Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap!
The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been given a five-year prison sentence after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a trial in which he and aides were accused of making a corruption pact with the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to receive funding for the 2007 French presidential election campaign (13:06, 13:23)
In a defiant speech outside the court room, he insisted on his innocence and said he would challenge the verdict. “If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison, but with my head held high,” he said (13:42, 13:48)
Sarkozy will learn about the next steps in the process and his imprisonment date on 13 October, French media reported (16:13).
Separately,
Danish leaders are looking for answers on recent drone sightings over its key airports and military bases, amid growing concerns about the “systemic” and “professional” nature of “hybrid attacks” facing the country (9:24, 9:34, 9:46, 10:14).
A confidential briefing with Danish party leaders is hosted by the government this afternoon, with a police and army briefing expected later tonight. Three senior ministers are set to appear in parliament on Friday for a committee discusion on drones and Ukraine (18:44).
The issue is set to be discussed in an EU meeting on the so-called “drone wall” on Friday and an informal EU summit in Copenhagen next week (12:07).
Officials said they had no evidence to declare who was behind the incidents, but Latvia’s foreign minister suggested that Denmark told allies that drone incursions are linked to state actors (16:59), a claim later denied (18:44). Russia denied it was involved (14:21).
Other drone sightings were also reported across the Nordics (12:02, 16:49)
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
The party leaders’ meeting is still on-going (16:59), according to the Danish media.
Danish police, army and intelligence services are also hosting a joint press conference later tonight at 7.30pm local time (6.30pm BST).
At the latest, we will also hear from three key ministers – responsible for defence, foreign affairs, and justice – tomorrow as they are set to appear at a parliamentary committee meeting around lunchtime (1.30pm local time).
