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(AWP Alliance News) - BP PLC is mulling to exit part or all of its operations in the UK North Sea, Bloomberg reported Friday. The London-based oil major is conducting an internal review of its upstream operations in the UK, which could fetch about GBP2 billion in a full divestment, people familiar with the matter said according to Bloomberg. The company is currently working to strip assets and pay down debt and is targeting around USD20 billion in divestments by the end of 2027. There is no certainty that BP will decide to pursue any divestment in the North Sea, as the review is ongoing. BP shares closed 3.5% lower at 563.30 pence each on Friday in London. Its shares are 61% higher than a year ago, and up 29% since the start of 2026. By Tom Budszus, Alliance News slot editor Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

(AWP Alliance News) - Andy Burnham has a plan to return to Westminster 'within weeks' in a bid to challenge UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to reports. The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester has identified several seats where MPs are prepared to step aside, triggering a by-election which could pave the way for his return to Parliament, The Guardian newspaper said. The newspaper also reported Burnham's supporters are attempting to avoid a formal leadership challenge against the prime minister, and hope to kickstart a process for him to stand down after what are expected to be disastrous results for Labour in the May 7 elections. Burnham was earlier this year blocked by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee [NEC] from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, after the previous MP Andrew Gwynne stood down, citing health reasons. The NEC said worries about the costs of running a new Manchester mayoral elections and fear that Reform could take the mayoralty were behind the decision to block Burnham. He is now reported to be lining up an 'impressive' candidate to replace him as mayor, who The Guardian said was not a sitting MP. Burnham, who served as health secretary in Gordon Brown's government, is also said to be preparing a progressive policy platform for government. Constituencies across Merseyside and Greater Manchester are reportedly among those where MPs are prepared to stand aside for Burnham, The Guardian said. Earlier this week, in an interview with the BBC, Labour MP for Bootle Peter Dowd rejected suggestions he was preparing to make way for Burnham. Elsewhere, Housing Secretary Steve Reed warned it would be 'madness' for Labour to consider ousting Starmer. 'Loyalty in politics is a very important commodity,' he told the Times. Reed added: 'If you are fighting each other then you are not fighting the common enemy. The common enemy here is the cost-of-living crisis, the lack of investment coming into our country, the fate of our high streets. 'We are always better as a party when we face outwards. when we turn in on ourselves, we're basically telling the British public that we're making ourselves irrelevant.' By David Lynch, Press Association Political Correspondent Press Association: News source: PA Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

(AWP Alliance News) - US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 troops from Germany within the next year, the Pentagon said on Friday, in the latest rift in transatlantic ties over the Mideast war. The move came as US President Donald Trump announced that tariffs on cars and trucks from the EU will increase to 25% next week, accusing the bloc of not complying with a trade deal inked last summer. Trump has renewed criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said Monday that Iran was 'humiliating' Washington at the negotiating table. Trump said Merz 'thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn't know what he's talking about!' On Wednesday, the American leader said Washington was 'studying and reviewing the possible reduction' of US troops in Germany, and that he would decide in a 'short period of time.' Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a Friday statement that 'We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months.' 'This decision follows a thorough review of the Department's force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground,' Parnell added. During both of his terms in office, Trump has made a number of threats to slash US troop numbers in Germany and other European allies, saying he wants Europe to take on greater responsibility for its defense rather than depending on Washington. Trump on Friday accused German automakers like Mercedes-Benz Group AG and BMW AG of ripping off Americans, saying that Germany and 'other European nations have not adhered to our trade deal.' Germany would likely be hit hard by a sharp vehicle tariff, as it is responsible for a significant portion of EU auto exports. Trump now appears determined to punish allies who have failed to back the war or contribute to a peacekeeping force in the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Tehran's forces have effectively closed. On Thursday, Trump said he may pull US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the war, telling reporters in the Oval Office: 'Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.' 'Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn't I?' Trump said. As of December 31, 2025, there were 12,662 active-duty US troops in Italy and 3,814 in Spain. In Germany, there were 36,436. Speaking during a visit to Morocco, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday that Germany was 'prepared' for a reduction in US troops and was 'discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all NATO bodies.' While saying he was 'relaxed' about the idea of fewer US troops in Germany, Wadephul said that large American bases in Germany are 'not up for discussion at all.' He said for example that the Ramstein Air Base had 'an irreplaceable function for the US and for us alike.' The EU said Thursday that the deployment of US troops in Europe was in Washington's interest, and that the US was 'a vital partner in contributing to Europe's security and defense.' Trump meanwhile took aim at Merz again, telling him to focus on ending the Ukraine war instead of 'interfering' on Iran. European powers have been on alert since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and a spate of drone incursions in the last year - as well as US promises to move away from defending the continent - have pushed the issue to the top of the agenda. Merz has made national security a priority, announcing unprecedented investments in an army that has been underfunded and under-equipped for decades.  He has also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, for whom Germany has been the second-largest individual supplier of aid after the US.  By W.G. Dunlop source: AFP Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.