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ISI chief arrives in US
New York Mayor urges mothers to breastfeed
8 percent of Olympic athletes have asthma
Olympic 2012: Phelps wins record 19th medal
Iran the world's leading sponsor of terrorist activity: US
US imposes new economic sanctions on Iran
US releases $1.1b to Pakistan under CSF
15 killed as forces, gunmen clash in Yemen
Queen asked to star as a Bond girl at Olympics opening ceremony
Visa scam: Asad challenges Rehman Maliks claim
Two Rangers men shot dead in Karachi
UK pensioner foils robbery attempt at jewellery shop
List of gas, electricity defaulters present in Senate
Womans body stolen from New Jersey cemetery
Karachi violence claims two more lives

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The head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam will hold talks in Washington with his CIA counterpart, a military statement said, with drone strikes expected to be a major issue. Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam, who was appointed in March, "will visit USA from 1st to 3rd August. This will be a service-to-service bilateral visit," the statement said. "He will meet his counterpart General David Petraeus, director CIA."

New York Mayor urges mothers to breastfeed

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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and state officials are pushing initiatives aimed at encouraging new mothers to breastfeed their babies, drawing criticism from some parents who say officials are interfering with their health choices. State health commissioners announced on Tuesday that letters highlighting the importance of breastfeeding were being sent to hospitals, reminding them of regulations limiting unnecessary formula feedings for breastfed newborns. The state initiative coincides with Bloomberg s call for hospitals to lock away their baby formula and have nurses encourage new mothers to breastfeed. Under the mayor s plan, slated to start September 3, the city will keep a record of the number of bottles that hospitals stock and use. Formula would be signed out like medication. The pro-breastfeeding campaign has drawn the ire of some women who argue it stigmatizes infant formula and interferes with a mother s choice of what to feed her child. A number of the city s other health initiatives -- including cracking down on large-sized sodas and banning smoking in public places -- have attracted similar criticism from those who accuse the mayor of creating a "nanny" state. "I breastfed both of my kids and it took me a good three weeks before I figured it out," said Rene Syler, who wrote about the issue on her website Goodenoughmother.com. "I can t imagine what it must be like to be in the hospital with someone sort of standing over your shoulder and lecturing you every time you ask for a bottle to feed your crying baby." Under current regulations, hospitals are only allowed to provide formula to infants who have an indicated medical reason and a doctor s order for the supplemental feedings, the state health department said in a statement. Still, only 39.7 percent of newborn infants in New York are exclusively breastfed -- well below the federal government goal of 70 percent, the state health department said. Roughly half of breastfed infants received supplemental formula in the hospital. "We recognize that there are women that won t be able to breastfeed or chose to not breastfeed for a variety of reasons and that is a choice they should be able to make," said Dr. Barbara Wallace, the state health department s director of chronic disease prevention. The state health department said the benefits of breastfeeding included fewer episodes of acute respiratory illnesses, inner-ear infections and gastroenteritis. Mothers who do not breastfeed are at increased risk for postpartum bleeding and anemia, and have higher rates of breast cancer later in life, the health department statement said.

8 percent of Olympic athletes have asthma

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About 8 percent of Olympic athletes have asthma or one of its symptoms, a narrowing of the airways, the study found. The study analyzed information from athletes at the last five summer and winter Olympic Games, from 2002 to 2010. It identified athletes who took inhaled beta-2 agonists, an asthma drug. The condition was most common among athletes who took part in endurance sports, said study researcher Kenneth Fitch, of the University of Western Australia. The relatively late onset of asthma in many older athletes suggests to that the years of intense training could be one of the causes, Fitch said. "Inhaling polluted or cold air is considered an important factor which might explain the cause in some sports, but not in all," Fitch said. Athletes with asthma and narrowed airways have continued to do well in sports  competitions and outperform others, Fitch said. Fitch said it s possible that training harder than the other competitors could be one reason many athletes develop asthma during adult life. The study was published online Jan. 8 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Olympic 2012: Phelps wins record 19th medal

