Puducherry celebrated 71st Republic Day today.  Lt.Governor Dr. Kiran Bedi unfurled the National flag in a colorful function held at Oupalam Ground.  She inspected the Guard of Honor and presented awards and shields to the winners. This was followed by march-pasts by various contingents including police, Home Guard, Ex-service men, students, scouts and guides.

Tableaux depicting the achievements of various departments of the territorial administration besides cultural programmes were also presented to mark the occasion.

Chief Minister Narayanasamy along with his cabinet colleagues participated in the function. Assembly Speaker, MLAs, Chief Secretary, DGP, Secretaries to Govt, French Consulate General, Tri- Force Officers, Freedom Fighters and other dignitaries also participated in the function.

The Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government on Sunday launched its much-awaited 'Shiv Bhojan' scheme, which is aimed at providing a meal to the poor for just 10 rupees, on the occasion of the 71st Republic Day.

Under the scheme, which has been launched on a pilot basis, thalis or lunch plates would be available to people at designated centres/ canteens during a stipulated time in all the districts.

Launching of the scheme was one of the poll promises made by the Shiv Sena, which shares power with the NCP and Congress in a coalition government.

In Mumbai, district Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh inaugurated the "Shiv Bhojan Thali" canteen at the civic-run Nair Hospital.

The 62nd annual Grammy Awards take place in Los Angeles tonight. Billed as "music's biggest night", the ceremony is more like "music's longest day" - with festivities kicking off at lunchtime in LA and stretching out into the night.

Popstar Lizzo leads the nominations this year, with eight in total, including album and song of the year. Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X are close behind with six each.

All three represent a new vanguard of pop - charismatic and non-conformist, with songs that defined the last 12 months.

The Indian Federation Cup team today heaved a sigh of relief after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) shifted the Federation Cup matches from the Coronavirus-hit China to Kazakhstan.

 Concerned for its players' health due to a medical emergency in China, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) had written to the ITF, requesting the world governing body to consider either shifting the venue or postponing the tournament. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Dongguan from 4th of next month.

After rejecting their request twice, the ITF finally intimated AITA this afternoon that matches have been shifted out of China. India will compete with China, Indonesia, Korea, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan in the Asia/Oceania Group I contest.

Bharat Parv 2020, a festival to celebrate the spirit of India has begun at Red Fort ground in New Delhi. It will continue till 31st of this month. The objective of Bharat Parv is to encourage people to visit different tourism places of the country and to inculcate the spirit of ‘Dekho Apna Desh’.

AIR correspondent reports that

Bharat Parv have many attractions for public including display of Tableaux of the Republic Day parade, performance by armed forces bands and cultural Performances from different regions of the country.

 More than 50 food stalls, 79 handicrafts stalls and 27 theme pavilions have been setup. The theme of this year’s Bharat Parv is 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' and 'Celebrating 150 Years of Mahatma Gandhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the proposed Gaganyaan mission will be a historic achievement for India in 21st Century. In his Mann Ki Baat programme on All India Radio, Mr Modi said it will prove to be a milestone for New India.

Prime Minister said, as India celebrates its 75th year of Independence in 2022, the country has to fulfill the pledge to take an Indian into the space through the Gaganyaan mission.
 

Mr Modi praised the four pilots of the Indian Airforce who have been selected as astronauts for the mission and their forthcoming training in Russia. After their training for over a year, they will shoulder the responsibility of carrying the hopes and aspirations of the nation and soaring into space, he said.

2G mobile internet services on postpaid as well as prepaid phones have been restored in the Kashmir Valley. However, it can be used to access 301 websites approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration only. These sites include search engines and those associated with banking, education, news, travel, utilities and employment.

The move comes within a week of the administration ordering restoration of prepaid mobile services in the Valley and resumption of 2G mobile data service on whitelisted websites across the Jammu division.  
 

In cricket, India have won the first T20 International of five-match series against New Zealand by six wickets.

Visitors achieved the target of 204 in just 19 overs losing four wickets at Eden Park in Auckland. For India, KL Rahul made 56, skipper Virat Kohli scored 45 and Shreyas Aiyyar made 58 runs.

Earlier, put in to bat first, New Zealand scored 203 for five in the stipulated 20 overs. Colin Munro and Skipper Kane Williamson smashed quick-fire half-centuries.

The second T20 will also be played at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday while the third T20 will be held at Hamilton on the 29th of this month.

The 4th T20 will be played at Wellington on 31st January while the final and the 5th match will be held at Mount Maunganui on 2nd February.

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation today on the eve of the 71st Republic Day. The address will be broadcast on the entire National network of All India Radio and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan from 7 PM in Hindi followed by the English version. 

Broadcast of the address in Hindi and English on Doordarshan will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan. All India Radio will broadcast regional language versions from 9.30 PM onwards on its regional networks.
 

The 10th National Voters’ Day (NVD) will be celebrated today. The theme for NVD-2020 is ‘Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy. The theme sets the tone for year-long activities with focus on voter education and renewal of citizens’ faith in the electoral process. 

The Day is celebrated on 25th January every year since 2011. It is celebrated at over ten lakh locations across the country including polling stations, district and state headquarters, to mark the Foundation day of Election Commission of India, which was established on 25th January 1950. President Ram Nath Kovind will be the Chief Guest at the 10th National Voters' Day function which is being organized by the Election Commission of India at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.