Tuesday newspaper round-up: UK unemployment, Toyota, Uber

The threat of a new year surge in unemployment has been highlighted by a labour market report showing that the outlook for jobs in the UK is the weakest in Europe. After a toughening of Covid-19 restrictions in October and November, the regular ManpowerGroup employment outlook survey reported that the chances of finding a job in retail and hospitality were currently worse than during the first nationwide lockdown in the spring. - Guardian

Toyota will not invest in building battery electric cars in Britain at its next round of investment in 2027, dealing a blow to hopes that UK car factories will take a leading role in the move away from fossil fuels. Johan van Zyl, the chief executive of Toyota Motor Europe, said that hybrid cars containing both internal combustion engines and battery-powered motors would be the only option for the next round of investment at the company’s plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire. - Guardian

Royal Dutch Shell is said to be in exclusive talks to acquire the Post Office’s broadband business for up to £100 million. The Anglo-Dutch oil group has emerged as the preferred bidder in the sale of the division, Sky News reported yesterday. The Post Office has about 500,000 broadband customers. - The Times

Uber is selling its self-driving car business to a smaller rival in a $4 billion deal that ends the ride-hailing group’s ambitions to develop its own autonomous vehicle. The San Francisco-based company will transfer the division to Aurora Innovation, and will also invest $400 million in the Silicon Valley start-up. Uber will have a 26 per cent stake in Aurora. - The Times

Rishi Sunak is under pressure to unveil a new wave of economic stimulus in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit, as businesses fear a second major crunch within a year of the pandemic striking. More than two-thirds of businesses are worried that a failure to reach a deal will do them damage, according to a survey by the London School of Economics. The vast majority – more than two thirds – indicated that leaving with a deal was their preferred option. - Telegraph