Haroche, Wineland win Noble prize for physics: Frenchman Serge Haroche and American David Wineland have

won the 2012 Nobel Prize in physics for inventing and developing methods for observing tiny quantum particles without destroying them. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences cited the two scientists on Tuesday for ground -breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of in dividual quantum systems. Their ground-breaking methods have enabled this field of research to take the very first steps towards building a new type of super fast computer based on quantum physics, the academy said. The research has also led to the construction of extremely precise clocks that could become the future basis for a new standard of time. This years Nobel Prize announcements got under way on Monday with the medicine prize going to stem cell pioneers John Gurdon of Britain and Japans Shinya Yamanaka . Each award is worth 8 million kronor, or about $1.2 million.

2012 Literature Nobel for Mo Yan of China. * First writer in China to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. * Mo Yan, a novelist who brought to life the turbulence of twentieth century China in vivid and often graphic works set against the tumult of the Japanese invasion and a struggling countryside. * Born Guan Moye, Mr. Mo adopted the pen name of Mo Yan meaning dont speak in Chinese. * The turbulence Mr. Mo experienced in his early life in the rural northeastern province of Shandong was reflected in his writing. Forced to leave school when he was only 12, when Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution (1966-76) began, Mr. Mo spent his childhood herding cattle and surviving on weeds and tree bark as he was too poor to eat rice. * In his work "Frog" tells the story of a mid-wife haunted by the forced abortions she witnesses.

The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the European Union (EU) "for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe".