BOGOTA (Colombia) - COLOMBIA on Tuesday confirmed its first death from swine flu, the A(H1N1) virus which first emerged in Mexico in April and has killed more than 140 people worldwide.

Health Minister Diego Palacio said the victim was a woman, and added that 35 cases of swine flu had been registered in the country. -- AFP

WICHITA (Kansas) - THE slaying of a doctor who performed late-term abortions has accomplished what anti-abortion activists had tried to do for decades: The doors to his clinic will shut forever.

The announcement on Tuesday from George Tiller's family was a tainted victory for the nation's anti-abortion movement. For years, it made Mr Tiller the focus of protests, legislation and legal attacks.

GENEVA - THE World Health Organisation said on Tuesday that a spike in swine flu cases in Australia may push it to finally announce the first flu pandemic in 41 years. It also expressed concern about an unusual rise in severe illness from the disease in Canada.

WHO's flu chief Keiji Fukuda said the agency wanted to avoid 'adverse effects' if it announces a global outbreak of swine flu. Mr Fukuda said people might panic or that governments might take inappropriate actions if WHO declares a pandemic.