BNM 125 Anniversary of JUPEM's coin

Bank Negara Malaysia is issuing three types of commemorative coins to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia (JUPEM). The commemorative coins were launched by YAB Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin bin Mohd. Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister, at Dewan Perdana FELDA, Jalan Maktab, Kuala Lumpur. The coins are available in three versions of gold, silver and Nordic-Gold.

The Obverse Side of the Coin, the centre of the coin illustrates a surveyor of JUPEM carrying out measuring works with the theodolite, a device used to measure angular values in a traverse or network between survey marks. It is also used for defining the direction of lines of sight. The name "Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia" appears on the lower circumference of the coin, whilst "125 Tahun" appears at the top of the coin.

The Reverse Side of the Coin, the centre of the coin features the official logo of JUPEM. At the upper circumference, the words "Bank Negara Malaysia" appear as the issuing authority of the commemorative coins. The years "1885-2010" appear below the logo and the denomination is at the lower circumference of the coin.

Technical Specifications:

Type: Gold Proof.

Alloy: Gold (Au999.9)

Face Value (RM): 100

Selling Price(RM): 1,200

Mintage Quantity (piece/set): 150

Diameter (mm): 22.00

Weight (gram): 7.96

Shape: Round with milled edge


Technical Specifications:
Type: Silver Proof

Alloy: Silver(Ag92.5)

Face Value (RM): 10

Selling Price(RM): 150

Mintage Quantity (piece/set): 300

Diameter (mm): 35.70

Weight (gram): 21.00

Shape: Round with milled edge


Technical Specifications:
Type: Nordic Gold (B.U.)

Alloy: Cu89 Zn5 Al5 Sn1

Face Value (RM): 1

Selling Price(RM): 10

Mintage Quantity (piece/set): 10,000

Diameter (mm): 30.00

Weight (gram): 8.80

Shape: Round with milled edge

These commemorative coins are also available in a set of 3 and a set of 2. The Set of 3 consists of the gold, silver and Nordic gold proof coins. It will be sold at RM1,450 per set with only 250 sets available. The Set of 2 consists of the silver and Nordic gold proof coins. This set will be sold at RM200 per set with only 200 sets available.

These commemorative coins are minted and distributed by Bank Negara Malaysia and will be available for sale from 15 October 2010 at Bank Negara Malaysia's headquarters and its branches located in Pulau Pinang, Johor Bahru, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

Cheng Ho the first explored Africa

A finds by Professor Qin Dashu maybe can be an evidence that Cheng Ho is the first explored Africa. Professor Qin Dashu from Peking University and a joint team of Kenyan and Chinese archaeologists found the 15th Century Chinese coin in Mambrui; a tiny, nondescript village just north of Malindi on Kenya's north coast. In barely distinguishable relief, the team leader Professor Qin Dashu from Peking University's archaeology department, read out the inscription: "Yongle Tongbao"; the name of the reign that minted the coin some time between 1403 and 1424.

"These coins were carried only by envoys of the emperor, Chengzu," Prof Qin said.

"We know that smugglers would often take them and melt them down to make other brass implements, but it is more likely that this came here with someone who gave it as a gift from the emperor."

How did a coin from the early 1400s get to East Africa, almost 100 years before the first Europeans reached the region? The answer seems to be with Zheng He, also known as Cheng Ho; a legendary Chinese admiral who, the stories say, led a vast fleet of between 200 and 300 ships across the Indian Ocean in 1418. It is now believed that China's Zheng He reached East Africa long before any European explorer.


A few years ago, fishermen off the northern Kenyan port town of Lamu hauled up 15th Century Chinese vases in their nets, and the Chinese authorities ran DNA tests on a number of villagers who claimed Chinese ancestry. The tests seemed to confirm what the villagers have always believed that a ship from Zheng He's fleet sank in a storm and the surviving crew married locals, meaning some people in the area still have subtly Chinese features. It was then that Peking University organized its expedition to try to find conclusive evidence. The university is spending $3 million (£2 million) on the three-year project.

