Italy's former PM Silvio Berlusconi dead at 86

June 12: Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has died at age 86.

The billionaire businessman created Italy's largest media company before transforming the country's political landscape.

He was admitted to San Raffaele Hospital in Milan on Friday for medical checks, sources said last week. Italian media reports initially reported on his death this morning, with Reuters news agency confirming the news with two sources. 

The billionaire media tycoon - who was in a relationship with 33-year-old Forza Italia MP Marta Fascina - was discharged from the hospital last month after treatment for a lung infection linked to a Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (CML).

Berlusconi's health markedly deteriorated in recent years, with open-heart surgery in 2016 and numerous hospital admissions since contracting Covid-19 three years ago.

He was admitted to intensive care in April in the cardiac unit of the San Raffaele Hospital after suffering from breathing problems.

While there, Berlusconi, the leader of the Right-wing Forza Italia party, was diagnosed with a lung infection and CML - a rare blood cancer characterised by high numbers of white blood cells. 

He was discharged on May 19 after 45 days in hospital.