U.S. Congressional Democrats say the passage of funding legislation for Iraq, even without setting a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal, marks a major step forward in efforts to end the war there. VOA's Dan Robinson reports that with approval of the measure, key Republicans are once again signaling that President Bush must consider altering his approach on Iraq if conditions there do not improve over the next four months.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair leaves office on June 27. In this report from Washington, Senior Correspondent André de Nesnera looks at Mr. Blair's legacy in foreign affairs, a legacy largely defined by his support of the war in Iraq.

U.S. Congress poised Thursday to increase the federal minimum wage by $2.10 (1.56 EUR). For years, the idea of increasing the minimum wage from $5.15 (3.83 EUR) an hour has been stalled by partisan bickering between Republicans and Democrats.

The U.S. Senate has approved $100 billion in new funds for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq without a timetable for withdrawing combat troops. Just hours earlier, the House of Representatives also approved the bill. U.S. George. W. Bush is expected to sign it into law promptly.

U.S. congressional Democrats have dropped their demands to include in a war funding bill a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq. At the same time, they are vowing to seek other ways to press the Bush administration to change the course of the unpopular war.

A published report says 2007 could be the most lethal year yet for civilian employees of private companies operating in Iraq's war zones.

Closed door negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders on a bill to continue funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ended Friday without agreement. Both sides still hope to reach a deal by the end of the month, as VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

The U.S. Senate has rejected a measure that would end funding for U.S. combat operations in Iraq by April 1 of next year. The White House praised the vote, but some Senate Democrats say support is building for the effort to limit funding for the unpopular war.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair says Britain will remain a staunch ally of the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan after he steps down. Speaking in Washington, Mr. Blair Thursday strongly defended Britain's role in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. He said he would make the same decision again to, "stand shoulder to shoulder" with the United States.

US soldiers in Iraq do not carry the bacteria responsible for difficult-to-treat wound infections found in military hospitals treating soldiers wounded in Iraq, according to an article to be published electronically on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. The article will appear in the June issue of the journal.

For the past six years, President Bush has enjoyed strong support from Republicans in Congress for his domestic and foreign policy agendas. But divisions over the war in Iraq are beginning to strain that political alliance. VOA national correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.

In London, Finance Minister Gordon Brown has launched his bid to lead the British government after Prime Minister Tony Blair steps down next month. Mr. Blair, who also will resign as leader of the ruling Labor Party on June 27, said Friday he is delighted to support Brown's candidacy to succeed him at the end of June.