Ancient texts told of Zheng He's visit to the Sultan of Malindi; the most powerful coastal ruler of the time. But they also mentioned that Malindi was by a river mouth; something that the present town of Malindi doesn't have, but that Mambrui does. The old cemetery in Mambrui also has a famous circular tomb-stone embedded with 400 year old Chinese porcelain bowls hinting at the region's long-standing relationship with the East. In the broad L-shaped trench that the team dug on the edge of the cemetery, they began finding what they were looking for.

Mohamed Mchuria, a coastal archaeologist from the National Museums of Kenya, unearthed a stunning fragment of porcelain that Prof Qin believes came from a famous kiln called Long Quan that made porcelain exclusively for the royal family in the early Ming Dynasty. The jade green shard appears to be from the base of a much larger bowl, with two small fish in relief, swimming just below the surface of the glaze.

Iraq Dinar Scam is back

Iraq Dinar scam is back following a rumour that Central Bank of Iraq has announced their plans to redenominate the Iraqi Dinar. This is in order to increase the strength level of the Iraqi currency, which will allow people to carry less paper money. By the end of 2010, they intend to drop three zeros from the nominal value of bank notes. That means that 1,000 IQD (pre-redenomination) and 1 dinar (post-redenomination) will both be worth the same amount in US Dollars.

Iraq Dinar speculation has been around since a new Dinar has been introduced in 2003. Speculator will sell their item in bulk with a statement from Iraq news that Iraq Dinar value will be going up one day. One of the reason most of this speculator will be saying is that Iraq is the second largest oil reserve holder in the world. 95% of Iraq revenue come from oil export. They were saying that Iraq will gain its independence one day and Iraq economy will be bounce back. At that time, all Iraq Dinar holder will gain profits by trading their Iraq Dinar. The news that the speculator reported as a good news for Iraq Dinar, they're no single source or link that come from Iraq government or any news agency (some quote a news by reuters in Wikipedia, but the link is from a website: radio free Iraq?).

Where do you sell your Iraq Dinar? The truth is, there is no legitimate market that will buy any of your dinar outside Iraq. Some people suggest that we can trade Iraq Dinar via online banking? Do you know that you cannot trade it via banks or money changers outside Iraq? Buying Iraq Dinar will be easy but selling them will be a big problem. Most of the Iraq Dinar trader in US registered with the U.S. Treasury as a Money Service Business.

Some speculator even show the historical value of the Dinar. They were speculating that Independence might help Iraq to gain its value near its historical value before gulf war. Is that for real? I think to anyone who want to believe anything about that should read this statement by CNN money expert in 2004, Walter Updegrave:

"The economic prospects for a country that determine the future value of its currency, not the price it trades at now or the price it traded at in the past. And no matter how low a value a currency reaches, it can always go lower." Source: CNN

The only people who really gaining profit from this speculation is the first person who started this Iraq Dinar trading. Before you invest on anything, make sure that you can sell them. Unless there is a legal way to sell your Dinar, this speculation will always be one of the biggest Internet scam.

The Bank of Sugar £55 notes

Thousands of fake bank notes bearing the face of Lord Alan Sugar have been handed out along with £500 in real cash. The "Bank of Sugar" £55 notes were stuck on a hoarding, as well as 10 actual £50 bills, to promote the launch of The Apprentice star's autobiography. Passers-by were encouraged to pluck the money off the "cash point", which was put up in Golden Square near Regent Street, central London. Scattered among the fake cash were 25 special notes entitling the winner to prizes based on Lord Sugar's favourite pastimes.

The former Amstrad boss is a keen cyclist and offered a Pinarello FP1 British Cycling Replica 499 as one of the top rewards. Others included a flying lesson and an oyster dinner for two. Lord Sugar will be signing copies of What You See Is What You Get: My Autobiography at Waterstone's Piccadilly Tuesday. The book charts his rise from growing up on a Clapton council estate to becoming a multi-millionaire businessman. Lord Sugar was made a peer by the last government and appointed Gordon Brown's enterprise tsar.

