Carla Bruni rejects charity misconduct claims

07/01/12 16:34 CET

world news

| |

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has rejected claims of financial irregularities linked to her charity work.

In 2008, France’s First Lady signed up as an ambassador for The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. She also has her own charitable foundation.

Reporting that France is a big contributor to the Global Fund, weekly magazine, Marianne, claims the Geneva-based body paid 2.7 million euros towards Bruni’s philanthropic activities and to ‘several agencies’ belonging to a friend of the ex-model.

Bruni, whose brother died of an Aids-related illness, insists on her website that no public money has ever been received by her foundation. The Global Fund has also dismissed the French magazine report as “inexact and misleading.”

The scandal comes just months before Bruni’s husband, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, is expected to stand for re-election.

More about: AIDS, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Financial scandal, France

| |

Qatar mall fire kills 19 people

A fire at an upmarket shopping centre in Doha, Qatar, on Monday killed at least 19 people, including 13 children. Four teachers and two firefighters were also amongst the dead, according to the Gulf state’s interior ministry. The fire broke out at the Villagio Mall in…