According to prosecutors, during the 2012 presidential election campaign, Sarkozy’s team spent nearly 43 million euros (almost 50 million U.S. dollars) in campaign funds, far exceeding the legal limit of 22.5 million euros, and used methods such as falsifying accounts to conceal the excess spending.
In September 2021, Sarkozy was found guilty in the first trial and immediately appealed. In February last year, the Court of Appeal of Paris upheld the conviction for illegal campaign funding, sentencing Sarkozy to one year in prison, including six months suspended and six months to be served outside prison. Sarkozy promptly appealed to the highest court.
The court’s decision to uphold the verdict this time means Sarkozy has been definitively convicted.
Sarkozy, 70, served as French president from 2007 to 2012. He currently faces multiple legal cases.
On Sept. 25, Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly accepting illegal campaign funding from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Last December, France’s highest court upheld Sarkozy’s conviction in another corruption and abuse-of-power case, sentencing him to three years in prison, two years suspended and one year to be served under house arrest.
He also said the United States would immediately halt all payments and subsidies to the country, citing its treatment of a U.S. government representative during this year’s G20 meeting in Johannesburg.
Trump, who did not send an official American delegation to the Johannesburg summit last weekend, argued that the United States had refused to participate because white Afrikaners in South Africa were being “violently persecuted,” a claim that the South African government has rejected as unfounded.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said South Africa had refused to hand over its G20 hosting responsibilities to a senior U.S. Embassy official at the conclusion of the summit.
“Therefore, at my direction, South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20, which will be hosted in the Great City of Miami, Florida next year,” he wrote. “South Africa has demonstrated to the World they are not a country worthy of Membership anywhere, and we are going to stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately.”
South Africa’s presidency responded sharply, calling the U.S. decision an insult and rejecting Trump’s claims. The handover of the G20 presidency occurred at South Africa’s Foreign Ministry after the summit, as the United States was not represented at the closing ceremony.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said Trump’s statements were “regrettable” and criticised the Republican leader for relying on “misinformation and distortions” about the country. The statement stressed South Africa’s continued commitment to the G20, highlighting the successful Johannesburg summit and the participation of U.S. businesses and civil society organisations in related events.
This year’s Johannesburg summit was the first held on African soil. Washington, a founding G20 member and the world’s largest economy, opposed South Africa’s agenda, particularly proposals focusing on climate change, and did not sign the summit’s final declaration.
Trump has frequently targeted South Africa since returning to office, accusing the country of being anti-American due to its diplomatic ties with China, Russia, and Iran. His administration has also limited the number of refugees admitted from South Africa, prioritising mostly white applicants, and has suspended parts of the refugee programme that had been in place since January.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey claimed in a post on X that both members of the West Virginia National Guard have passed away from their injuries, but said in another post about 20 minutes later that he was “receiving conflicting reports” about the condition of the two National Guard members.
FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters that the two members are “in critical condition.”
In a social media post, U.S. President Donald Trump said the two guardsmen, “with both being critically wounded,” are in two separate hospitals.
The initiative, carried out in Bugesera District, connected 63 schools, including 13 serving refugee learners through a partnership involving the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), UNICEF Rwanda, and Giga, a UNICEF–ITU initiative.
Before the pilot, many schools depended on costly mobile-based 3G and 4G services that offered speeds of up to 5 Mbps. By grouping demand and guiding infrastructure upgrades, providers were able to switch schools to fixed wireless and fibre connections, lowering the cost per Mbps from about US$20 to US$9.
The shift also boosted speeds, with each school now receiving at least 25 Mbps, a substantial improvement for classrooms increasingly relying on digital content. Devices supplied by the government and partners helped complete the move to functional digital learning environments.
The project used Giga’s real-time monitoring platform to track performance and ensure providers met agreed service levels.
“The pilot showed that the application of UNICEF’s procurement approach is a powerful
way to engage with the private sector and obtain more affordable prices for school
connectivity,” said Denis Mupenzi, a Supply Specialist with UNICEF Rwanda. He added that fixed wireless installations contributed to raising speeds to levels more suitable for learning.
