Sarkozy set for discreet New York visit

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is set to address a New York banking conference on Thursday, but the visit is so hush-hush his entourage refuses to confirm the politician's appearance. The Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual is organizing the conference that runs Tuesday through Thursday at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Despite organizers and Sarkozy's team keeping his role under wraps, an agenda posted Tuesday in a conference room at the Waldorf showed the former president was to speak on Thursday at lunchtime. Also listed was former Peruvian president Alan Garcia. The conference is billed as offering investors an introduction to top political and business leaders in Latin America. Sarkozy has stayed mostly out of the limelight since losing an election run-off against Francois Hollande on May 6, although supporters say he could make a return to politics one day.