News makers

Berlusconi cleared over official jet use

A special tribunal yesterday rejected a complaint against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for using his official plane to ferry guests to his private parties, media reports said.

A consumer group, Codacons, lodged a complaint in June at the height of the sex scandals dogging the prime minister. Photos appeared in the press of popular singer Mariano Apicella and a flamenco dancer descending from a government plane in Sardinia, where the billionaire prime minister has a luxurious villa.