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Saudi Arabia Participates in GCC Celebration of International Women’s Day

Saudi Arabia participates in GCC celebration of International Women’s Day. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia participates in GCC celebration of International Women’s Day. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Participates in GCC Celebration of International Women’s Day

Saudi Arabia participates in GCC celebration of International Women’s Day. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia participates in GCC celebration of International Women’s Day. (SPA)

On behalf of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Vice Foreign Minister, Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji, participated in the GCC member countries’ celebration in International Women’s Day at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh, SPA said Saturday.
El-Khereiji delivered a speech on Friday in which he stressed Saudi Arabia's keenness on promoting women empowerment among the goals of its Vision 2030, citing the role of women as an important element of society.
The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Kingdom’s keenness to protect women’s rights, eliminate discrimination against them, and support them at all levels. Saudi women have become an essential partner in the transformation, development, and growth in various fields, he said.
He added that International Women’s Day comes amid difficult circumstances the Palestinian women in the Gaza Strip are experiencing, due to the ongoing Israeli violations of international laws and humanitarian principles.
He renewed the Kingdom’s strong condemnation of Israel’s illegal practices and crimes against humanity and against Palestinian women and the people of Palestine in general.
El-Khereiji emphasized the need to end the war in Gaza, reach an immediate ceasefire, and ensure the safety of civilians, women and children in accordance with international humanitarian law.

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Japan Issues New Yen Banknotes Packed With 3D Hologram Technology to Fight Counterfeiting

The 10,000 yen bill, worth about $62 at the current exchange rate, has the face of Eiichi Shibusawa, known as “the father of Japanese capitalism - The AP
The 10,000 yen bill, worth about $62 at the current exchange rate, has the face of Eiichi Shibusawa, known as “the father of Japanese capitalism - The AP
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Japan Issues New Yen Banknotes Packed With 3D Hologram Technology to Fight Counterfeiting

The 10,000 yen bill, worth about $62 at the current exchange rate, has the face of Eiichi Shibusawa, known as “the father of Japanese capitalism - The AP
The 10,000 yen bill, worth about $62 at the current exchange rate, has the face of Eiichi Shibusawa, known as “the father of Japanese capitalism - The AP

Japan issued its first new banknotes in two decades Wednesday, yen packed with 3D hologram technology to fight counterfeiting.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised as historic the state-of-the-art anti-counterfeit traits of the new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen bills.

“I hope the people will like the new bills, and they will help energize the Japanese economy,” he told reporters at the Bank of Japan, The AP reported.

While the new bills were released with fanfare, currency already in use will remain valid. In fact, people will still need older bills to use most vending machines and to pay bus fares, local media reported.

Kishida noted the people featured on the bills celebrate Japanese capitalism, women’s equality and scientific innovation.

The 10,000 yen bill, worth about $62 at the current exchange rate, has the face of Eiichi Shibusawa, known as “the father of Japanese capitalism,” a key figure in building Japan’s modern economy. He is credited with founding hundreds of companies.

The 5,000 yen bill, worth about $30, features Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer feminist and educator who founded a college. The 1,000 yen note, worth about $6.20, portrays physician and bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato, who was instrumental in the research of tetanus and the bubonic plague.

The backs of each of the bills feature Tokyo Station, wisteria flowers and ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai’s Mount Fuji, respectively.

The new bills also feature larger printing so they’re easier to read, especially for the nation’s aging population.

By the end of March next year, nearly 7.5 billion new banknotes will have been printed, according to the government. The amount of money in the new bills going out in a single day is estimated at 1.6 trillion yen ($10 billion).

It may take some time for ordinary people to get hold of the new bills. They first are going to banks and other financial organizations. Then, they'll be distributed to automatic teller machines and stores, according to the Bank of Japan.

A majority of transactions in Japan still are done in cash and cashless payments have been slower to catch on than in many other countries.

“Although the world is moving toward cashless interactions, we believe cash remains important as a way for safely settling payments anywhere and anytime,” said Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda.