New Delhi, Jan 12 : President Pratibha Patil today greeted the nation on the occasion of Makara Sankranti and Pongal, which will be celebrated on January 13 and January 14 respectively.

In her message, Patil said, "On the occasion of Makara Sankranti and Pongal, the nation acknowledges with gratitude the hard work of our farmers and those millions of people living in our rural areas."

Beijing, Jan.

London, January 12 : Karl Rove, popularly dubbed as "Bush's brain" after masterminding President George W. Bush's 2000 and 2004 election victories, has become the latest celebrity to join social-networking site Twitter.

The ex-Deputy Chief of Staff became fellow Twitter user to several other high-profilers such as US President-elect Barack Obama, Britney Spears and CNN personality Rick Sanchez.

The 58-year-old Republican strategist was said to be climbing the popularity ladder with more than 1,700 followers who had opted to receive his updates, reports the Telegraph.

London, January 12 : An expectant mother is set to rewrite pages in British medical history by delivering rare Siamese twins with two heads - but just one body.

Lisa Chamberlain and her fiance Mike Pedace, who finally became bearers of good news after trying for seven years, have decided to go ahead with the pregnancy, even after being advised to abort the conjoined babies, who have just one heartbeat.

Doctors at Portsmouth's St Mary's Hospital told the couple that their dicephalus twins have just a 20 per cent chance of survival, but that did not let the expectant couple to budge from their decision.

New Delhi, Jan 12 : Brit actress Kristin Scott Thomas has landed herself the role of ex-Beatles John Lennon''s Aunt Mimi in new movie "Nowhere Boy".

The movie, based on the late Beatles' early life, has English actress Anne-Marie Duff playing his mother, Julia, with newcomer Aaron Johnson playing Lennon, reports the China Daily.

Shooting for the new flick, which will also mark the directorial debut of artist Sam Taylor-Wood, will start in March on location in Liverpool and at Ealing Studios.

The latest report of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) paints a grim picture for the besieged Indian automobile industry.

The report said that the sales of the car in country fell 7 per cent in December, the fifth drop in six months as inadequate finance and a slowing economy hollowed demand in the traditionally weak month. The report predicts that carmakers sold 82,105 units in the month, below the 88,272 sold a year ago.