PRESS DIGEST- Financial Times - December 11

Dec 11 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Headlines

- Google DeepMind to build materials science lab after signing deal with UK

- Return to EU customs union would ‘unravel’ UK trade deals, Starmer warns

- UK energy costs likely to halve by 2050, says system operator

- Leon heads for administration as co-founder plans to cut jobs and outlets

Overview

- Alphabet's GOOGL.O Google DeepMind will establish its first "automated science laboratory" in the UK, as it signs a new partnership with the British government in a move designed to enhance the use of artificial intelligence across the country.

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has delivered his strongest rejection yet of calls for Britain to return to the EU customs union, warning that doing so would "unravel" recent trade pacts with the US on cars and pharmaceuticals.

- Britain’s energy costs are set to halve over the next 25 years as the shift to renewables cuts the multibillion-pound bill for imported oil and gas, according to the UK’s energy system operator National Energy System Operator (NESO).

- Healthy fast-food chain Leon is poised to enter administration, as new owner and co-founder John Vincent lays out plans to close restaurants and cut jobs in an effort to bring the company back to profitability.