Jailed Chinese political activist Liu Xiaobo, 54, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said the award went to Mr.Liu, who is in prison for his calls for political reform, " for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China".
LEPTOLALAX APPLEBY - a frog that sounds like a cricket were among 145 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong area. Greater Mekong is known for its immense biodiversity and the fragility of this region's diverse habitats and species.

TNPSC- Achchadiparambu near here has been selected for establishing genetic heritage garden, which represents Paalai eco system (Sand and Sand related areas) as defined in the Sangam literature. According to a Government Order, which was issued recently, other four genetic heritage gardens, will be located in Yercaudin Salem district(KURINJI),Sirumalai in Dindigul District (Mullai), Sakkottai in Thanjavur District (Marutham) and Thirukadaiyur in Nagapattinam district (Neithal).

Mario Vargas Llosa (74), celebrated Peruvian-Spanish author and one of the most renowned novelist of his generation, has won the Nobel Prize for Literature " for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual's resistance, revolt and defeat". His popular books are " CONVERSATION IN CATHEDRAL(1969)", "THE
TIME OF THE HERO", "THE FEAST OF THE GOAT", "AUNT JULIA AND THE SCRIPT WRITER (1977)", "THE WAR OF THE END OF THE WORLD(1981)", and "Death in the Andes(1993)".

KOLONTAR (Hungary): The toxic red sludge that burst out of a Hungarian factory's reservoir reached the mighty Danube, after wreaking havoc on smaller rivers and creeks.