KHARTOUM (Reuters) ? Sudan's army fought rebels in the oil-producing state of South Kordofan last week, both sides said on Saturday.
The rebels said they had killed nine government troops, but the army denied this.
Fighting has taken place since last June in South Kordofan between the Sudanese army and rebels from the northern wing of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, who want to topple the Khartoum government.
Clashes spread to neighbouring Blue Nile state, which also borders newly independent South Sudan, in September.
The violence has already forced about 417,000 people to flee their homes, more than 80,000 of them to South Sudan, the United Nations estimates.
Both Blue Nile and South Kordofan contain large groups who sided with the south in a decades-long civil war, and who say they continue to face persecution inside Sudan since South Sudan seceded in July.
The SPLM is now the ruling party in the independent south and denies supporting SPLM-North rebels across the border.
The SPLM-North rebels said they had killed nine soldiers, destroyed three tanks and seized military equipment in clashes at Tees near the southern border on Monday. They also seized three army vehicles in another attack in the same area on Tuesday, they said in a statement.
Army spokesman Sawarmi Khalid Saad confirmed military operations had taken place in the town of Tees to reopen a road but denied any soldiers had been killed.
"These areas are under army control," he said.
Events in South Kordofan and Blue Nile are difficult to verify because aid groups and foreign journalists are banned from areas where fighting takes place.
SPLM-North is one of a number of rebel movements in underdeveloped border areas who say they are fighting to overthrow Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and end what they see as the dominance of the Khartoum political elite.
Sudan and South Sudan, who still have to resolve a range of issues including the sharing of oil revenues, regularly trade accusations of supporting insurgencies on each other's territory.
Their armed forces clashed at Jau in a region claimed by both sides last month in a rare direct confrontation.
Locals have faced air raids and sporadic ground fighting, according to rights groups and refugees, although Sudan denies it is bombing civilian areas.
(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Ben Harding and Peter Graff)
LAS VEGAS?? Miss America is getting ready to transfer her crown again to one of 53 pageant queens looking to prove they've got a winning combination of looks, talent and smarts to justify a yearlong run with the title.
A panel of seven judges was set to pick the next Miss America on Saturday night during a live telecast on ABC, the culmination of a week of preliminary competitions and months of preparations for the titleholders from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Vote: Will you watch the Miss America pageant? (on this page)
Teresa Scanlan, a Nebraskan who won Miss America last year at age 17 to become the pageant's youngest winner ever, said contestants nerves will likely be at their highest point just before the pageant.
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But the young women have already given judges a first impression, she said, and largely shaped their fate through three nights of preliminary competitions at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
"You can always breathe a sigh of relief" once the live pageant begins, Scanlan said.
Scanlan said the ultimate winner will have thought not only about receiving the crown and $50,000 scholarship, but also about her plans for spending the year as Miss America, touring the country to speak to different groups and raising money for the Children's Miracle Network, the Miss America Organization's official charity.
Story: Miss America contestants beat hardship to take the stage
"It's not just life ends when they place the crown on your head," Scanlan said. "Being prepared for that is even more important than just being prepared through Saturday night."
To win, each will have to impress the panel in preliminary competitions that include an extensive interview to become one of the top 15 finalists.
More contestants will be eliminated Saturday night during swimsuit, evening gown and talent competitions.
The top five finalists will answer a question posed by one of the judges, who will score each of the contestants in each competition throughout the night.
Story: Hawaii jump ropes her way to top 3rd round of Miss America
"When push comes to shove, you're out on the stage by yourself," said Miss America 1962 Maria Beale Fletcher. "All of that other well-meaning advice, all of it disappears. It needs to disappear because then you have to be prepared to rely on the inspiration that comes from within."
Pageant officials announced the winners of preliminary competitions, including Miss Hawaii Lauren Cheape, Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson and Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler for talent, and Miss New York Kaitlin Monte, Miss Texas Kendall Morris and Miss Utah Danica Olsen for swimsuit.
Officials also said Miss Idaho Genevieve Nutting won the $2,000 Fourpoints Award, while Miss Kentucky Ann-Blair Thornton won the $6,000 Quality of Life scholarship.
Story: She's just 17! Nebraskan wins Miss America pageant
The Miss America Organization touts itself as the world's largest giver of scholarships to women, with about $350,000 to be given this year at the national level.
Scanlan said she planned to use her scholarship to help pay for law school en route to a life in politics.
