LONDON (Reuters) – The British government made tourism a key part of its economic recovery on Friday, looking to dispel what it called a myth that Britain is a wet, cloudy country offering poor value.

It also set out its plans to remove other bugbears of visitors by making it easier to obtain entry visas, reducing the amount of time spent at passport controls and speeding up airport check-in times.

LONDON (Reuters) – The government made tourism a key part of its economic recovery on Friday, looking to dispel what it called a myth that Britain is a wet, cloudy country offering poor value.

It also set out its plans to remove other bugbears of visitors by making it easier to obtain entry visas, reducing the amount of time spent at passport controls and speeding up airport check-in times.

LONDON (Reuters) – A Christian couple opposed to homosexuality because of their faith lost a court battle on Monday over the right to become foster carers.

The couple, who are Pentecostal Christians, had gone to court after a social worker expressed concerns about them becoming respite carers after they said they could not tell a child that a “homosexual lifestyle” was acceptable.

LONDON (Reuters) – Homeless people will be banned from sleeping rough outside Westminster Cathedral in central London, one of the Roman Catholic church’s most important buildings, under plans being considered by local councillors.

Soup kitchens would also be cleared from the area, Westminster Council said on Monday.

LONDON (Reuters) – London businesses should be vigilant against fraudsters looking to target the 2012 Olympics, the Metropolitan police said Friday.

With increased numbers of people visiting the capital during the Games, business could be more vulnerable to cheque and credit card scams, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Downing of the Specialist Crime Directorate told reporters.

LONDON (Reuters) – Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley (MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is in talks over winning a mandate for advisory work on Northern Rock, the bank nationalised during the credit crisis, several sources close to the matter said on Thursday.

“They are in talks although it hasn’t been finalised yet,” one of the sources told Reuters.

LONDON, Feb 17 (Reuters) – Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley
(MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is in talks over winning a mandate for advisory work on
Northern Rock, the UK bank nationalised during the credit
crisis, several sources close to the matter said on Thursday.

“They are in talks although it hasn’t been finalised yet,”
one of the sources told Reuters.

LONDON (Reuters) – London 2012 organizers will no longer face legal action over the route for the marathon after striking a deal with a local council which had argued it could be left with no events, despite being in the shadow of the Olympic Park.

Tower Hamlets dropped its call for a judicial review after the London organizing committee (LOCOG) agreed to concessions on Wednesday, including better job opportunities for locals and helping schoolchildren become more involved at test events.

LONDON, Feb 16 (Reuters) – London 2012 organisers will no
longer face legal action over the route for the marathon after
striking a deal with a local council which had argued it could
have no events despite being in the shadow of the Olympic Park.

Tower Hamlets dropped its call for a judicial review after
the London organising committee (LOCOG) agreed to concessions on
Wednesday, including better job opportunities for locals and
helping schoolchildren become more involved at test events.