The extradition from Colombia of an alleged drug trafficker wanted in Texas and of interest in Florida may also provide new details about last year’s failed coup in Venezuela involving a Florida security company, two of whose members were captured and sentenced to long prison terms. By Kevin G. Hall, Antonio M. Delgado and Shirsho Dasgupta Full Text -> WRLNMiami

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday appointed his economy vice president, Tareck El Aissami, who has been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges, as oil minister, amid acute fuel shortages across the country. Maduro named Asdrubal Chavez, cousin of the late President Hugo Chavez, as interim president of state oil firm PDVSA, according to the appointments published in the government’s official gazette. By Luc Cohen, Deisy Buitrago, Angus Berwick. Full Text -> Reuters