Morning Brief: 4 Pak Posts Destroyed; Andhra, Telangana Most Biz Friendly; Trump Closes Gap

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Here's What You Need To Know Today.

Paying back in the same coin. Indian army said on Saturday that it destroyed four Pakistan posts along the LOC in the Keran sector, inflicting heavy casualties. India responded after ceasefire violation by Pakistan killed one BSF soldier and injured a civilian woman.

Make in India. Indian Air Force is looking to buy anywhere between 200 to 300 foreign fighter jets as it sets to retire its ageing Soviet-era aircraft. However the condition is that these are made in India. Sweden's Saab and America's Lockheed Martin have responded saying they are ready to do so.

Future in flames. Arsonists on Sunday set ablaze another school in Kashmir. So far, 25 schools have been gutted in mysterious fires, likely by the Jihadi elements. There has been no classwork in any school in the last 112 days of turmoil.

Ease of Biz rankings. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana displacedGujarat in this year's latest ease of doing business rankings. Both states are tied at first place with a score of 98.78. They are followed by Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.

And the purge continues. In the latest crackdown, Turkey has dismissed 10,000 civil servants and closed 15 media outlets over suspected links with cleric Fethullah Gulen. Ankara blames Gulen for orchestrating a failed coup in July. So far, more than 1 lakh employees have been either sacked and 37,000+ arrested by the Erdogan regime.

Trouble in Seoul. Thousands of South Koreans are taking to the streets, demanding the resignation of President Park Geun-hye. She is being accused of leaking state documents to her friend who isn't a part of the government. Park accepted that she shared the documents as she wanted her friend's personal opinion. Her approval ratings have plunged to a record low of 21.1%.

Too close to call. One week before the election, Donald Trump has almost closed the gap between him and Hillary Clinton in polls. A latest national poll released Sunday showed Clinton ahead 46% to Trump's 45%. This is within the margin of error. Swing states like Nevada, North Carolina and Florida which were leaning Clinton are now tied. And a Professor who’s predicted 30 years of presidential elections correctly is doubling down on a Trump win.

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How Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Created India, State By State: "We are building a nation and we are laying the foundations of One Nation, and those who choose to divide again and sow the seeds of disruption will have no place, no quarter, here, and I must say that plainly enough."

The Star of Intellectual Journalism: A new collection of writings from ‘The Modern Review’, and the history of intellectual journalism in India.

Hard Realities About The Ease Of Doing Business: Sanctions-hit Russia has moved from 62 to 51 to 40 and China from 90 to 84 to 78 in rankings. Worse, as per the study, ‘Doing Business’ is ‘easier’ in Lebanon, Nicaragua, Tajikistan and Cabo Verde than in India.

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Everyone Who Criticises The Way Festivals Are Being Observed Is Not A Hindu-Hater: Critics also include devout Hindus, who actually want to go back to the simpler celebrations of yore.

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