London, Dec. 8 : Manchester United and Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has said that by getting his hands on the Ballon d’Or award, he is living the dream.

Ronaldo was named as Kaka’s successor last Tuesday and was presented with the trophy on Sunday.

“I’m very, very happy. It’s a dream I’ve had since I was a youngster — I’ve always dreamed about winning it one day. I’m very moved, very happy and I’d like to take this opportunity to dedicate this trophy to my family, they’ve helped me get here,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

“I thank my mother, my father, my close friends. The trophy is splendid, marvellous, beautiful. I’ve waited for this,” he added.

Karvy Stock Broking Limited has maintained ‘buy’ rating on ICICI Bank stock with an intraday target of Rs 390.

According to Karvy, interested traders can purchase the stock above Rs 370 with a strict stop loss of Rs 360. If the stock market remains on positive track, the stock pricing becomes more attractive, and reach above Rs 395.
 

London  - More than 50 activists blocked the runway of London's Stansted Airport Monday morning to protest against the creation greenhouse gases by planes.

Plane Stupid, a climate action group, said on its website that about 50 if its members shut down the airport by camping on the runway and surrounding themselves with security fencing.

"We're here because our parents' generation has failed us and its now down to young people to stop climate change by whatever peaceful means we have left," one group member, whose name was given as Lily, said in a statement posted on the internet.

The runway had been closed for maintenance and was scheduled to reopen at 0500 GMT.

London, Dec 8 : A group of the world’s leading scientists has urged the United Nations (UN) to establish an international network to search the skies for asteroids on a collision course with Earth, so the world can get ready in advance to fight the ‘space rocks’.

According to a report in the Guardian, the group, which includes the Royal Society president Lord Rees and environmentalist Crispin Tickell, said that the UN needed to act as a matter of urgency.

Although an asteroid collision with the planet is a relatively remote risk, the consequences of a strike would be devastating.

An asteroid that struck the Earth 65 million years ago wiped out the dinosaurs and 70 per cent of the species then living on the planet.

Washington, Dec. 8 : US president-elect Barack Obama has called on both India and Pakistan to take steps to heal their divide over Kashmir following the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and also introduce appropriate measures to counter terrorism.

“If a country is attacked, it has the right to defend itself,” Obama told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, adding that so far the new civilian government in Pakistan “has sent the right signals”.

Maharashtra Chief Minister designate Ashok Chavan and deputy Chief Minister designate Chhagan Bhujbal, along with several other cabinet and state ministers, will be sworn in on Monday. 

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the Darbar hall of Raj Bhavan. 

According to official sources, no pandal has been erected for the ceremony, to be held at 1650 hrs, as the administration and both coalition partners -- Congress and Nationalist Congress Party – have appealed to their supporters to avoid celebrations, in the wake of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.  
Several rounds of consultations were held among the members of both parties to finalise the names of ministers, who would be sworn in.