Our cover in most of the world this week focuses on Africa. It is hard, and often counterproductive, to generalise about a continent with 54 countries. Our special report on the region, by John McDermott, more than meets the challenge. It is an eye-opening and novel assessment of why Africa continues to fall behind other parts of the world. The report was a year in the making. John travelled to Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Angola, Kenya, Zambia and within South Africa, where he is based. Debunking lazy tropes about the continent, the report is a bracing and—in today’s environment—refreshing argument in favour of free markets as the necessary spur to economic growth. It explains exactly what Africa needs: a capitalist revolution.

In America we look at Donald Trump’s main domestic priority: immigration. The president-elect scrambled minds this week as he openly mused about annexing Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal. This was a classic Trumpian mix of free association, gleeful provocation and serious, world-changing intent. The first big test of what is rhetoric and what is real will be found in Mr Trump’s decisions about immigration. Our leader argues that the first step should be to beef up the border; the second is to deport criminals. That could create the political headroom for an ambitious third step that combines effective border enforcement with a right to stay for law-abiding migrants. The conditions are there for Mr Trump to do a deal that has eluded the past five presidents—if he wants to. 

Finally, keep an eye on our app and website for ongoing updates and analysis of the wildfires that are currently devastating Los Angeles and the surrounding area. My thoughts are with those affected.