LONDON, July 26 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David
Cameron will on Thursday use the London Olympics to drum up
business opportunities, on the first day of a series of trade
and investment events to showcase Britain during the Games.

Dignitaries such as International Monetary Fund Managing
Director Christine Lagarde and the heads of global firms such as
Google’s Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt are expected to attend
the first of the business events later on Thursday.

LONDON, July 22 (Reuters) – Organisers of the Olympics hit
back on Sunday at cynics after weeks of negative headlines,
saying criticism over planning mistakes and costs were being
outweighed by a surge in public excitement as the gala opening
ceremony nears.

Britain’s famously caustic media, which have highlighted
security and transport problems before the July 27-Aug. 12
Games, also seemed to adopt a more positive stance as thousands
turned out to cheer the Olympic torch relay through London.

LONDON (Reuters) – Organisers of the Olympics hit back on Sunday at cynics after weeks of negative headlines, saying criticisms over planning mistakes and cost were being outweighed by public excitement as the opening ceremony nears.

Britain’s famously critical media, which has highlighted security and transport problems ahead of the July 27 to August 12 Games, also appeared to take a more positive stance as thousands turned out to cheer the Olympic torch relay through London.

LONDON, July 22 (Reuters) – Organisers of the Olympics hit
back on Sunday at cynics after weeks of negative headlines,
saying criticisms over planning mistakes and cost were being
outweighed by public excitement as the opening ceremony nears.

Britain’s famously critical media, which has highlighted
security and transport problems ahead of the July 27 to Aug. 12
Games, also appeared to take a more positive stance as thousands
turned out to cheer the Olympic torch relay through London.

LONDON (Reuters) – Crowds of thousands cheered the Olympic torch relay through London on Saturday on the final leg of its tour around Britain, generating excitement that organizers hope will dispel lingering fears about the event’s organization and security.

The relay, which began in London’s historic maritime district of Greenwich, drew a lively crowd as it passed by the myriad curry houses of east London’s Brick Lane, though the ensuing traffic gridlock underlined the challenges of hosting the Games in one of the world’s busiest cities.

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) – Crowds of thousands cheered the
Olympic torch relay through London on Saturday on the final leg
of its tour around Britain, generating excitement that
organisers hope will dispel lingering fears about the event’s
organisation and security.

The relay, which began in London’s historic maritime
district of Greenwich, drew a lively crowd as it passed by the
myriad curry houses of east London’s Brick Lane, though the
ensuing traffic gridlock underlined the challenges of hosting
the Games in one of the world’s busiest cities.

LONDON (Reuters) – The Olympic torch relay began its final stretch in London on Saturday, starting in the capital’s historic district of Greenwich on a journey officials hope will help dispel a cloud of gloom and cynicism hanging over the Games.

Officials were all smiles in Greenwich as a young torch bearer jogged through the maritime district’s Royal Park past the grand colonnades of the old naval college. But many Britons fear the games will be a costly, rain-soaked logistical fiasco.

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) – The Olympic torch relay began
its final stretch in London on Saturday, starting in the
capital’s historic district of Greenwich on a journey officials
hope will help dispel a cloud of gloom and cynicism hanging over
the Games.

Officials were all smiles in Greenwich as a young torch
bearer jogged through the maritime district’s Royal Park past
the grand colonnades of the old naval college. But many Britons
fear the games will be a costly, rain-soaked logistical fiasco.

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (Reuters) – - Britain will decide at the end of this year how many of its troops will leave Afghanistan in 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday after arriving in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit.

Britain is due to withdraw 500 soldiers by the end of this year, but Cameron would not say how many would be repatriated next year, adding only that he was confident the shift of security duties from British to Afghan forces was going well.

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s shaky coalition government put on a show of unity on Monday, promising to stay together in what critics have dubbed a “marriage of inconvenience” to fix the country’s ailing economy and tackle its big budget deficit.

Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Nick Clegg, dismissed suggestions they were like a warring couple, in a rare joint public address following a week of acrimony that spurred talk of an imminent divorce.