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Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian of all time on Tuesday, winning a record 19th medal in the pool as China s swimming sensation Ye Shiwen grabbed her second gold of the Games. Phelps anchored the US team to a resounding victory in the 4x200m freestyle relay to secure gold and beat the record of 18 medals amassed by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina between 1956 and 1964. The American had earlier been thwarted in his bid for a 200m butterfly Olympic treble by Chad le Clos of South Africa, but a silver medal allowed him to match the record medal haul before the relay sealed his place in history. Phelps, 27, won six golds and two bronze medals at the 2004 Athens Games, then collected a record eight golds in Beijing. He had suffered a testing start to the London Games, slumping out of the medals in the 400m individual medley and then having to settle for silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay.  But Phelps  unprecedented 19th medal was never in doubt in Tuesday s relay as he took over the final leg with a clear lead built up by his team-mates and powered home to leave France trailing in silver and China with bronze. "I thanked those guys for helping me get to this moment," said Phelps. "I told those guys I wanted a big lead in the last leg and they gave it to me. "I just wanted to hold on." Ye, just 16, may encounter more speculation about her remarkable performances after she added the 200m individual medley title to the 400m individual medley crown. The Chinese girl was lagging behind the leaders at the turn in the Aquatics Centre, but produced a powerful final 50m to overhaul Alicia Coutts of Australia in an Olympic record time of 2min 7.57sec. Her swim came just days after her lightning freestyle leg in the longer medley propelled her to a new world record. Ye s feats have raised unproven suspicions of doping, with John Leonard, executive director of the World Swimming Coaches  Association, describing her finish in the 400m medley as "impossible". But Ye said she had used the row to motivate herself. "I don t feel upset or sad about what the media have been saying about me," she insisted. "I feel calm, but it just encouraged me to prove myself."  Chinese authorities went on the offensive over the allegations. Jiang Zhixue, the head of anti-doping at China s General Administration of Sport, told Xinhua news agency it was unfair to point the finger at their swimmers. "I think it is not proper to single Chinese swimmers out once they produce  good results. Some people are just biased," he said. Former British swimmer Adrian Moorhouse, a gold medallist in the 100m breaststroke in the 1988 Seoul Games, defended Ye, saying it was possible China had unearthed their own Phelps. "I think it s sour grapes," Moorhouse said. "I think it s quite insulting actually." In the gymnastics arena, the United States won the women s team final to claim their first gold medal in the event since 1996. Russia had to settle for silver while Romania pipped 2008 Olympic champions China to bronze. Defending champions Germany won the equestrian three-day eventing, with Michael Jung then becoming the first rider to hold the European, world and Olympic individual titles. Great Britain finished second in the team event to earn a silver medal for Queen Elizabeth II s granddaughter Zara Phillips, but the host nation is still without a single gold medal after four days of competition. The US basketball Dream Team thrashed Tunisia 110-63 as Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love each scored 16 points, leaving the Americans heading for a date with Nigeria and eyeing the next round. China lead the United States by 13 golds to nine in the medals table, and the Chinese won their third diving title in three events when world champions Chen Ruolin and Wang Hao clinched the women s 10m synchro platform. Chen, the individual 10m platform champion from the Beijing Games and the synchronised 10m platform champion, teamed with Wang to tally 368.40 points from their five dives off the tower.

Iran the world's leading sponsor of terrorist activity: US

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Al-Qaeda affiliates pose a rising threat exploiting poverty and upheavals in the world s most vulnerable regions even as the core network is on the decline, the US State Department warned Tuesday. In its Country Reports on Terrorism 2011, the department also branded Iran "the world s leading sponsor of terrorist activity" providing funds and support "for terrorist and militant groups throughout the Middle East." Hailing the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a US commando raid on his Pakistani compound in May 2011, the report noted he had "remained deeply involved in directing (the group s) operations and setting its strategy." "The loss of bin Laden and these other key operatives puts the network on a path of decline that will be difficult to reverse," the annual report to Congress said. But, while the core group of Al-Qaeda may have been weakened over the past year, "we have seen the rise of affiliated groups around the world." "There s no question there s cause for concern," the State Department s coordinator for counterterrorism, Daniel Benjamin, told journalists, adding "we just can t relax." He stressed though that the core Al-Qaeda group had been the most "capable part of the organization" with the ability to carry out "catastrophic attacks on a scale that none of the affiliates have been able to show." He pointed to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula as "the most dangerous of the affiliates," although he praised the efforts of new President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi to crack down on the militants. AQAP had gained territory in southern Yemen, and "was exploiting unrest in that country to advance plots against regional and Western interests," the report charged. Meanwhile Al-Qaeda s north African branch, known as AQIM, "historically the weakest of the affiliates, saw its coffers filled in 2011 with kidnapping ransoms," it added. Al-Qaeda affiliates were also at work in Iraq, capitalizing on the withdrawal of US forces from there. Despite suffering recent leadership losses, the Iraqi branch was "resilient" and "believed to be extending its reach into Syria and seeking to exploit the popular uprising against the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad." According to the report there were more 10,000 terror attacks around the globe in 2011 in 70 countries leading to over 12,500 deaths. However, the figures represent a five-year low, having dropped by almost 12 percent from 2010 and by 29 percent from 2007. Benjamin called 2011 "an extremely significant year in counterterrorism" not just because of the death of bin Laden, but also because of the Arab Spring, with millions demanding change in the Middle East without reference tos "Al-Qaeda s incendiary world view." He warned of "attendant perils" though in which "terrorists could still cause significant disruptions for states undergoing" transformation. The number of Al-Qaeda fighters in Syria was believed to be small, he said. "But there is a larger group of foreign fighters, many of whom are not directly affiliated with AQ, who are either in or headed to Syria. And clearly, this is a matter of concern for all who fear greater violence in Syria and for regional stability." The other main terror threat to the United States remained Iran, which was designated by the US as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1984. "Iran remained an active state sponsor of terrorism in 2011 and increased its terrorist-related activity," the report said, which came the same day as US President Barack Obama imposed new economic sanctions on Iran s oil export sector. The Islamic Republic was likely seeking "to exploit the uncertain political conditions resulting from the Arab Spring, as well as in response to perceived increasing external pressure on Tehran." A plot uncovered in September to kill Saudi Arabia s ambassador to the US "underscored anew Iran s interest in using international terrorism -- including in the United States -- to further its foreign policy goals." Tehran was also continuing to provide arms and training to militant groups such as Hamas and other Palestinian extremist groups, as well as Hezbollah. The report also charged that Iran was allowing Al-Qaeda members to use its territory as a pipeline to funnel funds and operatives into South Asia. And it highlighted concerns about Boko Haram militants in Nigeria, said to have Al-Qaeda ties, and the situation in Egypt s Sinai Peninsula.

