News Capsules

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has gone ahead and directed Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) to make additional allocation of natural gas from its Krishna-Godavari (K-G) basin find to nine power companies from the surplus available because of no or low offtake by fertiliser units.
• The Bombay High Court would decide after two weeks whether to allow the Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) to amend its plea in its legal war with state-owned NTPC over a gas supply contract.
• Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Communications (RCom) is borrowing a concept from the Charlie Chaplin classic The Great Dictator. Just as Chaplin dances with a globe in the film, RCom's forthcoming advertising campaign will shows five animated characters dancing with a globe.
• Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation, a US-based skincare drug manufacturer, has filed a lawsuit against Daiichi Sankyo-owned Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals for alleged infringement of its patent on Solodyn, a minocycline hydrochloride extended-release tablet used to treat acne.
• Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines (KFA), have increased their fuel surcharge by Rs 400 from today, as a result of successive increases in the prices of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Two days earlier, state-run oil firms hiked ATF rates by over 12 per cent on firming international oil prices. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum raised the ATF price by Rs 3,949, to Rs 36,252 per kl in Delhi.
• Debt-ridden Wockhardt Ltd said it had sold its German subsidiary Esparma to Mova GmbH, a subsidiary of German drug major Lindopharm. Although the company did not disclose the deal size, sources said it was worth Rs 120 crore.
• Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, India’s largest maker of sport-utility vehicles, is betting its diesel pickup trucks can beat the Chinese to the US market. Early next year, Mumbai-based Mahindra plans to start selling small 2- and 4-door pickups with a diesel engine that meets California’s strict exhaust rules.
• Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) plans to strengthen its hair colour offerings through new launches and variants, in a bid to arrest its dipping market share in this lucrative segment.