Sew La Ti Embroidery [Search results for England] 

Miss England 2011 will be crowned on 19th of July 2011 at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole. The winner will represent England in Miss World 2011 Pageant. Over 80 heats have been held over the last year with over 10,000 girls entering the competition. Now just sixty one winners will participate in the national final of Miss England 2011. Check out the photos of some finalists.

hfinalist

Courtesy of Miss England.

Gallery: Miss England 2011 Pageant

VIA Miss England 2011 will be crowned on 19th of July 2011 at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole -The winner will represent England in Miss World 2011

Courtenay Rose Dodd - Miss England 2011 finalist

Alize Lily Mounter

Courtenay Rose Dodd

Sarah Fairley

Hannah Gray

VIA Miss England 2011 will be crowned on 19th of July 2011

On June 15, 1215, in fields by the banks of the River Thames at Runnymede to the west of London, England's King John agreed to the demands of his rebelling barons and accepted the Magna Carta, Latin for "Great Charter", which for the first time placed the monarch under the rule of law.

In the centuries since, it has taken on huge global significance, becoming the basis for the U.S. Bill of Rights, the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Three of its 63 clauses still remain on Britain's statute book.

"What happened in these meadows eight centuries ago is as relevant today as it was then. And that relevance extends far beyond Britain," British Prime Minister David Cameron said.

He said the document had changed the world, inspiring people from the founding fathers of the United States and Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi to Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

"Its remaining copies may be faded, but its principles shine as brightly as ever," Cameron told the ceremony attended by the queen, other royals and global figures including U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Magna Carta came into being during a period of great political upheaval in England with conflict between King John, his nobles and the English church.

It was essentially a peace deal to address the problems of the day and was annulled by the pope shortly afterwards. But updated versions, which included two original clauses regarded as pivotal in establishing the rule of law, were re-released regularly by or on behalf of succeeding monarchs.

The clauses read: "No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land.

"To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice."

Originals Exist

Four original copies of the document, written on a single sheet of parchment about the size of A3 paper, still exist.

At Monday's ceremony, a new art installation was unveiled and the American Bar Association's Magna Carta Memorial, which was erected at the site in 1957, was re-dedicated.

U.S. Attorney General Lynch said the charter was a bedrock to free societies globally, while Cameron also used the anniversary as a political opportunity to underpin his plan to overhaul human rights laws and reduce the influence of Europe.

However, John Dyson, chairman of the Magna Carta Trust, said King John and the barons would have been bemused that the document would garner such interest hundreds of years later.

"They would surely have been astonished that over time Magna Carta came to be regarded as one of the most important constitutional documents in our history," he said.

"They would not have believed that barons' lists of demands would become a symbol of democracy, justice, human rights and perhaps above all, the rule of law for the whole world. But that is exactly what has happened."

Author: Stefan Wermuth | Source: Reuters [June 15, 2015]

http://www.abc.com.py/
Special thanks and credits toilovebeauty56:http://www.pinoyexchange.com/
& http://shinymeteor.blogspot.com

Miss Mundo Paraguay 2011

Miss Internacional Paraguay 2011

Stephania Sofía Vázquez Stegman(18, 1.77m, Asunción) won theMiss Internacional Paraguay 2011title and will go to Miss International 2011 in Chengdu, China.

Coral Ruíz Reyes was the first runner-up and Lourdes María del Carmen Motta Rolón was the second runner-up. Myrian Leticia Patiño Arguello and Alexandra Helena Fretes Galeano completed the Top 7.

VIA The Final Results of Miss Paraguay 2011

Miss Mundo Paraguay 2011

Miss Internacional Paraguay 2011

Stephania Sofía Vázquez Stegman(18, 1.77m, Asunción) won theMiss Internacional Paraguay 2011title and will go to Miss International 2011 in Chengdu, China.

Coral Ruíz Reyes was the first runner-up and Lourdes María del Carmen Motta Rolón was the second runner-up. Myrian Leticia Patiño Arguello and Alexandra Helena Fretes Galeano completed the Top 7.

VIA Latest results of Miss Paraguay 2011/ Reinas Paraguayas 2011 - Miss Universo Paraguay 2011 is Alba Riquelme

