N Korea launches long-range rocket inspite international protests

Defying US warnings and threats of international sanctions, North Korea has gone ahead with its plan of launching a long-range rocket, which the international community fears might be a disguised test for a long-range ballistic missile.

US says the launch as a provocative act
State Department spokesmsan Fred Lash said the department had received confirmation of the launch from its operations center at 10:30 pm local time (0230 GMT).

"We look on this as a provocative act and certainly would -- from the United States -- take appropriate steps to let North Korea know that it can't threaten the safety and security of other countries with impunity and acts like these," Lash told reporters.

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff becomes the highest paid in IPL

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff becomes the highest paid players in IPL. Pietersen and Flintoff were bought for a staggering price of 1.55 million US dollars by the Bangalore Royal Challengers and Chennai Super Kings respectively in the second leg of the IPL auction held at Goa.
They overtook Indian skipper Mahendra singh Dhoni who was till now the highest paid player in the IPL.The former captain of England Kevin Pietersen and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff wer ethe two most talked about players in the Friday auction. Pietersen had been listed at a reserve price of $1.35 million, while Flintoff was priced second at $950,000.South African Jean Paul Duminy was bought by the Mumbai Indians for $950,000 which was about three times his reserve price.

A R Rehman wins Golden globe

A.R. Rahman won the Golden Globe award for his score in Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" on Sunday.In doing so he became the first indian to bag a golden globe at the annual hollywood awards. Rahman bagged the Golden Globe for Best Original Music Score for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. It was for his song ‘Jai Ho’, penned by lyricist Gulzar.The film also won the Best Screenplay and Best Director, Best Motion Picture (Drama)s at the 66th Golden Globe ceremony.

Boyle's film depicts the story of a slum dweller Jamal, played by young debutant Dev Patel, who goes on to win USD 20 million on Indian reality show 'Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?'

Born as A. S. Dileep Kumar on 6 January 1967 at Chennai in Tamil Nadu rahman had to go through many difficulties in his childhood days.His father, R K Shekhar, who was a composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam films died when Rahman was just 9 years-old and his family rented out musical equipment as a source of income. Later there was a turning point when Dileep Kumar decided to rechristen himself as A R Rahman.

Thus this award brings the much needed international recognition to this music director from south india who has already won several other awards.