Seoul - Shares surged 1.4 per cent Monday on the Seoul stock exchange as a recent currency swap between South Korea's central bank and the US Federeal Reserve as well as new stimulus measures for the local economy boosted investor sentiment. South Korea's currency surged against the dollar.

The benchmark Kospi index rose 16.02 points to close at 1,129.08.

Advancing issues outpaced decliners 660 to 192.

The main index of the technology-heavy Kosdaq market rose 17.53 points to 325.56.

Washington, Nov 3 : Actress Jada Pinkett-Smith plans to follow in the footsteps of Pamela Anderson with a new career as an animal rights activist, when she gets older.

The 37-year-old star, who’s married to superstar Will Smith, is a hardcore animal lover and owns a menagerie of pets, including three cats and two dogs.

She has also bought a red-tail boa constrictor, and named it ‘Beauty’.

However, after buying Beauty, Pinkett Smith admits she''s become much more aware of the plight of caged animals.

Seoul - South Korea on Monday announced a 14-trillion-won (11-billion-dollar) stimulus package as it faces its worst economic turmoil since it needed an International Monetary Fund bailout a decade ago.

Public spending is to rise next year by 11 trillion won and the package's remaining 3 trillion won would go to tax benefits, the Finance Ministry said.

Finance Minister Kang Man Soo estimated South Korea's economy would grow only 3 per cent next year because of the global financial crisis but also warned of a further slowdown.

"It will be difficult to achieve the growth if global economic conditions further worsen," he said.

Washington, Nov 3 : Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is toeing the old American line in saying that the US should make efforts to forge better relations between India and Pakistan by resolving the Kashmir problem peacefully and amicably, said Kashmiri-American Council head Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai.

Commenting on Obama’s statement on Kashmir, Fai said that the senator, who is tipped to be the next US president, was in “full conformity” with previous statements made by US leaders and representatives.

London, Nov 3: The most acute form of post-natal depression might be linked to genes, says researchers.

The study led by Cardiff University, Birmingham University and Trinity College, Dublin suggests that the severe version of the condition, known as postpartum psychosis, may have a genetic cause.

The condition affects around one in 500 new mothers, and includes mood disorders.

It is believed that the mood disorders were caused by women''s circumstances, personality and hormonal changes.

New York, Nov. 3 (ANI): New surveys in battleground states, including Republican safe havens such as North Carolina, show Democratic candidate Barack Obama either ahead or keeping several places in toss-up status with Republican rival John McCain.

According to the New York Post, Obama has been running ahead of McCain in most polls in Ohio.

The Real Clear Politics average of Ohio polls from October 22 through October 31 show Obama ahead, 48.8 percent to McCain’s 44.6 percent.