Washington, Oct 21 : A new study has determined that reducing the number of deer in forests and parks may unexpectedly reduce the number of snakes, salamanders and insects in that area, thus suggesting that these creatures thrive in areas with higher deer populations.

The study was carried out by researchers at Ohio State University and National Park Service, who found that higher deer activity is modifying forest ecosystems in unexpected ways.

Out of several species of snakes, salamanders, and invertebrates studied, a greater diversity of animals were found in areas with deer populations than were in areas with no deer activity.

London, Oct. 21 : An Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report has found that the gap between rich and poor people in the United Kingdom is one of the widest in the developed world.

According to The Telegraph, the gap in earnings widened by 20 per cent between 1985 and 2005.

While both the richest and poorest have been getting richer, the bottom has experienced a growth in earnings three times as large as the top, the OECD report said.

Tokyo - Japan's House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a bill to extend the military's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for another year after January 15.

The bill proposed by the government enables the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces to continue refueling international warships involved in the US-led war in Afghanistan.

The opposition parties say the special law violates Japan's pacifist constitution.

The opposition-controlled House of Councillors was expected to vote down the bill on October 29. But it will likely receive final parliamentary approval after the more powerful lower house approves it in a subsequent vote the following day.

London, Oct. 20 : Emerging economic powerhouses India and China will be most reluctant support the wider global economy during its downturn phase, as Deutsche Bank survey has warned.

The warning comes as world leaders have agreed to hold a “Bretton Woods (type) meeting for the 21st century” in New York to assess the global economy’s health.

The Deutsche Bank also warned that major industrialised economies will suffer the worst slump since the 1930s, and added that Britain will be more vulnerable than the United States.

London, Oct 20: has said that the international community must help Pakistan gain control of its Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

The Daily Times quoted Miliband as saying that President Asif Ali Zardari had promised to co-operate with Afghanistan.

“The role of the international community is not to wring its hands and go home, but to help the Pakistan government get a grip on its Tribal Areas,” Miliband added.

Brussels - Georgia is hoping for a billion-dollar shot in the arm on Wednesday when representatives of 67 nations and financial institutions gather in Brussels for a one-day donors' conference.