US imposes new economic sanctions on Iran

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US President Barack Obama on Tuesday imposed new economic sanctions on Iran s oil export sector and on a pair of Chinese and Iraqi banks accused of doing business with Tehran. In a statement released by the White House, Obama said the new measures underlined the United States  determination to force Tehran "to meet its international obligations" in nuclear negotiations. The sanctions came on the same day as the US State Department branded Iran "an active state sponsor of terrorism" in its 2011 annual terrorism report, and as US lawmakers prepared to vote legislation demanding more action. Obama is keen to show his Iranian sanctions regime is tough, amid fears Israel may launch unilateral strikes against Iran if it believes the Islamic regime is on the point of achieving the capability to build a nuclear bomb. "This action is designed to deter Iran from establishing payment mechanisms for the purchase of Iranian oil to circumvent existing sanctions," Obama said, warning that US sanctions will be apply to any entity buying Iranian oil. Obama said measures would be taken against firms that have dealings with the National Iranian Oil Company, the Naftiran Intertrade Company or the Central Bank of Iran or that help Iran buy US dollars or precious metals. And he accused the Bank of Kunlun in China and the Elaf Islamic Bank in Iraq of arranging transactions worth millions of dollars with Iranian banks already under sanctions because of alleged links to Tehran s weapons program. Obama said these two institutions would henceforth be denied access to the US financial system, as would any banks caught dealing with Iran in future. "Today s action makes it clear that we will expose any financial institution ... that allows the increasingly desperate Iranian regime to retain access to the international financial system," he said. Separately, the US Treasury Department confirmed details of the sanctions and allegations against the Chinese and Iraqi banks, accused of dealing with Iranian firms accused of links to weapons proliferation and terrorism. "As financial institutions around the world have cut ties with these designated Iranian banks, Bank of Kunlun and Elaf Islamic Bank took the opposite approach," the statement said. The Treasury said the Beijing-based Bank of Kunlun provided services to at least six Iranian banks that have been placed under US sanctions because of their alleged roles in Iran s weapons of mass destruction programs. In particular, it is alleged Kunlun made roughly $100 million in payments from accounts it held for the Iran s Bank Tejarat and made a payment on behalf of an entity linked to Iran s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Baghdad-based Elaf Islamic Bank, meanwhile, is alleged to have "engaged in activity during the past year worth tens of millions of dollars with the Export Development Bank of Iran." Israel has its own undeclared nuclear arsenal, but fears a nuclear-armed Iran would shift the balance of power in an already volatile Middle East or that its fierce foe Tehran might try to eradicate the Jewish state. During a visit to Tunisia on Monday at the start of a Middle East tour, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said sanctions were having a "serious impact" on the Iranian economy, even if their results may not be immediately obvious. Obama s opponent in November s US presidential election, Republican challenger Mitt Romney, was unimpressed by the new measures, arguing in a statement that "On Iran, President Obama has led from behind." The Romney camp noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said last week that international sanctions had so far made "not one iota" of difference to Tehran s nuclear ambitions. "The president s refusal to take a tough stance when it comes to Iran has imperiled our allies and jeopardized our national security," said Romney campaign spokesman Ryan Williams. The goal of the US sanctions, which are mirrored by similar measures by the European Union and other major economies, is to force Iran to negotiate a deal to put its nuclear program under international supervision. Tehran insists it has a right to enrich uranium for civilian nuclear energy and research, but Western powers fear it is attempting to stockpile enough highly-enriched fuel to have a "break-out capability" to build a bomb.

