A US SENATOR will introduce an immigration bill in Washington DC today which would allow up to 10,000 Irish a year to live in America on work visas — but not green cards.

The US Senate aimed a body blow at a lucrative bank business by voting to force credit card companies to reduce fees for debit card transactions and allow retailers to offer customer discounts based on the payment method.

Senate Democrats refused to flinch today as the chamber moved towards a rare, all-night session of debate on legislation to bring US troops home later this year.

Two American senators said Pakistan needs to do more to stem the infiltration of insurgents into Afghanistan, as an attack by two suicide bombers in the eastern city of Khost left one policemen dead and 17 people wounded.

The Bush administration has stepped up pressure for a new UN Security Council disarmament resolution for Iraq and disclosed plans for moving B-2 bombers closer to Baghdad, preparing for possible war to remove President Saddam Hussein.