Lagarde chosen to lead IMF | Biobraphy of Lagarde

French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has been chosen to lead the International Monetary Fund. She will become the first female managing director of the global lending organization.

Lagarde's selection became all but assured when the Obama administration endorsed her earlier on Tuesday. Hours later, the IMF's 24-member board voted to appoint her to the position. She had also won support from Europe, China and Russia.

Biography
Christine Madeleine Odette Lagarde (born 1 January 1956) is the current Minister of Economic Affairs, Finances and Industry of France, and the designated head of the International Monetary Fund, due to take office on 5 July 2011. She was appointed to her current position by President Nicolas Sarkozy in June 2007. Previously, she was Minister of Agriculture and Fishing and Minister of Trade in the government of Dominique de Villepin. Lagarde was the first woman ever to become minister of Economic Affairs of a G8 economy, and is the first woman to ever head the IMF.

Chinese lantern blamed for Somerton fire

Firefighters were called to the Polham Lane site in Somerton after a tonne of paper and printer cartridges caught fire on Saturday night.

A spokesman from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the lantern had fallen on to the paper.Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service had issued a warning about the use of lanterns only the day before.

The paper decorations, which can float up to a mile into the air when they are lit, are often constructed with metal wire.They have become a popular feature at parties and weddings.

Following the Somerton fire, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service station commander Jim Morrison said: "Without sounding like a killjoy, we would ask people to consider not buying and setting them off because of the dangers.

"Although they look pretty they will often fail and come down early whilst the fuel for the lantern itself is still burning."

China's PM Wen Jiabao set to sign £1bn deal with UK

Mr Wen, who is on a three-day visit to the UK, has already said he wants to welcome more UK products to China.
On Sunday he visited the Longbridge MG car plant, where he faced a small human rights protest.
Downing Street said there was potential to create more jobs and investment opportunities for British businesses.
The two leaders are expected to sign an agreement to help UK companies work with China's regional cities, in architecture, civil engineering and research and development.

British poultry farmers are being allowed to export to China and the visit is expected to see agreements reached for the supply of pigs.


Chancellor George Osborne and Foreign Secretary William Hague are due to join Mr Cameron for the talks and Mr Wen is accompanied by other senior members of the Chinese government.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "China's rapid economic rise is good news for the UK. It means more money flowing into our economies and has the potential to create more jobs and investment opportunities for British business at home and in China.
"The summit will be an opportunity to tap that potential and to continue to work closely with China to find global solutions to a range of issues from climate change to global security."
It follows Mr Wen's visit to Longbridge and to Stratford the Chinese premier is a lifelong fan of William Shakespeare.

Sarkozy's ex-wife Attias will be published an autobiography novel in 2012

Nicolas Sarkozy's ex-wife, Cécilia Attias, announced Monday that she will be publishing an autobiographical novel in 2012, a day after speaking candidly about her former husband for the first time in four years. 

France’s celebrity gossip journalists have been rubbing their hands together in anticipation this week after Nicolas Sarkozy’s former wife opened up about life with the president, quickly followed by the news that she was planning to publish an autobiographical novel next year.