Short shorts: The back of the playsuit was featured an on-tend cutaway, but one that is much more suited to black tie evening wear than to a sporting event
It also had a curiously baggy, and very unflattering top-half, which made her chest look saggy as she ran around the court.
But far from being something a sponsor forced the player to wear, this was an outfit from Venus' own clothing line, EleVen.
The back of the playsuit featured an on-tend cutaway, albeit one that is much more suited to black tie evening wear than to a sporting event.
In action: Venus' outfit showed off her enviable figure - and the gold hot pants she was wearing underneath
Venus did not get everything wrong though - the cotton material had a pretty leafy design woven into it which could have made a lovely sun dress.
The short cut also showed off the tennis star's enviably long legs as she took huge strides towards the net. And the strange outfit clearly did not hold the 31-year-old back, she won her sets 6-3, 6-1.
Cut above: Another view of the outfit from the rear
Yesterday, Venus' little sister, Serena, made her return to Wimbledon following a serious foot injury and blood clots in her lungs that almost ruled her out of tennis for life.
She made sure to stand out in fit form during warm ups by wearing some skin-tight pink and white tie-dye leggings.
And by the looks of the fiery stare in her eye, the US player about to give it her all during her comeback.
Serena, who is a fan of flamboyant on-court ensembles, combined her Nike leggings with a white long-sleeved T-shirt and a Nike black cap.
On-court ensemble: Serena brightened up the court during her warm ups by wearing the tie-dye leggings
She is currently ranked World No. 25 in women’s singles, but has admitted that her and her sister Venus haven’t been able to train as much for the competition as they would have liked.
Serena said: ‘We spent a lot more time together because we were both off.
‘We both haven’t played pretty much at all. It’s been good because, sometimes I hate to say it, but, when you’re down, it’s always good to see someone down with you.’
Letting her hair down: Serena of the USA was talking to the media at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club yesterday ahead of the Wimbledon Championships
Last year Serena won her fourth Wimbledon championship but afterwards suffered a serious foot injury from stepping on broken glass at a restaurant – preventing her from playing for the remainder of 2010.
In March this year she then suffered a hematoma and a pulmonary embolism but has still returned as the defending champion at Wimbledon this year.
While her sister Venus suffered from a hip muscle injury this year.
On top of Serena's medical complications, she may also have to face a showery start to Wimbledon.
Sisters in white: Serena and Venus both wore all-white tennis outfits while training over the weekend
Weather forecasters have predicted torrential rain for the first three days .
But tennis fans still braved the weather to camp outside the All England Lawn Tennis Club in south London last night.
Luckily for the players, officials are preparing to shut the £100million retractable roof on Centre Court, to prevent the rain interfering with the match.
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, 25, of Spain will open this year’s 125th Wimbledon Championship on Centre Court.
Off-court glamour: Serena looked elegant in a green silk dress at the WTA Pre-Wimbledon Party at the Kensington Roof Gardens in London last week

source :dailymail

VIA No Venus! Another Williams sister fashion disaster as tennis player wears ghastly playsuit at Wimbledon

Kim Kardashian to Sue Bret Lockett

According to TMZ reports on Thursday; New England Patriots safety Bret Lockett has been warned of a lawsuit byKim Kardashian's attorney; if he does not withdraw his long-distance affair claims with Kim Kardashian.

On Wednesday, the 24-year-old Lockett disclosed in media about Kim Kardashian's likely cheating on her fiancé, New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries.

Bret Lockett revealed that he had physical proof of the 5-month-long affair with the Kardashian, but they never had a physical contact during this period. The media report claimed the two "sexted" each other and that Kardashian sent her open picture to Lockett.

The 30-year-old reality TV Star KimKardashian has fervently refused the claims in the report, stating she has never met Lockett and never had any such contact with him.

Letter sent by Kim’s attorney reportedly asks an excuse and a withdrawal of the statements by Lockett, saying the claims are "an attempt to garner publicity, including promoting his musical aspirations."

VIA Kim Kardashian - Bret Lockett Alleged Affair: Kardashian to Sue Bret Lockett for false Claims

Furious: Cheryl's mother Joan Callaghan is understood to have challenged her daughter's judgement in letting the footballer back in her life
But Joan is said to have challenged her daughter's judgement, asking, 'How many times do you want your heart broken?' the Daily Mirror reports.
Cheryl's family and friends believe that 'once a cheat, always a cheat - and Ashley will go and break her heart again,' a source told the paper.
Close friends of Mrs Cole last night confirmed she returned to their £5million marital home in Surrey three weeks ago to spend the evening with him.
It is believed Cheryl and Ashley recently spent a night together at their marital home in Godalming, Surrey
A source said the couple did not share a bed, but added: 'Who knows what is going to happen in the future with them?
'Ashley is a predator, he likes a challenge and Cheryl is so tired and emotional that she may just give in.
'He is the only man she has ever truly loved and that's a powerful thing – and Ashley knows how to play her like a violin.
Maestro: A friend said Ashley, seen here in LA, knows how to play Cheryl like a violin
'Cheryl has only a very small core group of friends and family whom she trusts – her mother, her brother, the girls from Girls Aloud and her PA, who is one of her best friends – and that could make anyone feel lonely and insular at times.'
Joan is also understood to be furious with Derek Hough for seemingly abandoning Cheryl at her most vulnerable.
Hough was a constant presence at Cheryl's side throughout her divorce and battle with malaria last year, but has disappeared from her life.

Protective: Joan is also said to be angry at Derek Hough for 'abandoning' her daughter during her lowest point
Cole, 30, is currently on a 'lads' holiday in Los Angeles, while Mrs Cole – who has kept a low profile for the past month after being sacked from the U.S. version of The X Factor – is at a rented home in North London.
Last night, a source close to the footballer said he had even made plans to cut short his holiday to try to win back his ex-wife.
'Cheryl told him she needs him and that she wants him to come back early and he's agreed,' the source said.
Mrs Cole last saw him two weeks ago before he flew to California.
Her divorce was made final in October shortly after she had battled malaria. In a recent TV interview with Piers Morgan, she said: 'We had a great relationship.
There's part of us that will always love him.'
source :dailymail

VIA Don't do it pet! Cheryl Cole's family beg her not to forgive cheating ex Ashley as rumours of reconciliation heat up

Scholars and curious visitors have spent more than a century trying to unravel those mysteries and more work needs to be done.

That's why nearly 30 top archaeologists from universities and organizations around the nation called on the U.S. Interior Department on Tuesday to protect the area surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park from oil and gas development.

In a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, they talked about the countless hours they've spent in the field, the dozens of books they've published about the Chaco society and their decades of collective experience studying its connection to modern Native American tribes in the Southwest. They call Chaco a distinct resource.

"Many of the features associated with this landscape — the communications and road systems that once linked the canyon to great house sites located as far away as southeast Utah and which are still being identified to this day — have been damaged by the construction of oil and gas roads, pipelines and well pads," the archaeologists said.

They're pushing for the agency to consider a master leasing plan that would take into account cultural resources beyond the boundaries of the national park. They're also looking for more coordination between federal land managers, tribes and archaeologists.

The Bureau of Land Management is revamping its resource management plan for the San Juan Basin and all new leasing within a 10-mile radius of Chaco park has been deferred until the plan is updated, likely in 2016.

Wally Drangmeister, a spokesman for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, said the BLM's existing plan already takes into account cultural resources. He said there has been a push by environmentalists to tie Chaco to development in the Mancos shale more than 10 miles from the park.

Environmentalists have been calling for protections for the greater Chaco area, and Drangmeister said that expansive definition could put the whole San Juan Basin off limits.

The basin is one of the largest natural gas fields in the U.S. and has been in production for more than 60 years. More development is expected in some areas since technology is making it easier for energy companies to tap the region's oil resources.

Some archaeologists have theorized that Chaco's influence spread far and wide from its remote desert location. A World Heritage site, Chaco includes a series of great houses, or massive multistory stone buildings, some of which were oriented to solar and lunar directions and offered lines of sight between buildings to allow for communication.

Steve Lekson, a professor and curator at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, has spent years studying Chaco and its influence over the Southwest. He likened the process to learning how to play baseball after discovering home base and the pitcher's mound.

"You keep poking around and find more bases and the warning tracks and all that stuff. You need the whole picture to understand how the game is played," he said. "Of course, Chaco being a political system or major regional system is much more complicated than baseball. You need enough of the package intact so you can actually understand the structure of the thing."

Lekson and others said the hope that there's more to be discovered doesn't mean energy development should come to a halt.

"I don't think anybody is saying that, but we need to pay a lot of attention to how that's done and be cognizant of the larger issue," he said. "It shouldn't be a site-by-site thing."

The archaeologists' letter comes on the heels of a tour of the Chaco area by U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, and Interior Deputy Secretary Mike Connor. The two met with land managers and others after the tour.

Connor said there are Navajo allottees who want to develop their resources and other Native Americans who want to protect those resources.

"It's a balancing act throughout all of BLM's lands and I think Chaco is particularly unique," he said. "The more I learn about it, the more I was struck by the more we all have to learn."

Author: Susan Montoya Bryan | Source: The Associated Press [July 01, 2015]

'Invisible woman': Nicole showed off her longs legs in a metallic grey dress with a studded belt, seen right the woman she replaced, Cheryl Cole on her first day of auditions in Los Angeles last month
Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger beamed as they made their introductions.
And it was a case of ‘Cheryl, who’s Cheryl?’ as Miss Scherzinger, 32, was introduced to the crowd by Cowell as ‘our own answer to Cruella de Vil.’
It was as if Mrs Cole had never even been on set as the slender brunette then triumphantly punched the air, making it clear that she deserved the job, screaming: ‘What’s up New Jersey? How are you? Y’all feeling good today?’
It's Saula: Simon Cowell has given Nicole high praise, saying she is like a breath of fresh air, but it was Paula Abdul who he was lauding with attention as the pair shared a smooch as they arrived today
Pretty in pink: Paula stood out in a bright short dress, teamed with Christian Louboutin heels
Clad in a figure-hugging green jumpsuit and gold stilettos, the singer added: ‘I don’t know if you all know this, but today is my first day on the job for the X Factor – I’m here for you. I’m at your service, New Jersey.’
‘So please, please, lets have some fun and let’s show X Factor some love!’
The former Pussycat Doll singer was promoted from show co-host to a judge after Mrs Cole, 27, was removed from the panel after filming four auditions.
Unbreakable bond: Simon and Paula were very touchy-feely as they greeted the waiting media and fans outside the arena
Say cheese: Former Pussycat Doll Nicole poses with fellow judge L.A. Reid, who looked dapper in a suit with brown suede shoes
And speaking after the first round of auditions at the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey, music mogul Cowell told the Daily Mail: ‘Didn’t’ Nicole do well? She was terrific.
‘She’s a great addition to the panel, she’ll be great. She’s just what we needed – she’s a breath of fresh air.’
The entire judging panel looked terribly cosy as Miss Abdul, 48 cuddled, up to Cowell , 51,and Miss Scherzinger bantered with record executive Reid.

