Dinosaurs are represented on every continent.

Dinosaur Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria that first appeared during the Triassic period . Although the exact origin and timing of the evolution of dinosaurs is the subject of active research , the current scientific consensus places their origin between 231 and 243 million years ago . They became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates after the Triassic -- Jurassic extinction event 201 million years ago . Their dominance continued through the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and ended when the Cretaceous -- Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of most dinosaur groups 66 million years ago .   Until the late 20th century , all groups of dinosaurs were believed to be extinct . The fossil record , however , indicates that birds , which are now termed `` avian dinosaurs , '' are the modern descendants of feathered dinosaurs , having evolved from theropod ancestors during the Jurassic Period . As such , birds were the only dinosaur lineage to survive the mass extinction event . Throughout the remainder of this article , the term `` dinosaur '' is sometimes used generically to refer to the combined group of avian dinosaurs ( birds ) and non-avian dinosaurs ; at other times it is used to refer to the non-avian dinosaurs specifically , while the avian dinosaurs are sometimes simply referred to as `` birds '' . This article deals primarily with non-avian dinosaurs .   Dinosaurs are a varied group of animals from taxonomic , morphological and ecological standpoints . Birds , at over 10,000 living species , are the most diverse group of vertebrates besides perciform fish . Using fossil evidence , paleontologists have identified over 500 distinct genera and more than 1,000 different species of non-avian dinosaurs . Dinosaurs are represented on every continent by both extant species ( birds ) and fossil remains . Through the first half of the 20th century , before birds were recognized to be dinosaurs , most of the scientific community believed dinosaurs to have been sluggish and cold-blooded . Most research conducted since the 1970s , however , has indicated that all dinosaurs were active animals with elevated metabolisms and numerous adaptations for social interaction . Some are herbivorous , others carnivorous . Evidence suggests that egg laying and nest building are additional traits shared by all dinosaurs .   While dinosaurs were ancestrally bipedal , many extinct groups included quadrupedal species , and some were able to shift between these stances . Elaborate display structures such as horns or crests are common to all dinosaur groups , and some extinct groups developed skeletal modifications such as bony armor and spines . While the dinosaurs ' modern-day surviving avian lineage ( birds ) are generally small due to the constraints of flight , many prehistoric dinosaurs ( non-avian and avian ) were large-bodied -- the largest sauropod dinosaurs are estimated to have reached lengths of 39.7 m and heights of 18 m and were the largest land animals of all time . Still , the idea that non-avian dinosaurs were uniformly gigantic is a misconception based in part on preservation bias , as large , sturdy bones are more likely to last until they are fossilized . Many dinosaurs were quite small : Xixianykus , for example , was only about 50 cm long .   Since the first dinosaur fossils were recognized in the early 19th century , mounted fossil dinosaur skeletons have been major attractions at museums around the world , and dinosaurs have become an enduring part of world culture . The large sizes of some dinosaur groups , as well as their seemingly monstrous and fantastic nature , have ensured dinosaurs ' regular appearance in best-selling books and films , such as Jurassic Park . Persistent public enthusiasm for the animals has resulted in significant funding for dinosaur science , and new discoveries are regularly covered by the media .


Zach Galifianakis starred in The Campaign.

Zach Galifianakis Zachary Knight Galifianakis ( -LSB- ˌgælᵻfəˈnækᵻs -RSB- born October 1 , 1969 ) is an American actor , writer and comedian . He came to prominence with his Comedy Central Presents special in 2001 and presented his own show called Late World with Zach on VH1 the following year . He has also starred in films , such as The Hangover trilogy ( 2009 -- 2013 ) , Due Date ( 2010 ) , The Campaign ( 2012 ) , Birdman or ( The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance ) ( 2014 ) , Puss in Boots ( 2011 ) , Masterminds ( 2016 ) and The Lego Batman Movie ( 2017 ) .   He currently hosts the Emmy Award-winning talk show Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis on the Funny or Die website and executive produces , writes , and stars in the dark comedy series Baskets on FX .


Indonesia Indonesia ( -LSB- ɪndəˈniːʒə -RSB- or -LSB- ˌɪndoʊˈniːziə -RSB- ; Indonesian : -LSB- ɪndonesia -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Indonesia ( -LSB- rɛpublik ɪndonesia -RSB- ) , is a unitary sovereign state and transcontinental country located mainly in Southeast Asia with some territories in Oceania . Situated between the Indian and Pacific oceans , it is the world 's largest island country , with more than seventeen thousand islands . At 1,904,569 km2 , Indonesia is the world 's 14th-largest country in terms of land area and world 's 7th-largest country in terms of combined sea and land area . It has an estimated population of over 260 million people and is the world 's fourth most populous country , the most populous Austronesian nation , as well as the most populous Muslim-majority country . The world 's most populous island , Java , contains more than half of the country 's population .   Indonesia 's republican form of government includes an elected legislature and president . Indonesia has 34 provinces , of which five have Special Administrative status . Its capital and country 's most populous city is Jakarta , which is also the most populous city in Southeast Asia and the second in Asia . The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea , East Timor , and the eastern part of Malaysia . Other neighbouring countries include Singapore , Vietnam , the Philippines , Australia , Palau , and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands . Despite its large population and densely populated regions , Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support the world 's second highest level of biodiversity . The country has abundant natural resources like oil and natural gas , tin , copper and gold . Agriculture mainly produces rice , palm oil , tea , coffee , cacao , medicinal plants , spices and rubber . Indonesia 's major trading partners are Japan , United States , China and the surrounding countries of Singapore , Malaysia and Australia .   The Indonesian archipelago has been an important region for trade since at least the 7th century , when Srivijaya and then later Majapahit traded with China and India . Local rulers gradually absorbed foreign cultural , religious and political models from the early centuries CE , and Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished . Indonesian history has been influenced by foreign powers drawn to its natural resources . Muslim traders and Sufi scholars brought the now-dominant Islam , while European powers brought Christianity and fought one another to monopolise trade in the Spice Islands of Maluku during the Age of Discovery . Following three and a half centuries of Dutch colonialism starting from Amboina and Batavia , and eventually all of the archipelago including Timor and Western New Guinea , at times interrupted by Portuguese , French and British rule , Indonesia secured its independence after World War II .   Indonesia consists of hundreds of distinct native ethnic and linguistic groups , with the largest -- and politically dominant -- ethnic group being the Javanese . The population is unevenly spread throughout the islands within a variety of habitats and levels of development , ranging from the megalopolis of Jakarta to uncontacted tribes in the east . A shared identity has developed , defined by a national language , ethnic diversity , religious pluralism within a Muslim-majority population , and a history of colonialism and rebellion against it . Indonesia 's national motto , `` Bhinneka Tunggal Ika '' ( `` Unity in Diversity '' literally , `` many , yet one '' ) , articulates the diversity that shapes the country . Indonesia 's economy is the world 's 16th largest by nominal GDP and the 8th largest by GDP at PPP , the largest in Southeast Asia , and is considered an emerging market and newly industrialised country . Indonesia has been a member of the United Nations since 1950 . Indonesia was an organizer of the Bandung Conference and was the founder of Non-Aligned Movement ; and also the founding member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations , Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation , East Asia Summit , and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation . Indonesia is a member of the G20 major economies and World Trade Organization .


The action film Baby Driver was made by a British and American cast and crew.

Baby Driver Baby Driver is a 2017 British -- American action comedy film written and directed by Edgar Wright , and starring Ansel Elgort , Kevin Spacey , Lily James , Jon Bernthal , Eiza González , Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx . The film follows a young getaway driver ( played by Elgort ) who is reluctantly coerced to work for a veteran kingpin ( played by Spacey ) at `` one last job '' in exchange to start a better life .   The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11 , 2017 and is scheduled to be released theatrically on June 28 , 2017 , by TriStar Pictures .


William Shatner William Shatner ( born March 22 , 1931 ) is a Canadian actor , author , producer , and director . In his seven decades of television , Shatner became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T. Kirk , Captain of the USS Enterprise , in the Star Trek franchise . He has written a series of books chronicling his experiences playing Captain Kirk and being a part of Star Trek , and has co-written several novels set in the Star Trek universe . He has written a series of science fiction novels called TekWar , which were adapted for television .   Shatner also played the eponymous veteran police sergeant in T. J. Hooker ( 1982 -- 86 ) and hosted the reality-based television series , Rescue 911 ( 1989 -- 96 ) , which won a People 's Choice Award for the Favorite New TV Dramatic Series . Shatner also appeared in the NBC series , 3rd Rock from the Sun in seasons 4 and 5 as the role of the `` Big Giant Head '' whom the alien characters of the Series reported to . From 2004 until 2008 , he starred as attorney Denny Crane in the final season of the legal drama The Practice and its spinoff series Boston Legal '' , a role that earned him two Emmy Awards .   Shatner has also worked as a musician , an author , a director , and a celebrity pitchman .


Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the latest of many live action portrayals of Wonder Woman.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice is a 2016 American superhero film featuring the DC Comics characters Batman and Superman . Directed by Zack Snyder and distributed by Warner Bros. . Pictures , the film is the second installment in the DC Extended Universe following 2013 's Man of Steel . It was written by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer , and features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck , Henry Cavill , Amy Adams , Jesse Eisenberg , Diane Lane , Laurence Fishburne , Jeremy Irons , Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot . Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice is the first live-action film to feature Batman and Superman together , as well as the first live-action cinematic portrayal of Wonder Woman , Aquaman , The Flash and Cyborg . In the film , criminal mastermind Lex Luthor manipulates Batman into a preemptive battle with Superman , whom Luthor is obsessed with defeating .   The film was announced at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International , after the release of Man of Steel . Snyder stated that the film would take inspiration from the Batman comic book series The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller , but clarified that it would follow an original premise . The incarnation of Batman in the film would also be different from the character 's previous portrayal in The Dark Knight Trilogy , serving as a cinematic reboot of the character . The film is also inspired by narrative elements from the `` Death of Superman '' story arc . Pre-production began at East Los Angeles College in October 2013 , with principal photography starting in May 2014 in Detroit , Michigan . Additional filming also took place in Chicago .   Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice premiered at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City on March 19 , 2016 , and was released in the United States on March 25 , 2016 , in 2D , 3D , IMAX 3D , 4DX , premium large formats and 70 mm prints . Following a strong debut that set new box office records , the film experienced a historic drop in its second weekend and never recovered . Despite turning a profit , it was deemed a box office disappointment and received generally unfavorable reviews from critics for its tone , screenplay and pacing , though some praised the visual style and acting performances . A director 's cut , dubbed the `` Ultimate Edition '' and features 30 minutes of additional footage , was released digitally on June 28 , 2016 , and on Blu-ray and DVD on July 19 , 2016 . A follow-up , Justice League , is set to be released in November 2017 , and a standalone Superman sequel is currently in development .


Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was released by Dreamworks.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a 2016 fantasy film directed by David Yates and distributed by Warner Bros. . Pictures . A spin-off of the Harry Potter film series , it was produced and written by J. K. Rowling , in her screenwriting debut , and inspired by her book of the same name . Set in 1926 New York , the film stars Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander with Katherine Waterston , Dan Fogler , Alison Sudol , Ezra Miller , Samantha Morton , Jon Voight , Carmen Ejogo , Ron Perlman and Colin Farrell in supporting roles . It is the first instalment in the Fantastic Beasts series , and the ninth overall in J. K. Rowling 's Wizarding World , the franchise that began with the Harry Potter films .   Principal photography began at Warner Bros. . Studios , Leavesden , England in August 2015 and was completed in January 2016 . Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them premiered in New York City on 10 November 2016 and was released worldwide on 18 November 2016 in 3D , IMAX 4K Laser and other large format cinemas . The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $ 814 million worldwide , making it the eighth highest-grossing film of 2016 .   The film was nominated for five BAFTAs , winning for Best Production Design , as well as two Academy Awards , winning Best Costume Design , becoming the first film in J.K. Rowling 's Wizarding World to win an Academy Award .


Elementary (TV series) Elementary is an American procedural drama series that presents a contemporary update of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 's character Sherlock Holmes . The series was created by Robert Doherty and stars Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson . The series premiered on CBS on September 27 , 2012 . The series is set and filmed primarily in New York City .   The show follows Holmes , a recovering drug addict and former consultant to Scotland Yard , as he assists the New York City Police Department in solving crimes . His indifference to police procedure often leads to conflict with Captain Thomas Gregson ( Aidan Quinn ) , although the two still remain mutually respectful of one another . He is accompanied by Dr. Joan Watson ( Lucy Liu ) , who initially acts as his sober companion . She is a former surgeon and was hired by Sherlock 's father to help him in his rehabilitation . They eventually begin to work together on his cases , and she becomes Holmes ' apprentice . The series also features Holmes ' ongoing conflict with his nemesis Jamie Moriarty ( Natalie Dormer ) . Other supporting roles include Jon Michael Hill as Detective Marcus Bell , Rhys Ifans as Sherlock 's brother , Mycroft Holmes , and John Noble as Sherlock 's father , Morland Holmes .   Before the series premiered , it was met with some criticism given it followed closely on the heels of the BBC 's modern adaptation Sherlock . After the premiere , it was picked up for a full season and later an extra two episodes . The season two premiere was partly filmed on location in London . The series has since been well received by critics , who have praised the performances , writing , and novel approach to the source material . On March 25 , 2016 , CBS renewed the series for a fifth season , which premiered on October 2 , 2016 . On May 13 , 2017 , CBS renewed the series for a sixth season .


Silicon Valley is a nickname for the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Silicon Valley Silicon Valley is a nickname for the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area , in the northern part of the U.S. state of California . The `` valley '' in its name refers to the Santa Clara Valley in Santa Clara County , which includes the city of San Jose and surrounding cities and towns , where the region has been traditionally centered . The region has expanded to include the southern half of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Mateo County , and southern portions of the East Bay in Alameda County .   The word `` silicon '' originally referred to the large number of silicon chip innovators and manufacturers in the region , but the area is now the home to many of the world 's largest high-tech corporations , including the headquarters of 39 businesses in the Fortune 1000 , and thousands of startup companies . Silicon Valley also accounts for one-third of all of the venture capital investment in the United States , which has helped it to become a leading hub and startup ecosystem for high-tech innovation and scientific development . It was in the Valley that the silicon-based integrated circuit , the microprocessor , and the microcomputer , among other key technologies , were developed . As of 2013 , the region employed about a quarter of a million information technology workers .   As more high-tech companies were established across the Santa Clara Valley , and then north towards the Bay Area 's two other major cities , San Francisco and Oakland , the `` Silicon Valley '' name eventually came to refer to all high-tech businesses in the region . The term is now generally used as a synecdoche for the American high-technology economic sector . The name also became a global synonym for leading high-tech research and enterprises , and thus inspired similar named locations , as well as research parks and technology centers with a comparable structure all around the world .


Sofia Coppola was the director of a drama film adaptation of a novel.

Sofia Coppola Sofia Carmina Coppola ( -LSB- ˈkoʊpələ -RSB- ; born May 14 , 1971 ) is an American screenwriter , director , producer and actress . Her father is director , producer and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola . In 2003 , she received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the comedy-drama Lost in Translation , and became the third woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director . In 2010 , with the drama Somewhere , she became the first American woman ( and fourth American filmmaker ) to win the Golden Lion , the top prize at the Venice Film Festival .   In 2017 , Coppola directed The Beguiled , a remake of the 1971 Western film of the same name , starring Nicole Kidman , Elle Fanning and Kirsten Dunst . The film premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival , where Coppola became the second woman ( and the first American woman ) in the festival 's history to win the Best Director award .


The Beguiled (2017 film) The Beguiled is a 2017 American drama film written and directed by Sofia Coppola , based on the novel The Beguiled ( originally published as A Painted Devil ) by Thomas P. Cullinan . It stars Colin Farrell , Nicole Kidman , Kirsten Dunst , and Elle Fanning . A film of the same name , also based on Cullinan 's book , was released in 1971 .   It premiered on May 24 , 2017 and was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or in the main competition section at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival , where Coppola won the Best Director award , becoming only the second woman to do so . The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 23 , 2017 .


Outkast Outkast ( stylized as OutKast ) is an American hip hop duo formed in 1991 , in East Point , Atlanta , Georgia , composed of Atlanta-based rappers André `` André 3000 '' Benjamin ( formerly known as Dré ) and Antwan `` Big Boi '' Patton . The duo achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success in the 1990s and early 2000s , helping to popularize Southern hip hop while developing distinctive personas and experimenting with diverse genres such as funk , psychedelia , techno , and gospel .   Benjamin and Patton formed the group as high school students in 1991 . OutKast released their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik in 1994 , which gained popularity after the single `` Player 's Ball '' reached number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart . With successive releases including ATLiens ( 1996 ) and Aquemini ( 1998 ) , the duo further developed their sound , experimenting with a variety of styles and achieving commercial success . In 2000 , Outkast released the critically acclaimed Stankonia , which included the singles `` Ms. Jackson '' and `` B.O.B. ''   In 2003 , the duo released the double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below , which featured the number one singles `` Hey Ya ! '' and `` The Way You Move . '' The album would eventually win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America . Outkast next released the soundtrack for the 2006 musical film Idlewild , which they also starred in . In 2007 , the duo went on hiatus and both members have since pursued solo careers . In 2014 , Outkast reunited to celebrate their 20th anniversary by performing at more than 40 festivals worldwide in 2014 , beginning at the Coachella Festival in April .   The duo is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time , having received six Grammy Awards . Between six studio albums and a greatest hits release , Outkast has sold over 25 million records . Meanwhile , they have garnered widespread critical acclaim , with publications such as Rolling Stone and Pitchfork Media listing albums such as Aquemini and Stankonia among the best of their era .


Room 93 Room 93 is the debut extended play ( EP ) by American singer and songwriter Halsey . It was released on October 27 , 2014 by Astralwerks . The project was re-released digitally on March 9 , 2015 , including a new version of `` Ghost '' , this later is also included on the singer 's debut full-length album Badlands . The sound of the EP is rooted on the electropop music genre . A digital remix version of the EP , featuring three remixes for the songs `` Hurricane '' , `` Ghost '' and `` Trouble '' was released on March 3 , 2015 . Along with the remix EP , a `` One Mic , One Take '' EP was released on the same date . `` Trouble ( Stripped ) '' was featured on the promo of the episode `` Best Laid Plans '' of the TV series Once Upon a Time .


Kaminey Kaminey ( Rascal ) is a 2009 Indian caper thriller film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and featuring Shahid Kapoor , Priyanka Chopra and Amol Gupte in the lead roles . Set against the backdrop of the Mumbai underworld , Kaminey follows a rivalry between a pair of twins , one with a lisp and the other with a stutter , over the course of a single day .   Bhardwaj co-wrote the screenplay with Sabrina Dhawan , Abhishek Chaubey , and Supratik Sen. Bhardwaj bought the original script for from Kenyan writer Cajetan Boywhom he had mentored at a scriptwriting workshop in Uganda . Kaminey was released on 14 August 2009 and became a box-office success worldwide , grossing over against a budget of . The film 's soundtrack album also became a commercial success , with the song `` Dhan Te Nan '' topping the charts on various platforms .   Kaminey received widespread critical acclaim , with several critics and media publications placing it at number one on their listings of `` Best film of the year '' . Since its release , the film has attained cult status . It received several awards and nominations at ceremonies across India . At the 55th Filmfare Awards , it received ten nominations , including Best Film , Best Director , Best Actor , Best Actress , and Best Supporting Actor ; it won the award for Best Special Effects . At the 57th National Film Awards , Kaminey won two awards -- Best Audiography for Subash Sahoo and Special Jury Award for its editing by A. Sreekar Prasad .


