Juanson World

Vilma Espin, wife of Raul Castro, died after battling a long illness. Miami Herald, Financial Times

TVes, the replacement for RCTV in Venezuela, has been broadcasting mainly reruns and stock programming. Commercials on the channel are pro-Chavez. Financial Times

Political scandals continue to be common in Brazil. LA Times

Brazil’s federal police have been involved in many of the arrests. Christian Science Monitor

CARICOM foreign ministers are in Washington and met with Condolleeza Rice. They will meet with President Bush on Wednesday. Miami Herald

The video of Colombian president Alvaro Uribe shaking hands with paramilitary leader “Comandante Esteban” in 2001 could have repercussions domestically and in the US. Financial Times

Fidel Castro published a “manifesto” on the front page of Granma indicating that change in Cuba is not imminent. Financial Times

Susan Kaufman Purcell argues for extending credit to small and medium-sized enterprises in Latin America. Miami Herald

Tim Cavanaugh, web editor of the LA Times editorial page, mocks the visits of world leaders to the bedside of Fidel Castro. LA Times