diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index e5431f76b..0464bbff4 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -50,6 +50,17 @@ idlac is now quiet by default. The '-v' command line switch can be used
 to make it verbose. The '-q' command line switch is now a no-op and will
 be removed in a future release. (9210)
 
+The runtime configuration parameters that control the references
+to well-known services (naming and interface repository) now support
+corbaloc URIs as a possible notation (in addition to IORs). Consequently,
+they have been renamed as follows:
+  * In section [corba]:
+    naming_ior -> name_service
+    ir_ior     -> ir_service
+  * In section [dsa]:
+    naming_ior -> name_service
+(9160)
+
 * PolyORB 1.2r (released 2004-12-17)
 ====================================
 
@@ -69,6 +80,8 @@ PolyORB neutral core middleware now supports more concurrency
 policies. It implements the No Tasking, Basic, Leader/Followers and
 Half Sync/Half Async design patterns.
 
+Release branched on 2004-12-17. (8922)
+
 * PolyORB 1.1r (released 2004-06-07)
 ====================================
 
@@ -104,6 +117,8 @@ constraints for the target.
 This release should be considered as a stable implementation of
 CORBA middleware over PolyORB.
 
+Release branched on 2003-05-16. (6783)
+
 * PolyORB 0.1 (released 2001-12-04)
 ===================================
 
diff --git a/doc/CODING_GUIDELINES b/doc/CODING_GUIDELINES
index 8fdeda030..667aa4090 100644
--- a/doc/CODING_GUIDELINES
+++ b/doc/CODING_GUIDELINES
@@ -77,6 +77,9 @@ Always update (or create if necessary) README file for each example.
 Recompute build dependencies every time the semantic dependencies
 of a unit are modified.
 
+New features and incompatible changes shall be documented in the
+section of the NEWS file pertaining to the upcoming release.
+
 To do so, run 'make depend' from PolyORB's root directory.
 Note that you must ensure that: