Authorities in Venezuela said they captured a prominent Colombian drug trafficker wanted by the United States.

Venezuela today closed its border with Colombia across three western states amid concerns about a mild strain of bird flu detected in the neighbouring country.

Venezuela’s defence minister has signed a deal to buy Chinese radar systems, the latest in a series of military purchases by the government of President Hugo Chavez.

Venezuela has ordered the three-day closing of all 80 McDonald’s restaurants in the country as a penalty for failing to follow tax rules.