Lively: Nicole was loving all the attention she was getting as she posed for photos and spoke to the Press
And when asked if they knew who Mrs Cole was, audience members professed ignorance and one said: ‘We don’t know her in America.’
An onlooker said: ‘It was as if Cheryl had never been there at all, everyone looked happy and relaxed. It was like she had been rubbed out of the show.’
Mrs Cole is yet to make a public appearance after flying home to England from the auditions in Chicago two weeks ago.
The star was removed from the U.S. judging panel after being told by TV executives that she had lost her ‘sparkle.’
Meet my new BFF: Nicole posted a picture with fellow U.S. X Factor judge Paula on her Twitter page
The move then sparked a 10-day standoff beween her and Cowell that ended in her snubbing a £2.5 million offer to return to the U.K. X Factor – and finally an 11th hour offer to try again as a judge on the U.S. show.
She turned down the offer to return to America on Monday, leaving Miss Scherzinger - who was a guest judge at the U.K. X Factor auditions last year - to fill her high heels.
A show source said: ‘Nicole is feisty, she’s loud, she gets the crowd going – and she’s ambitious.
‘In short, she’s exactly what the X Factor needs. She was great on the first day and managed to spar with Cowell and the rest of the judges.’
Speaking earlier this week, Cowell told the Mail that it had been a ‘rough few weeks.’
Having a blast: Crowds assemble outside the Prudential Center in New Jersey
What a line-up: These are the first auditions to be filmed with Scherzinger as a judge
Coming soon: X Factor starts airing from September in the U.S. on the Fox network
Hot competition: A neon-clad Paula Abdul took on former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger in a battle of puffball frocks as the X Factor auditions kicked off in New Jersey yesterday
source: dailymail

VIA 'A breath of fresh air': Leggy Nicole is a hit at U.S. X Factor auditions as Cheryl becomes 'the invisible woman'

But four years after the uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak and nearly ended his own career, Zahi Hawass can be found in a cramped Cairo office, lamenting the state of the antiquities bureaucracy he once ruled like a pharaoh and dreaming of a new museum whose fate lies in limbo.

His trademark wide-brimmed hat and safari vest may be hung up for now, but he is brimming with ideas on how to revive Egypt's antiquities and bring back tourists after years of unrest.

A long-planned new facility out by the pyramids, called the Grand Egyptian Museum, was intended to open this year, but the government says it is short the one billion dollars needed to complete the project.

"Government routine cannot work for museums," Hawass said in an interview in his office, asserting that state bureaucracy is one of the main reasons the current Egyptian Museum has fallen into disrepair. For the new museum, "the directorship, the curatorship, it can be from America, from Germany, from England, from any place in the world. You need this museum to be international."

He also says private, international sponsorship is needed.

"If you pay $10,000, I put your name, written on the wall of the museum. If you pay $100,000, I put your name on the facade of the museum. If you build a whole gallery, I will name (the gallery after you)," he said, adding that the government should announce that Egyptian monuments belong to the entire world, not just Egyptians.

As to the challenge of moving artifacts from the current museum in downtown Cairo over bumpy roads to the site of the new facility on the city's outskirts, Hawass says "any TV channel" would pick up the tab in return for exclusive rights to document the artifacts' restoration and transport. "They will run in competition to do this," he said.

Hawass knows TV. He was once a staple on the Discovery Channel and had his own reality show on the History Channel called "Chasing Mummies," the promo for which introduced him by saying "100,000 years of history belong to one man... Only he holds the key to the world's greatest ruins."

The productions earned him droves of fans abroad but led to accusations of grandstanding in Egypt, where he was seen by many as a self-promoter who mistreated subordinates and abused his position for personal gain. He lost his job as head of antiquities after the 2011 uprising and faced corruption charges, of which he was later cleared.

But his swashbuckling antics gave a boost to Egyptian archaeology, with fundraising efforts and international tours of King Tut artifacts generating tens of millions of dollars.

His name is still associated with many of Egypt's most famous digs, including grand discoveries such as the Valley of the Golden Mummies in Bahariya Oasis in 1999 and the mummy of Queen Hatshepsut almost a decade later. He has long campaigned to bring home ancient artifacts spirited out of Egypt during colonial times, and once said he had managed to recover 5,000 pieces.

Zahi was an outspoken supporter of his longtime patron Mubarak, and has praised President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who led the military overthrow of an Islamist president in 2013 and was elected last year. But that support has not translated into an official role other than promotional work for tourism in Egypt.

When asked about the state of antiquities today, Hawass says things have improved over the last year, carefully avoiding direct criticism of anyone in particular. But he points out that there is still theft, mismanagement and corruption - noting two incidents in recent months in which artifacts were found to have been replaced with replicas.

"This did not happen before," he said, adding that in order to prevent such abuses, "we need to restore the people before we restore antiquities," by boosting employees' salaries and providing them with health insurance.

Hawass insisted during the interview that he is focused on writing and has no desire to return to his previous position as head of the country's antiquities. "People come here every day and ask me to come back... I think I did my duty, and it's time for me now to publish all that I discovered."

But at the glitzy launch of his latest book earlier this month at a ceremony at a five-star hotel attended by hundreds of Cairo's elite, he was less guarded about possible ambitions to return.

"Maybe," he said, as a torrent of fans pressed to take photos next to him.