The Stanislavski method was popularized by Marlon Brando.

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando , Jr. ( April 3 , 1924 -- July 1 , 2004 ) was an American actor , film director and political activist . He is credited with bringing realism to film acting . He helped to popularize the Stanislavski system of acting , studying with Stella Adler in the 1940s . Brando is widely known for his Academy Award-winning performances as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront ( 1954 ) and Vito Corleone in The Godfather ( 1972 ) , as well as his performances in A Streetcar Named Desire ( 1951 ) , Viva Zapata ! ( 1952 ) , Julius Caesar ( 1953 ) , The Wild One ( 1953 ) , Guys and Dolls ( 1955 ) , Sayonara ( 1957 ) , Reflections in a Golden Eye ( 1967 ) , Last Tango in Paris ( 1972 ) , and Apocalypse Now ( 1979 ) . Brando was also an activist for many causes , notably the Civil Rights Movement and various Native American movements .   He initially gained acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for reprising the role of Stanley Kowalski in the 1951 film adaptation of Tennessee Williams ' play A Streetcar Named Desire , a role that he had originated successfully on Broadway . He received further praise for his performance as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront , and his portrayal of the rebel motorcycle gang leader Johnny Strabler in The Wild One proved to be a lasting image in popular culture . Brando received Academy Award nominations for playing Emiliano Zapata in Viva Zapata ! ; Mark Antony in Joseph L. Mankiewicz 's 1953 film adaptation of Shakespeare 's Julius Caesar ; and Air Force Major Lloyd Gruver in Sayonara ( 1957 ) , an adaption of James Michener 's 1954 novel . Brando was included in a list of Top Ten Money Making Stars three times in the 1950s , coming in at number 10 in 1954 , number 6 in 1955 , and number 4 in 1958 .   The 1960s proved to be a fallow decade for Brando . He directed and starred in the cult western film One-Eyed Jacks , a critical and commercial flop , after which he delivered a series of box-office failures , beginning with the 1962 film adaptation of the novel Mutiny on the Bounty . After 10 years , during which he did not appear in a successful film , he won his second Academy Award for playing Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola 's The Godfather , a role critics consider among his greatest . The Godfather was then one of the most commercially successful films of all time . With that and his Oscar-nominated performance in Last Tango in Paris , Brando re-established himself in the ranks of top box-office stars , placing sixth and tenth in the Money Making Stars poll in 1972 and 1973 , respectively . Brando took a four-year hiatus before appearing in The Missouri Breaks ( 1976 ) . After this , he was content with being a highly paid character actor in cameo roles , such as in Superman ( 1978 ) and The Formula ( 1980 ) , before taking a nine-year break from motion pictures . According to the Guinness Book of World Records , Brando was paid a record $ 3.7 million ( $ million in inflation-adjusted dollars ) and 11.75 % of the gross profits for 13 days ' work on Superman . He finished out the 1970s with his controversial performance as Colonel Kurtz in another Coppola film , Apocalypse Now , a box-office hit for which he was highly paid and which helped finance his career layoff during the 1980s .   Brando was ranked by the American Film Institute as the fourth-greatest movie star among male movie stars whose screen debuts occurred in or before 1950 . He was one of only three professional actors , along with Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe , named in 1999 by Time magazine as one of its 100 Most Important People of the Century . He died of respiratory failure on July 1 , 2004 , at age 80 .


Evolution is the first studio album by Sabrina Carpenter.

Evolution (Sabrina Carpenter album) Evolution is the second studio album by American singer Sabrina Carpenter , released on October 14 , 2016 , by Hollywood Records . Carpenter began recording the album in 2015 after releasing her first studio album , Eyes Wide Open .


One of Fairy Tail's series premiered on TV Tokyo.

Fairy Tail is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima . It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine since August 2 , 2006 , with the individual chapters collected and published into 61 tankōbon volumes by Kodansha as of May 17 , 2017 . The story follows the adventures of Natsu Dragneel , a teenage who is a member of the popular wizards ' guild Fairy Tail , as he searches for the dragon Igneel .   The manga has been adapted into an anime series produced by A-1 Pictures , Dentsu Inc. , and Satelight , which began broadcasting in Japan on October 12 , 2009 . Additionally , A-1 Pictures has developed seven original video animations and two animated feature films . The series ended its initial run on March 30 , 2013 . A second series premiered on TV Tokyo on April 5 , 2014 , and ended on March 26 , 2016 .   Fairy Tail was originally licensed for an English language release in North America by Del Rey Manga , which began releasing the individual volumes on March 25 , 2008 and ended its licensing with the 12th volume release in September 2010 . In December 2010 , Kodansha Comics USA took over North American release of the series . The Southeast Asian network Animax Asia aired an English-language version of the anime for seven seasons from 2010 to 2015 . The anime has been licensed by Funimation for an English-language release in North America . As of February 2017 , Fairy Tail had 60 million copies in print .


Treasure (Bruno Mars song) `` Treasure '' is a song recorded by Bruno Mars for his second studio album , titled Unorthodox Jukebox ( 2012 ) . It is inspired by Breakbot 's song `` Baby I 'm Yours '' . `` Treasure '' was written by Mars himself along with Philip Lawrence , Ari Levine and Phredley Brown , while production was handled by Mars , Lawrence and Levine under the name The Smeezingtons . The song is the album 's fourth track and was selected as its third single by Atlantic Records . `` Treasure '' was first released to mainstream radio in Italy on May 10 , 2013 , through Warner Music . The track details Mars ' band time of party and fun : Philip Lawrence described it as `` the kind of song where the whole band can get up and jam '' . It was described as disco , funk , soul and post-disco with R&B elements .   `` Treasure '' became Mars ' seventh top 10 hit in the United States since his career began in 2010 . It has also reached the top-five in countries like Canada , Israel and South Africa . `` Treasure '' ranked within the top 20 in eight territories . It received media attention for its `` funk '' vibe , that a few artists have brought back , including Mars . Due to the similarities shared with `` Baby I 'm Yours '' by Breakbot new writing credits were added .   The single was certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) in October 2013 , representing sales of two million copies , since the certifications for digital singles include on-demand audio and/or video song streams in addition to downloads . An accompanying music video for the song premiered on June 14 , 2013 . It was shot by Cameron Duddy and Bruno Mars in Las Vegas , Hollywood . The video presents Mars ' band , The Hooligans , in a live performance . The single was performed on the Moonshine Jungle Tour ( 2013-14 ) and on the 24K Magic World Tour ( 2017-18 ) .


Julian Assange Julian Paul Assange ( -LSB- əˈsɒnʒ -RSB- born Julian Paul Hawkins , 3 July 1971 ) is an Australian computer programmer and the founder of WikiLeaks , an organisation which he founded in 2006 . He has won accolades including the Sam Adams Award and Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism .   Assange founded WikiLeaks in 2006 , but came to global prominence in 2010 , when WikiLeaks published a series of leaks provided by Chelsea Manning . These leaks included the Collateral Murder video ( April 2010 ) , the Afghanistan war logs ( July 2010 ) , the Iraq war logs ( October 2010 ) , and CableGate ( November 2010 ) . Following the 2010 leaks , the United States government launched a criminal investigation into WikiLeaks and asked allied nations for assistance .   In November 2010 , a request was made for Assange 's extradition to Sweden , where he had been questioned months earlier over allegations of sexual assault and rape . Assange continued to deny the allegations , and expressed concern that he would be extradited from Sweden to the United States because of his perceived role in publishing secret American documents . Assange surrendered himself to UK police on 7 December 2010 , and was held for ten days in solitary confinement before being released on bail . He sought and was granted asylum by Ecuador in August 2012 . He has since remained in the Embassy of Ecuador in London , and is unable to leave without being arrested for breaching his bail conditions . On 19 May 2017 , the Swedish prosecutors dropped the investigation into rape accusations against Assange and applied to revoke his arrest warrant , although the Metropolitan Police have indicated that an arrest warrant is still in force for Assange 's failure to surrender himself to the British court .


John Cena is a professional WWE wrestler.

