New N50 note for fiftieth independence anniversary Nigeria will celebrate her 50th Independence anniversary with a new N50 note bearing the celebration' s logo, Yayale Ahmed, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced on Thursday in Abuja.  read more ...

Cash money - still a trend Cash is the preferred method of payment all over the world - over 50% of people prefer to pay with notes and coins. Despite predictions that currency as a means of exchange will become obsolete in an increasingly technological world, cash usage remains strong. Cheques, cards and electronic payment have not substantially reduced people' s reliance on cash.  read more ...

Euro - Estonia's new legal tender. On 13 July 2010 the Council of the European Union approved Estonia's request to join the euro area on 1 January 2011. On that date, Estonia will be 17. member of European monetary union and the euro will replace the kroon. There will be a two-week period when both currencies are in circulation, with change normally provided in euro. The kroon will cease to be legal tender from 15 January 2011.  read more ...

Nepal - STOP against money with many stapler marks Nepal is having a problem with banknotes in circulation. Most of them are in a very bad conditions with many stapler marks. Regarding this,  Nepal Rastra Bank decided to stop accepting bundles of banknotes covered by multiple stapler marks and issued a notice regarding the clean note policy. read more ...

New design of Philipine banknotes The initial batch of the new Philippine banknotes will start circulating by the last quarter of this year, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Iloilo Branch Manager Job Nepomucena said. Nepomuceno said in a Philippine Information Agency interview that all the six banknote denominations will have new designs as well as all the coin denominations that will start circulating in 2012. read more ...

Philippines considers destroying unissued 2,000-piso note According to an article in mb.com.ph dated 20 September 2010, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is considering circulating or shredding five million 2,000-piso (US$45.50) banknotes currently stored in its vaults. These unissued "New Millennium" notes are more commonly known at the BSP as "Erap" notes because the front features the inauguration of President Joseph "Erap" Estrada at Barasoain Church in Bulacan on 10 June 1998. Printed in 2000, the notes were to circulate in 2001, but President Estrada was ousted from office that year. Even if the bulk of the notes are destroyed, the BSP is considering saving 50,000 pieces which would be demonetized for "historical, educational, numismatic and other purposes."   read more ...

Redesigned British passport The UK passport has been redesigned in the style of a picture book to include scenic images of country life and national landmarks. Even, the holder's picture and personal details now run over two pages with two pictures and have been moved to the front of the book, to follow other European countries. This new designed passport will be launched already in October.  read more...

  

Morpho helps Mauritania to improve its ID document system Mauritania's ID document system needed a change and improvement. To achieve this, Mauritania has signed a contract with Morpho (a high technology - company) who will issue ID cards, passports, driving licences and residence cards to Mauritania's citizens and residents. To secure the issuance of ID documents, Morpho will use the latest version of its well-known multibiometric recognition system, combining fingerprint and facial recognition technologies. read more...

South Korea and its new ePassport kit New ePassport kit will be focused on preventing illegal entry and in the first of three phases, the Ministry of Justice will implement the fingerprint system to scan foreigners entering South Korea.  read more...

India - new ePassport for citizens E-Passports, which were till now issued only to the diplomats, has an electronic chip and an antenna embedded on its cover with biometric information about the applicant including his digital photo and fingerprints. This e-passport will be issued to the common man as well. Mumbai's Regional Passport Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey said that his office would start issuing e-passports to fresh applicants as early as April or May 2011.  read more...

New security inks The nano ink-jet inks can raise the security of documents to a new level. Nano particles in the perfect suspension provide a longer life-span, better light-resistance and stronger physical wear resistance. In addition, the more intensive fluorescence, the larger chemical stability and the possibility for the application of variable information provide high-level document security under simple office conditions.  read more...