Starmer reborn

The UK, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Guyana, Israel, Palestine, and Guinea-Bissau.

Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Old Battersea Bridge, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, c. 1872-5, oil on canvas, Tate, London.

The five things you need to know today:

• BRITAIN. Between Europe and America, a new purpose for the UK.

• CANADA. MEXICO. Trump is creating the economy he wants to avoid.

• VENEZUELA. GUYANA. Maduro hits Exxon to get back at Chevron.

• ISRAEL. PALESTINE. Attempts to gain leverage risk going too far.

• GUINEA-BISSAU. Another member of the coup belt turns to Russia.

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BRITAIN. Transatlantic bridge building

Between Europe and America, a new purpose for the UK.

European leaders agreed additional support for Ukraine at an emergency summit Sunday, convened by Keir Starmer. Britain, France and a "coalition of the willing" would take a plan for Ukraine, including a one-month truce, to the US.

INTELLIGENCE. Even if we knew the details of Starmer’s plan, the situation’s too fluid to know if it will work. But that’s not the point. The speed with which Starmer has put Volodymyr Zelensky back in the game suggests a political nous not obvious to his critics. And the speed with which other would-be leaders of Europe’s response have backed him, notably Emmanuel Macron, suggests they realise it too. While outside the EU, the UK may end up its de facto leader.

FOR BUSINESS. In 1962, Dean Acheson said Britain had lost an empire but not yet found a role. With the US and EU split, that’s no longer the case. If Starmer can find a solution Washington and Brussels can live with, a deal agreeable to both Kyiv and Moscow is possible. That’s a big ‘if’ but sitting between two poles has commercial advantages too, from better regulated markets (pending Shein’s IPO) to trade (assuming a US deal doesn’t endanger an EU one).

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MEXICO. CANADA. Eggs and face value

Trump is creating the economy he wants to avoid.

Donald Trump declared the border "invasion" over Saturday, with record-low irregular entries. Howard Lutnick said Sunday Mexico and Canada "had done a reasonable job" and suggested new tariffs may not be as high as 25%.

INTELLIGENCE. Some form of additional duties, or at least additional threats, are likely to take place on Tuesday