John Cena John Felix Anthony Cena Jr. ( -LSB- ˈsiːnə -RSB- born April 23 , 1977 ) is an American professional wrestler , rapper , actor , and reality television show host . He is signed to WWE , where he performs on the SmackDown brand . Cena started his professional wrestling career in 1999 with Ultimate Pro Wrestling ( UPW ) and won the UPW Heavyweight Championship the following year . Cena signed a developmental contract with the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF , later renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment , or simply WWE ) in 2001 , debuting on the WWE main roster in 2002 .   From a generic character in 2002 , Cena morphed into a rapper for the time period of 2002 -- 2004 , which earned him fame within the audience on SmackDown ! . Cena later transitioned to his current character , which he describes as a `` goody-two shoes Superman '' . However , Cena has been labeled as the `` most polarizing professional wrestler ever '' as his character has many supporters and many detractors , according to Jim Ross of Fox Sports , who also noted that Cena has been WWE 's franchise player for a long-time . In 2012 , IGN described Cena as WWE 's franchise player since 2005 and WWE credited Cena as being the `` face of WWE '' in 2015 since 2004 . Industry veterans John Layfield , Paul Heyman , and Kurt Angle have called Cena the greatest WWE star of all time .   Throughout his WWE career , Cena has won 25 championships , with 16 reigns as a world champion ( 13 times as WWE Champion and three times as WWE 's World Heavyweight Champion ) , an accomplishment only previously achieved by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair . He is also a five-time United States Champion , and four-time world tag team champion ( two World Tag Team and two WWE Tag Team ) . Furthermore , he is a Money in the Bank ladder match winner ( 2012 ) , a two-time Royal Rumble winner ( 2008 , 2013 ) , and a three-time Superstar of the Year Slammy Award winner ( 2009 , 2010 , 2012 ) . Cena has the fourth-highest number of combined days as WWE Champion , behind Bruno Sammartino , Bob Backlund , and Hulk Hogan . He has also headlined WWE 's flagship event , WrestleMania , on five different occasions ( WrestleManias 22 , 23 , XXVII , XXVIII , and 29 ) over the course of his career , as well as many others pay-per-view events . As of 2016 , John Cena is WWE 's highest-paid wrestler .   Outside of wrestling , Cena has released the rap album You Ca n't See Me , which debuted at No. 15 on the US Billboard 200 chart , and starred in the feature films The Marine ( 2006 ) , 12 Rounds ( 2009 ) , Legendary ( 2010 ) , The Reunion ( 2011 ) , Trainwreck ( 2015 ) , and Sisters ( 2015 ) . Cena has also made appearances on television shows including Manhunt , Deal or No Deal , MADtv , Saturday Night Live , Punk 'd , Psych , and Parks and Recreation . He was also a contestant on Fast Cars and Superstars : The Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race , where he made it to the final round before being eliminated , placing third in the overall competition . Cena is also the host of American Grit on Fox . Cena is involved in numerous philanthropic causes ; most notably with the Make-A-Wish Foundation . He has granted the most wishes in Make-A-Wish history .


Michael Jackson's death was ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County Coroner.

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson ( August 29 , 1958 -- June 25 , 2009 ) was an American singer , songwriter , record producer , dancer , actor , and philanthropist . Called the `` King of Pop '' , his contributions to music , dance , and fashion along with his publicized personal life made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades .   The eighth child of the Jackson family , Michael made his professional debut in 1964 with his elder brothers Jackie , Tito , Jermaine , and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5 . He began his solo career in 1971 . In the early 1980s , Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music . His music videos , including those of `` Beat It '' , `` Billie Jean '' , and `` Thriller '' from his 1982 album Thriller , are credited with breaking racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool . The popularity of these videos helped bring the television channel MTV to fame . Jackson 's 1987 album Bad spawned the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles `` I Just Ca n't Stop Loving You '' , `` Bad '' , `` The Way You Make Me Feel '' , `` Man in the Mirror '' , and `` Dirty Diana '' , becoming the first album to have five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 . He continued to innovate with videos such as `` Black or White '' and `` Scream '' throughout the 1990s , and forged a reputation as a touring solo artist . Through stage and video performances , Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques , such as the robot and the moonwalk , to which he gave the name . His distinctive sound and style has influenced numerous artists of various music genres .   Thriller is the best-selling album of all time , with estimated sales of 65 million copies worldwide . Jackson 's other albums , including Off the Wall ( 1979 ) , Bad ( 1987 ) , Dangerous ( 1991 ) , and HIStory ( 1995 ) , also rank among the world 's best-selling albums . He is recognized as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time by Guinness World Records . Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice , and was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Dance Hall of Fame as the only dancer from pop and rock music . His other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records , 13 Grammy Awards , the Grammy Legend Award , the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award , 26 American Music Awards -- more than any other artist -- including the `` Artist of the Century '' and `` Artist of the 1980s '' , 13 number-one singles in the United States during his solo career -- more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era -- and estimated sales of over 350 million records worldwide . Jackson won hundreds of awards , making him the most awarded recording artist in the history of popular music . He became the first artist in history to have a top ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades when `` Love Never Felt So Good '' reached number nine on May 21 , 2014 . Jackson traveled the world attending events honoring his humanitarianism , and , in 2000 , the Guinness World Records recognized him for supporting 39 charities , more than any other entertainer .   Aspects of Jackson 's personal life , including his changing appearance , personal relationships , and behavior , generated controversy . In 1993 , he was accused of child sexual abuse , but the civil case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount and no formal charges were brought . In 2005 , he was tried and acquitted of further child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges after the jury found him not guilty on all counts . While preparing for his comeback concert series , This Is It , Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication on June 25 , 2009 , after suffering from cardiac arrest . The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled his death a homicide , and his personal physician , Conrad Murray , was convicted of involuntary manslaughter . Jackson 's death triggered a global outpouring of grief , and a live broadcast of his public memorial service was viewed around the world . Forbes ranks Jackson the top-earning dead celebrity , with earnings of $ 825 million in 2016 , the highest yearly amount ever recorded by the publication .


Helen Gardner (art historian) Helen Gardner ( 1878 -- 1946 ) was an American art historian and educator . Her Art Through the Ages remains a standard text for American art history classes .   Gardner was born in Manchester , New Hampshire and attended school in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago . In 1901 she graduated with a degree in classics from the University of Chicago .  After an interval as a teacher , she returned to the same university to study art history , and received a master 's degree in 1918 . In 1920 she began lecturing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago , where she would spend the rest of her career , with the exception of short appointments at UCLA and the University of Chicago .   In 1919 , she became the head of the photograph and lantern-slides department at the Ryerson Library of the Art Institute of Chicago . The next year she started to teach an art history course at the School of the Art Institute . In 1922 , she made the choice to resign her position at the library to spare more time for teaching . From the frustration of not being able to find a comprehensive textbook that had a broad enough coverage in art history , she resolved the problem by writing such book herself , which resulted in a popular art history textbook used for decades , Art Through the Ages .   Her major work , Art Through the Ages ( 1926 ) , was the first single-volume textbook to cover the entire range of art history from a global perspective . Frequently revised , it remains a standard textbook at American schools and universities . In 1932 she also published Understanding the Arts , an art appreciation text directed toward educators . For both volumes , the analytical drawings were supplied by artist Kathleen Blackshear . In 1936 , she published a second edition of Art Through the Ages , with its content expanded .   In 1946 , aged 68 , she died due to cancer . However , despite her illness before her death , she remained in advisory capacity at the Art Institute .


The Italian language is spoken in at least one country.

Malta Malta ( -LSB- ˈmɒltə -RSB- -LSB- ˈmɐltɐ -RSB- ) , officially known as the Republic of Malta ( Repubblika ta ' Malta ) , is a Southern European island country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea . It lies 80 km south of Italy , 284 km east of Tunisia , and 333 km north of Libya . The country covers just over 316 km2 , with a population of just under 450,000 , making it one of the world 's smallest and most densely populated countries . The capital of Malta is Valletta , which at 0.8 km2 , is the smallest national capital in the European Union by area . Malta has one national language , which is Maltese , and English as an official language .   Malta 's location in the middle of the Mediterranean has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base , and a succession of powers , including the Phoenicians , Carthaginians , Greeks , Romans , Byzantines , Moors , Normans , Sicilians , Spanish , Knights of St. John , French and British , have ruled the islands .   King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to Malta in 1942 for the country 's bravery in the Second World War . The George Cross continues to appear on Malta 's national flag . Under the Malta Independence Act , passed by the British Parliament in 1964 , Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom as an independent sovereign Commonwealth realm , officially known from 1964 to 1974 as the State of Malta , with Elizabeth II as its head of state . The country became a republic in 1974 , and although no longer a Commonwealth realm , remains a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations . Malta was admitted to the United Nations in 1964 and to the European Union in 2004 ; in 2008 , it became part of the Eurozone .   Malta has a long Christian legacy and its Archdiocese of Malta is claimed to be an apostolic see because , according to Acts of the Apostles , St Paul was shipwrecked on `` Melita '' , now widely taken to be Malta . Catholicism is the official religion in Malta .   Malta is a popular tourist destination with its warm climate , numerous recreational areas , and architectural and historical monuments , including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites : Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum , Valletta , and seven Megalithic Temples , which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world .


Slovenia Slovenia ( -LSB- sloʊˈviːniə , _ slə - , _ - njə -RSB- ; Slovenija -LSB- slɔˈʋéːnija -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Slovenia ( Slovene : , abbr. : RS ) , is a nation state in southern Central Europe , located at the crossroads of main European cultural and trade routes . It is bordered by Italy to the west , Austria to the north , Hungary to the northeast , Croatia to the south and southeast , and the Adriatic Sea to the southwest . It covers 20,273 km2 and has a population of 2.06 million . It is a parliamentary republic and a member of the United Nations , European Union , and NATO . The capital and largest city is Ljubljana .   The territory is mostly mountainous with a mainly continental climate , with the exception of the Slovene Littoral that has a sub-Mediterranean climate and the north-western area that has an Alpine climate . Additionally , the Dinaric Alps and the Pannonian Plain meet on the territory of Slovenia . The country , marked by a significant biological diversity , is one of the most water-rich in Europe , with a dense river network , a rich aquifer system , and significant karst underground watercourses . Over half of the territory is covered by forest . The human settlement of Slovenia is dispersed and uneven .   Slovenia has historically been the crossroads of South Slavic , Germanic , Romance , and Hungarian languages and culture . Although the population is not homogeneous , the majority is Slovene . South Slavic language Slovene is the official language throughout the country . Slovenia is a largely secularized country , but its culture and identity have been significantly influenced by Catholicism as well as Lutheranism . The economy of Slovenia is small , open , and export-oriented and has been strongly influenced by international conditions . It has been severely hurt by the Eurozone crisis , started in the late 2000s . The main economic field is services , followed by industry and construction .   Historically , the current territory of Slovenia was part of many different state formations , including the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire , followed by the Habsburg Monarchy . In October 1918 , the Slovenes exercised self-determination for the first time by co-founding the State of Slovenes , Croats and Serbs . In December 1918 , they merged with the Kingdom of Serbia into the Kingdom of Serbs , Croats and Slovenes ( renamed Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929 ) . During World War II , Slovenia was occupied and annexed by Germany , Italy , and Hungary , with a tiny area transferred to the Independent State of Croatia , a Nazi puppet state . Afterward , it was a founding member of the Federal People 's Republic of Yugoslavia , later renamed the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , a communist state which was the only country in the Eastern Bloc which was never part of the Warsaw Pact . In June 1991 , after the introduction of multi-party representative democracy , Slovenia split from Yugoslavia and became an independent country . In 2004 , it entered NATO and the European Union ; in 2007 became the first formerly communist country to join the Eurozone ; and in 2010 joined the OECD , a global association of high-income developed countries .