Its an offence to print fake banknotes under section 12 of the 1928 currency and bank note act: "If any person prints or stamps, or by any means impresses, on any bank note any words, letters or figures, he shall, in respect of each offence, be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding a level 1 fine [£200 in today's money]."

John Lennon £5 coin

A commemorative £5 John Lennon coin had been released by Royal Mint. The limited edition coin shows Lennon with long hair and sideburns and his trademark round glasses. It will have a face value of £5 and the coin is priced at £44.99. Only 5,000 will be offered for sale. Struck in sterling silver to Proof quality, the coin comes in a splendid display case complete with a Certificate of Authenticity guaranteeing the specifications of the coin and paying tribute to the genius of John Lennon.


Lennon won the Royal Mint's public vote for the next "Great Briton" to be immortalised on a limited edition coin. Other names on the shortlist were Jane Austen and John Logie Baird. The Beatles singer, assassinated in 1980, now joins William Shakespeare, Sir Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin and Florence Nightingale in the series.

Dave Knight, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: "It's entirely fitting that John Lennon has been chosen by the public in what would have been his 70th year.

"The massive proportion of the vote he received shows clearly just how much his untimely death still resonates with the nation.

"He ranks alongside, and even ahead of, some of the greatest names in history and the Royal Mint is proud to commemorate a genuine British legend."

Lennon fans launched Facebook and Twitter campaigns to ensure the Liverpudlian legend came out on top. A total of 27,874 people, 92% of those who voted, nominated Lennon for the £5 coin. Only 5,000 of the coins, issued as Alderney tender, have been minted. A one off 24carat gold version of the coin will be given to the John Lennon Estate.

Specification:
Denomination: £5
Alloy: .925 sterling silver
Weight: 28.28g
Diameter: 38.61mm
Designer (Reverse): Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn
Designer (Obverse): Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Restasis Faq

Restasis contained by Canada, where on earth can i get hold of the forms that my doctor desires to permeate out.?

Where can i obtain forms in order to be able to go and get restasis eye drops in Canada? I went to my doctor and he didn't know anything about this. Thanks. - Health Canada Special Access Program Link...

What are RPG contacts exactly? and what roughly speaking using restatsis for the dry eye aspect? would the restasis ...?
react with the medicines I'm on now.clomipromine, tramadol aka ultram, ambien at bedtime, ativan for migraines, and sometimes phenergan for nausea. Most are outstandingly drying medicines, that's why I ask. RPG contacts are rigid gas permeable lenses. That means that they are hard contacts...

Whats similar and cheaper to restasis dry eye drops?
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I enjoy dry eyes, and I can't even cry. I've tried restasis, but that doesn't work. Any thinking?
I just saw a commercial on tv for a prescription you can take for this problem. You have to go to the eye doctor to get hold of a prescription though. I would suggest you see your optometrist, they can put plugs in...

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Im having lasik eye surgery so they put me on restasis for dry eyes. My eyes were only dry when I wore contacts but since starting restasis a month ago my eyes burn, itch, and are more dry than before. Should I stop? - Ask your eye consideration professional as it...

Restasis - - Can I use more than one drop within respectively eye at a time? ?
There's enough in each vial that I can get 3 drops within each eye. Is it OK to do that? The directions are for a drop... but don't explicitly state ONLY one drop. - Yes. You can use more than one drop, but it...

Restasis contained by Canada, where on earth can i get hold of the forms that my doctor desires to permeate out.?
Where can i obtain forms in order to be able to go and get restasis eye drops in Canada? I went to my doctor and he didn't know anything about this. Thanks. - Health Canada Special Access Program Link...

Restasis eye drops reusing them and side effects?
I know that the manufacturer says to dispose of the bottle when you use it. Someone told me that they use a vial in the morning and tape up the top of their vial to use 12 hrs. latter. They said that it works and it saves on money.I haven't tried it yet, Has anyone else did...

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I've had dry eye issues for awhile now, but it's really at its worst in the dry cold weather. A few weeks ago, an eye doctor gave me Restasis. I also used Lotemax (eye steroids) for just about a week or two, and I've done the other usual dry eye basics. My eyes aren't perfect, but...

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I've only been taking Restasis for two weeks or so, but the side effects are horrible for me! My eyes burn all day long and worst of adjectives, I'm having bad sinus symptoms, like vertigo, nausea, etc., from the drainage. I really couldn't stand another day using this. However, my eyes are soooo dry (I can no...

I own chronic dry eyes,I own tried oodles eye drops, including Restasis - nil have help me, what can I do?
I have suffered with dry eyes syndrome since I am a teenager - I have see eye doctors, I have used all kinds of eye drops for dry eyes - nothing have help me. Its becoming very difficult to deal with it. Thanks...

Has anyone tried Restasis for dry eyes?
Did it work? - no, but if you find out if it works let me know. My eyes are sooo dry right now. Its making me sleepy. No! I'd rather use Refresh drops and take Flax-seed grease. Most of the "new miracle" drugs cause, at the very least, liver prejudice. I even...

How much does a bottle of Restasis eye drops cost?
Treatment Cost: AWP: $108.90 per box of 32 single-use vials. Two boxes supply sufficient medication for one month. Source(s): http://www.bcbswny.com/content/bcbs_prov?

Anybody adapted beside Restasis eye drops?
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Travel Like Barack Obama

OBAMA IN KENYA, AFRICA

US President Barack Obama befriends a camel in the animal market of rural Wajir during a visit to Kenya in 2006.

Obama has visited Kenya three times and met many of his paternal relatives for the first time in 1988. His estranged late father was Kenyan.

Kenya is home to some of the best safaris in the world and has an array of spectacular wildlife.

OBAMA IN KAILUA BEACH, HAWAII

Obama looks at ease as he enjoys a relaxing stroll down on the sand with friend and campaign treasurer Marty Nesbitt, at Kailua Beach in Hawaii during a family vacation last year.

Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1961 and it has remained close to his heart.

Renown for its surf beaches, Hawaii is the ideal destination if you're looking for some fun in the sun.

OBAMA IN AMMAN, JORDAN

Barack Obama travelled to the Amman Citadel in Amman, Jordan, last year for a press conference, and he was greeted with a spectacular backdrop.

Amman is a fascinating city with a unique blend of old and new and is situated on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan valley.

OBAMA IN INDONESIA

A charter boat off the coast of Mentawai Island, Indonesia.

Obama spent four years in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta as a young boy with his mother and stepfather.

Indonesia is a popular getaway and you'll find a variety of well-known surf beaches at your fingertips.

OBAMA IN PHILADELPHIA-WASHINGTON, US

Barack Obama and wife Michelle enjoy some sightseeing onboard a vintage train bound for Delaware.

The symbolic ride tracked Abraham Lincoln's historical journey in 1861 from Philadelphia, where the Constitution was written, to Delaware, where it was ratified, and finally to Washington. It's a must-see route for tourists passionate about American history.

OBAMA IN COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, US

Obama at Columbia University, where he majored in political science and graduated in 1983.

He went on to graduate from Harvard Law School in 1991, where he was the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.

Columbia University is one of the top academic research institutions in the world. Plus there's plenty to see and do in New York.

OBAMA IN WASHINGTON DC, US

The Obamas now call the White House in Washington DC home. Previously the Obamas lived in a condominium in Hyde Park, Chicago, before moving to a $US1.6 million house in nearby Kenwood in 2005.

The White House has 132 rooms and is more than 51 metres long. So go on, check out the White House for yourself and get a dose of US history!

