
'I sent him bottles of Lambrusco': Italy's Berlusconi boasts about friendship with Putin in leaked audio
CNN
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sparked controversy this week when audio released by Italian news agency LaPresse revealed the 86-year-old speaking about his "re-established" relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Berlusconi says in the audio that Putin sent him 20 bottles of vodka and a "very sweet letter" on his birthday last month.
His office confirmed with CNN on Thursday that the clips were authentic -- apparently having been secretly recorded during a meeting of Berlusconi's Forza Italia party in the parliamentary chamber on Tuesday.

Janet Mills and her allies are counting on a gender gap to narrow Platner’s wide lead ahead of the June 9 primary to decide who will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. They are betting that the unfiltered style that has brought Platner widespread attention as someone who could help Democrats reach young men will backfire with women.

As a shrinking number of Transportation Security Administration agents work to keep hourslong security lines moving despite not being paid, President Donald Trump stepped into the fray Saturday, announcing he will send Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports by Monday if Congress doesn’t agree to a plan to end the partial government shutdown.











