Q.Whenever I travel and my phone is roaming, I start getting continuous texts with various offers and advertisements. Infact this happens every 30 seconds and if I do not delete the message, my phone stops working. How can I solve this issue? 

Ans.The first thing you should do is get your number registered on the DND (Do Not Disturb) list. You can start the service by sending "Start 0" to 1909 or simply by calling 1909. Note that registering your number on the list take a few days. 

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Passengers to pay more in AC 1 and AC 2 classes from tomorrow

New Delhi: Passengers travelling in AC 1 and AC 2 classes will have to shell out more from Sunday when the upward revision in higher class fares will come into effect.

The fare is also being hiked in Executive class and first class as per the Rail Budget 2012-13 announcement.

The revised tariff will also be applicable to tickets tickets issued in advance for journey to commence on or after April 1, 2012.

"In case tickets are already issued at pre-revised rates, the difference in fares will be recovered from passengers either by TTEs in trains or by the booking offices before commemcement of the journey," said a senior Railway Ministry official.

As per the decision, passenger fares will be increased 10 paise per km in first class, 15 paisa per km for AC 2 and 30 paisa per km for AC 1 from April 1.

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First Drive: Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

www.apnaaddafun.blogspot.com

If you were looking at the Ertiga, thinking it could be the ideal 7-8 seater alternative to the Innova, and a much cheaper one and that, well you need to think again. Yes, the Ertiga will be cheaper than the Innova when it is launched early next month and by a significant margin, no doubt. In fact, it would most likely be SX4 monies, but it just isn't a proper seven-seater to be an alternative to the Toyota.  It's more like a 5+2 with the +2 best left folded to free up luggage space. 

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BRICS eyes bank, wants Iran talks

While making a strong statement on Iran and adopting a middle-of-the-road resolution on Syria, the fourth summit of BRICS here on Thursday largely eschewed political content and focussed on economic and development issues which included beginning the process for setting up a bank and inking two pacts to ease trade among each other.

The Delhi Declaration issued at the end of the one-day summit hinted at backing an alternative candidate for the World Bank President's post which has always been appropriated by an American and exhorted the Bank and the International Monetary Fund to quickly realign their priorities and approach to the needs of the developing world. This is an agenda the five countries intend pursuing at the coming G-20 meeting in Mexico as well.

The leaders of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) who held a closed door meeting that overran the allotted time, weighed the consequences of setting up a “BRICS Bank” and opted for a more contemplative approach by asking their Finance Ministers to examine its feasibility and report back at the next summit in Russia. Sources said the leaders agreed that the bank should in no way emerge as a competitor to the World Bank and the IMF but provide funds for projects that do not find favour with these institutions.

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Noida to host India Gaming Carnival

Here's some good news for gamers. This suburb of the national capital is set to host first-of-its-kind digital games carnival from April 6. The three-day event will see international and national gamers competing with each other under one roof. 


The India Gaming Carnival (IGC) is being organised by WTF Eventz Pvt Ltd and will house all the latest digital and online games including Need for Speed, Fifa Soccer, Tekken, Dota, Counter Strike, Hello, Pool, Poker, Angry Birds and Call of Duty. 

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Rage never dies

Cyberconnect2 and Capcom's Asura's Wrath is an attempt to take anime-inspired gaming to the West. Europe and America are home to a pretty big audience that enjoys manga and Japanese animated television shows along with their cups of coffee in the morning, so in theory, this would seem a most novel idea that could potentially rake in several million dollars/euros for Capcom. The product itself is interesting; Asura's Wrath is part action game, part episodic anime adventure, all packaged together gloriously on one blu ray disc or dual-layer DVD. But do the parts come together creating the anime action/adventure we have all been craving? Or are we left with something that is wildly beyond our comprehension?

We learn that Asura, one of eight demi-gods who fought to liberate Heaven and Earth from the evil Gohma was betrayed by his fellow demi-gods and subsequently stripped of all his powers. Having been banished to a world that has since been consumed by the Gohma, all he has left is his vengeance, which he discovers he can use to his advantage against his enemies. Asura's Wrath's narrative is told through various episodes that draw heavy inspiration from Japanese anime, with well-paced interactive fighting sections and epic boss battles in between. Calling some of these battles ‘epic' is quite the understatement — their scale and scope is unparalleled. Asura unleashes his wrath to take down entire fleets of enemies and fights near-endless waves of foes who are, to put it mildly, rather large. But what could potentially get in the way of immersion is the story itself (despite some delightfully despicable villains), which is perhaps too fantastical and anime-inspired, and is unlikely to appeal to someone who has not watched several hundred hours of something similar.

