The former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has died at the age of 86. Berlusconi, who amassed a fortune after founding Italy’s largest media company, had been suffering from leukaemia and recently developed a lung infection. He died at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. The former prime minister suffered from a range of health conditions in recent years, including prostate cancer, heart ailments and a spell in hospital with Covid-19 in 2020. He was readmitted to the same hospital in Milan on Friday where he recently spent almost six weeks for treatment for the lung infection. Doctors said he had chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia, a rare type of blood cancer but not one that is considered to be acute. His personal physician Dr Alberto Zangrillo had said the lung infection diagnosis was linked to his leukaemia. Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto expressed “great, enormous pain” over the news of his death. “He leaves a huge void, because he was a great,” he wrote. “It’s the end of an epoch, the closing of an era. I loved him very much. Goodbye Silvio.” Berlusconi dominated Italian politics for almost 20 years, leading the centre-right party Forza Italy from 1994 to 2009, before taking the helm of successor party The People of Freedom until 2013. The right-wing populist led four governments across three spells as prime minister of Italy – from 1994 to 1995, from 2001 to 2006 and again from 2008 to 2011. His last few years in the country’s top job were marred by allegations of corruption and tales of “bunga bunga” sex parties at his lavish villa outside Milan. He was accused of unlawful sex with 17-year-old nightclub dancer known only as “Ruby the Heartstealer” – but he was acquitted on appeal in 2014, after several women testified that his bung bunga parties were merely “elegant dinners”. Berlusconi made his name and the bulk of his huge fortune beginning with his business dealings in the 1980s. He was the controlling shareholder of Italian media giant Mediaset, and owned the football club AC Milan from 1986 to 2017. The tycoon was convicted of tax fraud in 2012 and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, later shortened to one year of community service. In 2019 he staged an unlikely political comeback by winning a seat in the European parliament. Italian national news channels ran sombre coverage of the news of Berlusconi’s death, with Sky News’ foreign editor Andrew Connell noting that coverage on Sky TG24 was “something akin to the death of a royal”, describing him as a “unique politician known well beyond Italy”. Forza Italia forms part of far-right prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition government, but Berlusconi held no position in her cabinet and the two clashed over the 86-year-old’s friendship with Russia’s Vladimir Putin – Ms Meloni has voiced her strong support for Ukraine since the war broke out in February 2022. On his 86th birthday, while the war raged, Mr Putin sent Berlusconi best wishes and vodka, and the Italian boasted he returned the favour by sending back Italian wine. Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and leader of the far-right League party, penned a lengthy tribute on Twitter to “one of the greatest ever, in all fields, from all points of view, without equal”. Former centre-left prime minister Matteo Renzi referred to Berlusconi’s divisive legacy in his own tribute on Monday. “Silvio Berlusconi made history in this country. Many loved him, many hated him. All must recognise that his impact on political life, but also economic, sport and television, has been without precedence,” he wrote. Political blogger Dario D’Angelo tweeted: “Whether you loved him or you hated him, it matters little today. With Silvio Berlusconi goes a part of your life. Of our life.” Berlusconi controlled his business empire through Fininvest, a family holding company with assets worth €4.9bn (£4.19bn) at the end of 2021. Before his death, Silvio owned 61.3 per cent of Fininvest, while Pier Silvio and Marina Berlusconi, his two children from his first marriage, each owned a 7.65 per cent stake. The future of his business interests will likely depend on how he has chosen to distribute his 61 per cent stake between his five children from two marriages. Eldest daughter Marina is expected to play a prominent role, though Berlusconi never publicly named a successor to take charge of the company. Read More Silvio Berlusconi, scandal-scarred ex-Italian leader, dies at 86, according to his TV network Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi was also successful in soccer at AC Milan and Monza Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi dies aged 86 Reports: Former Italian Premier Berlusconi readmitted to hospital 3 weeks after release Four villages ‘liberated’ in Ukraine’s first gains of counteroffensive How much has the Madeleine McCann investigation cost?

