INCLUDING: FRANCE - Special retirement benefits: fishermen and miners will not be affected; CHINA - State pension profits rise

THE NATIONAL Association of Pension Funds has hired Alan Chart as a policy adviser specialising in regulation and Mark Brooks as head of press.

GLOBAL - US companies have been slower than their international counterparts to implement climate change programs, according to a report by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

INCLUDING: UK - Buck Consultants appoints new Actuary; UK - Fortis Investment announces nine new hires; ASIA - Investment opportunities in under-valued Korean firms

US - The California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) has launched a search for a real estate consultant to work for the scheme's investment committee.

UK - Pensioners who saw their company pensions disappear will be confronting Labour ministers at their annual conference tomorrow in Bournemouth.

EUROPEAN business school EDHEC has created a new research chair in partnership with AXA Investment Managers to investigate the subject of regulation and institutional investment

Royal Mail set to close its final salary pensions to all employees; Governance code has led to ‘20%' fewer directors; Trustees should learn from practitioners; Default funds spark concerns

MEMBERS of the Pensions Action Group will protest at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth tomorrow.

GLOBAL - Institutional investors believe the fallout from the credit crunch will spread to other asset classes and many have moved to mitigate their exposure, according to research by Greenwich Associates.