Consumers International Blog: Financial consumer protection: a ray of light in the G20 gloom?

CI's Robin Simpson gives a blow by blow account of the G20 commitment to financial consumer protection.
While the world’s press and the financial markets were raining on the G20's parade, we poor toilers at Consumers International (CI) were enjoying a moment of satisfaction at the outcome. Lobbying by our members in the G20 countries seems to have paid off.

Bernanke defends Fed action, calls for unity

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday defended the central bank's plans to spur U.S. economic growth, saying they could help reduce unemployment, and -- in a message aimed at China -- urged developing nations to let their currencies gain in value. Nations need to work together to correct global imbalances as the world economy recovers at an uneven pace, the Fed chairman said at a banking conference in Frankfurt, Germany

Oprah considering snapping up new home with a $68 million price tag, Nov 19, 2010

The media mogul is said to have inspected the sprawling Old Frick Estate in the ulta-exclustive suburb of Alpine in New Jersey according to The New York Post.
The five-story English manor style property boasts nineteen bathrooms and 12 bedrooms is valued at a cool $68 million.
See photos of the lavish estate
Winfrey arrived at the property in an entourage  

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Alleged cannibal Nicolas Cocaign's French prison a 'failure'

A PRISONER on trial for allegedly pulling out his cellmate's lung while he was still alive has put France's troubled prison system under new scrutiny. Nicolas Cocaign, 39, is charged with murdering Thierry Baudry by punching him, stabbing him with a pair of scissors and suffocating

Norfolk Island: Painful past in paradise - Travel - NZ Herald News

Tourists have an easy time of navigating Norfolk Island, which is just 35 sq km, and some local knowledge will help them appreciate the significance of landmarks. Photo / Kerri Jackson
No visit to Norfolk Island is complete without a good look at its history.
There are few places where you can pack so much action into a relatively short time, and even fewer have so many reminders of their history - family names, original buildings, unique dialect and early graves - still intact.
Norfolk Island is small, just 35sq km, so touring the island is easy. Car hire is straightforward (the only lesson required is how to wave to the locals), speed limits are low and there is little traffic.

Norfolk Island

Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal, Cook Islands

Appeal base – from left, Florence Syme-Buchanan, Vaine Marsters, Caroline Poko and George George with a donated banner and cartons of gifts behind them.

Election problem, Cook Islands

Northern group islands could be deprived of their right to vote at the November 17 general election if a solution to get the ballot forms and boxes to them is not found soon.
Secretary of Justice Mark Short is warning it will be a national crisis if major problems with logistics of transport to the north are not sorted out within the week.
The Electoral Office needs to send about three electoral officers, ballot boxes, and ballot papers to the northern group islands.

Let’s get behind the sevens!

RAPPA MP and Party Tumu candidate Albert ‘Peto’ Nicholas has issued a challenge to his election rivals to put aside their campaign hats and head on up to the Sevens in Heaven tournament at the BCI Stadium starting today.
“My challenge to the candidates from the three other parties – please put down the campaign apron and put on a blue and gold jersey representing our village and let’s get down there to the stadium to support our team,” says Nicholas, president of the Avatiu Sports Association.

Tourism NZ office stays

Carmel Beattie, CEO of Cook Islands Tourism (CIT), has dismissed claims that CIT could be closing its office in Auckland.

An advertisement for the New Zealand Manager post appeared in an email publication called Travel Memo on Friday. It stated in the last sentence: “Submissions from destination marketing companies will also be considered.”

Cook Islands goes to the polls

PEOPLE in the Cook Islands will go to the polls today, with 10,000 people registered to vote in the Pacific nation's general elections, according to local officials.

The two major parties are the Cook Islands Party and the Democratic Party, but a record number of 16 Independents are also contesting the 24 seats in the Pacific nation's parliament.