As Arizona sees the first pediatric death of the current flu season, Yuma County's Deputy Health Director warned against the danger posed by influenza

Multiple people were shot and at least three were killed at a motorcycle rally in Red River, New Mexico, on Saturday.

Charli D'Amelio gets candid about her personal life on 'The Tonight Show' hosted by Jimmy Fallon

The Hollywood cavalcade descended on Cannes Saturday for the premiere of Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese's Native American crime epic, "Killers of the Flower Moon"...

Colombia’s government has announced that the father of Liverpool striker Luis Díaz has been released 12 days after his kidnapping in northern Colombia by members of the guerrilla group National Liberation Army, or ELN

Federal prosecutors building a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election have asked for all security video from Atlanta's State Farm Arena around polling day, according to a subpoena sent to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office.

A dentist has issued a warning to Britons about one common mistake that could impact a person’s oral health. The debate about whether to wet your toothbrush before applying your toothpaste or leaving it dry is one that divides many, but according to Dr Sahil Patel of Marleybone Smile Clinic in London, it is not recommended because it “dilutes” the toothpaste. “Toothpaste already has the right amount of moisture,” Dr Patel said. “If it’s wet, it makes it foam up faster and makes you spit it out sooner.” Dr Patel also told GB News that people often hold their toothbrushes with too much force. “Often people hold their brush with a fist. You shouldn’t feel like you’ve had a scrub against the teeth, that’s too much,” he said. "If the bristles splay against the tooth, it’s not doing a good job. "Bristles should be straight against the teeth and you should have a soft touch." Dr Patel also recommends working back to front when it comes to cleaning your teeth. “The back is often the hardest part to clean, so I’d recommend starting there first,” he said. “If you start at the front and do the back last, you’re more likely to stop and put your brush down, missing the back or not cleaning the back properly.” Dr Patel added that he would rather a patient brushed their teeth once a day thoroughly, as opposed to a “slap and dash” twice a day. Read More Triathlete proudly shares ‘beautiful’ racing photo where she bled through swimsuit while on her period A Place In The Sun’s Jonnie Irwin admitted to hospital amid terminal diagnosis Prince William overheard telling Kate to ‘chop chop’ at Jordan royal wedding Should I keep my windows closed or open in hot weather? Jonah Hill’s girlfriend Olivia Millar gives birth to first baby Gogglebox stars Ellie Warner and Pete Sandiford show newborn babies on air

Logan Paul will face Rey Mysterio for US title at Crown Jewel 2023 to be held in Saudi Arabia

Helping teachers of young kids gain confidence in math could be one key to unlocking America’s post-pandemic math recovery

At least four were killed after a mass shootout on Monday evening in Philadelphia, according to reports. There were “multiple gunshot victims”, the Philadelphia Police Department said but didn’t reveal the identities or any further details about the victims. Reports said that at least eight people were shot. Six victims were taken to the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and two were taken to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, according to local reports. There was no information available regarding the condition of the injured. The shooting took place on the 5700 block of Warrington Avenue in Philadelphia’s Kingsessing neighbourhood at around 8.30pm local time, police said. The Philadephia Inquirer reported that the bodies of four victims were found at several locations. Police spokesperson Miguel Torres said in a statement to CNN that officers have taken a suspect into custody and recovered a rifle, a handgun, and additional magazines of ammunition from him in the alleyway behind the 1600 block of South Frazier Street. At least two juveniles were among those shot, according to local reports. According to Gun Violence Archive, at least 339 mass shootings – with four or more killed or injured – have occurred in the US so far this year. “Horrified by the reports of a shooting in Southwest Philadelphia,” Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney tweeted. “My heart is with the loved ones and families of everyone involved, and I send my prayers to the victims. This devastating violence must stop,” he added. Meanwhile, police said that officers did not discharge their firearms during the arrest.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi did not appear on Tuesday at a summit in Ankara that Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier announced to reporters -- but which...