Microsoft files patent for foldable dual-screen notebook

Microsoft has filed a patent for a foldable dual-screen notebook which is quite like the companys "Courier" concept -- a booklet PC which was first reported in 2008 and then cancelled in 2010.

"It shows the now well described dual-screened device with a first and second `surface` with the `self-regulating hinges` which would allow the device to be positioned in a number of ways similar to a Lenovo Yoga but without any of the thickness associated with a regular hinge," mspoweruser.com reported late on Friday.

The patent, filed at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), includes intricate details around how the hinge works. However, there are not much details about software for such a device.

Notably, Microsoft appears to have used the special hinge to solve the bezel problem of having two screens.

The design shows two edge-to-edge displays which are positioned such that they touch each other without any significant gap.

The company is also reportedly using gear-like cogs to create this adjustable hinge, allowing the device to hold in different positions.

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Japan to beef up missile defence system against North Korea

Japan`s government on Tuesday approved the introduction of the US military`s land-based Aegis missile interceptor system, beefing up its defence against "serious" and "imminent" North Korea threats.

The regime in Pyongyang has fired two missiles over Japan this year and has threatened to "sink" the country into the sea.

Last month, North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that plunged into the waters of Japan`s exclusive economic zone. 

"North Korea`s nuclear and missile development has entered a new stage of threat that is more serious and imminent to our country`s security," the government said as it endorsed the introduction of Aegis Ashore at a cabinet meeting.

Japan needs to drastically improve its missile defence, Tokyo added.

Japan plans to introduce the Aegis Ashore system at two locations, covering the entire nation with powerful radars.

The deployment will hand the US ally another layer of defence in addition to SM-3 guided missiles launched by Aegis destroyer vessels and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles.

However, it will take years before the Aegis Ashore system is operational, according to Japanese officials.

The contract is yet to be signed with the United States and deployment at two locations could cost a total of 200 billion yen ($1.8 billion), including the cost of building new facilities.

However, officials insisted the new system would boost Japan`s missile defence.

"Naval vessels need to return to their ports regularly for rest and refuelling, but if it`s ground deployment, we will be able to operate almost 24-7," an official said. 

"We can be on permanent vigilance even when signs (of missile firing) are hard to detect," he said.
Japan is reportedly planning a record $46 billion defence budget for the next fiscal year in the face of the North Korean threat.

Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said this month the country also plans to purchase long-range cruise missiles from US firms with a range of some 900 kilometres (560 miles).

The move would be controversial as Japan`s pacifist constitution bans the use of force as a means of settling international disputes.

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BJP's vote share rise hides future threat from Congress

The BJP may have seen its final seat tally in Gujarat drop from its 2012 score, but the party managed to raise its vote share to its second highest ever in an assembly election in the state.

The BJP was set for a tally of 99 wins out of 182 constituencies around 5:30 pm, down from the 115 it won in 2012. But its provisional vote share had risen from 47.85 to 49.1.

"That the party has increased its vote share after 22 years of ruling the state is a remarkable achievement," said BJP president Amit Shah.

The BJP has won a greater percentage of the vote in an Assembly elections only 2002, when it received 49.85 percent of the votes cast.

The fall in seats won when read in conjunction with the rise in vote share suggest that the BJP won by wide margins in a handful of seats while thinning the margin in some. 

However, there is a flipside to the BJP's performance. It has seen the overall margin of victory reduce. The difference in vote shares between the BJP and the Congress slid from 8.22 percentage points in 2012 to 7.39 percentage points in 2017. That's a difference of 0.83 percentage points.

And that slip in the vote share margin has thrown up a significant challenge for the BJP in coming elections, especially to the Assembly. The 0.83 percentage point fall saw BJP lose 16 seats, bringing the seat margin against the Congress from 53 seats to just 20.

The Congress too saw an increase in its vote share, rising to 41.4 percent from the 38.93 percent it polled in 2012. This netted the party 16 seats more.

However, the pattern in Gujarat doesn't seem set to affect the BJP's performance in Lok Sabha elections in the state. The party consistently polls a greater percentage of the vote than it does in the Assembly elections, winning the larger share of seats.

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JP Nadda, Jai Ram Thakur frontrunners in BJP race for Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister

 Union Health Minister JP Nadda and former state minister Jai Ram Thakur are the frontrunners for the BJP's Chief Ministerial pick for Himachal Pradesh, sources have said. The search for a CM face for the hill state after the party's CM candidate PK Dhumal lost in Sujanpur, and its state president Satpal Singh Satti lost in Una.

