CANADA - Private pension assets should not be lumped with the Canada Pension Plan (CCP), as the temptation to use funds for political aims would be too great, according to Steve Bonnar, principal at Towers Perrin.

CANADA - Many people want to work past retirement age and barriers preventing that must be removed, Bank of Canada governor David Dodge has claimed.

UK - The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a consultation paper aimed at simplifying private pensions regulation.

UK - Leaders of the UK T-Charter group, which is working to create a common set of standards in the transition management industry, have met with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to discuss if the industry initiative could come under the regulator's...

The judges have continued their deliberations and have drawn up more shortlists for this year's UK Pensions Awards.

US - The Senate has approved a bill to aid the Kentucky's pension funds by selling more than US$800m in bonds.

US - Five Ohio pension funds were awarded US$144m from AOL Time Warner, marking the largest payout yet in a series of law suits claiming AOL inflated its stock price before the companies' 2001 merger.

UK - The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) said it would be opposed to any possible merger between itself and the Pension Regulator.

FRANCE - French civil servants fund Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations has appointed Augustin de Romanet to the role of CEO - left vacant following the tragic death of Francis Mayer.

COMPANIES could make "significant" savings by combining their final salary pension schemes, Watson Wyatt believes.