France France ( -LSB- fʁɑ̃s -RSB- ) , officially the French Republic ( -LSB- ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz -RSB- ) , is a country with territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories . The European , or metropolitan , area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea , and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean . Overseas France include French Guiana on the South American continent and several island territories in the Atlantic , Pacific and Indian oceans . France spans 643801 km2 and had a total population of almost 67 million people as of January 2017 . It is a unitary semi-presidential republic with the capital in Paris , the country 's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre . Other major urban centres include Marseille , Lyon , Lille , Nice , Toulouse and Bordeaux .   During the Iron Age , what is now metropolitan France was inhabited by the Gauls , a Celtic people . The area was annexed in 51 BC by Rome , which held Gaul until 486 , when the Germanic Franks conquered the region and formed the Kingdom of France . France emerged as a major European power in the Late Middle Ages , with its victory in the Hundred Years ' War ( 1337 to 1453 ) strengthening state-building and political centralisation . During the Renaissance , French culture flourished and a global colonial empire was established , which by the 20th century would be the second largest in the world . The 16th century was dominated by religious civil wars between Catholics and Protestants ( Huguenots ) . France became Europe 's dominant cultural , political , and military power under Louis XIV . In the late 18th century , the French Revolution overthrew the absolute monarchy , established one of modern history 's earliest republics , and saw the drafting of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen , which expresses the nation 's ideals to this day .   In the 19th century Napoleon took power and established the First French Empire , whose subsequent Napoleonic Wars shaped the course of continental Europe . Following the collapse of the Empire , France endured a tumultuous succession of governments culminating with the establishment of the French Third Republic in 1870 . France was a major participant in the First World War , from which it emerged victorious , and was one of the Allied Powers in the Second World War , but came under occupation by the Axis Powers in 1940 . Following liberation in 1944 , a Fourth Republic was established and later dissolved in the course of the Algerian War . The Fifth Republic , led by Charles de Gaulle , was formed in 1958 and remains to this day . Algeria and nearly all the other colonies became independent in the 1960s and typically retained close economic and military connections with France .   France has long been a global centre of art , science , and philosophy . It hosts Europe 's fourth-largest number of cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites and receives around 83 million foreign tourists annually , the most of any country in the world . France is a developed country with the world 's sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and ninth-largest by purchasing power parity . In terms of aggregate household wealth , it ranks fourth in the world . France performs well in international rankings of education , health care , life expectancy , and human development . France remains a great power in the world , being one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with the power to veto and an official nuclear-weapon state . It is a leading member state of the European Union and the Eurozone . It is also a member of the Group of 7 , North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) , the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) , and La Francophonie .


Tunisia Tunisia ( تونس ; ⵜⵓⵏⴻⵙ Tunisie ) , officially the Tunisian Republic is a country in North Africa , covering 165,000 km2 . Its northernmost point , Cape Angela , is the northernmost point on the African continent . It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest , Libya to the southeast , and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east . Tunisia 's population was estimated to be just under 11 million in 2014 . Tunisia 's name is derived from its capital city , Tunis , which is located on Tunisia 's northeast coast .   Geographically , Tunisia contains the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains and the northern reaches of the Sahara desert . Much of the rest of the country 's land is fertile soil . Its 1,300 km of coastline includes the African conjunction of the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Basin and , by means of the Sicilian Strait and Sardinian Channel , features the African mainland 's second and third nearest points to Europe after Gibraltar .   Tunisia is a unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic . It is considered to be the only full democracy in the Arab World . It has a high human development index . It has an association agreement with the European Union ; is a member of La Francophonie , the Union for the Mediterranean , the Arab Maghreb Union , the Arab League , the OIC , the Greater Arab Free Trade Area , the Community of Sahel-Saharan States , the African Union , the Non-Aligned Movement , the Group of 77 ; and has obtained the status of major non-NATO ally of the United States . In addition , Tunisia is also a member state of the United Nations and a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court . Close relations with Europe in particular with France and with Italy have been forged through economic cooperation , privatisation and industrial modernization .   In ancient times , Tunisia was primarily inhabited by Berbers . Phoenician immigration began in the 12th century BC ; these immigrants founded Carthage . A major mercantile power and a military rival of the Roman Republic , Carthage was defeated by the Romans in 146 BC . The Romans , who would occupy Tunisia for most of the next eight hundred years , introduced Christianity and left architectural legacies like the El Djem amphitheater . After several attempts starting in 647 , the Arabs conquered the whole of Tunisia by 697 , followed by the Ottomans between 1534 and 1574 . The Ottomans held sway for over three hundred years . The French colonization of Tunisia occurred in 1881 . Tunisia gained independence with Habib Bourguiba and declared the Tunisian Republic in 1957 . In 2011 , the Tunisian Revolution resulted in the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali , followed by parliamentary elections . The country voted for parliament again on 26 October 2014 , and for President on 23 November 2014 .


Italian language Italian ( -LSB- itaˈljaːno -RSB- or lingua italiana -LSB- ˈliŋɡwa itaˈljaːna -RSB- ) is a Romance language . By most measures , Italian , together with Sardinian , is the closest to Latin of the Romance languages .  Italian is an official language in Italy , Switzerland , San Marino , Vatican City and western Istria ( in Slovenia and Croatia ) . It used to have official status in Albania , Malta and Monaco , where it is still widely spoken , as well as in former Italian East Africa and Italian North Africa regions where it plays a significant role in various sectors . Italian is spoken by small minorities in places such as France ( especially in Corsica ) , Montenegro , Crimea and Tunisia and by large expatriate communities in the Americas and Australia . It has official minority status in Bosnia and Herzegovina , Croatia , Slovenia and Romania . Many speakers are native bilinguals of both standardized Italian and other regional languages . Italian is the fourth most studied language in the world .   Italian is a major European language , being one of the official languages of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and one of the working languages of the Council of Europe . It is the third most widely spoken first language in the European Union with 65 million native speakers ( 13 % of the EU population ) and it is spoken as a second language by 14 million EU citizens ( 3 % ) . Including Italian speakers in non-EU European countries ( such as Switzerland and Albania ) and on other continents , the total number of speakers is around 85 million .   Italian is the main working language of the Holy See , serving as the lingua franca in the Roman Catholic hierarchy as well as the official language of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta . Italian is known as the language of music because of its use in musical terminology and opera . Its influence is also widespread in the arts and in the luxury goods market . Italian has been reported as the fourth or fifth most frequently taught foreign language in the world .   Italian was adopted by the state after the Unification of Italy , having previously been a literary language based on Tuscan as spoken mostly by the upper class of Florentine society . Its development was also influenced by other Italian languages and to some minor extent , by the Germanic languages of the post-Roman invaders . The incorporation into Italian of learned , or `` bookish '' words from its own ancestor language , Latin , is arguably another form of lexical borrowing through the influence of written language and the liturgical language of the Church . Throughout the Middle Ages and into the early modern period , most literate Italian speakers were also literate in Latin ; and thus they easily adopted Latin words into their writing -- and eventually speech -- in Italian . Its vowels are the second-closest to Latin after Sardinian . Unlike most other Romance languages , Italian retains Latin 's contrast between short and long consonants . As in most Romance languages , stress is distinctive .


Croatia Croatia ( -LSB- kroʊˈeɪʃə -RSB- ; Hrvatska -LSB- xř̩ʋaːtskaː -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Croatia ( -LSB- Republika Hrvatska , links = no -RSB- , ) , is a sovereign state between Central Europe , Southeast Europe , and the Mediterranean . Its capital city is Zagreb , which forms one of the country 's primary subdivisions , along with its twenty counties . Croatia covers 56594 km2 and has diverse , mostly continental and Mediterranean climates . Croatia 's Adriatic Sea coast contains more than a thousand islands . The country 's population is 4.28 million , most of whom are Croats , with the most common religious denomination being Roman Catholicism .   The Croats arrived in the area of present-day Croatia during the early part of the 7th century AD . They organised the state into two duchies by the 9th century . Tomislav became the first king by 925 , elevating Croatia to the status of a kingdom . The Kingdom of Croatia retained its sovereignty for nearly two centuries , reaching its peak during the rule of Kings Petar Krešimir IV and Dmitar Zvonimir . Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary in 1102 . In 1527 , faced with Ottoman conquest , the Croatian Parliament elected Ferdinand I of the House of Habsburg to the Croatian throne . During the early 19th century , parts of the country were split into the French Illyrian Provinces , and Austria-Hungary occupied its Bosnia and Herzegovina side -- a dispute settled by the 1878 Treaty of Berlin . In 1918 , after World War I , Croatia was included in the unrecognized State of Slovenes , Croats and Serbs which seceded from Austria-Hungary and merged into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia . A fascist Croatian puppet state backed by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany existed during World War II . After the war , Croatia became a founding member and a federal constituent of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , a constitutionally socialist state . On 25 June 1991 Croatia declared independence , which came wholly into effect on 8 October of the same year . The Croatian War of Independence was fought successfully during the four years following the declaration .   A unitary state , Croatia is a republic governed under a parliamentary system . The International Monetary Fund classified Croatia as an emerging and developing economy , and the World Bank identified it as a high-income economy . Croatia is a member of the European Union ( EU ) , United Nations ( UN ) , the Council of Europe , NATO , the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) and a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean . As an active participant in the UN peacekeeping forces , Croatia has contributed troops to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and took a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008 -- 2009 term .   The service sector dominates Croatia 's economy , followed by the industrial sector and agriculture . International Tourism is a significant source of revenue during the summer , with Croatia ranked the 18th most popular tourist destination in the world . The state controls a part of the economy , with substantial government expenditure . The European Union is Croatia 's most important trading partner . Since 2000 , the Croatian government constantly invests in infrastructure , especially transport routes and facilities along the Pan-European corridors . Internal sources produce a significant portion of energy in Croatia ; the rest is imported . Croatia provides a universal health care system and free primary and secondary education , while supporting culture through numerous public institutions and corporate investments in media and publishing .


