, and the new passports will be phased in gradually. Read more...

Abbas orders to Issue Palestine Passports One of the most important decisions following the UN vote on Palestine was made in the temporary Palestinian capital of Ramallah. Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree on 6 January 2013, calling for the issuance of new passports, driver`s licenses, stamps and other national identification documents all under the title of the State of Palestine. The reaction mostly focused on the change in the title on passports from the Oslo-mandated "Palestinian Authority" to the term "State of Palestine". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu`s office issued a strong rejection of the decision, refusing any action that predetermines the outcome of talks and opposing the UN declaration of a Palestinian state. Read more ...