The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India stressed the need to establish the Universal Services Obligation fund administrator for providing the telecom services to the rural areas of the country. The administrator should be an independent authority and modeled like the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). USO fund is involved in national rural infrastructure and is currently administrated by the Department Of Telecommunication.

The global search engine and news portal, Yahoo Inc acquired 30% stakes in Info Network Management Company (INMAC). INMAC is a Chennai-based tele-information service provider known for phone directory search service 'Call Ezee', which is available across 14 cites in India. It is 24x7 tele-information provider that handles about 10,000 calls per day and provides 24-hour helpline for medical emergencies.

In a first step toward news regulation, the news broadcast association (NBA) has issued guidelines for crisis coverage by the Indian media. It is recalled that news channels were charged with negative coverage during the recent terror attack in Mumbai. There are voices from many quarters to set norms for news broadcasting in the crisis hours. Security specialists and Military experts have also expressed reservations on broadcasting live telecast of terror and hostage activities as it can help terrorists to reshape their strategy.

Directed by Puri Jagannath, the film Neninthe, which stars Ravi Teja and debutante Siya, was released on December 18, 2008.

The steamy posters of the film, produced by D.V.V. Danayya, raised the hackles of various women’s organizations.

The protesters of these organizations ended up disputing over the hoardings showing Ravi and Siya (under clothed) in intimate poses are insulting to the common women.

Aiming to make media coverage more sincere and ethical, News Broadcasters Association (NBA), the body representing over a dozen news broadcasters, has issued a new set of telecast norms to be followed during emergency situations like armed conflict, hostage situations, internal disturbance, communal violence and public disorder.

NBA’s new telecast norms prohibit ‘live’ reporting that publicizes any terrorist or militant outfit or glamorizes them in any way whatsoever. The guidelines also articulate that news channels should treat the dead with dignity and their visuals should not be shown.

On prospects of more measures from the government to stimulate the ailing real estate and auto sectors, stocks from these segments have rallied sharply in today’s session.

The key realty stocks gained the most followed by auto and power stocks.

Among the sectoral indices, BSE Realty surged 8.59%, Auto zoomed 3.05% and Power arose 2.11%, while IT lost 0.89%.

The Sensex, which had slipped into the negative around noon after an earlier sharp upmove, gained momentum on account of buying interest across index heavyweights.