Languages of the European Union The languages of the European Union are languages used by people within the member states of the European Union ( EU ) .   The EU has 24 official languages , of which three ( English , French and German ) have the higher status of `` procedural '' languages of the European Commission ( whereas the European Parliament accepts all official languages as working languages ) . One language ( Irish ) previously had the lower status of `` treaty language '' before being upgraded to an official and working language in 2007 , although it has been temporarily derogated as a working language until 2021 due to difficulty finding qualified translators . The three procedural languages are those used in the day-to-day workings of the institutions of the EU . The designation of Irish as a `` treaty language '' meant that only core documents such as treaties must be fully translated into Irish , while all other translations and interpretations are performed on an ad hoc basis .   The EU asserts that it is in favour of linguistic diversity . This principle is enshrined in the EU Charter ( art. 22 ) and in the Treaty on European Union ( art. 3 ( 3 ) TEU ) .   In the European Union , language policy is the responsibility of member states and EU does not have a common language policy ; European Union institutions play a supporting role in this field , based on the principle of `` subsidiarity '' , they promote a European dimension in the member states ' language policies . The EU encourages all its citizens to be multilingual ; specifically , it encourages them to be able to speak two languages in addition to their native language . Though the EU has very limited influence in this area as the content of educational systems is the responsibility of individual member states , a number of EU funding programmes actively promote language learning and linguistic diversity .   The most widely spoken language in the EU is English , which is understood by 51 % of all adults , while German is the most widely used mother tongue , spoken by 18 % . All 24 official languages of the EU are accepted as working languages , but in practice only two -- English and French -- are in wide general use and of these English is the more commonly used . French is an official language in all three of the cities that are political centres of the Union : Brussels ( Belgium ) , Strasbourg ( France ) and Luxembourg City ( Luxembourg ) .


San Marino San Marino ( -LSB- sæn_məˈriːnoʊ -RSB- -LSB- san maˈriːno -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of San Marino ( Repubblica di San Marino ) , also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino ( -LSB- Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino , links = no -RSB- ) , is an enclaved microstate surrounded by Italy , situated on the Italian Peninsula on the northeastern side of the Apennine Mountains . Its size is just over 61 sqkm , with a population of 33,562 . Its capital is the City of San Marino and its largest city is Serravalle . San Marino has the smallest population of all the members of the Council of Europe .   The country takes its name from Marinus , a stonemason originating from the Roman colony on the island of Rab , in modern-day Croatia . In 257 CE Marinus participated in the reconstruction of Rimini 's city walls after their destruction by Liburnian pirates . Marinus then went on to found an independent monastic community on Monte Titano in 301 CE ; thus , San Marino lays claim to be the oldest extant sovereign state as well as the oldest constitutional republic .   San Marino is governed by the Constitution of San Marino ( Leges Statutae Republicae Sancti Marini ) , a series of six books written in Latin in the late 16th century , that dictate the country 's political system , among other matters . The country is considered to have the earliest written governing documents , or constitution , still in effect .   The country 's economy mainly relies on finance , industry , services and tourism . It is one of the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP ( per capita ) , with a figure comparable to the most developed European regions . San Marino is considered to have a highly stable economy , with one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe , no national debt and a budget surplus . It is the only country with more vehicles than people .


Albania Albania ( -LSB- ælˈbeɪniə , _ ɔːl - -RSB- , ; Shqipëri / Shqipëria Shqipni/Shqipnia or Shqypni/Shqypnia ) , officially the Republic of Albania ( Republika e Shqipërisë , -LSB- ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːsə -RSB- ) , is a country in Southeastern Europe . Albania spans 28,748 km2 and had a total population of almost 3 million people .   It is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic with the capital in Tirana , the country 's largest city and main economic and commercial centre , followed by Durrës and Vlorë . It is located in the south-western part of the Balkan peninsula , bordered by Montenegro to the northwest , Kosovo to the northeast , the Republic of Macedonia to the east , and Greece to the south and southeast . The country has a coastline on the northern shore of the Mediterranean Sea , the Adriatic Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the southwest where the Albanian Riviera begins . Albania is less than 72 km from Italy , across the Strait of Otranto which connects the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea .   During the classical times , the modern area of Albania was home to several Illyrian , Thracian and Greek tribes , as well as several Greek colonies established on the Illyrian coast . In the 3rd century BC , the area was annexed by Rome and became part of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia , Macedonia and Moesia Superior . In 1190 , the first Albanian entity , the Principality of Arbanon was established by archon Progon in the region of Krujë , within the Byzantine Empire . The territory of Albania was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century , of which it remained part of for the next five centuries . After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in Europe , following the Balkan Wars , Albania declared its independence in 1912 and was recognized the following year . The Kingdom of Albania was invaded by Italy in 1939 , which formed Greater Albania , before becoming a Nazi German protectorate in 1943 . The following year , a socialist People 's Republic was established under the leadership of Enver Hoxha and the Party of Labour . Albania experienced widespread social and political transformations in the communist era , as well as isolation from much of the international community . In 1991 , the Socialist Republic was dissolved and the Republic of Albania was established .   Albania is a democratic and developing country with an upper-middle income economy . The service sector dominates the country 's economy , followed by the industrial and agriculture sector . After the fall of communism in Albania , free-market reforms have opened the country to foreign investment , especially in the development of energy and transportation infrastructure . Albania has a high HDI and provides universal health care system and free primary and secondary education to its citizens .   Albania is a member of the United Nations , NATO , WTO , World Bank , the Council of Europe , the OSCE , the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation . It is also an official candidate for membership in the European Union . Albania is one of the founding members of the Energy Community , Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Union for the Mediterranean . It is home to the largest lake in Southern Europe and one of the oldest lakes in Europe .


Monaco Monaco ( -LSB- ˈmɒnəkoʊ -RSB- -LSB- mɔnako -RSB- ) , officially the Principality of Monaco ( Principauté de Monaco ) , is a sovereign city-state and microstate , located on the French Riviera in Western Europe . France borders the country on three sides while the other side borders the Mediterranean Sea . Monaco has an area of 2.02 km ² and a population of about 38,400 according to the last census of 2015 . With 19,009 inhabitants per km ² , it is the second smallest and the most densely populated country in the world . Monaco has a land border of 5.47 km , a coastline of 3.83 km , and a width that varies between 1700 and . The highest point in the country is a narrow pathway named Chemin des Révoires on the slopes of Mont Agel , in the Les Révoires Ward , which is 161 m above sea level . Monaco 's most populous Quartier is Monte Carlo and the most populous Ward '' is Larvotto/Bas Moulins . Through land reclamation , Monaco 's land mass has expanded by twenty percent ; in 2005 , it had an area of only 1.974 km ² . Monaco is known as a playground for the rich and famous , due to its tax laws . In 2014 , it was noted about 30 % of the population was made up of millionaires , more than in Zürich or Geneva .   Monaco is a principality governed under a form of constitutional monarchy , with Prince Albert II as head of state . Although Prince Albert II is a constitutional monarch , he wields immense political power . The House of Grimaldi have ruled Monaco , with brief interruptions , since 1297 . The official language is French , but Monégasque , Italian , and English are widely spoken and understood . The state 's sovereignty was officially recognized by the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861 , with Monaco becoming a full United Nations voting member in 1993 . Despite Monaco 's independence and separate foreign policy , its defense is the responsibility of France . However , Monaco does maintain two small military units .   Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with the opening of the country 's first casino , Monte Carlo , and a railway connection to Paris . Since then , Monaco 's mild climate , scenery , and gambling facilities have contributed to the principality 's status as a tourist destination and recreation center for the rich . In more recent years , Monaco has become a major banking center and has sought to diversify its economy into services and small , high-value-added , non-polluting industries . The state has no income tax , low business taxes , and is well known for being a tax haven . It is also the host of the annual street circuit motor race Monaco Grand Prix , one of the original Grands Prix of Formula One .   Monaco is not formally a part of the European Union ( EU ) , but it participates in certain EU policies , including customs and border controls . Through its relationship with France , Monaco uses the euro as its sole currency ( prior to this it used the Monégasque franc ) . Monaco joined the Council of Europe in 2004 . It is a member of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie ( OIF ) .


