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Italian influencer Chiara Ferragni sorry for hospital pandoro claim

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Italian influencer Chiara Ferragni, known for her nearly 30 million Instagram followers, has issued an apology for a misleading promotion involving a “designer” pink pandoro Christmas cake. The AGCM antitrust authority fined Ferragni €1.075 million for falsely claiming that sales of the cake would contribute to a children’s hospital in Turin. The watchdog revealed that the cake’s producer had donated money to the hospital months before the product launch. Ferragni, 36, expressed regret for the “mistake in good faith” and pledged to donate €1 million to the Regina Margherita hospital. She intends to appeal the ruling, describing the fine as disproportionate and unjust.

The “Pandoro Pink Christmas,” labeled as designed by Ferragni, was sold at over €9, more than twice the price of Balocco’s classic unbranded pandoro. The AGCM found that buyers were misled into believing their purchases would contribute to medical equipment for treating children with specific illnesses. Prime Minister Georgia Meloni criticized influencers promoting “expensive cakes that make people believe they are charitable,” although she did not explicitly mention Ferragni. This controversy has raised questions about the reputation of Ferragni, often regarded as the “princess of influencers and queen of social media.”

Consumer group Codacons announced plans to launch legal action seeking compensation for individuals who bought the cake under the false impression that they were supporting the Turin children’s hospital. They are filing complaints with 104 Italian prosecutors, alleging aggravated fraud. The AGCM watchdog imposed a €420,000 fine on the cake’s manufacturer, Balocco, stating that false advertising exploited consumers’ sensitivity to charitable initiatives, violating Italy’s consumer code. Additionally, fines exceeding €1 million were imposed on two companies managing Chiara Ferragni’s trademarks and rights. Balocco had already donated €50,000 to the hospital months before the cake was put on sale, and the company paid Ferragni’s two companies around €1 million for promotion.

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French arrests after bomb scares trigger evacuations at airports and Versailles

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A recent spate of bomb threats in France has led to the arrest of 18 individuals, predominantly minors, involved in the disruptive activities. The threats have targeted significant landmarks such as the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre, along with schools, airports, and hospitals.

These incidents follow the recent stabbing of a teacher in Arras. Despite the heightened tension, the authorities maintain that there is no immediate specific threat. The bomb scares have been communicated through phone calls, emails, and a dedicated website.

Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti has warned the culprits of the consequences they will face, as authorities employ various means, including IP addresses and phone numbers, to track them down. Perpetrating a fake bomb threat in France constitutes a punishable offense with potential imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of €45,000 (£39,000).

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Driver Penalized as Dog Spotted Behind Car’s Steering Wheel

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A car owner in Slovakia received a fine after a photograph from a speed camera, shared on Facebook, seemingly depicted a cheerful dog occupying the driver’s seat of a Skoda vehicle. The car owner claimed that his brown hunting dog had spontaneously leaped onto his lap while driving. However, authorities in the village of Sterusy, located northeast of the capital, Bratislava, asserted that video evidence contradicted this account, as there was no sudden movement within the vehicle. It remains unclear whether the fine, which was imposed on the owner and not the dog, was related to speeding or failing to properly secure the pet during travel.

Police have taken this opportunity to remind drivers of the importance of safely securing their pets when operating a vehicle, emphasizing that even a small animal can pose risks to the driver’s safety and well-being.

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Greta Thunberg Faces Charges for Second Blockade of Swedish Oil Port

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Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is now facing charges for disregarding a police directive to disperse during a protest at a bustling Swedish port. This comes several months after she was previously found guilty of a similar offense. In July, she received a fine for her refusal to leave a demonstration that obstructed a road used for oil transport from Malmo harbor.

Following this earlier conviction, Ms. Thunberg and fellow activists returned to the port and were once again forcibly removed by law enforcement. Her second trial is slated for September 27th.

In an official statement, Swedish prosecutor Isabel Ekberg asserted that the demonstration on July 24th had not received authorization and had disrupted traffic flow. During this protest, Ms. Thunberg had joined forces with the group Reclaim the Future in southern Sweden, aiming to impede the movement of vehicles to protest against the utilization of fossil fuels. This demonstration unfolded just hours after Ms. Thunberg had been fined 2,500 Swedish Krona (£180; $224) for her involvement in a protest at the same port on June 19th.

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