US releases $1.1b to Pakistan under CSF

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The money had been withheld due to tensions between the two countries and Islamabad s closure of the supply routes. On Tuesday, Pakistan signed a deal with the United States governing arrangements for NATO convoys travelling to Afghanistan, seeking to draw a line under a seven-month border blockade. Islamabad agreed to reopen land routes for NATO goods on July 3 after ordering the longest border closure of the 10-year war in neighbouring Afghanistan in protest at botched US air raids that killed 24 Pakistani troops. The agreement is part of efforts by the "war on terror" allies to patch up their fractious relationship, which plunged into crisis last year over the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden hiding in Pakistan and the air strikes. It comes just one day before the head of Pakistani intelligence, Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam, begins a three-day visit to Washington for talks with the head of the CIA, which has been interpreted as another sign of a gradual rapprochement. Under the agreement inked in Rawalpindi, the home of Pakistan s powerful military, the United States will release $1.1 billion under the Coalition Support Fund to reimburse the troubled nation for fighting militants within its borders.

15 killed as forces, gunmen clash in Yemen

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A firefight between Yemeni security forces and gunmen dressed in police uniforms killed 15 people and wounded 43 at the interior ministry in Sanaa on Tuesday, medical and security officials said. "The number of dead has increased to 15, in addition to 43 wounded," a medic said.  A security official confirmed the toll.

Queen asked to star as a Bond girl at Olympics opening ceremony

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Frank Cottrell-Boyce was the scriptwriter for director Danny Boyle s spectacular, and revealed that the team were "stunned" when Her Majesty let it be known she would take part. Her acting debut was prerecorded at Buckingham Palace and shows the 86-year-old monarch with two corgis at her feet turn to James Bond star Daniel Craig and say "good evening, Mr Bond." Stunt doubles of the duo then parachuted into the Olympic stadium from a helicopter, before the Queen declared the Games open. Frank, 52, who worked with Boyle previously on the British comedy film "Millions", said: "The idea originally came from our designer Mark Tildesley.   "Danny said this idea must have come from somewhere, a film like Austin Powers or Johnny English. "It sat on his desk and when we eventually found nobody else had used it, Danny contacted the Palace. "Our whole office was stunned when we got the reply saying the Queen not only gave permission but wanted to be in it. "The timing of the film showing her leaving the Palace with Daniel Craig as James Bond, the helicopter s arrival over the stadium,  her  parachute jump and appearance in the Royal Box was all perfect. "There were people around me in the stadium who were actually asking each other if it really was the Queen jumping out of the helicopter. "It was thrilling to have been able to create a level of magic where people wanted to believe their eyes when their minds told them it couldn t be true." The ceremony, which featured a tribute to the NHS and performances from Sir Paul McCartney and Arctic Monkeys, was watched by 27 million people in the UK. Last week we reported that the Queen "got it in one" as she made her acting debut. In her first acting role, the Queen was seen to leave Buckingham Palace with Bond, played by Daniel Craig, and clambered aboard a helicopter, leaving behind her corgis Monty, Willow and Holly. The chopper then flew to the Olympic Park, where Bond and the Queen jumped out, arriving outside the stadium just in time for her big entrance. The two parachutists were really Gary Connery (the Queen) and Mark Sutton Bond) who actually never made it into the stadium but landed somewhere near Stratford Station. The four-and-a-half minute film was set in her private study at Buckingham Palace, where she briefed Craig, on a "secret" mission ahead of the Olympic Games. The film was shot on March 27, as the Queen prepared for her Diamond Jubilee celebrations and Craig was working on the next James Bond film, called Skyfall. The three hour film shoot involved more than 130 people and was directed by Boyle himself. According to Nicholas Brown, the BBC s director of Drama Production, she gave a flawless performance. "She got it in one take. That s what she does, and she does it very well. She is a professional. "It was extraordinary to have the two [The Queen and Daniel Craig] together with the corgis and the schoolchildren. The Palace was terrific about the shoot and we were delighted and honoured that the Queen was involved."