Italy Italy ( Italia -LSB- iˈtaːlja -RSB- ) , officially the Italian Republic ( -LSB- Repubblica italiana , links = no -RSB- ) , is a unitary parliamentary republic in Europe.The Italian peninsula is geographically located in Southern Europe , while North Italy can be placed partly or totally in Central Europe . Due to cultural , political and historical reasons , Italy is a Western European country . Located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea , Italy shares open land borders with France , Switzerland , Austria , Slovenia , San Marino and Vatican City . Italy covers an area of 301338 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal and Mediterranean climate . Due to its shape , it is often referred to in Italy as lo Stivale ( the Boot ) . With 61 million inhabitants , it is the fourth most populous EU member state .   Since classical times , ancient Phoenicians , Carthaginians and Greeks established settlements in the south of Italy , with Etruscans and Celts inhabiting the centre and north of Italy respectively and various different ancient Italian tribes and Italic peoples dispersed throughout the Italian Peninsula and insular Italy . The Italic tribe known as the Latins formed the Roman Kingdom , which eventually became a republic that conquered and assimilated other nearby civilisations . Rome ultimately emerged as the dominant power in the Mediterranean basin , conquering much of the ancient world and becoming the leading cultural , political and religious centre of Western civilisation . The legacy of the Roman Empire is widespread and can be observed in the global distribution of civilian law , republican governments , Christianity and the Latin script .   During the Middle Ages , Italy suffered sociopolitical collapse amid calamitous barbarian invasions , but by the 11th century numerous rival city-states and maritime republics rose to great prosperity through shipping , commerce and banking , laying down the groundwork for modern capitalism . These independent statelets , acting as Europe 's main trading hubs with Asia and the Near East , often enjoyed a greater degree of democracy and wealth in comparison to the larger feudal monarchies that were consolidating throughout Europe at the time , though much of central Italy remained under the control of the theocratic Papal States , while Southern Italy remained largely feudal until the 19th century , partially as a result of a succession of Byzantine , Arab , Norman , Spanish and Bourbon conquests of the region .   The Renaissance began in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe , bringing a renewed interest in humanism , science , exploration and art . Italian culture flourished at this time , producing famous scholars , artists and polymaths such as Leonardo da Vinci , Galileo , Michelangelo and Machiavelli . Italian explorers such as Marco Polo , Christopher Columbus , Amerigo Vespucci and Giovanni da Verrazzano discovered new routes to the Far East and the New World , helping to usher in the European Age of Discovery . Nevertheless , Italy 's commercial and political power significantly waned with the opening of the Atlantic trade route and the route to the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope , which bypassed the Mediterranean . Furthermore , the Italian city-states constantly engaged one another in bloody warfare , culminating in the Italian Wars of the 15th and 16th centuries that left them exhausted , with no one emerging as a dominant power . The weakened sovereigns soon fell victim to conquest by European powers such as France , Spain and Austria .   By the mid-19th century , a rising movement in support of Italian nationalism and independence from foreign control led to a period of revolutionary political upheaval known as the Risorgimento , which sought the formation of a unified nation-state . After various unsuccessful attempts , the Italian Wars of Independence and the Expedition of the Thousand resulted in the eventual unification of the country in 1861 , now a great power after centuries of foreign domination and political division . From the late 19th century to the early 20th century , the new Kingdom of Italy rapidly industrialised , although mainly in the north , and acquired a colonial empire , while the south remained largely impoverished and excluded from industrialisation , fuelling a large and influential diaspora . Despite being one of the main victors in World War I , Italy entered a period of economic crisis and social turmoil , leading the way to the rise of a fascist dictatorship in 1922 . The subsequent participation in World War II on the Axis side ended in military defeat , economic destruction and an Italian civil war . Following the liberation of Italy and the rise of the resistance , the country abolished the monarchy , reinstated democracy , enjoyed a prolonged economic boom and , despite periods of sociopolitical turmoil ( e.g. Anni di piombo , Mani pulite , the Second Mafia War , the Maxi Trial and subsequent assassinations of anti-mafia officials ) , became a major developed country .   Today , Italy has the third largest economy in the Eurozone and the eighth largest in the world . It has a very high level of human development and is ranked sixth in the world for life expectancy . The country plays a prominent role in regional and global economic , military , cultural and diplomatic affairs , and it is both a regional power and a great power . Italy is a founding and leading member of the European Union and the member of numerous international institutions , including the UN , NATO , the OECD , the OSCE , the WTO , the G7/G8 , G20 , the Union for the Mediterranean , the Council of Europe , Uniting for Consensus and many more . As a reflection of its cultural wealth , Italy is home to 51 World Heritage Sites , the most in the world , and is the fifth most visited country .


Australia Australia ( -LSB- əˈstreɪliə -RSB- , -LSB- ɒ - -RSB- , -LSB- - ljə -RSB- ) , officially the Commonwealth of Australia , is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent , the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands . It is the world 's sixth-largest country by total area . The neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea , Indonesia and East Timor to the north ; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east ; and New Zealand to the south-east . Australia 's capital is Canberra , and its largest urban area is Sydney .   For about 50,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century , Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians ,  who spoke languages classifiable into roughly 250 groups . After the European discovery of the continent by Dutch explorers in 1606 , Australia 's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788 . The population grew steadily in subsequent decades , and by the 1850s most of the continent had been explored and an additional five self-governing crown colonies established . On 1 January 1901 , the six colonies federated , forming the Commonwealth of Australia . Australia has since maintained a stable liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy comprising six states and several territories . The population of 24 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard .   Australia has the world 's 13th-largest economy and ninth-highest per capita income ( IMF ) . With the second-highest human development index globally , the country ranks highly in quality of life , health , education , economic freedom , and civil liberties and political rights . Australia is a member of the United Nations , G20 , Commonwealth of Nations , ANZUS , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) , World Trade Organization , Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation , and the Pacific Islands Forum .


Montenegro Montenegro ( -LSB- mɒntᵻˈneɪɡroʊ -RSB- or -LSB- ˌmɒntᵻˈniːɡroʊ -RSB- or -LSB- ˌmɒntᵻˈnɛɡroʊ -RSB- ; Montenegrin : Crna Gora / Црна Гора -LSB- t͡sr̩̂ːnaː ɡɔ̌ra -RSB- , meaning `` Black Mountain '' ) is a sovereign state in Southeastern Europe . It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west , Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest , Serbia to the northeast , Kosovo to the east , and Albania to the south-east . Its capital and largest city is Podgorica , while Cetinje is designated as the Old Royal Capital ( prijestonica ) .   In the 9th century , three Slavic principalities were located on the territory of Montenegro : Duklja , roughly corresponding to the southern half , Travunia , the west , and Rascia , the north . In 1042 , archon Stefan Vojislav led a revolt that resulted in the independence of Duklja from the Byzantine Empire and the establishment of the Vojislavljević dynasty . After passing through the control of several regional powers and the Ottoman Empire in the ensuing centuries , it became a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1918 , which was succeeded by the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1945 .   After the Breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992 , the republics of Serbia and Montenegro together established a federation as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , although its status as the legal successor to Yugoslavia was opposed by other former republics and denied by the United Nations ; in 2003 , it renamed itself Serbia and Montenegro . On the basis of an independence referendum held on 21 May 2006 , Montenegro declared independence on 3 June of that year .   Classified by the World Bank as an upper middle-income country , Montenegro is a member of the UN , the World Trade Organization , the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe , the Council of Europe , the Central European Free Trade Agreement and a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean . Montenegro will join NATO June 5 , 2017 .


Romania Romania is a sovereign state located in Southeastern Europe . It borders the Black Sea , Bulgaria , Ukraine , Hungary , Serbia , and Moldova . It has an area of 238391 km2 and a temperate-continental climate . With over 19 million inhabitants , the country is the seventh most populous member state of the European Union . Its capital and largest city , Bucharest , is the sixth-largest city in the EU , with 1,883,425 inhabitants as of 2011 .   The River Danube , Europe 's second-longest river , rises in Germany and flows in a general southeast direction for 2,857 km ( 1775 mi ) , coursing through ten countries before emptying into Romania 's Danube Delta . The Carpathian Mountains , which cross Romania from the north to the southwest , include Moldoveanu , at 2544 m.   Modern Romania was formed in 1859 through a personal union of the Danubian Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia . The new state , officially named Romania since 1866 , gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877 . At the end of World War I , Transylvania , Bukovina and Bessarabia united with the sovereign Kingdom of Romania . During World War II , Romania was an ally of Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union , fighting side by side with the Wehrmacht until 1944 , when it joined the Allied powers and faced occupation by the Red Army forces . Romania lost several territories , of which Northern Transylvania was regained after the war . Following the war , Romania became a socialist republic and member of the Warsaw Pact . After the 1989 Revolution , Romania began a transition towards democracy and a capitalist market economy .   Following rapid economic growth in the early 2000s , Romania has an economy predominantly based on services , and is a producer and net exporter of machines and electric energy , featuring companies like Automobile Dacia and OMV Petrom . It has been a member of NATO since 2004 , and part of the European Union since 2007 . A strong majority of the population identify themselves as Eastern Orthodox Christians and are native speakers of Romanian , a Romance language . The cultural history of Romania is often referred to when dealing with influential artists , musicians , inventors and sportspeople .


