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Morning Brief: India-Pakistan Expel Diplomats; BSF Jawan Martyred; Cabinet Clears Strategic Stake Sale
Indian Army In Kashmir
Good Morning, Swarajya Readers! Here's What You Need To Know Today.
India And Pakistan Expel Diplomats
India on Thursday ordered a Pakistani diplomat, Mehmood Akhtar, to leave the country by Saturday after he was caught receiving secret information about Indian military deployments from two Indian spies. Akhtar was a soldier with Pakistan Army's 40 Baloch Regiment since 1997 and was deputed to India by the ISI in 2013.
In a tit-for-tat measure, Pakistan also declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh as persona non grata and asked that he leave the country by Saturday.
Cabinet Clears Strategic Stake Sale
The cabinet on Thursday gave an in-principle approval to strategic stake sales in some state-owned companies on the recommendations of the government think tank NITI Aayog. The number and names of public sector companies approved by the government have not been disclosed.
The last strategic sale took place in Jessop and Co in 2003-04 under the NDA government, when 72 per cent of government stake was sold.
BSF Jawan Killed In Pakistan Firing
A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed and another injured, along with seven civilians, in firing by Pakistan Rangers in Abdullian area of R S Pura Sector in Jammu district. BSF troops retaliated, killing one Pakistani Ranger and seriously injuring another.
Pakistan Army fired on Indian defence positions on the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati Sector of Poonch district. Ceasefire was also violated along the LoC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district.
ONGC Reports 6 Per Cent Rise In Net Profit
State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on Thursday reported a 6 per cent rise in net profit for the second quarter ended in September at Rs 4,975 crore, as compared to Rs 4,681.4 crore for the quarter ended on 30 September 2015.
Amid the fluctuation in global oil prices, however, total income for the quarter in question decreased 10 per cent to Rs 19,578.6 crore from Rs 21,698.5 crore in the same quarter of the last fiscal, the company said in a statement.
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We hope you enjoyed reading our morning brief. Have a great day ahead!
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