Author: Brian Rohan | Source: The Associated Press [June 30, 2015]

VIA Julia Furtado was crowned Miss Maine 2011

Stranded: Passengers sleep on the floor at Edinburgh Airport after their flights were cancelled late last night
Tens of thousands of families are facing air travel chaos from today – and into the half-term holidays – as a thick cloud of volcanic ash descends over the UK.
The towering plume of Icelandic ash, smoke and steam hit Scotland and Ireland last night, bringing disruption to airlines, leading to the cancellation of 252 flights - and forecasters say the plume is expected to reach Heathrow airport by 1pm bringing further chaos.
British Airways and a host of other airlines last night cancelled all flights between London and Scotland until 2pm today, and the Civil Aviation Authority has said the ash cloud is moving unpredictably and changing by the hour.
Closer to the source: A plane flies past smoke plume from the eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano in Southeast Iceland but flights in Britain are being cancelled
Stationary: Eastern Airways, which has cancelled all flights to an from Scotland, now has its planes standing still at Aberdeen Airport
Shortly after 8am the Met Office said that high level densities of ash were likely to be confined to Scotland and northern England today.
A Met Office spokeswoman went on: 'The weather is uncertain over the next few days. We have a low pressure system moving in tomorrow and there could be some westerly winds.
'However, very small changes in weather patterns can make very large changes in how the ash will move.'
Between 30 and 40 BA flights will be affected from airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and London City to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The airline runs 80 flights a day between these airports.
Pink lightening: The stormy conditions around the Grimsvotn volcano look dramatic but authorities insist that it poses a lesser threat than the last ash cloud
Problems: The departures board at Edinburgh Airport shows the disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud already
Royal Dutch Airlines KLM cancelled the 16 flights scheduled for this morning to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle.
The airlines said customers on any cancelled flights will be able to claim a full refund or rebook on to alternative flights – and that all other flights will operate as scheduled.
A BA spokesman said: ‘We would urge customers not to travel to the airport if their flight has been cancelled.’
At least 36 flights were cancelled in Scotland last night and today, as airports across Britain were put on stand-by for imminent disruption.
Easy Jet, Aer Lingus, Flybe, KLM, Logan Air and Eastern Airways have all cancelled flights to and from Scotland.
Ryan Air has been ordered by the Irish Aviation Authority to cancel flights to and from Glasgow, Prestwick, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Presidential flight: Barack Obama and Air Force One touch down at Stansted Airport last night after he was forced to rearrange his plans because of the ash cloud
'Perhaps it's a little bit too early to be absolutely sure about that, but clearly that's the most important thing - if the ash stops belching out of the volcano then, after a few days, the problem will have cleared, so that's one of the factors.
'The other is the wind speed and direction. At the moment the weather patterns are very volatile which is what is making it quite difficult, unlike last year, to predict where the ash will go.
'The public can be absolutely confident the regulators that airlines are only able to operate when it is safe to do so.'
U.S. President Barack Obama flew from Ireland to London last night – a day early – to ensure the cloud does not delay his state visit.
Haves and have nots: President Obama flew early so he could avoid being stuck in Ireland longer than he wanted, but these stranded passengers at Edinburgh Airport didn't have that luxury

Grey skies: Emergency services vehicles in Kirkjubaearklaustur are covered in a thick layer of the volcanic ash from clouds that are now passing over Britain


How are we going to get home? Tourists leave the Islandia Hotel yesterday in Nupur as ash continue to pour out of the erupting volcano
What happens now depends on three things. How long the volcano continues to erupt (this could be days or just hours); how the airlines decide to interpret the ash guidelines issued by the Civil Aviation Authority – which is unknown – and, lastly, the weather.
With a fair wind and a bit of geological luck, holidaymakers might manage to get away as planned this weekend.
But if, like the millions of Britons who enjoyed the blissfully silent skies of April last year, Iceland’s trolls and elves decide they too appreciate the silence of plane-free skies, we could be looking at yet another week of travel nightmare for millions.
UK airspace is 'better prepared' for volcanic ash cloud as flights could be threatened

source: dailymail

VIA Nightmare for air passengers begins as hundreds of flights are cancelled and volcanic ash threatens half-term getaway

Taking to the stage to accept the BAFTA, stars Sam Faiers and Amy Childs were literally jumping up and down and screaming with glee, while Mark Wright said: 'We're absolutely overwhelmed to be here tonight, even to be nominated. But to win, it's incredible.'
And Amy wanted to have her own input, leaning over to the microphone and saying her catchphrase 'Shut up!' into the microphone.
Screams all round: The group take to the stage to accept their award
Screams all round: The group take to the stage to accept their award
After winning the prize, Joey Essex told MailOnline: 'It's reem!'
While Mark elaborated: 'I'm in shock. There's no way I thought we were giong to win.
And when they called our names out, and all the screaming... I'm still in shock.'
Amy added: 'I couldn't believe it when they called our names out. I just hope I didn't trip over my dress! Did you see me and Sam jumping up and down on stage?'
Victory! Sam, Amy, Lauren and Lydia pose with their award
Other awards during the ceremony tonight included the best drama series prize, which was presented to BBC1's Sherlock.
The hit series beat shows such as ITV1's Downton Abbey, as well as BBC3's Being Human and E4's Misfits.
Sherlock - based on Conan Doyle's timeless stories - was launched last summer and became a huge hit, despite running to only three episodes although new shows are now in production.
Writer and co-creator of the modern day adaptation of the detective shows Mark Gatiss said: 'It's a huge honour and a fantastic surprise. Thank you so much - it's a huge thrill.'
Big Fat disappointment: Big Fat Gypsy Weddings stars Paddy Doherty and wife Roseanne Doherty must have been disappointed to miss out to TOWIE
The New Media prize went to Wallace And Gromit's World Of Adventure, beating online spin-offs and apps for the BBC's Brain Test Britain, the Thick Of It and Misfits.
Another early winner at the awards bash at London's Grosvenor House was the BBC1 film Between Life And Death which was named best single documentary.
Presenter Graham Norton raised a chuckle as he lined up the International TV Show award when he cracked a gag about Geordie Cheryl Cole's recent recruitment for the US version of the X Factor.