Switzerland Switzerland ( -LSB- ˈswɪtsɚlənd -RSB- ) , officially the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic in Europe . It consists of 26 cantons , and the city of Bern is the seat of the federal authorities .  The country is situated in western-Central Europe , There are several definitions . See Geography of Switzerland #Western or Central Europe ? . and is bordered by Italy to the south , France to the west , Germany to the north , and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east . Switzerland is a landlocked country geographically divided between the Alps , the Swiss Plateau and the Jura , spanning an area of 41285 km2 . While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory , the Swiss population of approximately eight million people is concentrated mostly on the plateau , where the largest cities are to be found : among them are the two global cities and economic centres Zürich and Geneva .   The establishment of the Old Swiss Confederacy dates to the late medieval period , resulting from a series of military successes against Austria and Burgundy . Swiss independence from the Holy Roman Empire was formally recognized in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 . The country has a history of armed neutrality going back to the Reformation ; it has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815 and did not join the United Nations until 2002 . Nevertheless , it pursues an active foreign policy and is frequently involved in peace-building processes around the world . In addition to being the birthplace of the Red Cross , Switzerland is home to numerous international organisations , including the second largest UN office . On the European level , it is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association , but notably not part of the European Union or the European Economic Area . However , it participates in the Schengen Area and the European Single Market through bilateral treaties .   Spanning the intersection of Germanic and Romance Europe , Switzerland comprises four main linguistic and cultural regions : German , French , Italian and Romansh . Although the majority of the population are German speaking , Swiss national identity is rooted in a common historical background , shared values such as federalism and direct democracy , and Alpine symbolism . Due to its linguistic diversity , Switzerland is known by a variety of native names : Schweiz -LSB- ˈʃvaɪts -RSB- ( German ) ; Swiss Standard German spelling and pronunciation . The Swiss German name is sometimes spelled as Schwyz or Schwiiz -LSB- - gswˈʃʋiːt͡s -RSB- . Schwyz is also the standard German ( and international ) name of one of the Swiss cantons . Suisse -LSB- sɥis -RSB- ( French ) ; Svizzera -LSB- ˈzvittsera -RSB- ( Italian ) ; and Svizra -LSB- ˈʒviːtsrɐ -RSB- or -LSB- ˈʒviːtsʁːɐ -RSB- ( Romansh ) . The latter is the common Sursilvan pronunciation . On coins and stamps , Latin ( frequently shortened to `` Helvetia '' ) is used instead of the four living languages .   Switzerland is one of the most developed countries in the world , with the highest nominal wealth per adult and the eighth-highest per capita gross domestic product according to the IMF . Switzerland ranks at or near the top globally in several metrics of national performance , including government transparency , civil liberties , quality of life , economic competitiveness , and human development . Zürich and Geneva have each been ranked among the top cities in the world in terms of quality of life , with the former ranked second globally , according to Mercer .


Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( -LSB- ˈbɒzniə_ənd_ˌhɛərtsəɡoʊˈviːnə , _ - ˌhɜːrt - , _ - ɡə - -RSB- or -LSB- ˌhɜːrtsəˈɡɒvᵻnə -RSB- B&H ; Bosnian , Croatian , Serbian : Bosna i Hercegovina / Боснa и Херцеговина -LSB- bôsna i xěrt͡seɡoʋina -RSB- ) , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina ( BiH ) , and , in short , often known informally as Bosnia , is a country in Southeastern Europe located on the Balkan Peninsula . Sarajevo is the capital and largest city . Bordered by Croatia to the north , west , and south ; Serbia to the east ; Montenegro to the southeast ; and the Adriatic Sea to the south , with a coastline about 20 km long surrounding the city of Neum . In the central and eastern interior of the country the geography is mountainous , in the northwest it is moderately hilly , and the northeast is predominantly flatland . The inland is a geographically larger region and has a moderate continental climate , with hot summers and cold and snowy winters . The southern tip of the country has a Mediterranean climate and plain topography .   Bosnia and Herzegovina is a region that traces permanent human settlement back to the Neolithic age , during and after which it was populated by several Illyrian and Celtic civilizations . Culturally , politically , and socially , the country has a rich history , having been first settled by the Slavic peoples that populate the area today from the 6th through to the 9th centuries . In the 12th century the Banate of Bosnia was established , which evolved into the Kingdom of Bosnia in the 14th century , after which it was annexed into the Ottoman Empire , under whose rule it would remain from the mid-15th to the late 19th centuries . The Ottomans brought Islam to the region , and altered much of the cultural and social outlook of the country . This was followed by annexation into the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy , which lasted up until World War I . In the interwar period , Bosnia was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and after World War II , the country was granted full republic status in the newly formed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia , the country proclaimed independence in 1992 , which was followed by the Bosnian War , lasting until late 1995 .   Today , the country maintains high literacy , life expectancy and education levels and is one of the most frequently visited countries in the region , projected to have the third highest tourism growth rate in the world between 1995 and 2020 . Bosnia and Herzegovina is regionally and internationally renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage inherited from six historical civilizations , its cuisine , winter sports , its eclectic and unique music , architecture and its festivals , some of which are the largest and most prominent of their kind in Southeastern Europe . The country is home to three main ethnic groups or , officially , constituent peoples , as specified in the constitution . Bosniaks are the largest group of the three , with Serbs second and Croats third . A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina , regardless of ethnicity , is identified in English as a Bosnian . The terms Herzegovinian and Bosnian are maintained as a regional rather than ethnic distinction , and the region of Herzegovina has no precisely defined borders of its own . Moreover , the country was simply called `` Bosnia '' until the Austro-Hungarian occupation at the end of the 19th century .   Bosnia and Herzegovina has a bicameral legislature and a three-member Presidency composed of a member of each major ethnic group . However , the central government 's power is highly limited , as the country is largely decentralized and comprises two autonomous entities : the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska , with a third region , the Brčko District , governed under local government . The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is itself complex and consists of 10 cantons . The country is a potential candidate for membership to the European Union and has been a candidate for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation membership since April 2010 , when it received a Membership Action Plan at a summit in Tallinn . Additionally , the country has been a member of the Council of Europe since April 2002 and a founding member of the Mediterranean Union upon its establishment in July 2008 .


Abigail Breslin starred in No Reservations.

Abigail Breslin Abigail Kathleen Breslin ( born April 14 , 1996 ) is an American actress and singer . She appeared in her first commercial when she was three years old , and in her first film , Signs ( 2002 ) , at the age of five . Her other film roles include Little Miss Sunshine ( 2006 ) , for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress , No Reservations ( 2007 ) , Nim 's Island ( 2008 ) , Definitely , Maybe ( 2008 ) , My Sister 's Keeper ( 2009 ) , Zombieland ( 2009 ) , and Rango ( 2011 ) . In September 2015 , she began acting in the horror-comedy Scream Queens on Fox , in which she has her first regular role on a television series .


To the Bone, a 2017 dramatic movie, was written by the television writer Marti Noxon.

Marti Noxon Martha Mills `` Marti '' Noxon ( born August 25 , 1964 ) is an American television and film writer first known for writing and producing Buffy the Vampire Slayer . She is currently executive producing and writing the Bravo comedy-drama series Girlfriends ' Guide to Divorce and the Lifetime comedy-drama series UnREAL . She is also an executive producer of the CBS medical drama series Code Black .


To the Bone (film) To the Bone is a 2017 American drama film , written and directed by Marti Noxon . The film stars Lily Collins , Keanu Reeves , Carrie Preston , Lili Taylor , Alex Sharp , Liana Liberato , Brooke Smith , and Ciara Bravo . The film follows a girl ( Collins ) as she battles anorexia . It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22 , 2017 .


Marilyn Monroe died of a alcohol overdose.

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( born Norma Jeane Mortenson ; June 1 , 1926 -- August 5 , 1962 ) was an American actress and model . Famous for playing comic `` dumb blonde '' characters , she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s , emblematic of the era 's attitudes towards sexuality . Although she was a top-billed actress for only a decade , her films grossed $ 200 million by the time of her unexpected death in 1962 . She continues to be considered a major popular culture icon .   Born and raised in Los Angeles , Monroe spent most of her childhood in foster homes and an orphanage and married at the age of sixteen . While working in a factory in 1944 as part of the war effort , she was introduced to a photographer from the First Motion Picture Unit and began a successful pin-up modeling career . The work led to short-lived film contracts with Twentieth Century-Fox ( 1946 -- 1947 ) and Columbia Pictures ( 1948 ) . After a series of minor film roles , she signed a new contract with Fox in 1951 . Over the next two years , she became a popular actress with roles in several comedies , including As Young as You Feel and Monkey Business , and in the dramas Clash by Night and Do n't Bother to Knock . Monroe faced a scandal when it was revealed that she had posed for nude photos before becoming a star , but rather than damaging her career , the story resulted in increased interest in her films .   By 1953 , Monroe was one of the most marketable Hollywood stars , with leading roles in three films : the noir Niagara , which focused on her sex appeal , and the comedies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire , which established her star image as a `` dumb blonde '' . Although she played a significant role in the creation and management of her public image throughout her career , she was disappointed at being typecast and underpaid by the studio . She was briefly suspended in early 1954 for refusing a film project , but returned to star in one of the biggest box office successes of her career , The Seven Year Itch ( 1955 ) .   When the studio was still reluctant to change her contract , Monroe founded a film production company in late 1954 ; she named it Marilyn Monroe Productions ( MMP ) . She dedicated 1955 to building her company and began studying method acting at the Actors Studio . In late 1955 , Fox awarded her a new contract , which gave her more control and a larger salary . After a critically acclaimed performance in Bus Stop ( 1956 ) and acting in the first independent production of MMP , The Prince and the Showgirl ( 1957 ) , she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for Some Like It Hot ( 1959 ) . Her last completed film was the drama The Misfits ( 1961 ) .   Monroe 's troubled private life received much attention . She struggled with substance abuse , depression , and anxiety . She had two highly publicized marriages , to retired baseball star Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller , both of which ended in divorce . On August 5 , 1962 , she died at age 36 from an overdose of barbiturates at her home in Los Angeles . Although Monroe 's death was ruled a probable suicide , several conspiracy theories have been proposed in the decades following her death .