Speaking at the Stonewall Equality dinner, Tony Blair told the gay audience (and I'm pretty sure there were some straights too) that the fact that civil partnerships are legal in the UK makes him a proud UK Prime Minister. YAY!!!!!!
The Ministry of Defense ended speculation that had been swirling for about a week by announcing Thursday the 22-year-old prince will be sent to Iraq with his Blues and Royals regiment in May or June.
Harry, a second lieutenant, will assume a troop commander's role.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday that British troop deployments will be cut by 1,600 in the coming months and that all bases except for Basra Palace and Basra Air Base will be handed over to Iraqi forces.
The narrowing of the British presence to the two locations in southern Iraq will mean any insurgent groups looking to target Troop Commander Wales — as he is known to his colleagues — will not have to look far to find him. That has led to some concern that his presence could bring an extra risk to his fellow soldiers.
He will lead a team of 12 men in four armored reconnaissance vehicles, and could become the first royal to see combat since his uncle Prince Andrew served in the Falklands war against Argentina in 1982.
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LONDON (Reuters) - Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, revelling in her newfound fame after winning a British reality television show, personally thanked Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday for his support following a racist bullying row.
The "Celebrity Big Brother" winner, who was tormented by some fellow contestants on the live programme, said Blair had been "very, very sweet" during a six-minute meeting and had given her a portrait of parliament signed by himself and his wife, Cherie.
The glamorous actress, wearing a white sari, caused a media storm at parliament as scores of Indian and British journalists pursued her -- to the distress of parliamentary officials who enforce strict rules on visitors.
"He said I carried myself with utmost dignity and that he was very sad to see what I had to go through in the (Big Brother) house," Shetty told some 80 reporters outside parliament.
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Milk it Shilpa milk it big time!!!! You earn it!!!! BTW, a pic of the parliament signed by Blair and his wife???? That is so lame!!! I mean WTF is that???? Like what should Shilpa do with the pic???? Even if she does try to sell it on eBay, I don't think it will get her big bucks...more like a pence, at most.
Tony Blair has finally condemned the manner of Saddam Hussein's execution as "completely wrong".
The Prime Minister had maintained an extraordinary silence on the hanging for 11 days, despite being one of the architects of Saddam's downfall.
The former Iraqi dictator was put to death on December 30 after being convicted by an Iraqi court of crimes against humanity.
Sectarian tensions in Iraq have been heightened by leaked footage showing him being told to "go to hell" by baying onlookers moments before his death.
Chancellor Gordon Brown and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott have both spoken out against the "deplorable" manner of the execution.
President Bush also said it should have been conducted in a more dignified manner.
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Normally I try to keep away from politics since it's really nasty but this is a bit hypocritical. I mean Tony Blair and Bush.... geez!!!
