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Chennai, April 18 : City-based Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has transferred the intellectual property (IP) related to an antibiotic discovery programme to Europe-based Allecra Therapeutics, a top company official said Thursday.

"We have completed the in-house animal trials on the proposed drug. We have transferred the IP to Allecra in a cash-cum-stake deal. We will hold around 20 percent stake in Allecra and receive around $1 million in cash soon," K. Raghavendra Rao, chairman and managing director of Orchid, told IANS.

Vodafone India on Wednesday announced a new mobile money transfer & payment service that works through text message and doesn't require a bank account.

Announced in partnership with ICICI Bank, the new service, called M-Pesa, which will allow users to make money transfers, submit funds to bank accounts, pay utility bills, pay for shopping at select outlets, in India.

New Delhi, April 18 : National Award winning actor Arjun Rampal, who was recently in Bhopal to shoot for "Satyagraha", will entertain guests at his high-end nightclub Lap Friday by spinning the disc.

The 40-year-old posted on Twitter: "Working on my set as I prepare to spin tomorrow (Friday) at Lap the club, looking forward to a crazy night. Nervous and excited."

"Yes, I love electronic music. I do Deejay for fun tomorrow. I am spinning in Delhi at Lap the club and yes everyone is invited. No members policy for tomorrow," he added.

Mumbai April 18 : "Zindagi Na Milegi" co-stars Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif are gearing up to shoot action entertainer "Bang Bang", which will go on the floors next month.

The film will be ready for release May 1, 2014.

Hrithik and Katrina will undergo training for their respective roles, said a source, and the movie is likely to have an aggressive marketing campaign.

A Fox Star Studios production, "Bang Bang" will be directed by Siddharth Anand of "Bachna Ae Haseeno", "Salaam Namaste" and "Anjaana Anjaani" fame.

Los Angeles, April 18 : Singer Britney Spears is geared up to release a song titled "Ooh la la" for upcoming 3D animation movie "The Smurfs 2", a sequel to the 2011 movie "The Smurfs".

The song is being produced by RCA records for the movie, a co-production of Sony Pictures Animtion and Columbia Pictures.

"I have always loved the Smurfs as a kid and now my boys are the biggest 'Smurfs' fans ever. I wanted to surprise them with a song in the movie. I know they'll think it's Smurftastic," Spears, a mother of two sons, said in a statement.

New Delhi, April 18 : President Pranab Mukherjee Thursday extended warm greetings to the nation on the eve of Hindu festival Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Ram.

"On the auspicious occasion of the Ram Navami, I extend warm greetings and good wishes to all the fellow citizens," the president said in his message.

"Let us strive to emulate Bhagwan Shri Ram's ideals of rectitude, compassion and forbearance. May Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram's noble example remain an eternal beacon inspiring us to tread the path of righteous conduct at all times," he said.