London, June 29
The threat of terror returned to the British capital today after a car bomb was discovered in the heart of the city frequented by tourists and reveller, prompting the government to call for an emergency meeting of senior security chiefs.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the security alert is a reminder that Britain faces "a serious and continuous threat" after bomb squads defused the explosives containing gas canisters found inside a parked car which could have caused "significant injury or loss of life." Authorities were alerted by the staff of a nightclub in Haymarket near the Piccadilly Circus landmark around 0630 IST after they saw a car being driven into bins before the driver ran off.

The security alert, which came just ahead of the second anniversary of the July 7, 2005, attacks that killed 56 people, and just two days into Gordon Brown's premiership, caused widespread disruptions across central London as the whole area was cordoned off.

"This incident does indicate the need for us to be vigilant at all times... I will stress to the cabinet that the vigilance must be maintained over the next few days," said PM Brown.

Brown said new home secretary Jacqui Smith would chair a meeting of Britain's emergency contingencies committee, COBRA, before briefing the cabinet.

Deputy assistant commissioner and head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, Peter Clarke, said: "It is obvious that if the device had detonated there could have been significant injury or loss of life.”

Intelligence sources said they are keeping an open mind on who was responsible for the bomb. "All options, including the Irish, are open at this stage," sources said.

Scotland Yard said detectives from Counter Terrorism Command were investigating the potential bomb plot.

Britain has been on the second highest level of security alert -- "severe" -- since the British Islamist extremist bombers detonated homemade bombs on three Underground trains and a bus two years ago. — PTI

Washington, June 29
In a setback to 12 million illegal immigrants, including Indians, the US senate has derailed a landmark immigration Bill that would have paved the way for regularisation of their status.

Senators yesterday, voted 53 to 46 against keeping the Bill alive.

Bipartisan backers of the measure fell well short of the 60-vote super-majority needed to move the bill.

The severe blow to the Comprehensive Immigration legislation has raised serious questions on the future of the more than 12 million illegal immigrants, including Indians.

The Senate had on Tuesday voted 64-35 to resume debate on the bill, which ties tough border security and workplace enforcement measures to a plan to legalise illegal immigrants.

Political analysts believe that lawmakers will now be disinclined to take up the controversial bill before the Presidential elections of 2008.

Of interest and concern to India was not only the potential implications on the family unifications via the green card but also the expectation of a spike in the numbers of the H1B from 65,000 to 115,000 with built in annual increases.

One perception is that the current scheme of things on the H1B and the L-1 visas will continue to remain until such time a comprehensive immigration bill is passed on Capitol Hill, but the other view is that the tough amendments on the H1B and the L-1 visas could be taken up as “standalone” legislations in the months to come.

Max Gleischman, an immigration policy advisor to Senator Richard Durbin, Democrat from Illinois, was quoted as saying that a standalone bi-partisan H-1B and L-1 anti-fraud Bill introduced in April, is currently “still in the Senate judiciary committee which could bring the Bill up again.”

Several bi-partisan bills introduced in recent months, including the SKIL bill, to raise the cap area are also still potential relief for employers. — PTI

India and Pakistan held secretary-level talks here on Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in Various Fields under the fourth round of the Pakistan-India Composite Dialogue and discussed various proposals to promote bilateral exchanges in cultural field, on Friday.

A joint statement issued here after what it described as cordial talks said the two delegations reviewed the implementation of various proposals made during the third round in New Delhi.

The two sides also made a number of proposals for promoting cooperation in various fields. The Pakistan delegation was led by secretary, Ministry of Culture, Salim Gul Sheikh, while the Indian delegation was headed by secretary, Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Badal K. Das.