An Italian judge has ordered Silvio Berlusconi to stand trial for allegedly bribing a senator to join his party’s ranks, in the latest legal woe for the former prime minister.

Divers began the recovery of dozens of migrants’ bodies yesterday from a boat that sank last week off the coast of Sicily in one of the worst such disasters to hit people fleeing violence, poverty and oppression in Africa.

Silvio Berlusconi yesterday repeated a demand to be included in any Italian government, but there was no sign his centre-left rival would renege on a promise not to ally with the tycoon to avoid political stalemate.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has claimed he would have “no problem” if his team was withdrawn from Euro 2012 as the national game suffers another match-fixing crisis.

Friends and admirers of Luciano Pavarotti joined in a chorus of grief as the world paid homage to the thrilling voice and ebullient personality of the great Italian tenor who died today.