New Delhi, Jan. 27 : As a mark of respect to the former President, Shri R.

New Delhi, Jan. 27 : The nation today mourned the passing of former President R. Venkataraman, and declared seven days of state mourning.

The Union Cabinet, which met this afternoon, announced the cancellation of all remaining functions related to this year's Republic Day celebrations as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

The Ministry of Defence said in a release: "In view of the passing away of former President Shri Venkataraman here today, some remaining ceremonies relating to Republic Day Celebrations such as Beating Retreat and PM's NCC Rally have been cancelled."

New Delhi, Jan. 27 : Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs (Independent charge), Minister M. S. Gill visited the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Tuesday to review the preparations for the Commonwealth Games to be held here in 2010.

Appreciating the hands on involvement in the project, Gill said he was overwhelmed by the architecture of the majestic stadium.

New Delhi  - Indian stocks rose nearly 4 per cent Tuesday after the Reserve Bank of India lowered its inflation forecast.

The 30-share Sensex index of the Bombay Stock Exchange gained 329.73 points, or 3.8 per cent, to close at 9,004.08. All sectors of the benchmark index ended with gains.

The broader 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also was up 92.8 points, or 3.46 per cent, at 2,771.35.

Market analysts told the PTI news agency that trading sentiment was buoyed after the central bank predicted that inflation would ease to below 3 per cent by the end of India's financial year on March 31.

New Delhi, Jan 27, : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said that India doesn't have any sympathy for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) and added that Tamil civilians should not be made victims of the conflict in the island nation.

"We are for fight against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism. Therefore, we have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged in by any organisation, particularly LTTE, which is a banned organisation in India," Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on Tuesday, hours before his two-day visit to Sri Lanka.

New Delhi, Jan 26, : United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chief Sonia Gandhi has c