Stunned: Misfits star Lauren Socha took home the best supporting actress prize at the awards ceremony
'Just because a programme has subtitles doesn't mean it can't be successful - just look at Cheryl Cole on American X Factor.'
The prize went to epic Danish crime drama The Killing. Norton joked: 'Thank you Denmark - first bacon, now The Killing.'
Gatiss and Steven Moffat first had the idea for Sherlock after a conversation on a train about their love for the Victorian detective but did not take it any further. Moffat said the credit for getting it off the ground should go to his wife.
Delighted: David Attenborough won the specialist factual award for Flying Monsters 3D
Speaking backstage, he said: 'For two-and-a-half-years we just talked about it and I casually mentioned it to my wife, Sue, who is a producer and she leapt at it so we would still be on the train.'
Benedit Cumberbatch, who plays the master sleuth, said he was proud to be in the 'very, very good company' of his fellow nominees.
He said: 'I'm a big Misfits fan so I thought they were in with a shot.'
Moffat also confirmed there could be more series of Sherlock to come, saying: 'Of course it's got legs. It is 100 years old and still a hit.'
Famous friends: Benedict Cumberbatch (left) and Martin Freeman with the best Drama Series award for Sherlock
Success: Vicky McClure won the leading actress award for This Is England '86, presented by Cuba Gooding Jr
Smile please! Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall with the Features award and Mark Austin with the News Coverage award
Delighted: Daniel Rigby with the Leading Actor award
Sir Trevor McDonald with the Bafta Fellowship award and Graham Norton with the Entertainment Performance award
Delight: Sandy Johnston and Izzy Mant of Harry and Paul with Sheridan Smith
Grins all around: The ITV News at 10 team with their news coverage prize


Essex cast pick up their BAFTA

source:dailymail

VIA The Only Way Is Essex beats Downton Abbey and Sherlock to take home the YouTube Audience prize at the BAFTA Television Awards

Kate, whose brother James suffers from dyslexia, is a former pupil at Marlborough College, whose current boarding fees are £29,000 a year, and went on to study at St Andrews University.
This is a rare example of her handwriting before she joined the Royal Family and had flunkeys to check, or even write, letters for her.
Oops: One of Kate Middleton's errors
In a two-page letter displayed in a glass cabinet, she wrote in looping script: ‘Dear Sir. Thank you for your kind hospitality at Wimbledon last week. My friend and I had such a fantastic time and it was great to be able to enjoy the day knowing that we could have a little peace and quite if things got a little too hectic.
‘It was a wonderfully relaxed day and we even spent part of it on the “Henman/Murray Hill”, which was great fun. I really was not expecting to be looked after with such hospitality and I certainly wasn’t expecting to see any of the Centre Court games.
‘I do hope the end of the tournament runs smoothly and this fantastic weather lasts ’till the end of the week.
Rumours: Kate Middleton may attend this year's tournament before going to Canada and the U.S. with Prince William
‘Thank you again for making it such a fun and easy visit.’
The note, whose address is covered by a strategically placed Union Jack flag, is signed off: ‘Best wishes, Catherine Middleton.’
It is believed the duchess was consulted and gave her permission for it to be revealed to the public – perhaps unaware of her errors.
Speculation is rife at SW19 that she will visit with her sister Pippa before leaving for her first official royal tour of Canada and the U.S. with Prince William.
source :dailymail

VIA Grateful Kate and the handwritten Wimbledon thank you letter... with a spelling mistake

All too much: Miss Williams was upset because she has been out of the game for year following a severe foot injury and suffering from blood clots on her lungs
But as the 29-year-old explained later, emotion overwhelmed her because yesterday was a day she feared she would never see after a year in which her life – let alone her sporting career – almost came to an end.
The American has been absent from tennis for 49 weeks after suffering serious foot injuries in an accident, then life-threatening blood clots on her lungs. ‘It definitely hit me at the end of the match,’ she said. ‘I’m not a crier, so I don’t know.
‘It definitely was so emotional for me because throughout the last 12 months, I’ve been through a lot of things that’s not normal. So it’s just been a long, arduous road. To stand up still is pretty awesome.
Watching on: The large crowd sees Serena rifle down another serve during the match
‘So this was probably the most emotional I’ve gotten after a match, after a win.’ By the standards of some of her previous outfits, Miss Williams was dressed relatively soberly in a white tennis dress with navy piping, matched by a classic cable-knit cardigan – although her hot pants were black.
She added: ‘It wasn’t about winning the match. It was about being out there. Everyone that has had some troubles, whether it be health, whether it be something else, to realise that you can do it. But it just really goes to show if you don’t give up, you still have a chance.’
Hand raised in victory: Serena forces a smile seconds after confirming her win and before the emotion got too much
Within days of claiming her 13th Grand Slam title at the All England Club last summer, Miss Williams’s feet were cut by glass as she left a restaurant in Munich, wearing sandals.
Then in March she had trouble breathing and was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism.
She revealed: ‘I was on my death bed at one point – quite literally. It got to the stage where it felt like I could hardly breathe. Some days I didn’t get out of bed at all. I just laid on a couch thinking, why has this happened to me?
‘At first people said it would be fine, it would be all right but it turned out to be a lot more serious. If it had been left two days later it could have been career-ending – or even worse. They told me I had several blood clots in both lungs. A lot of people die from that.’
In action: Serena Williams plays a forehand during her two sets to one victory over French player Aravane Rezai

