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France's ex-first lady focuses on hunger in India, 2 days after split with president

Associated Press
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Valerie Trierweiler, the ex-first lady of French President Francois Hollande, smiles in a car as she leaves for Sion government hospital in Mumbai, India, Monday, Jan. 27, 2014. A day after splitting up with Hollande, Trierweiler launched a new stage in her life Sunday with a charity visit to India. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (The Associated Press)

Valerie Trierweiler, right, the ex-first lady of French President Francois Hollande, speaks to a patient during her visit to Sion government hospital in Mumbai, India, Monday, Jan. 27, 2014. A day after splitting up with Hollande, Trierweiler launched a new stage in her life Sunday with a charity visit to India. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Valerie Trierweiler, center, the ex-first lady of French President Francois Hollande, speaks to a patient during her visit to Sion government hospital in Mumbai, India, Monday, Jan. 27, 2014. A day after splitting up with Hollande, Trierweiler launched a new stage in her life Sunday with a charity visit to India. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

France's former first lady is drawing public attention to malnourished children in India, two days after splitting up with President Francois Hollande.

Valerie Trierweiler, a career journalist, is making a long-scheduled humanitarian mission to India. She arrived in Mumbai on Sunday, and on Monday visited a hospital pediatric ward where she cuddled and kissed children while speaking with mothers about nutrition.

She said all children should be given the same chances.

The comments were her first public remarks since she was hospitalized last week with what aides described as shock and the blues following a tabloid's publication of photos it said proved President Hollande was having an affair.