Following the roll-out of its national ID card (MyKad) in June, Malaysia has now unveiled a new generation of its passport. Both documents now have double the security features of their earlier versions: whilst the new MyKad includes 53 security elements, up from 23, the new passport includes 94 security features, up from 49 in the current version. Both documents include OVDs.

The physical landscape of the holography and authentication industry is changing once again. With the closure of its photopolymer manufacturing facility in Logan, Utah, Crane Authentication, part of Crane NXT, has transitioned the facility as part of a broader portfolio evolution while advancing its next-generation physical and digital authentication solutions.

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have created a new hologram technology that uses light’s own properties as an encryption key, posing a far greater challenge for those looking to counterfeit security features.

Over the last one to two years, the currency industry has witnessed a noticeable increase in the launch of security features, particularly in optical security. Technologies that once evolved gradually over long document redesign cycles are now being refreshed at a much faster pace. This raises an important question: has a new race in optical innovation begun?

‘China thinks in centuries, not in years’ – Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State & author of book ‘ON CHINA’.

Vietnam’s cable industry is experiencing rapid growth, with increased infrastructure investment and expanding manufacturing capacity. Meanwhile, counterfeit risk has shifted from isolated incidents to a systemic supply chain challenge.

Covestro, a German materials science company, has concluded a challenging 2025 fiscal year, despite a persistently testing market environment. Volatile geopolitical dynamics, sustained weak global demand, and intense competitive pressure, coupled with the impact of the fire at the Dormagen Chempark, weighed heavily on the group’s economic development.

The High Security Printing (HSP) EMEA Awards continue to be the region’s premier platform recognising excellence in banknote and ID design and innovation. This year’s awards took place on 10 February in Rabat, Morocco. In our last edition, we covered the ID awards; now we focus on the best innovation in banknotes.

The High Security Printing (HSP) EMEA Awards continue to serve as the region’s leading platform for recognising excellence in design and innovation for banknotes and IDs. This year’s HSP EMEA awards were held on 10 February in Rabat, Morocco (see also page 8). In this edition, we are covering the ID awards, followed by the best innovation in banknotes in the next edition.

With advances in holographic and foil technology, calendars are now more than just practical tools. They have become collectible items that tell a story and mark special moments. Many people still enjoy using wall or desk calendars, whether it’s flipping through the pages, marking birthdays, or writing reminders. These simple rituals offer something that digital apps can’t quite match.