BRUSSELS (September 10, 2010): Six weeks after Pakistan was ravaged by floods, the European Union is still struggling to decide how to help beyond emergency aid, with a plan to offer lucrative trade concessions locked in dispute. Last month, the EU's foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, urged member states to consider granting Pakistan more favourable trade terms as a means to support its economy and shore up the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardariin the struggle against Islamist militancy.

ISLAMABAD (September 10, 2010): Isabel Guerrero, World Bank Vice President for South Asia, here on Thursday said that accountability and transparency would be of paramount importance to attract donor financing and to reassure donors that aid will reach those who need it most.

KARACHI (September 10, 2010): President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said that a fool proof system has been evolved for transparent distribution of flood aid among the victims.

LAHORE (September 10, 2010): The newly appointed Governor of SBP, Shahid H Kardar, on Thursday termed the lack of monetary discipline one of the most daunting challenges faced by the country's economy at this point in time. In his brief remarks to media persons at Lahore, Kardar has also said that if country's monetary system is put on the right track, a greater monetary discipline will not only help reduce pressure of government borrowings on economy, it will also help reduce inflation in an effective and meaningful manner.

KARACHI (September 10, 2010): The President of Pakistan has appointed Shahid Hafiz Kardar as Governor, State Bank of Pakistan for a period of three years with effect from the date he assumes the office, says a notification issued by the Government of Pakistan, Finance Division (Internal Finance Wing). Kardar assumed the charge of the Office of SBP Governor on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD (September 10, 2010): The country's trade deficit surged to $2.869 billion in the first two months, July-August of the current fiscal year, 2010-11, up by 20 percent from $2.237 billion in the same period of previous year, according to Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS).

ISLAMABAD (September 10, 2010): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, following the recommendations of the high powered selection board, on Thursday approved the promotions of 39 officers in BS-22, for which the notifications are being issued by the Establishment Division.

ISLAMABAD (September 10, 2010): Despite promotion of 39 officers in BS-22 on Thursday, at least 15 vacancies are still lying vacant, which rise to a strong possibility of a new round of promotions in the next two months. According to sources, all those promoted to BS-22 belong to 6th Common batch of officers of civil bureaucracy.

ISLAMABAD (September 10, 2010): The govt has removed the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Zafarullah Khan and appointed Wasim Ahmed, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Karachi as his successor. RPO Hyderabad Fayyaz Leghari is being tipped to become new CCPO Karachi.

GAINESVILLE (September 10, 2010): President Barack Obama warned on Thursday that an obscure US Christian pastor's Sacrilegious plan to burn the holy Quran could provoke al Qaeda suicide bombings, as international pressure mounted on Washington to step in. "This is a recruitment bonanza for al Qaeda," Obama said in an ABC television interview.