In Other News…

• The Central Bank of Iraq has added a feature to its banknotes to protect them from bacteria and viruses, including the coronavirus strain. The feature is not named, but is described as a biological pesticide developed by international companies specialised in printing banknotes, and is presumed to be incorporated in a coating/varnish. The notes containing the feature will be put into circulation soon.

• Liberia’s House of Representatives has authorised a new family of banknotes and the introduction of two new coins. The notes will be in denominations of L$20, 50, 100 and 500. The L$5 and L$10 of the current series will be replaced by coins. A request to introduce a new high denomination L$1,000 was rejected.
  
  

A contract price of US$45.5 million has been placed on the new series (albeit that included the L$1,000). The total value of new notes and coins to be put into circulation is L$48.7 billion (US$280 million).