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Facebookhas introduced a new tool to help users decide who their real friends are, and who is just an acquaintance.

 Social networking giant Facebookhas introduced a new tool to help users decide who their real friends are, and who is just an acquaintance. 

The social networking site introduced "Close Friends" and "Acquaintances" lists last year. 

Now, by monitoring users' online interaction, the site will automatically suggest a list of friends who have not been contacted in a while to be demoted to 'acquaintances,' The New York Daily News reports. 

On hitting the 'add to acquaintances' button, you will still be Facebook "friends" with that person, and they will never find out that they've been downgraded. 

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Open access to government data on the cards

The way has been cleared for public access to the data collected by Union government ministries and departments, with official approval being accorded to the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP).

Following its recent approval by the Union Cabinet, the policy has been notified and is in the process of being gazetted, said R. Siva Kumar, CEO of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, and head of the Natural Resources Data Management System, Department of Science and Technology.

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CBI seeks complaint from Army Chief, receives audio-tapes

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday received an audio tape carrying a conversation purportedly between Army chief General V.K. Singh and another person, in connection with the alleged bribery case referred to it by the Defence Ministry.

Sources in the agency refused to reveal how these tapes claimed to be of the meeting, in which the alleged bribery offer was made, reached them but said their veracity and authenticity were yet to be established.

The tapes carry a conversation purportedly between Gen. Singh and another officer in which the former is said to be shouting. However, they said the voices in the tapes are not authenticated so nothing can be said about their veracity.

Gen. Singh asked to file complaint

Meanwhile, the agency has asked the Defence Ministry to make available a complaint from Gen. Singh besides other details such as list of witnesses and supporting documents after which it would initiate its probe in the case, they said.

The sources said the agency has not registered a formal inquiry in the case so far and any action would be initiated after it receives a complaint from Gen. Singh.

They said they have received a “reference” from the Defence Ministry to probe the matter and it has been processed as per the laid down procedure.

A preliminary enquiry or an FIR could be registered soon after completion of the procedural requirements.

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India shows concerns to US over rejection of H1B, L1 visas

 India has complained to the US about an increase in the rate of rejection of US visas for Indian professionals that resulted in a sharp decline in the number of visas issued to Indians last year.

Commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma took up the visa issue with US commerce secretary John Bryson in a bilateral meeting on Monday.

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A tablet that’s also a mini lab for doctors

Imagine a cutting edge software - a tablet computer and an Android phone rolled into one - that works as a diagnostic tool for multiple activities like conduct ECG, measure heart rate, test quality of water and also take body temperature. 

Swasthya Slate ( Health Tablet) - a first-of-its-kind diagnostic tool - created by a US-returned Indian biomedical engineer Kanav Kahol will not only perform all these tasks but will also test blood pressure and blood sugar on the spot. 

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The Most Promising Newcomer of 2011 - Male

A debutant has it tough. If your film is a success, you have it made. Offers come from quarters you least expect and in overwhelming numbers. If it doesn't, well it doesn't and people couldn't care less that you existed. But if you have made your mark in either case, well, you're the kind that Bollywood legends are made of. Or will be made of, someday... 

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The Most Promising Newcomer of 2011 - Female

Nothing succeeds like success and that holds truest for the young girls who decide to make their mark in Bollywood. It's a steady, uphill climb and a strong debut or enough screen time ensures a long inning here. 

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Maoists release one Italian hostage in Odisha

Claudio Colangelo, one of the two abducted Italian citizens who were kidnapped in Kandhamal district of Odisha on March 14, was released by the Maoists late on Sunday afternoon.

Talking to The Hindu, State Director General of Police Manmohan Praharaj confirmed the release of Mr. Colangelo. “I have this much of information to share,” he told this correspondent over the phone.

Mr. Colangelo was released by the Maoists in the presence of a small group of media persons who had been invited by the extremists for the purpose. He spoke to his wife in Italy as soon as he came out of the Maoist hideout.

The other abducted Italian Bosusco Paolo was still in the custody, according to the police.

Mr. Paolo had been staying for the past 19 years in Puri where he was running a travel agency named Odisha Adventurous Trekking, while Mr. Colangelo was a tourist.

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Indian captain Dhoni to become father soon?

After the disastrous Australian tour and the subsequent Asia Cup disappointment, there is some good news awaiting skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. If the reports are to be believed, Dhoni will become a father soon. Recent pictures of Sakshi, Dhoni’s wife, show that she has gained some weight, which apparently sparked off the rumour of pregnancy. Dhoni entered wedlock with childhood friend Sakshi in a low-key ceremony in Dehradun almost two years ago.

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