Petrol gets COSTLIER by Rs 2.35; diesel 50 paise

In the sixth such hike in three months, petrol price has been increased by a steep Rs 2.35 per litre and diesel by 50 paise per litre on falling rupee and firming international oil prices.

The increase in rates, which will be effective midnight on Saturday, are excluding local sales tax or VAT, Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest fuel retailer, announced. The actual hike will be higher and will vary from city to city.

Petrol price in Delhi will go up by Rs 2.83 to Rs 74.10 per litre while it will cost Rs 81.57 per litre in Mumbai as against Rs 78.61 currently.

This is the sixth increase in rates since June and in all petrol prices have gone up by a massive Rs 9.17 per litre, excluding VAT. Price of petrol in Delhi has gone up by over Rs 11 per litre after including state tax since June 1.

In a parallel move, diesel price was hiked by 50 paise, excluding VAT, in line with the January decision of the government allowing oil companies freedom to raise prices in small doses every month to wipe out mounting losses.

Diesel price in Delhi has been hiked by 57 paise to Rs 51.97 per litre while it will cost Rs 58.86 in Mumbai from tomorrow as compared to Rs 58.23 currently.

Saturday's hike in the eighth since the January 17 and most of the losses on diesel sales should have been wiped off by now to make the fuel market priced. But the fall in rupee, around 25 per cent since April, has worsened the situation and oil firms are losing Rs 12.12 per litre despite prices being raised by a cumulative Rs 4.75 this year.

Oil firms had on June 1 raised petrol prices by 75 paise, excluding VAT, and followed it with a Rs 2 per litre increase on June 16, a Rs 1.82 increase on June 29, Rs 1.55 hike on July 15 and 70 paise increase from August 1.

IOC said since the last revision in rates effective August 1, the rupee-US dollar exchange rate has deteriorated sharply, from Rs 59.49 to a US dollar to Rs 63.88, necessitating this price increase.

"Currently, the rupee-dollar exchange rate continues to be extremely volatile. Also, geopolitical situation in the Middle-East is leading to pressure on international oil prices as well," it said in a statement.

The movement of prices in international oil markets and exchange rate were being closely monitored and subsequent price changes will reflect developing trends of the market, it added.

Deteriorating exchange rate has led to widening of losses on diesel from Rs 10.22 in first fortnight of August to Rs 12.12 per litre loss. The same has also led to widening of under-recoveries on kerosene to Rs 36.83 per litre from Rs 33.54 at the beginning of the company and on LPG to Rs 470 per cylinder from Rs 411.99.

For the full fiscal, IOC estimated total revenue loss or under-recovery of Rs 144,000 crore on sale of diesel, LPG and kerosene for the industry.

Why Nelson Mandela has six names

Nelson Mandela became an international figure while enduring 27 years in prison for fighting against apartheid, South Africa's system of racial segregation.

But while the world may know him as Mandela, the man considered to be the founder of South Africa's democracy is known by a number of others names in his own country. Some of the monikers date from his childhood, while others reflect the respect felt for an anti-apartheid hero and the country's first black president

Rolihlahla

At birth he was given the name Rolihlahla Mandela by his father, Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Henry, according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. In Xhosa, one of the official languages of South Africa, "Rolihlahla" means "pulling the branch of a tree." More commonly, it's said to mean "troublemaker."

Nelson

The name "Nelson" first made an appearance when the young Mandela was at primary school. According to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, it was given to him by his teacher, Miss Mdingane, on the first day of school in the village of Qunu, but it's unclear why she chose that particular name. It was the early 1920s and, at that time, it was customary to give African children English names to make them easier for British colonials to pronounce.

Madiba

In South Africa, Mandela is most commonly referred to as Madiba, the name of the Thembu clan to which he belongs. Madiba was the name of a Thembu chief who, in the 19th century, ruled over a region called the Transkei in the country's southeast. Referring to Mandela as Madiba is a sign of endearment and respect, according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. This hut is at the "Great Place" palace at Mqhekezweni where Mandela lived as a child under the guardianship of Thembu regent, Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo.

Tata

Considered the founding father of democracy in South Africa, Mandela is also referred to by many as simply "Tata," the Xhosa word for "father." Here, he receives a hug from a Soweto girl during a visit to a black township near Johannesburg in 1990.

Khulu

The Xhosa language also offers another term of endearment for Mandela. "Khulu" is the shortened word for "uBawomkhulu," which means "grandfather." The word also means "great, paramount, grand," according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Dalibhunga

At the age of 16, Mandela, like other Xhosa boys, was formally initiated into manhood through a traditional Xhosa ceremony. At the time, he was given the name of Dalibhunga, which means "creator or founder of the council" or "convenor of the dialogue," according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. It adds that, when using the name to greet Mandela, the correct usage is "Aaah! Dalibhunga." This image show young boys from the Xhosa tribe attending a traditional initiation school in Libode in 2008

Amitabh Bachchan: NO desire to make KBC format contestant friendly

Amitabh Bachchan will host the seventh season of the gameshow Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), which he has helped to make so popular.

The format of the show remains the same but there are a few changes -- the prize money has been increased to Rs 7 crores, a life line called Power Paplu has been added, the fastest finger first will not be the best out of three, the time limit of the phone-a-friend has increased, and the set and location has changed.

Bachchan doesn’t like to take credit for the popularity of the show. "I take zero credit. The show is very well constructed and not just a simple question and answer thing. Very deep research has gone into it.

No more kisses for Mrs Kareena Kapoor Khan

In Prakash Jha’s Satyagraha, there is a romantic love song called Ras Se Bhare Tore Nain Saawariya, picturised on Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

The sequence had required Kareena and Devgn to kiss and make love.

However, one hears Kareena, otherwise a very dedicated artiste, flatly refused do the intimate scene with her co-star.

In Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara, Kareena had done some intimate scenes with Devgn but that had come before her marriage.

"Prakashji wanted at least a brush-on-the-lips since this was a very passionate moment between the lead pair. But after marriage, Kareena will not do any intimate scenes with any of her co-stars. Not even her husband Saif. There is a certain code of conduct that Kareena must follow as a Pataudi bahu. Also, Kareena would do nothing to hurt her mother-in-law (Sharmila Tagore) whom she loves dearly," says a source from Jha's unit.

So Prakash Jha had to make do with just the suggestion of a kiss and zero-proximity between the pair.

Says one of Kareena’s co-stars from Satyagraha, “Bebo has always been fearless before the camera. It isn’t as if she hasn’t done kissing scenes. She kissed Aamir in 3 Idiots, didn’t she? But I think Heroine was her cut-off point as an actress. She did that very bold role with no holds barred and I think she has made up her mind to avoid all intimacy on screen after marriage. Prakashji had to fudge the kissing scene and we just see Bebo lying fully-clothed and alone in bed."

Amitabh Bachchan returns with Kaun Banega Crorepati

Amitabh Bachchan is back with Kaun Banega Crorepati's seventh season. The newest edition of the quiz show will have a prize money  of Rs 7 crore and feature five life-lines.

‘OFF now to the Press Conference for KBC .. to reveal new look and details of Season 7 .. dadada daaaain .. !!’ Amitabh tweeted.

He also shared a picture from the inaugural episode and tweeted: ‘KBC opener, Sept 6, 8.30 Sony...with the incomparable Sonu Nigam ... huhuhhuh haha aahhhuu .. YEEEAAHHH !!

He shared another picture and added: ‘Working the opening of the 7th season KBC .. yours truly .. tasseled shoes and all ... yeeeaaaahhhh baby!’ 

Starting September 6, the show will air from Friday to Sunday at 8:30 pm on Sony TV.