French magistrates have ordered former president Nicolas Sarkozy and 12 others to go on trial on charges that his 2007 presidential campaign received millions in illegal financing from the government of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The national financial prosecutor, Jean-Francois Bohnert, announced that the decade-long investigation has been formally closed. The trial will run from January to April 2025, the statement said. The case is the biggest of multiple corruption investigations involving Sarkozy. He has been convicted in two others. He denies wrongdoing in all cases. In the Libya case, he is charged with illegal campaign financing, embezzling, passive corruption and related counts. Sarkozy has been under investigation in the Libya case since 2013. Investigators examined claims that Gaddafi's government secretly gave Sarkozy 50 million euros (£42 million) for his winning 2007 campaign. The sum would be more than double the legal campaign funding limit at the time and would violate French rules against foreign campaign financing. The investigation gained traction when French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine told news site Mediapart in 2016 that he had delivered suitcases from Libya containing five million euros (£4.2 million) in cash to Sarkozy and his former chief of staff. Takieddine later reversed course and Sarkozy sought to have the investigation closed. In May, the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) demanded that Sarkozy be tried, citing charges against him of "concealment of laundering public funds, passive corruption, illegal campaign financing and criminal conspiracy with a view to committing a crime punishable by 10 years in jail". Investigating magistrates, who had the last word, gave the go-ahead for a trial, the PNF said. After becoming president in 2007, Sarkozy welcomed Gaddafi to France with high honours later that year. Sarkozy then put France at the forefront of Nato-led air strikes that helped rebel fighters topple Gaddafi's government in 2011. In an unrelated case, Sarkozy was sentenced to a year under house arrest for illegal campaign financing of his unsuccessful 2012 re-election bid. He is free while the case is pending appeal. He was also found guilty of corruption and influence peddling in another case and sentenced to a year under house arrest in an appeals trial in May this year. He took the case to France's highest court, which suspended the sentence. Associated Press Read More French former President Nicolas Sarkozy to go on trial over Libya financing for 2007 campaign Wagner leader ‘killed’ in plane crash: Your questions answered by an expert Minister calls out ‘arsonist scum’ as 79 arrested over Greece wildfires

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Harry Styles broke the internet when photos emerged of his new buzzcut, and it provoked a mixed reaction in his fanbase - but now his mum has jumped to his defence. There have been a number of memes and comparisons that have circulated online in reaction to Styles shaving his head - for example his likeness being compared to Ian Beale from EastEnders. It's clear this attention hasn't unnoticed by the mother of the 'As It Was' singer, Anne Twist who took to Instagram to support her son and urged fans to TPWK [Treat People With Kindness] - which also a popular phase and song from Styles. In an Instagram post, Twist wrote: “When you consider that H has a legacy of kindness and inclusion, has always made every effort to make everyone feel seen and appreciated for exactly who they are... there’s an irony in the negativity he’s been shown for having a haircut." “Sorry but I don’t get it," she added. The post included a clear snap of Styles with his shaved head, followed by a screenshot of a New York Post headline that reads: "Harry Styles fans shocked over shaved head reveal: ‘Ruined my entire life’." “Let’s uncrap that,” Twist’s image reads, as underneath the headline is changed to “Breaking news: It’s hair! It’s his! Also it will grow back. If he wants.” Since sharing the post to her 2.6m followers, fans of Styles have shared their support in the comments. One person said: "Love it, any mom would feel the same. Such a talented young man, Harry has it all! Move forward with pride, ignore the negative!" "Fr it's just hair, chill people. He's on a break! Let him chill," another person agreed. Someone else added: "Why judge him just for a haircut? It’s his life, his hair, his decision. Sadly people lost the actual message of Treat People With Kindness." "TELL THEM ANNE!!!! a lot of noise considering this guy just wants to quietly get on w his life of joy and love and kindness," a fourth person commented. How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

To the surprise of absolutely nobody, the Oakland Athletics lost another baseball game last night. They are on pace for a historically bad season, and after that 5-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, are 9-34.Meanwhile, Arizona is 24-18 and just won its fourth straight game. The D-Backs are thre...

Azerbaijan's health ministry says a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during its offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh last week

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol wants experts from his own country to help monitor Japan’s release of

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Arsenal opened up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League as two early goals proved just enough to see off Wolves at the Emirates Stadium. With closest challengers and reigning champions Manchester City not in action until Sunday, Mikel Arteta’s side took full advantage as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard struck in the opening 16 minutes before a nervy ending brought about by Matheus Cunha’s strike. The Gunners ultimately ran out 2-1 winners on an afternoon where their early goals were the peak of a performance that promised more than it provided. Having thrashed Lens here 6-0 on Wednesday to ensure safe passage into the last 16 of the Champions League, Wolves proved they were made of sterner stuff and stayed in the contest until the last. Saka needed less than six minutes to put the home side ahead as Arsenal scored their earliest Premier League goal of the campaign so far. It is something manager Mikel Arteta has been keen to improve on, stopping sides being able to sit deep and defend in numbers. Gabriel Jesus fed Takehiro Tomiyasu, who slipped in for Saka to coolly convert and continue what is fast becoming a fine season for the England forward. Saka’s speedy opener gave Arsenal a platform to build on and they doubled their lead just seven minutes later. Jesus was again involved, this time playing in Oleksandr Zinchenko down the left with the full-back then squaring for Odegaard to sweep home and finish off another eye-catching move. Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa appeared to pick up an injury attempting to keep out Odegaard’s effort but was on had to bravely block a Leandro Trossard shot as Arsenal continued to turn the screw. That turned out to be Sa’s final contribution, however, as he limped off to be replaced by Dan Bentley. The visitors enjoyed more of the ball but created very little before being caught on a counter-attack that ended with Gabriel Martinelli hitting the base of Bentley’s post with a curling strike. Jesus then failed to finish a difficult chance at the back post as Saka’s ball in was deflected into the Brazilian’s path. Wolves finally had a telling chance in the dying embers of first-half stoppage time but Hwang Hee-chan could not take full advantage of Zinchenko’s weak backpass as David Raya rushed off his line to block. Cunha stung the palms of the Arsenal goalkeeper early in the second half just after Jesus had a penalty claim turned down at the other end. Declan Rice drilled wide and Saka bent a long-range strike inches over the crossbar as the game seemed to be petering out to a conclusion. Tomiyasu was forced off with what appeared to be a calf injury as Ben White replaced the Japan international for the final 12 minutes. Trossard should have added a third moments later but could not finish when played in on goal as Bentley made a smart stop to deny both the Belgian and Saka, who followed up the initial effort. Instead though, it was Wolves who would reduced the arrears and set up a nervy ending for the hosts as Nelson Semedo nipped the ball off the toes of Zinchenko and Cunha slammed home. Arsenal should have immediately re-established their two-goal cushion but substitute Eddie Nketiah hit a post when presented with a fine opportunity. The Gunners, though, hung on to seal the win and put a gap between themselves and the chasing pack ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Luton. Read More Brentford beat Luton with strong second-half show Five-star Burnley crush Sheffield United at Turf Moor Ronnie O’Sullivan out to ‘ruin careers’ of trophy rivals after reaching UK final Bristol blow Gloucester away for derby delight Police charge more than 40 away fans after major disorder outside Villa Park ‘We never lost trust’: Sarina Wiegman remained confident of England comeback

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