The BJP parliamentary board met on Monday evening to decide on who would lead its government in Himachal Pradesh. The party had displaced the ruling Congress government, winning 44 of the 68 seats, which is a shade short of an absolute majority.

Jai Ram Thakur won from the Seraj constituency in Mandi District, beating the Congress candidate by a margin of about 11,000 votes. He had served as a minister for rural development and panchayati raj in the previous BJP government in Himachal Pradesh.

Jagat Prakash Nadda has been part of the Narendra Modi Cabinet since 2014, and is considered to enjoy the trust of PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS: Gujarat | Himachal Pradesh

The BJP was faced with a similar question over the chief ministership after its close victory in Goa in March 2017. Its incumbent Chief Minister and CM hopeful Laxmikant Parsekar had lost his reelection bid. Former Goa CM Manohar Parrkiar, who was Union Defence Minister at the time, had returned to Goa to take charge as CM.

Parrikar had quit as Goa CM to join the Centre as Defence Minister in November 2014, as part of PM Modi's first Cabinet reshuffle.

The Modi-Shah combo is also no stranger to moving the party's established New Delhi hands to chief ministerial posts after state assembly victories. An example of this was the choice of then Lok Sabha MP Yogi Adityanath for the post of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister after the BJP's massive victory in March.

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Ahmedabad collector calls Hardik Patel's claims of EVM tampering 'baseless'

Ahmedabad collector Avantika Singh on Sunday rubbished all allegations made by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel that 140 engineers were hired to tamper 5000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVM)s.

She added that it doesn't call for any clarification as they were "baseless".

"These are baseless allegations. I don't think any clarification is needed. Even if any clarification is to be issued, it will be issued by the Election Commission," she added, as per ANI.

Patel on Sunday said on Twitter that if a human body, made by God be tampered with, then why not an EVM, which is made by humans.

He also alleged that there had been attempts to hack EVMs using its "source code" in the Patidar-dominated and tribal areas of the state.

HARDIK PATEL'S Tweet on EVM

Patel's statement comes after the apex court dismissed the Congress' plea seeking directions to the Election Commission (EC) to count and cross verify at least 25 percent of VVPAT with votes cast with EVM.

On December 15, the apex court had said it found no merit in Congress' plea and asked that the Gujarat Congress could approach it through filing a writ petition for electoral reforms.

It further maintained that electoral process in a democracy was of utmost importance and the SC cannot interfere only to allay apprehension of a party.

Counting of votes will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly polls, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades.

Vikas has won, bow to people of HP, Gujarat for trusting BJP, says PM Modi

Thanking the voters of Himachal and Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter on Monday afternoon saying that 'Vikas' (development) has won.

"I bow to the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for their affection and trust in BJP. I assure them that we will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly," he wrote.

With Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP likely to sweep Himachal Pradesh, all eyes are riveted on the next chief minister of the hill state. 

The party has won three seats and is currently leading in more than 40 seats. However, the party's two star candidates - CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal and state party chief Satpal Singh Satti - are trailing behing in their seats.

Will BJP parliamentary board choose to go with the Dhumal as the chief minister or can union minister JP Nadda, who was earlier a part of BJP Himachal cabinet, take the centre stage? This will be revealed over time. So far, the party has refused to divulge any details.

Party veterans and senior leaders did not shy away to take credit for the polls.

“Himachal polls didn't even feel like a contest,” said union minister Smriti Irani while adding, “Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander”. 

Soon after the results indicated a win for BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flashed a victory sign. Following this, BJP cadres started celebrating the party's victory across the country. 

Rival Congress, which is still leading in nearly 20 seats and has snapped one seat so far, has been quiet about its impending defeat in Himachal. Incumbent chief minister Virbhadra Singh and his son are both inching towards victory in their respective constituencies. 

The hill state has a history of electing a different party in each assembly election. BJP and Congress have been winning the state every alternate election.

The initial morning trends presented an early lead for BJP. But Congress soon closed the gap. Later, BJP later bounced back in the game and by 10 am, the party had crossed the halfway mark to victory. 

Exit polls had earlier predicted a clean sweep for BJP, replacing the Congress regime in the hill state.

-zee news