91.   The threat of a general strike in Italy against a welfare-cutting budget and pension reform was growing by the hour on Tuesday.

92.   They had said after a first meeting with Berlusconi on Thursday that the government now appeared ready to discuss whether the pension reform could be separated from the budget.

93.   Union leaders met with Berlusconi last week, saying afterwards that the government was ready for concessions and apparently prepared to consider separating the pension reform from the budget.

94.   While some Chinese cities have already begun experimenting with pension reform, the report warns that the lack of a unified system will only lead to confusion and fragmentation.

95.   One of the main items under discussion was pension reform, which involves heavy spending cuts and is worrying millions of pension holders.

96.   Pensions reform is further from being settled though the government has said it hopes reforms will be agreed before the end of March.

97.   Prodi also said that this year he would launch a debate on pension reform.

98.   That conclave is expected to approve long-awaited European pension reforms, despite objections from France and Belgium, diplomats said.

99.   The agreement was reached after Berlusconi submitted a new document to union leaders overnight which ultimately led to compromises on the pension reform, unemployment and other social issues.

100.   The debate on pension reform in parliament was delayed from last week because of the absence of several MPs.