Juanson World

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez shook up his incoming cabinet by firing vice-president Jose Vicente Rangel (replacing him with the former head of the Electoral Council) and interior minister Jesse Chacon. Chavez cited recent prison violence in his announcement. New York Times, Financial Times, AP

Federal authorities sent to Tijuana by Mexican president Felipe Calderon ordered local police to turn over their weapons as part of an investigation into ties with drug traffickers. Without weapons, the police force abandoned their patrols. LA Times

El Salvador plans on sending its eighth contingent of soldiers to Iraq. AP

Former Colombian minister of development Fernando Araujo escaped from FARC capture, where he had been held after having been kidnapped six years ago. BBC

Colombia extradited a former police officer and airport employee to the United States on accusations of smuggling large shipments of cocaine on commercial airlines. AP

Mexican president Felipe Calderon might face congressional opposition every time he decides to embark on a trip abroad due to a law that requires legislative approval to take international trips. Washington Post

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faces challenges reaching his goal of 5 percent GDP growth for Brazil’s sluggish economy. The Economist

The uncertainty surrounding Fidel Castro’s health and the smooth transfer of power to brother Raul makes Cuba’s future increasingly unknown. The Economist

The Miami Herald editorial page condemns Chavez’s declaration that he would not renew the license of opposition television station RCTV, deeming it a move towards authoritarianism. Miami Herald