news

25.11.2004 Microsoft has released the Kannada interface of its application software Office 2003 as part of its project Bhasa to make Office interface available in major Indian languages. In the next 12 months, Microsoft aims to release such interfaces in 12 other languages.

25.11.2004 Indian state West Bengal has signed a pact with Microsoft to implement the Project Shiksha initiative, a programme to be rolled out in 10 states to make teachers IT literate. Microsoft is planning to train 12,000 teachers and one million students in the state over the next five years.

24.11.2004 The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) seeks comments on its proposal on the universal service obligation (USO) mechanism as it prepares to submit its advice to the Australian government. ACA’s advice to the government will form the basis of its USO provision for the next two financial years.

23.11.2004 The International Telecommunication Union is organising a Global Symposium for Regulators from 8–10 December 2004 in Geneva. Heads of national regulatory authorities from developed and developing countries will try to reach a consensus on the best way to achieve convergence and make access to ICTs affordable.

22.11.2004 Mongolia’s National Radio and Television Service struggles as it emerges out of 70 years of government control to become an independent public service broadcasting set-up. The network is being helped in the transition by Unesco and the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development.

22.11.2004 Venezuela’s powerful private media is protesting against a law that the government says will protect children from inappropriate programming and strengthen independent media in the country. But Opposition members in Parliament fear the legislation will be used by the President to intimidate the media.

19.11.2004 The forest department of India’s Kerala state is using satellite technology to protect sandalwood trees. The trees will be identified and satellite-aided microchips embedded. The signals will be monitored from the nearest forest office.