New Delhi - India's benchmark Sensex index surged by over 350 points on Thursday buoyed by investor confidence after the country's inflation rate touched a nine-month low of 6.84 per cent.

The 30-share sensitive Sensex index of the Bombay Stock Exchange rose 361.14 points, or 3.72 per cent, to close at 10,076.43.

There was brisk buying in blue-chip stocks in the banking, realty, power and information technology sectors.

London, Dec 18 : The character of English cricket will be tested to the full when the selectors pick their side for second Test in Mohali, starting on Thursday.

National selector Geoff Miller reacted strongly to suggestions that he is running a closed shop but if England name the same playing XI that lost in Chennai the accusation will stick, the Daily Express reported.

England played their part in an epic first Test against India but the bottom line was that they lost again because they lacked the ability and ruthlessness when it mattered in the final day and a half - and not for the first time.

New Delhi - India's cricket tour to Pakistan was called off on Thursday in the wake of last month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai that have strained ties between the neighbours, officials said.

India's cricket squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni were to tour Pakistan in January and February next year but the Indian government refused permission to the team to travel to Pakistan.

The government's decision, based on "diplomatic reasons as well as security concerns" was conveyed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Shashank Manohar, officials in the External Affairs Ministry said.

New Delhi - Filmmakers in Bollywood, India's prolific film industry based in Mumbai, have registered about 30 titles for movie projects about the November terrorist attacks, a news report said Thursday.

26 Taj, Operation 5 Star Mumbai and Bird's Point of View: Taj Terror are some of the titles that have been registered by film-makers planning movies about the attacks on luxury hotels, the city's main railway station and other targets, the IANS news agency reported.

The titles were registered with Bollywood's two producers' groups, the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association and the Association of Motion Picture and Television Programme Producers.

New Delhi, Dec 18 : Defence Minister AK Antony today met the three services chiefs and Defence Secretary to review the overall security situation and to take stock of the state of preparedness of the Armed Forces.

The position with regard to certain critical equipment and the status of ongoing acquisition was reviewed in detail, top Defence Ministry sources said.

Antony emphasised the need for the forces to be fully geared up to face any challenge or threat that may arise. Security along the land and maritime borders, particularly in the light of terror threats was reviewed.

New Delhi, Dec 18 : India today called off cricket team's tour to Pakistan scheduled to be held in January-February 2009 in wake of the recent developments in the Mumbai terror attacks.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) spokesman Rajeev Shukla said: "The final decision has been taken. We have got the letter from the Sports Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs not to proceed with the tour."

Shukla said that the government has declined permission to go ahead with the tour taking into account the recent developments in Mumbai as well as the overall circumstances prevailing at present.