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Swiss 50 franc note named ‘banknote of the year’

Switzerland’s new 50 franc banknote, released last year, has won the ‘banknote of the year award 2016’ voted by the members of the International Bank Note Society (IBNS).

Swiss 50 franc note named ‘banknote of the year’
Photo: Swiss National Bank
The first note to be released in the Swiss National Bank’s state-of-the-art new series, the green 50 franc note has the theme of ‘wind’ and shows a dandelion releasing seeds on one side and a paraglider in the mountains on the other. 
 
Over 120 new banknotes were released worldwide in 2016, with over half of sufficiently new design to be eligible for the award, said the IBNS in a statement
 
Aiming to recognize an “exceptional” banknote, the judges consider the artistic merit, design, use of colour, contrast, balance, and security features of each nomination. 
 
The Swiss note was the “narrow winner” over three runners-up, a 1,000 Rufiyaa note from the Maldive Islands, a 500 peso note from Argentina and the Royal Bank of Scotland’s five pound note. 
 
The SNB’s ninth series of banknotes is being released in stages in the coming years. The second in the series, the 20 franc note, is set to be unveiled on May 10th. 
 
 
 

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TRAVEL

‘Out of this world’: Norwegian beach named ‘best in Europe’

Haukland Beach on the island of Vestvågøy in Lofoten, in the north of the country, has been named best beach in Europe by travel publication Lonely Planet.

'Out of this world': Norwegian beach named 'best in Europe'
Photo by Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash

Haukland Beach on the island of Vestvågøy in Lofoten, in the north of the country, has been named best beach in Europe by travel publication Lonely Planet.

The beach beat out stiff competition from the likes of Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Denmark to bag first place.

 
 
 
 
 
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Despite summer temperatures in Lofoten only averaging the mid-teens and the water at its warmest only ever reaching a spine tingling 15° Lonely Planet were smitten with the beach.

“Haukland Beach is out of this world, with spiky granite peaks thrusting above creaming sands and sapphire seas. The water is chilly, but you’ll be itching to jump in all the same,” the article said.

 
 
 
 
 
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READ MORE: Could ‘health passports’ kickstart travel around Europe?

Such high praise is nothing new to Huakland beach as it has previously been named Norway’s finest beach and also the world’s most beautiful.

Deputy mayor of Vestvågøy municipality, Anne Sand, is not surprised that the beauty spot has received the accolade.

 
 
 
 
 
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“It is about the contrasts in nature, the high mountains and the green mountain sides. Then you have the beautiful beach among all this, it could not be nicer,” she told state broadcaster NRK.

When asked what makes the beach stand out from its competition, she said that it was the unique location.

“Many of them are similar, but Haukland stands out and becomes something special- precisely because you find it in the arctic circle,” she said

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