Rwanda’s broader digital strategy includes ongoing collaborations with telecom operators. Airtel Rwanda recently connected 20 youth centres and 281 schools, providing free access to online digital skills materials. UNICEF is also working with network providers to whitelist e-learning platforms so students can access key content without data charges.
Teachers report that improved connectivity is already influencing classroom practice. Steve Nzaramba, a Communications Specialist with UNICEF Rwanda, pointed to the example of a teacher in a remote school who can now use online visuals to explain topics such as extreme weather, making lessons more engaging.
“By using the internet, he now demonstrates to his students different impacts of extreme weather, such as floods and landslides. This engages his students more effectively.”
UNICEF maintains that infrastructure alone is not enough, noting that connectivity is most effective when paired with devices, relevant digital content and proper teacher training, areas where Rwanda is expanding nationwide programmes.
With several African governments pushing for stronger investment in digital education, the Bugesera pilot offers an example of how coordinated procurement and infrastructure design can lower connectivity costs. The findings are expected to inform future efforts to scale school internet across Rwanda and the region.
Ishiba stated in a speech in Tokyo that since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China in 1972, successive administrations have understood and respected China’s position that Taiwan is a part of China, according to the report.
“It is something that must not be changed, and we have proceeded with tremendous caution,” he added.
Ishiba reiterated the importance of maintaining smooth diplomatic relations between Japan and China, noting that currently, Japan relies on a wide range of imports from China such as food, rare earths and pharmaceuticals, said the report.
Takaichi claimed at a Diet meeting on Nov. 7 that the Chinese mainland’s “use of force on Taiwan” could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, which has drawn strong criticism at home immediately.
During a television program last Sunday, Ishiba criticized Takaichi for straining Japan-China relations by making the wrongful remarks, stating that successive Japanese governments have always managed bilateral relations very carefully and everyone has handled things with truly meticulous care and the current administration should fully understand Japan’s long-standing basic position and remain cautious in the implementation of policies in the future.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the presidency said Saied delivered a “strongly worded protest” to Perrone over conduct deemed outside the “official frameworks recognized in diplomatic practice.”
The move came after a meeting held on Monday between Perrone and Noureddine Taboubi, secretary-general of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), the country’s largest trade union.
Relations between the presidency and the UGTT have been strained in recent weeks after Taboubi announced that the union plans to organize a general strike to defend workers’ rights amid rising living pressures.
According to a separate statement posted by the EU delegation to Tunisia, Perrone reaffirmed during his meeting with Taboubi the EU’s readiness to continue dialogue with the UGTT and to support Tunisia socially and economically across various sectors.
He also praised the UGTT for its role in promoting social dialogue and contributing to the country’s economic development.
The survey, which included a working group of ten central banks from Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia managing roughly US$6.5 trillion in assets, found that over 60% of respondents said they are not using AI for central banking’s core functions. Instead, AI is mostly used for routine analytical tasks, such as summarizing data or scanning markets.
According to the report, the institutions most engaged with AI were also among the most cautious; many expressed concern that AI‑driven decisions could “accelerate future crises.” As one participant was quoted saying: “AI helps us see more, but decisions must remain with people.”
On the issue of digital assets, the survey showed that 93% of the central banks do not invest in them. While tokenization is viewed with interest, cryptocurrencies are approached with caution.
Regarding reserve currencies, the survey indicated a shift among some central banks toward a more multipolar reserve system. Nearly 60% of the institutions signalled a desire to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.
Despite this, the unmatched liquidity of U.S. Treasuries remain a strong anchor, meaning the dollar continues to dominate global reserves.
The findings suggest that, for now, many central banks prefer a cautious, risk‑averse approach when it comes to adopting new technologies and shifting reserve practices.