Time To Return After Kinglake Bushfire

AFTER devastating fires tore through the town, residents of Kinglake are returning to see what's left. Everything is wiped out :( .. they are lost totally .. There is no sign of their home or their beloved ones. They not even know their future :( ... Check out the most devastating images after this horrible incident " The kinglake Bushfire " ...

Allowed back ... Jayne Amatnieks stands in what's left of her home after the Kinglake bushfire. More than 70 people in the town were killed.

Wiped out ... Kinglake residents like Jayne and Karl Amatnieks are starting to return to see what is left of their homes and their devastated town.

A smile in the sadness ... Craig and Vivian Eyles, with two-year-old Logan, stock up on donated goods after fires destroyed Kinglake.

Determination ... a sign in front of the Amatnieks' home shows their fighting spirit.

Scorched ... Bernie Hansell found his medals from Vietnam in the remains of his home.

Survival ... Jodie and Dean Gentsch, with kids Madison, Tyler and Jayden, in front of their home. Dean stayed to fight the raging fire.

Nothing left ... Richard Clark sees his home for the first time since Saturday. He took photos to show his wife and kids.

They will rebuild ... Bernie and Jan Hansell return to what remains of their home.

Corrugated devastation ... Hayley Pike and Oliver Milanovic have vowed to rebuild their lives in Kinglake.

Crime Library - A Serial Killer

Who Is Peter Sutcliffe ? : Peter William Sutcliffe (born 2 June 1946 in Bingley, United Kingdom) is an English serial killer who was dubbed The Yorkshire Ripper. Sutcliffe was convicted in 1981 for murdering 13 women, and attacking several others. He is currently serving life imprisonment in Broadmoor Hospital. Sutcliffe began using the name Peter William Coonan at some point after his conviction.

Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering the following 13 victims:

1. Wilma McCann ( Age 28 ) : Killed on 30 October 1975. Body found at Prince Phillip Playing Fields, Leeds

2. Emily Jackson ( Age : 42 ) : Killed On 20 January 1976. Body found at Manor Street, Leeds

3. Irene Richardson ( Age : 28 ) : Killed On 5 February 1977. Body found at Roundhay Park, Leeds.

4. Patricia Atkinson ( Age : 32 ) : Killed On 23 April 1977. Body found at Flat 3, 9 Oak Avenue, Bradford .

5. Jayne MacDonald ( Age : 16 ) : Killed On 26 June 1977. Body found at Adventure playground, Reginald Street, Leeds.

6. Jean Jordan ( Age : 20 ) : Killed on 1 October 1977. Body found at Allotments next to Southern Cemetery, Manchester.

7. Yvonne Pearson ( Age : 21 ) : Killed On 21 January 1978. Body found at Under a disused sofa on waste ground off Arthington Street, Bradford.

8. Helen Rytka ( Age : 18 ) : Killed On 18 January 1978. Body found at Timber yard in Great Northern Street, Huddersfield.

9. Vera Millward ( Age : 40 ) : Killed on 16 May 1978. Body found at Grounds of Manchester Royal Infirmary.

10. Josephine Whitaker ( Age : 19 ) : killed on 4 April 1979. Body found at Savile Park, Halifax.

11. Barbara Leach ( Age : 20 ) : Killed on 20 September 1979. Body found at Back of 13 Ashgrove, Bradford .

12. Marguerite Walls ( Age : 47 ) : Killed on 20 August 1980. Body found at Garden of a house called "Claremont", New Street, Farsley, Leeds

13. Jacqueline Hill ( Age : 20 ) : Killed On 17 November 1980. Body found at Waste ground off Alma Road, Headingley, Leeds

Early Life : Sutcliffe was the son of John and Kathleen Sutcliffe. Reportedly a loner at school, he left Silcoates School at the age of 15 and took a series of menial jobs, including two stints as a grave-digger during the 1960s. Sutcliffe worked at the factory of Baird Television Ltd. between November 1971 and April 1973 on the packaging line, but left when he was asked to go on the road as a salesman. After leaving Baird's, he worked nightshifts at the Britannia works of Anderton International from April 1973. In February 1975 he took redundancy, used the pay-off to gain an HGV licence on 4 June 1975, and began working as a driver for a tyre firm on 29 September of that year. However, he was sacked for poor time-keeping on 5 March 1976. He was unemployed until October 1976, when he found another job as an HGV driver for T & WH Clark (Holdings Ltd.) on the Canal Road Industrial Estate, between Shipley and Bradford.

