International

The trial against Sarkozy opens for financing his campaign with Gaddafi money

The Paris Correctional Court began on Monday the trial against former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and twelve other men for the alleged irregular financing of the 2007 electoral campaign with money from the Libyan regime of Muammar Gaddafi.

Sarkozy, who turns 70 at the end of the month, did not want to make statements to the press before the start of the hearing, to which he presented himself in a dark suit and black tie.

In the brief interrogation to which the president of the court, Nathalie Gavarino, subjected all the defendants present (some did not attend, there is one who is considered probably dead and another is in Lebanon, in search and capture), the former head of the French State between 2007 and 2012 recalled that his current profession is a lawyer.

Before the hearing began, Sarkozy was talking in the courtroom with several lawyers and with the other three of the main defendants, former ministers Claude Guéant, Brice Hortefeux and Éric Woerth, as well as with his brother Guillaume.

In this process, which will last until April 10, the French president between 2007 and 2012 is accused of crimes that, if found guilty, could lead to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 375,000 euros.

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Sarkozy’s convictions

The former conservative president has already been convicted on two occasions, and one of them is definitive, after the opinion a month ago of the Supreme Court, with a firm sentence of one year in prison for a case of corruption and influence peddling, which he can serve under house arrest with an electronic bracelet.

In addition, Sarkozy has been sentenced in the first instance for the irregular financing of his failed presidential election campaign of 2012 (he lost to the socialist François Hollande), to a sentence of one year in prison, half exempt from compliance and the other half under house arrest.

The appeal trial has already taken place and the decision will be known during this year.

The first hearing this Monday will be dedicated to procedural appeals that try to annul the process.

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Central America

El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program

The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.

Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.

The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.

According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.

In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.

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International

Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela

Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.

In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.

“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.

For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.

“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.

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International

Trump says Iran seeks new talks after failed negotiations in Pakistan

Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran has reached out to United States to resume negotiations, following the collapse of recent talks held in Islamabad.

“We’ve been contacted by the other side,” Trump told reporters, adding that Iran is eager to reach a deal “at all costs.” Speaking from the Oval Office, he reiterated that his main objective is to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons and warned that he will not allow Iran to “blackmail” the international community.

After negotiations between Washington and Tehran ended without agreement on Sunday, Trump announced that the U.S. would move to block the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil trade.

The waterway had already been disrupted by Iran in response to a U.S. and Israeli offensive launched on February 28, causing significant shocks to the global economy.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump further warned that any Iranian vessel attempting to bypass the U.S. naval blockade in the strait would be “eliminated immediately.”