US - US public pension plans which find themselves with pension and post employment benefit deficits have been urged to hold back from simply issuing bonds to immediately achieve a 100% funding level.

CZECH REPUBLIC - The Czech government has provisionally approved sweeping changes to the country's pension system, designed to curb massive potential future deficits and reform the economy.

SWITZERLAND - Leading Swiss pensions experts have criticised the Federal government's decision to raise the minimum interest credit payment for pensioners by 25 basis points to 2.75% for 2008.

INDIA - India's New Pension Scheme (NPS) will initially allow members just two investment options - government securities alone or a 15/85% split between equities and fixed income.

Pensions regulator wins new powers on buy-outs; More agency staff rights will cost jobs, says CBI

UK - A pledge to review the contribution cap and transfers ban applied to personal accounts has been welcomed by the chief executive of the committee overseeing their design and implementation.

ROWANMOOR PENSIONS are urging owner directors not to rely solely on the sale of their businesses to fund their pension funds.

US - The US$63.5bn Minnesota State Board of Investment (MSBI) may be forced to allocate funds to venture capital under plans unveiled this week by a local member of the House of Representatives.

US - Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) has been dropped by Massachusetts' Pension Reserves Investment Trust (PRIT) because of poor returns and concerns of instability within the organisation.

The councils of the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries have recommended a merger of the two bodies.