Sutcliffe frequented prostitutes as a young man, and it has been speculated that a bad experience with one (during which he was allegedly conned out of money) helped fuel his violent hatred of women.

He first met Czech-born Sonia Szurma on St Valentine's Day in 1967 and they married on 10 August 1974. His wife suffered a number of miscarriages over the next few years, and eventually the couple were informed that she would not be able to have children. Shortly after this she returned to a teacher-training course. When she completed the course in 1977 and began teaching, the couple used the extra money to buy their first house, in Heaton, Bradford, where they moved on 26 September 1977, and where they were still living at the time of Sutcliffe's arrest for the murders in 1981.

THE notorious Yorkshire Ripper now has been classified low risk and recommended for release from a high-security psychiatric hospital, reports say.
Broadmoor Hospital’s doctors have told lawyers representing the Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered 13 women and tried to kill seven others that he is no longer dangerous.

Peter Sutcliffe Now : According to a source close to Sutcliffe, the medics will support his bid to get out of Broadmoor as they believe he is effectively cured as long as he keeps taking his medication.

And if the Ministry of Justice, headed by Jack Straw, agrees with their verdict, he will be moved to a medium-security unit.

That means he would skip the high-security step of the mental hospital process and be given much more freedom.He would then be allowed on to the streets to begin rehabilitation into society.The source said: “If Jack Straw rubber-stamps it Peter will be packing his bags.”Sutcliffe believed he was on a “mission from God” to kill prostitutes but not all of his victims were sex workers.His 13 victims were list above with their images..

He was jailed in 1981 but transferred to Broadmoor in 1984 after being ruled mentally ill. He refused treatment until 1993, when the Mental Health Act Commission said it should be given forcibly.

How To Earn Manifold On Your Savings

Interest rates have been cut to such an extent that you could be earning as little as 0.04 per cent after tax (0.05 per cent before tax) - or 40p interest a year on each £1,000.

But you can earn as much as 2 per cent (2.5 per cent) in some top-paying accounts used by banks to tempt in savers.

Now is the perfect time to switch, even if you are in an account that demands you give notice to get at your money. With interest rates this low, you will lose only a few pennies' interest if you move immediately without giving notice - and you can make that back in a couple of weeks.

David Black, from financial researcher Defaqto.com, says: 'If you have been in an easy access variablerate account for more than six months then check your rate. Best buy tables are full of newly launched accounts and those boosted by an introductory bonus.'

Nearly a quarter of the 460 easy access accounts on offer pay 0.08 per cent (0.1 per cent) or less on balances of £5,000, research from Defaqto shows.

But these figures only include accounts open to new savers. There are hundreds more among accounts closed to new savers where your money might have been languishing for years.

Switch and save: Banks are tempting customers to switch accounts

These appalling rates have come to light after banks and building societies adjusted the interest they pay to savers following the 0.5 percentage point cut in base rate to 0.5 per cent on March 5.

They tend to wait until the start of the following month after a base rate change to make adjustments to their savings rates.

Among larger providers, accounts where you earn a pitiful 0.04 per cent 0.05 per cent) are Barclays Savings Builder, six accounts from C& G - Cheltenham Gold, London, Direct Transfer, Instant Transfer, Young Saver and Cash Isa - First Direct Savings, HSBC Flexible Saver, Intelligent Finance Direct Access Savings and West Bromwich's Oak Account.

