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(AWP Alliance News) - Amazon.com Inc aims to again tap into the UK grocery retail market just months after the last UK-based Amazon Fresh store closed, The Times reported Saturday. The Seattle, Washington-based ecommerce and cloud computing company reportedly held talks with food and drink companies ahead of a new push into UK grocery retail. At a meeting in Dunstable, attendees are understood to have included existing suppliers and companies that do not yet directly work with Amazon across a wide range of food and drink categories, The Times reported. The last UK-based Amazon Fresh store closed in December, after the first store in the UK opened in March 2021 in Ealing in west London. 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) - The president of a leading think tank has warned of significant risks to the German economy amid the threat of new US tariffs. Clemens Fuest, president of the Munich-based ifo Institute, fears serious consequences should the EU retaliate to tariffs recently announced by US President Donald Trump. 'If this turns into a new trade war, Germany faces a recession in 2026,' Fuest told the Bild newspaper in comments published on Sunday. Trump said on Friday he will raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the EU to 25% starting next week, accusing the bloc of failing to comply with a trade agreement and escalating a long-running trans-Atlantic trade dispute. Fuest said that the planned tariff increases would hit the German automotive industry at a time when it was already facing difficulties.  In August 2025, Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed on a framework capping tariffs on most EU imports, including cars and car parts, at 15%. The US remains a key export market for German carmakers such as Porsche AG, BMW AG and Mercedes-Benz Group AG. source: dpa Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

(AWP Alliance News) - Keir Starmer has urged his party not to repeat the Conservative Party mistake of 'descending into political infighting' amid speculation that his rivals are plotting a leadership challenge. The UK prime minister said Labour must be more 'united' to make life better for working people. It comes as reports suggest Andy Burnham has a plan to return to Westminster 'within weeks' in a bid to challenge Starmer. 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. The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, reported that Wes Streeting, the Health secretary, is also planning a bid to unseat the prime minister. Streeting has gained the support of more than 81 MPs for his leadership challenge, according to the newspaper. The number is the minimum required for a leadership challenge to take place. Setting out his case in The Observer, Starmer said: 'We have a choice. We could sink into the politics of grievance and division. Or we could rise to this moment - together - in a national effort that matches the scale of the threats and turbulence we face. 'I am talking about a national mission to become a stronger, more resilient, and more united nation, allowing us to take control of our future, raise our sights, and reach towards something better. 'When the nation rallied together to deal with Covid, the last government could have channelled that spirit to build a better nation. 'But instead, they descended into political infighting and let the country slump back to the old status quo. Not this time.' He continued: 'This government will reshape our nation. Over the coming weeks, through the King's speech and beyond, we will set out our agenda of radical reform - with activist, interventionist government building a stronger and fairer country.' Doubling down on his plans to forge closer ties with Europe, the prime minister said: 'Recovery depends on rebuilding the strength of our economy to make us more resilient to these kinds of shocks in future. That means deepening our economic relationship with the EU. 'The world has changed since 2016. And Brexit today looks quite different. It has damaged our economy and there's no doubt in my mind where the national interest lies. 'Britain must be at the heart of a stronger Europe on defence, on security, on energy, and on our economy. I will be at the European Political Community summit today to take this forward.' By George Lithgow and David Lynch, Press Association Press Association: News source: PA Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.