New York  - US and global stocks surged Thursday as a summit of the world's major industrial and emerging powers agreed on a more than 1-trillion-dollar aid package to help revive the global economy.

Major stock indices in the US climbed nearly 3 per cent and the Euro Stoxx index surged more than 5 per cent on the Group of 20 (G20) deal in London.

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday children and adults with autism can be helped to lead a normal life as the world organization marked an international awareness day on autism.

"This is not a far-off dream, it is a reality that can be attained by promoting positive perception about autism as well as a greater social understanding of this growing challenge," Ban said in a message.

The day was marked at UN headquarters with lectures, briefings and art shows with the presence of Yoko Ono, widow of the famous member of the Beatles, John Lennon.

New York - The UN Security Council remains concerned by the impacts of North Korea's intention to fire a long-range rocket and may convene to debate the event if necessary, a UN official said Thursday.

The council president, Mexico's UN Ambassador Claude Heller, said several members on the 15-nation panel, including Japan, have called for a possible meeting if the rocket is launched.

Unnamed US officials told CNN that Pyongyang was fuelling the rocket to prepare for the launch.

New York - Going to the doctor could become a thing of the past for many people if the telemedicine plans by Intel and General Electric come to fruition.

The two giant US companies announced Thursday that they are teaming up to produce a line of medical devices, including one that would allow doctors to remotely monitor patients' health without them needing to visit the doctor's office.

New York, Apr 2: America's favourite dysfunctional family, The Simpsons, is set to appear on postage stamps.

The Postal Service has announced that the 44-cent first-class stamps, designed by show creator Matt Groening, will feature the cartoon characters of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson.

"The timing couldn''t be better as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show," The New York Daily News quoted Elie Dekel, executive vice president at Fox, as saying.

New York, Apr 2 : Bridget Moynahan's friends have slammed Gisele for her recent interview, in which she bragged that she feels like being a mom to hubby Tom Brady and the `Robot' star's son, John.

Moynahan, however, is keeping a low profile over Gisele's Vanity Fair interview, where she claimed that she felt as though John was "100 percent her child".