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Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 1:55pm Baker names new Finance Director
Updated Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 3:44pmThe city of Wilmington has a new Finance Director after the resignation of Jim Jones earlier this week.
Mayor Jim Baker has named Laura Papas as acting Finance Director and Jim O'Donnell as Acting Deputy Finance Director.
Papas has worked for the city's finance department for 32 years, most recently serving as Deputy Director.
O'Donnell has worked for the city for 32 years. He's been revenue manager for the finance department in his latest job.
Copyright ? Jan 13, 2012, WDEL/Delmarva Broadcasting Company. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
FREMONT, OH (PRESS RELEASE) - Terra State Community College President Dr. Marsha S. Bordner announced her retirement Friday at a campus-wide meeting.? Dr. Bordner, who has guided the College since October 2003, will retire at the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, 2012.
Dr. Bordner received her undergraduate degrees in English and German, and her Master?s Degree in English from Bowling Green State University. She then received her Ph.D. in English from The Ohio State University.
Dr. Bordner has spent over 35 years committed to higher education both as an educator, and as an administrator.? Unfailing in her belief in the community college system, Dr. Bordner began her career as a faculty member in the Arts and Sciences Division at Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio.? She then assumed the position of Dean of the Arts and Sciences at Clark. Dr. Bordner then served as the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Clark, until she began her presidency at Terra State Community College.
Dr. Bordner has been involved in numerous community organizations and initiatives, among them including the Sandusky County Economic Development Corporation, the Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce, the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation, the local Cancer Society Board, the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation, and is a member of Rotary International.? In January 2011, she was given the Athena Award by the Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce.? This award is given to one woman leader in Sandusky County each year.
?The opportunity to lead and guide the College has been a privilege,? she said.? ?My entire tenure at Terra State Community College has been a blessing, and an opportunity to work alongside so many gifted and committed staff and faculty members.? I am proud to be associated with one of the best and most progressive higher education institutions in Ohio.?
During her presidency, the College converted to semesters, raised two million dollars for a capital campaign, built the state-of-the-art Skilled Trades Center, completed the six million dollar Arts and Health Technologies Center renovation project, completed one successful strategic plan and launched another, sustained double digit enrollment growth, and developed several new programs in health careers.?
Dr. Bordner?s professional associations include numerous committees from the Ohio Board of Regents, the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, and the University System of Ohio.
Dr. Bordner and her husband Dr. Harold Brown reside in nearby Catawba and are looking forward to spending more time with family, traveling, and periodically teaching a class.? ?Retirement will give me the opportunity to spend more time with my children and my grandson.? And, I will finally get the chance to hone my golf game, read, and write Harold?s biography.?
Retirement will not be all rest and relaxation for Dr. Bordner, ?I plan to continue my community involvement and College support; I?ll just have more time for it.??
In closing her remarks to her campus colleagues, Dr. Bordner summed up her announcement by adding, ?In my over 35 years as a public servant, this is truly the best job I have ever had!?
The Board of Trustees is expected to provide an update on the presidential search according to Board Chair Susan Starr at the next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 25, 2012.
See new models from multiple manufacturers combining cost effective, lamp-free illumination with proven potential of 3D teaching, only at BETT Show 2012
January 11, 2012 --
LONDON, Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments (TI) DLP is delighted to announce here at BETT Show 2012 the availability of all-new, lamp-free projection solutions from BenQ and Optoma, each powered by award-winning DLP technology and ready to enhance learning experiences in today's classrooms. By utilizing lamp-free illumination, such as LEDs and lasers, versus traditional bulbs, the BenQ LW61ST (WXGA) / LX60ST (XGA) and Optoma ZW210ST (WXGA) / ZX210ST (XGA) projectors can offer high quality imaging and enough brightness (approximately 2000 lumens each) to light up today's classroom spaces, while increasing the lifespan of the projectors and reducing long-term maintenance costs. These new models join exiting solid state illumination projector models from Casio to incorporate other in-demand features, such as 3D-Ready capabilities, connectivity and interactivity to best fit current as well as future teaching demands. These and other products will be available for demonstration at the TI stand, J30, at the Olympia in London throughout the week.
