Four Chinese oil workers employed by a British company have been freed in the southern jungles where they were kidnapped 17 months ago.

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.

The likelihood of a human flu pandemic is very high, US Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt said as he begin a tour of south-east Asia to co-ordinate plans to combat bird flu.

A former Colombian international footballer has been killed and four others injured by a lightning strike during a practice session with his team.