BUSINESS DIGEST ||

Charity benefit set

YOUNGSTOWN

Owens Construction of Youngstown is teaming up with Youngstown Community School, the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s Success After 6 program to host a Christmas Charity Benefit for the fourth- through sixth-graders.

Mike Owens, owner of Owens Construction, wanted to give back to children in Youngstown this holiday season. He learned about the Success After 6 program at the Youngstown Community School and decided to host the party. The event takes place today.

Each child will receive a gift, thanks to Owens and several other sponsors including George Berick, Century 21 agent; Atty. David A. D’Apolito; Next Generation Security and Sound; Mayla Glam; High Octane Coffee Co.; California Palms Hotel; Klacik Real Estate; and J.V. Merando.

Award for Walmart

COLUMBUS

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities recognized 18 Walmart stores as Committed to Opportunity Award recipients for their commitment and leadership in integrating individuals with disabilities into Ohio’s workforce. The Committed to Opportunity Awards recognize companies that have had four-consecutive years of successful hires of OOD consumers.

Boardman’s Walmart, 1300 Doral Drive, is one of the stores that received the award.

IMF board: Lagarde to remain as chief, despite conviction

WASHINGTON

Christine Lagarde will remain head of the International Monetary Fund despite her conviction Monday of negligence in a case dating to her tenure as France’s finance minister.

The IMF’s executive board quickly met after the court’s decision and expressed “full confidence” in Lagarde’s ability to carry out her duties at the head of the Washington-based international lending agency.

After a weeklong trial, France’s Court of Justice of the Republic found Lagarde guilty of one count of negligence but spared her jail time and a criminal record.

The 60-year-old IMF leader had potentially faced a year of imprisonment and a fine for not seeking to block a fraudulent 2008 arbitration award to a politically connected tycoon when she was finance minister.

Alcohol poisoning death toll reaches 49

MOSCOW

The death toll from alcohol poisoning in a Siberian city has risen to at least 49 Monday after the victims consumed a counterfeit bath lotion containing deadly methanol.

Local officials in Irkutsk went house-to-house in search for more victims and introduced a state of emergency Monday, while the Russian government called for tighter regulation of the alcohol market.

The sale of lotions and tinctures containing alcohol has risen in recent years as Russia has plunged into recession under the impact of Western sanctions and a slide in oil prices.

Russia’s top investigative agency opened a probe into the incident and arrested several people suspected of involvement in selling the lotion.

Staff/wire reports