Rwanda and the DRC signed a peace agreement on June 27, 2025, with support from the United States. The agreement includes the neutralisation of the FDLR to enable Rwanda to lift its defensive measures along the border with the DRC. These operations are detailed in a project called “CONOPS”, approved in October 2024 during peace talks in Luanda, Angola.
In an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI) on November 26, Minister Nduhungirehe said that, under the Washington Agreement, dismantling the FDLR is a prerequisite for Rwanda to lift its defensive measures.
“There will be no peace unless the FDLR genocidaires, supported and funded by Kinshasa and even integrated into the army, are neutralised, as required by the CONOPS signed under the Washington peace agreement. Neutralising these FDLR members will pave the way for lifting Rwanda’s defence measures,” he said.
The DRC has indicated that it has launched the process of dismantling the FDLR, referencing a communiqué of October 10 calling on its armed forces to break all collaboration with the group, as well as a “sensitisation campaign” in Walikale territory, North Kivu, aimed at persuading FDLR fighters to lay down their arms.
Minister Nduhungirehe, however, stated that the militia group linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda are still present and continue to receive support from Kinshasa.
“Technical teams are discussing in Washington, and we hope progress will be made. In any case, nothing will happen without Kinshasa’s good faith and political will on the FDLR issue. The FDLR remain integrated into the Congolese army and supported by Kinshasa,” he said.
The Minister stressed that the Washington peace agreement calls for concrete actions, including the effective neutralisation of the FDLR, not just mapping, communiqués, or calls to lay down arms. He assured that Rwanda will honour all its commitments under the U.S.-led process.
Gunfire was reported near the presidential palace and the offices of the electoral commission in the capital, Bissau, as tensions escalated following the first round of general elections held over the weekend. Both President Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had claimed victory, even as the official results were yet to be announced.
In an interview with French outlet Jeune Afrique, Embalo confirmed he was arrested around noon along with his Interior Minister Botche Cande, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Gen. Biague Na Ntan, and his deputy Gen. Mamadou Toure. He described the event as a “coup” led by the commander of the land forces, adding that no violence was used against him.
Following the arrests, a group of army officers addressed the nation on state television, announcing the formation of “The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order.” The officers said they would remain in charge of the West African nation until further notice, citing the need to clarify the situation before returning to constitutional order.
Troops from the presidential guard and an elite gendarmerie unit established checkpoints in Bissau, while borders and airspace were temporarily closed. General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, urged citizens to “remain calm,” emphasising that the command was composed of all branches of the armed forces.
Fernando Dias, meanwhile, called on the military to remain neutral and allow the electoral process to continue. “We are not asking for anything,” he told reporters, stating he would wait for the official results, which were expected on Thursday.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony with a population of about 2.2 million, has a long history of political instability. Since independence in 1974, the country has witnessed at least four successful coups and numerous attempted ones.
President Embalo, a former army chief, took office in 2020 after winning the 2019 presidential election, becoming the first president elected without the backing of the dominant PAIGC party.
The country had largely peaceful elections on Sunday, with approximately 65% voter turnout, but the political contest was marred by disputes and the barring of some opposition figures. Several senior military officers were arrested in late October over an alleged coup plot.
With this latest upheaval, Guinea-Bissau joins other West African nations, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, currently under military rule.
Speaking aboard Air Force One as he traveled to Florida for the holiday, Trump told reporters that U.S. negotiators are making “progress” in discussions with both Kyiv and Moscow. He confirmed that his special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow next week for talks with Russian leaders.
That announcement comes amid scrutiny over reports that Witkoff allegedly advised Russian officials on how to present the deal to Trump.
Trump defended the move, saying such actions are part of standard negotiating practices.
Details on what Russia may have conceded remain vague. Trump said the concessions are unspecified, and he did not outline what Ukraine would have to give up, raising concern among critics that any agreement could be heavily skewed toward Moscow.
The diplomatic effort remains controversial: while some view it as a chance to end the war, others warn that pushing Ukraine into a deal without broader European and Ukrainian consent could undermine Kyiv’s position.
