Policymakers face a daunting task in closing the yawning gap between revenues and expenditures in the coming years, but targeting medical innovation is a particularly counterproductive approach.

FORBES: Beyond The Fiscal Cliff, Pharmaceutical Innovation Is The Key To Long-Term Fiscal Health

To bridge the gap, Mr Kim has set up a task-force to prepare for a smooth transition of the presidency.

ECONOMIST: Korean glums

Moreover, the rats that successfully completed the more difficult task, which involved a longer gap in time between the sound and the puff of air, had retained more new neurons than those assigned easier tasks, with shorter gaps.

ECONOMIST: Neuroscience (2)

That distrust is also shared by many in Europe and the prime minister faced the daunting - some say impossible - task of trying to bridge the gap between the views of 'old Europe', led by France and Germany, and the unflinching position of the American administration.

BBC: The Tony Blair years

Murrell side-stepped into a gap with 14 minutes left on the clock, Dobson's drop-goal made Quins' task all the harder and Fisher crossed in the dying seconds.

BBC: Hull KR 37-24 Harlequins