Morning Brief: Modi Hits Out At Pakistan; Pampore Stand-Off Continues; Samsung-Apple Patent Showdown

Good Morning, Swarajya Readers! Here's What You Need To Know Today.

Modi Hits Out At Pakistan

In his first public address after India's surgical strikes across the Line of Control, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (11 October) said the time had come to uproot terror and those who patronise terrorists. In an obvious reference to Pakistan, he said that those who support terror or allow it cannot go unpunished.

The Prime Minister invoked Ramayana and asked people to keep a vigil against terror and fight it the way the Jatayu fought Ravana in a desperate bid to try rescue the abducted Sita from the demon.

Pampore Stand-Off Continues

Indian security forces pounded the government building in Pampore with mortars for the second day on Tuesday to target the three militants who were holed up there.

Report said that one terrorist had been killed in the operation and his body was lying inside the building. There seems to be no early end to the operation which started on Monday morning as the encounter is still underway and heavy exchange of fire is reported. The operation has been now going on for 48 hours.

Samsung-Apple Patent Showdown

The US Supreme Court is set to hear a design patent lawsuit that Apple filed against Samsung in 2011. The conflict is touted as the longest-running dispute between the two smartphone giants. According to a report in Digital Trends, if Samsung wins, it will set a precedent and affect other design patent cases.

In 2012, the jury sided with Apple, awarding the US company $1 billion in damages. The ruling can be expected toward the end of the year.

Farm Output To Soar

According to the Indian Meteorological Department's end-of-season report on this year's monsoon, the county's agricultural production and income are poised to soar. Increased yields of overall rain-fed crops, specifically pulses, oilseeds and cereals are expected, the report said.

Farm output from Kharif crops is forecast to rise 9 per cent to a record 135 million tonnes. The estimate will be revised at regular intervals as the harvest progresses and more accurate data comes in.

Pakistan Acts Against Journalist

A journalist in Pakistan, who reported major differences between civilian and military leadership, has been barred from leaving the country. Cyril Almeida, a columnist and reporter for the Dawn, stated in his controversial report that Pakistan's civilian leadership had bluntly told the military to act against militants or face international isolation amid strained India-Pakistan ties.

Nawaz Sharif's office said that the report included 'inaccurate and misleading contents which had no relevance to actual discussion and facts'.

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We hope you enjoyed reading our morning brief. Have a great day ahead!

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