May 5 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on

the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not

verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

- Vitruvian Partners, a private equity firm, has acquired

Great Rail Journeys, a leading provider of luxury rail tours

through Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, in a buyout deal valued at

over 200 million pounds ($265.86 million).

- The European Union has rejected UK requests for access to

key crime and illegal migration databases, including migrant

fingerprints, as part of a Brexit reset.

The Guardian

- BMW, owner of Mini, terminated 180 agency staff

contracts at its Oxford factory as the UK car industry faces

global economic uncertainty and 25% U.S. tariffs.

- British police arrested five suspects, including four

Iranian nationals, for allegedly planning a terror attack

targeting specific premises in England, while separately

detaining three Iranians in London for suspected Iran-backed

threat activity.

The Telegraph

- Shell is actively exploring a potential takeover

of BP, whose faltering shift to net zero has weakened its

position, with the former consulting advisers to assess the

feasibility and benefits of a deal.

- UK's Labour will escalate attacks on Nigel Farage, leader

of Reform UK party, over his perceived pro-Russia stance to win

back Reform voters after local elections.

Sky News

- Modella Capital, the new owner of WH Smith's ( WHTPF ) high

street chain, is barred from initiating mass store closures for

at least 12 months under a transitional services agreement,

which WH Smith ( WHTPF ) could terminate if Modella launches a company

voluntary arrangement before the deal's first anniversary.

($1 = 0.7523 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)