May 19 (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

- Legal & General ( LGGNF ) acquires real estate investor in private

assets push

- Starmer closes in on EU food trade deal in run-up to key

summit

- UK to regulate 'buy now, pay later' lenders in legal

overhaul

- UK steps up efforts to woo scientists fleeing the US

Overview

- British finance company Legal & General ( LGGNF ), which

manages 1.1 trillion pounds in assets, has taken a 75% stake in

Proprium Capital Partners, a $3.5 billion global real estate

private equity group.

- Lenders, such as Klarna and Clearpay, that specialise in

"buy now, pay later" services will have to abide by the same

rules as mainstream banks under a legislation that will result

in them being fully regulated by Britain's Financial Conduct

Authority.

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will on Monday aim to

strike a deal with the EU that breaks down barriers to trade in

food, but it is expected to mean that Britain will have to

accept EU rules.

- British scientific institutions are stepping up investment

plans in the face of cuts on research by Donald Trump's

administration, unveiling 10-year official funding guarantees

and fellowships open to experts leaving the US.

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)