1. IMF’s Lagarde put under investigation

    International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde has been placed under formal investigation by French magistrates* for negligence* in a political fraud affair dating from 2008 when she was finance minister, her lawyer said on August 27.

    Lawyer Yves Repiquet said that Lagarde, who this week was questioned by magistrates in Paris for a fourth time under her existing status as a witness in the long-running saga, said the step was unfounded.

    2. French govt. expels dissident ministers

    France’s prime minister reshuffled* his Cabinet on August 26 to silence ministers who had openly criticized Socialist President Francois Hollande’s economic policies as he tries to pull the nation out of stagnation* and steer it toward growth.

    Emmanuel Macron, who had earlier served as top adviser in charge of the economy, took over the Economy Ministry, replacing Arnaud Montebourg.

    Finance Minister Michel Sapin stayed in place in the limited reshuffle.

    3. Fukushima court rules against nuclear operator in suicide suit

    A court has ruled that Fukushima nuclear operator Tokyo Electric was responsible for a woman’s suicide* following the March 2011 disaster and must pay compensation.

    The civil suit by Mikio Watanabe claimed that Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc. (TEPCO) was to blame for the July 2011 death of his wife, Hamako, 58, who set herself on fire after falling into depression. Kyodo news reported that TEPCO was ordered to pay 49 million yen (US$472,000) in compensation.

    4. Cuban boy dresses like Fidel Castro

    An 8-year-old Cuban boy who likes to dress up as Fidel Castro got to meet his idol after Cuba’s 88-year-old retired leader invited him and his family to his Havana home for a chat.

    “I felt a lot of emotion upon seeing Fidel,” Marlon Mendez said on August 25 at his home near Havana. “The whole family hugged him. It was my dream to meet Fidel, and I did it. ... My mother was shaking.”

    5. Citizens mad over bid to silence dogs

    A suggestion by Singapore’s public housing authority that owners of noisy dogs consider “debarking*” their pets to avoid inconveniencing neighbors has raised animal lovers’ hackles in the city-state and prompted much ridicule on social media.

    The authority, the Housing and Development Board (HDB), recommended in a notice posted in a residential block that one option for dogs that will not keep quiet is to “debark” them.

    6. EU threatens more sanctions on Russia

    European Union (EU) leaders on Sunday gave Russia a week to reverse course in Ukraine or face a new round of sanctions.

    The decision on new sanctions will depend on the evolution of the situation on the ground, but “everybody is fully aware that we have to act quickly,” EU summit chairman Herman Van Rompuy said.

    The EU leaders called on Russia to “immediately withdraw all its military assets and forces from Ukraine,” they said in a joint statement.

    7. MH370 may have turned south ‘earlier’

    The hunt for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 will focus on the southern part of the existing search zone after a new clue to the plane’s possible location emerged, Australia said on August 28.

    Fresh information suggested that the jet “may have turned south” earlier than thought, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said.

    (SD-Agencies)