Knocked out: Aravane Rezai reaches for a shot during the defeat to Williams on Wimbledon's Centre Court
Floored Serena Williams makes winning lob

source: dailymail

VIA Tears of 'back from the dead, Serena': Williams breaks down after opening victory at Wimbledon

Flanked by River Haro on the one side and Margalla Hills on the other, Taxila is a vast serial site that includes a Mesolithic cave and the archaeological remains of four early colony sites. “It is one of the most important archaeological sites in Asia,” according to UNESCO.

With so much to show the world, Taxila is ignored on the tourist map largely because of the country’s security situation, lack of tourism promotion, and privation of facilities in the city.

From the famous Grand Trunk (GT) Road, a small and poorly metalled road leads to Taxila Museum and the archaeological sites. The picturesque lush green natural landscape has changed dramatically over the last 25 years.

Unplanned houses, hand carts, shops and vendors’ stalls are the modern hallmarks of the area, instead of its previous relaxing and enjoyable natural beauty. The rapid urbanisation of the area and the plunder of the sites has cost the sites dearly and yet nobody pays attention to it.

The results are obvious. The Global Heritage Fund has identified Taxila as one of 12 sites worldwide that are “On the Verge” of irreparable loss and damage. The fund’s 2010 report attributes this irreparable loss to insufficient management, development pressure, looting, and war and conflict as primary threats.

Moving along the dusty and crowded Grand Trunk (GT) Road from Islamabad to Taxila, the monument of Brigadier general John Nicholson, a famous military figure of the British Empire, greets a visitor. The monument is located on the Margalla Hills — the gateway to Taxila.

The sighting of Nicholson’s monument takes the visitor instantaneously to the days of British Colonial Raj. The time when teams of archaeologists were digging around the town of Taxila in search of the lost civilisations. The finding has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“It’s the marvel Pakistan got from the British Colonial Raj and yet it has not properly promoted as a tourist destination,” said Javed Iqbal, an archaeologist. Taxila is one of the three top Pakistani archaeology sites including the ruins of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro — two of the main cities that comprise the Indus Valley Civilisation, he said.

Sir John Marshall, the director-general of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1902 to 1928, began the excavations at Taxila that continued for the next twenty years. In 1918, Marshall laid the foundation stone of the Taxila Museum to preserve the precious findings.

The museum is built in the middle of the archaeological site and has a rich collection of relics, artefacts, stupas, and stone and stucco sculptures from different Buddhist monasteries, Gandhara Art and the Kushana period. The Kingdom of Gandhara lasted from the Vedic period (1500-500 BC) as a centre of Graeco-Buddhism, Bactrian Zoroastrianism and Animism.

Ahmad Alamgir, another archaeologist and historian, who met me at the museum said that only one significant development had been carried out by the government of Pakistan in almost a century.

“Sir Marshall actually could not complete the original plan of the museum when he had to leave for England. After the creation of Pakistan, the government of Pakistan constructed the northern gallery of the museum in 1998 … and that’s it,” he said.

The museum has a number of galleries in which findings from the surrounding sites have been presented subject wise. There are lines of wall and table showcases in the galleries and a complete stupa, from the Buddhist monastery of Mohra Moradu, stands in the middle of the main hall of the museum.

A vast collection of stucco heads of Buddha showing different faces and styles is the main attraction for tourists. The big Buddha heads are typically Gandharan in style, according to the archaeologists.

City of Cut Stone

The historic town of Taxila, originally Takaśilā in Sanskrit  (meaning City of Cut Stone) is located around 35km from Islamabad just off the famous Grand Trunk Road. The city is still famous of its artisans, who keep their ancestors’ profession alive, by making stone sculptures, murals and panels.

They also produce flower pots, planters, fountains, garden ornaments, balusters, pillars and railings, and fire places. Taxila, according to historians, thrived from 518BC to 600AD. In 326BC Alexander the Great and his armies encountered charging elephants in battle against Hindu king Porus.

Before fighting the battle, Alexander marched through the city and was greeted by King Ambhi. In 300BC Taxila was conquered by the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta Maurya that disintegrated the Bactrian Greeks, the successors of Alexander, in 190BC. Ashoka, the legendary king of India, ruled Taxila as governor under his father Bindusara’s rule. The city, which is a part of Rawalpindi district, is now a main industrial town of Pakistan with heavy machine factories and industrial complex, stoneware and pottery.