By dispensing with the most expensive part of projector ownership - lamp replacement - these latest models, like all lamp-free projectors with DLP technology, allow for a lengthy 10,000-plus hours of operation with practically no loss of light output, which enables teachers and their schools' technology administrators to not worry about operational downtime. Other benefits of using lamp-free DLP projectors in today's classrooms include the convenience of instant on/off, reduced power consumption, vibrant color reproduction and greater environmental friendliness (versus traditional lamp-based projectors). And because every DLP-powered projector is inherently filter-free, maintenance worries and related ownership costs are reduced even more.-?
"In the current economic climate, budget cutting remains a key priority for the public sector. Consequently, schools are finding themselves under increasing pressure to deliver stronger long-term results with fewer associated costs," said Roger Carver, manager of Front Projection, DLP Products. "We have nearly two decades of experience in working to provide teachers with the technology tools that can expand their instructional reach and be proven, long-term investments that work. These new lamp-free projectors from BenQ and Optoma reinforce our commitment to that goal, and join our broad range of options to empower teachers and pupils for greater education results."
Beyond larger-scale models that are best suited for the full-sized classroom, the benefits of lamp-free projection can also be found in every DLP Pico--based projector currently available. Typically small enough to easily fit in a backpack or laptop bag, there are now more than 30 products with DLP Pico technology inside, ranging from iDevice, laptop and mobile phone/tablet accessories and docks, to Wi-Fi/Bluetooth-ready standalone units, multimedia players and even cameras, camcorders and mobile phones. With extreme portability, instant on capabilities and multimedia features, these products available from brands like Acer, Asus, Dell, LG, NEC, ViewSonic, Vivitek and others can take small group collaboration and learning to new levels.
Taking Learning Into The Third Dimension
In addition to being lamp-free, the new BenQ and Optoma are also part of the extensive group of DLP projectors that are 3D-Ready. Though widely known for its use in today's movie theatres, video games and elsewhere, 3D can also have a notable positive impact on pupils' potential at school. Recently, Professor Anne Bamford, Director of the International Research Agency, released findings from the LiFE research project, which aimed to measure the value and impact of 3D experiences on pupil learning and achievement, and determine the most effective types of 3D experiences.
The study was undertaken between October 2010 and May 2011 across seven European countries and revealed that pupils' comprehension, information retention and overall behaviour all improved with the addition of 3D projection in the teaching/learning environment. Measured by comparing the pre and post test results of 2D and 3D sample groups, the study found that:
On average 86% of pupils improved from the pre-test to the post-test in the 3D classes, compared to 52% who improved in the 2D classes.
Individuals improved test scores by an average of 17% in the 3D classes,compared to an 8% improvement in the 2D classes between pre-test and post-test.
92% of students on average were attentive during 3D lessons, while only 46% were actively paying attention during non-3D lessons.
Aside from product demonstrations of the latest lamp-free projection solutions during BETT, TI DLP will also be further showcasing the complete results from the LiFE study. Professor Anne Bamford, along with Kathryn Macaulay, whose school in Reading was among those that took part in the study, will be presenting their findings and insights during two separate seminars at BETT:
Thursday 12 January
Kathryn Macaulay
12:30 - 13:30
21st Century ICT in schools: Sustainable implementation of visual interactive technologies
Friday 13January
Professor Anne Bamford
11:15 - 12:00
3D animations in the classroom: Results from a European study into the use of 3D projection technology in the classroom
To learn more about the Texas Instruments DLP technology found in multiple products being shown at BETT Show 2012, or to read additional details from the LiFE research, please visit www.dlp.com/bett2012.
About Texas Instruments DLP Products
Since 1996, Texas Instruments' award-winning DLP display technology has powered the world's top projectors and displays, delivering pictures rich with color, contrast, clarity and brightness to screens of all sizes. DLP's technology spans movie theaters (DLP Cinema ) and large-scale, professional venues; in conference rooms, classrooms, and home theaters; and with DLP Pico--enabled mobile devices, the ability to project images from the palm of your hand. Every DLP chip features an array of up to 2.2 million microscopic mirrors that switch at ultra high speeds - an innovative advantage that remains cutting edge and ideal for current and future applications alike. The results are high-resolution, highly reliable, razor-sharp images, that even work with fast motion video. To learn more about DLP technology, please visit www.DLP.com, or follow DLP on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TI_DLP.
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through design, sales and manufacturing operations in more than 30 countries. For more information, go to www.TI.com.
SOURCE Texas Instruments DLP
Copyright 2010 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved
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