Branch-based accounts paying 0.08 per cent (0.1per cent) - or 80p a year on each £1,000 - include Abbey Flexible Saver, three accounts from Halifax (60 Day Gold, Instant Saver and Saver Reward) and three from Lloyds TSB (90 Day Notice, Flexible Saver and Instant Access Saver)

Notice accounts, such as Halifax 60 Day Gold, typically demand that you give 60 days' notice to take out money or pay a fine equivalent to 60 days' interest.

But with rates so low, the fine is tiny. The fine on £5,000 in a 60-day notice account earning 0.08 per cent (0.1per cent) works out at just 65p in lost interest. On a 90-day notice account it is £1.

You could also be earning appalling rates on tax-free cash Isas. Older versions of Alliance & Leicester Direct Isa pay just 0.1per cent, as does Abbey Postal Isa and Easy Isa to some savers and RBS Instant 60 Day Isa.

Both Halifax Isa Saver and Barclays Cash Isa pay 0.1per cent on balances up to £18,000.

A £10,000 sum earns you £10 interest a year against £300 in a top-paying account. And don't be fooled into thinking you earn a good rate on your internet account. Old Alliance Online Saver and Lloyds TSB Online Saver accounts, along with Abbey eSaver and Barclays e-savings, pay 0.08 per cent (0.1 per cent) once your introductory bonus has run out.

Origin Of Indian Premiere League ( IPL )

What is the Indian Premier League?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) launched the Indian Premier League (IPL) on September 14, 2007. Based on the lines of the English Premier League (EPL) and the National Basketball League (NBA), the IPL is said to be the brainchild of BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi. The idea was first floated in 1996 but was shot down as the board felt it would go against the zonal system of domestic cricket. The project moved into top gear when the Zee group launched a rival Indian Cricket League on similar lines in April 2007.

Who are the franchisees?

The franchisees will own the eight teams in the fray. They can run them in their own styles, bring their own sponsors and even name the team according to their choice. They will even be free to list their teams on the stock exchange.

How is it different from the football and hockey leagues in India?

The IPL, in a way, is not very different in its format vis-a-vis the PHL or the I-League in football. It is, however, totally different in its concept as the teams have been offered to franchisees (individuals or corporates) through a bidding process that culminated on Thursday. The BCCI has already signed up 80 international players who will also be put for auction soon.

When will the IPL matches be played and where?

Under lights, on a home and away basis, in the cities that have formed the teams. The league opens on April 18 and will see 59 matches spread over 44 days.

What kind of money is involved in IPL?

The overall prize money will be US $5 million, with the winners taking home $2 million. The remaining will be up for grabs in different forms, like man of the match awards and cash prizes. By contrast, the winners of the 2007 ICC World Cup in the Caribbean took home $1 million; the Indian team that won the World Twenty20 got half of that. TV rights have already gone for over $1 billion. Franchisees have already committed close to US $723 million. Top players are expected to earn minimum 1-2 crores per season.

What is already in place for IPL?

With the league scheduled for April 2008, the IPL has so far sold the eight teams to corporate houses and signed leading players. Indian stars like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly will be called “icon players” and can play only for their respective cities. They will be the highest paid players and will not be auctioned. The bidding will take place next month.

Who owns the IPL TV rights?

Sony Entertainment, a division of Japan’s Sony Corp, and the Asia-based World Sports Group (WSG) won the broadcast rights for ten years, worth more than a whopping US $1 billion. TV rights are worth $918 million, with $100 million set aside for promotion.

Who will run the IPL?

BCCI has formed an IPL council that comprises former BCCI president IS Bindra, vice-presidents Rajiv Shukla, Chirayu Amin, Lalit Modi and Arun Jaitley, and former cricketers Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri. While the BCCI officials are honorary members, Pataudi, Gavaskar and Shastri will be paid for their services. The IPL governing council will have a five-year term and will run, operate and manage the league independently of the BCCI.