Author: Aftab Kazmi | Source: Gulf News [July 18, 2015]

Smooth operator: Shane Warne as he was in 2005 and how he now looks six years on
The cricketer, who has built up a reputation as a stereotypical macho Australian 'bloke', appeared to be wearing make up to boost his looks.
He had his eyebrows shaped into a definite arch, perhaps styled by his own girlfriend, together with a goofy smoothed over hairstyle.
Also noteworthy was his distinctly smoother looking face, particularly the area around his eyes with the disappearance of his crow's feet.
You old smoothie: Shane Warne's altered appearance has led to speculation from some observers
Posed up: The couple, who have been dating since last December, looked smart in their outfits
In recent weeks observers have noted that the cricketer's formerly weathered, rough and ready appearance has altered somewhat thanks primarily to his weight loss, though he has rubbished any suggestion of surgery.
Last week, cosmetic surgeon Dr Shahab Mahdi told the Daily Star: "The difference in Shane's appearance is dramatic. In my opinon it looks as though he has had a facelift.'
His army of followers are not convinced either, accusing Shane of having a little help in the anti-ageing department.
The morning after! Shane Warne didn't look like he was recovering from a hangover today while strolling around London
Making a statement: Elizabeth opted for an animal-print gown which featured a long trailing train
One fan took to Twitter, saying: 'He looks like a waxwork, all plucked and sculptured.'
Another blogger from the social networking site wrote: 'How much surgery has shane warne had? Lol, the male version of jordan!'
However the 41-year-old bowler defended himself, retaliating with: 'Questions re faclift/ Botox etc are absolute rubbish.'

Home and dry: Liz Hurley wears Shane Warne's dinner jacket as they arrive back at her Chelsea home
New look: The cricketer has shed his rough and ready image for a more dapper, smooth look
The sportsman is believed to have lost around 22lbs over the last few months, largely due to his girlfriend's influence.
In fact, Shane has now completely changed the way he thinks about food, as he showed on his Twitter page when he asked his followers for advice on what to eat.
He tweeted: 'Feel like a hot pie with copious amounts of sauce with crinkle cut chips!! What the best pie?'
Stunning: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attended the event with their mother Sarah Ferguson
Hosts for the night: Sir Elton and partner David Furnish pose for photographers inside the party
But Shane then added just minutes later: 'NO Shane!! 78kg is target currently 82.5. Settle on a protein shake with an apple and banana - sob.'
In the fashion stakes Elizabeth stuck to her usual formula in a floor-sweeping animal-print gown.
She admitted to her Twitter followers earlier in the day that she had been struggling to decide what to wear.
She wrote: 'Off to Elton & David's White Tie & Tiara Aids fundraiser. Can't decide which dress......'
Meanwhile, Shane looked sharp in a black tuxedo which highlighted his recent weight loss.
Elizabeth and Shane looked happier than ever as they attended the ball, keeping their arms around each other and smiling for photographers.
And, in a recent interview, Shane said he was looking forward to spending more time with his gorgeous girlfriend.
Smile, Boris! Becker and wife Sharlely 'Lilly' Kerssenberg arrive at Sir Elton's Windsor home for the annual event
He said: 'She's a lovely lady. We get on really well and I'm spending a lot of time in England this summer, working for Sky.
'We'll wait and see what happens between Liz and I - but at the moment things are great.'
Earlier in the day, Shane was photographed arriving at Elizabeth's London home with a huge grin on his face and carrying a bag of golf clubs.
Elizabeth, 46, announced in December that she had split from husband Arun Nayar, after pictures emerged of her kissing cricketer Shane Warne in a hotel in London.
Following the pictures' publication, both Hurley and Warne hastily issued statements revealing that their respective marriages had been over for some time.
Since then, the new couple have been making headlines for their on/off romance, rendezvous in Australia and India and tabloid rumours of his alleged infidelity.
Elizabeth married Indian textile heir Nayar at Sudely Castle, near Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, in March 2007 - and had a traditional Hindu wedding at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, India.

New love? Glee star Matthew Morrison arrived hand-in-hand with a mystery woman
The ceremonies were attended by numerous celebrities, including Sir Elton John, who gave the bride away.
Announcing her separation from Arun, Liz tweeted: 'Not a great day. For the record, my husband Arun & I separated a few months ago. Our close family & friends were aware of this.'
She added: 'Painful, sad days. Arun & I separated for private reasons but FTR he has been a great father to our son Damian & will always be in his life.'
Date night: Noel Edmonds and wife Liz Davies arrive at the estate
Brunettes have more fun: Alexa Chung and Nancy Del'Ollio were among the invited guests
Dressed in black: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo star Noomi Rapace arrives
Hours later, Shane, 41, took to his own blog to confirm that his tumultuous marriage to wife Simone was also over.
In a statement he said: 'Sadly and unfortunately, Simone and I split up a while ago, our close friends and family were informed at that time.
'It is a private matter so we did not make it public. We remain friends and will continue to be good parents.'
A notorious philanderer, Shane split from Simone, the mother of his children Brooke, 13, Jackson, 11 and Summer, 8, after a string of affairs, including a notorious sex text scandal in 2000 which saw him stripped of his Australian vice-captaincy.
Casual wear: Earlier in the day Elizabeth was seen out shopping while Shane later popped around to her house carrying his bag of golf clubs
Let me in! Shane rings the doorbell as he waits for Elizabeth to buzz him in
source: dailymail

VIA New face, new man: Shane Warne plays smooth-faced English gent as he accompanies Elizabeth Hurley to Elton John's White Tie and Tiara Ball