The Americas

A matter of decrees

Argentina’s Javier Milei begins his radical experiment in libertarian rule

The new president is overriding Congress to push through reforms

Money down the train

The Mexican president’s latest boondoggle officially opens

The Maya Train will not be fully operating until February 2024, however

A constitutional quagmire

For a second time Chileans reject a new constitution. Now what?

After four years of discussions over a new basic law, patience is wearing thin

The whirr of the chainsaw

Javier Milei implements shock therapy in Argentina

His government plans to cut spending by 3% of GDP. Will society tolerate it?

Will he, won’t he?

Could Mark Carney lead Canada?

The former central-bank governor is coy, but clearly has political ambitions

Dissing Miss Universe

Nicaragua’s dictator goes after Miss Universe

Pageant participants are the latest victims of Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian regime

General purpose

Latin America’s armed forces have increasing clout

After 30 years of quiet, they are back in parts of the region

Their man in Havana

America has had a Cuban agent in its midst for 42 years

Cuba’s spooks punch well above their weight

Making Venezuela great again?

Venezuela’s autocrat, Nicolás Maduro, threatens to annex Guyana

An unpopular president holds a referendum to distract voters from his failings

Dirty deeds

To save the Amazon, Lula must work out who owns it

The fight against deforestation is going better. But it needs cash, cops—and a better property register

Blow up

Brazil’s biggest drug gang has gone global

The First Capital Command is now a mafia with links throughout Europe

From cosplayer to president

Javier Milei will be Argentina’s first libertarian president

But how much can he actually do?