New Delhi, Jan 23 : For the first time in the 60 odd years since Indian independence, a Prime Minister will miss the Republic day parade.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will miss the special occasion for undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft surgery on Jan 24, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Singh is admitted in the hospital, where an angiography-X-ray examination of the blood vessels was conducted on him. He also underwent several blood chemistry tests, CT scan and ECG, which have affirmed arterial blockages in the heart.

New Delhi, Jan 23 : BrahMos, a 290-km range cruise missile that can touch 2.8 times the speed of sound, will be the main attraction of the army contingent for the Republic Day 2009.

The leader of the Republic Day Parade, GOC Delhi Area, Major General KJS Oberoi said that the Brahmos and full width length mine plough would be the main attraction of the parade this year.

He further said to keep the enthusiasm level high among spectators, the duration of the parade will one-and-half-hours. Last year, duration of the Republic Day parade was one hour and fifty-two minutes.

New Delhi, Jan 23 : Kate Beckinsale''s sexy, black leather all-in-one garment which she wore in ''Underworld'' is being auctioned.

The catsuit will be sold at Premiere Props in El Segundo, California, on February 7, with all proceeds going to the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Other items from the ''Underworld'' films, including a medical book, a serum vial and a serum injector will also go under the hammer, reports the China Daily.

New Delhi, Jan 23 : India has provided 104 million dollars as grant assistance to Nepal for upgradation of education and road infrastructure in three districts in the country.

The Embassy of India has already signed four separate Memorandum of Understanding (MOU's) with concerned district development committees and other beneficiary organisations .

The grant assistance is provided for construction of two new school buildings in Rupendehi and Lamjung districts and two roads in Rupendehi districts.

New Delhi, January 23 : Internet watchdogs in China have said that they will continue cracking down on pornography and "lewd" content throughout the weeklong Spring Festival holiday, which begins on Monday.

Liu Zhengrong, deputy director of the network office of the State Council''s Information Office, said the it was necessary to protect the country's youth, according to an online report published in chinaview. cn.

"The campaign has a single and clear goal, that is to clean up the Internet and save the Internet environment for children," Xinhua news agency quoted Liu as saying.

New Delhi  - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will undergo heart surgery over the weekend and was likely to be admitted to a New Delhi hospital later on Friday, media reports said.

Singh, 76, underwent a coronary angiography as part of a series of heart-related tests at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Tuesday and Wednesday and was discharged on Thursday.

The medical tests revealed multiple arterial blockages and doctors were preparing for a surgery as early as Saturday, the NDTV network reported.