Visa scam: Asad challenges Rehman Maliks claim

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The central character in Olympic visa scandal, Muhammad Ali Asad on Tuesday said he was all set to release more videos to expose the reality of the passport system that is in place Pakistan. "I have only released a trailer, the whole movie still remains to be released," Asad said. Asad claimed to have video footage of many hours in duration and that the moment it is released would completely unnerve Rehman Malik. He said he was waiting for the day when Prime Minister s Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik takes action against him. "I am not a villain, I just want Pakistan s passport system in a better shape," he said and termed the claim of the country s passport system being error-free as  ridiculous . He believed that terrorists were gaining undue advantage from the weaknesses of Pakistan s passport apparatus. "I haven t besmirched the name of Pakistan, only rendered journalistic responsibilities," Asad maintained.

Two Rangers men shot dead in Karachi

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The mishap occurred when both of the Rangers Inspector Bahar Ali and Sub Inspector Abdullah were sitting at a hotel that two armed men on motorcycle came there and started indiscriminate firing on them. As a result, both of them died on the spot while miscreants managed to escape from the site of occurrence. Following the mishap, security men cordoned off the area and started search operation while closing all the main points. However, nobody could be arrested till the file of news. Before this, two civilians also have been killed by miscreants in different areas.

UK pensioner foils robbery attempt at jewellery shop

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Five men have been convicted for armed robbery in Suffolk after a 70-year-old man and a shop worker hindered their attempts to make off with £20,000 of jewellery. A 71-year-old grandfather has been hailed by a judge for his bravery after he helped foil an armed robbery at Thurlow Champness jewellers on Bury St Edmunds in February 2011. Five men, George Paget, 20, Dean Armstrong, 21, Dwayne Marsh, 34, Charlie Kavanagh, 21, and Jed Macdonald, 22, were jailed for a total of 36 years at Ipswich Crown Court. Michael Graver was out shopping with his wife when the gang of armed robbers entered Abbeygate Street on stolen mopeds and attacked jewellers in Abbeygate Street. The retired businessman pushed one of the crooks and confronted another inside the shop, even managing to snatch a bag containing £22,000 of watches from the fleeing raiders. Judge David Goodin paid tribute to the OAP s "commendable fortitude and bravery". Mr Graver said he leapt into action to protect his wife. "I was really quite annoyed because these guys came on scooters and they nearly hit my wife," he said. "I very much hope this will put the criminals off. Everyone we know is getting tired of villains coming up the A12 and M11 to target Suffolk." It is not the first time a pensioner has disrupted a robbery of a jewellery shop. In February last year, a gang of men armed with sledgehammers who attempted to smash into a jeweller s shop were repelled by an elderly woman who beat them away with her handbag.

List of gas, electricity defaulters present in Senate

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Standing committee’s meeting was held under the chair of M Yousaf on Tuesday in Islamabad. PSO MD informed the meeting that net loss of the department stands at Rs 100 billion, while PIA, Pakistan Railways and KESC are also defaulter of Rs 245 billion. Power companies are also defaulter of Rs 228 billion, he added.

Womans body stolen from New Jersey cemetery

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Police are searching for the people responsible for stealing the body of Pauline Spinelli, who was entombed with five other family members in a mausoleum located in a secluded area of Atlantic City Cemetery in Pleasantville, N.J. She died in 1996 at the age of 98. “I’m going to miss grandma, even though she’s dead,” Pauline’s grandson, Rocco Spinelli told NBCPhiladelpia.com. “They’re sick people, they’re crazy.” Police say sometime late Thursday or early Friday of last week, someone removed the lock from the mausoleum, got inside, smashed a heavy marble slab, pried open an aluminum casket, and left with Spinelli’s body. Cemetery officials discovered the empty coffin around noon on Saturday and alerted police to the theft. Police have no leads, but they believe several people likely used heavy duty tools to break into the mausoleum and steal Pauline from her final resting place. Family members say they believe that a cult has something to do with the theft of Pauline’s body. Police say they re investigating all possible motives in the case. Melendez said other areas of the state have dealt with similar incidents before, including in 2006 when police arrested Michael Mastromarino, the CEO of a New Jersey human tissue recovery firm and the head of a body snatching ring. Mastromarino and his employees netted millions of dollars illegally harvesting human bones, organs, tissue and other cadaver parts from more than a thousand individuals awaiting cremation. Police say they are reaching out to other police departments in New Jersey. There are no security cameras near the Spinelli mausoleum.

Karachi violence claims two more lives

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As per details, an unidentified body was recovered from Lyari, while a man was shot dead in Gurumander. Police have arrested two extortionists from Tariq Road.

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