'Cheap' flights cost Panetta

It's turning out to be a costly commute home for the US Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta.

The Pentagon chief has reimbursed the government $17,000 (£10,000) to cover some of the cost of flying to and from his home in California – which he does in a military jet for security reasons – two dozen times since he took the post in July.

The trips cost about $32,000 each, but Mr Panetta pays only $630.

AP