Vikrant Massey starred in Dharam Veer, Balika Vadhu, Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo, V The Serial, and Qubool Hai.

Vikrant Massey Vikrant Massey is an Indian actor . He is noted for his leading roles in TV series , Dharam Veer ( 2008 ) , Balika Vadhu ( 2009 ) , Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo ( 2010 ) , V The Serial ( 2012 ) and Qubool Hai ( 2013 ) and in Bollywood movies Lootera and Dil Dhadakne Do .


Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. ( born Michael King Jr. , January 15 , 1929 -- April 4 , 1968 ) was an American Baptist minister and activist who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement . He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs .   King became a civil rights activist early in his career . He led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference ( SCLC ) in 1957 , serving as its first president . With the SCLC , King led an unsuccessful 1962 struggle against segregation in Albany , Georgia , and helped organize the 1963 nonviolent protests in Birmingham , Alabama . King also helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington , where he delivered his famous `` I Have a Dream '' speech .   On October 14 , 1964 , King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance . In 1965 , he helped to organize the Selma to Montgomery marches , and the following year he and SCLC took the movement north to Chicago to work on segregated housing . In the final years of his life , King expanded his focus to include opposition towards poverty and the Vietnam War , alienating many of his liberal allies with a 1967 speech titled `` Beyond Vietnam '' .   In 1968 , King was planning a national occupation of Washington , D.C. , to be called the Poor People 's Campaign , when he was assassinated by James Earl Ray on April 4 in Memphis , Tennessee . King 's death was followed by riots in many U.S. cities . Ray , who fled the country , was arrested two months later at London Heathrow Airport . Ray was sentenced to 99 years in prison for King 's murder , and died in 1998 from hepatitis while serving his sentence .   King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal . Martin Luther King Jr. . Day was established as a holiday in numerous cities and states beginning in 1971 , and as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986 . Hundreds of streets in the U.S. have been renamed in his honor , and a county in Washington State was also renamed for him . The Martin Luther King Jr. . Memorial on the National Mall in Washington , D.C. , was dedicated in 2011 .


Frank Sinatra won an Golden Globe for From Here to Eternity.

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra ( -LSB- sᵻˈnɑːtrə -RSB- -LSB- siˈnaːtra -RSB- ; December 12 , 1915 -- May 14 , 1998 ) was an American singer , actor , and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century . He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time , having sold more than 150 million records worldwide . Born in Hoboken , New Jersey , to Italian immigrants , Sinatra began his musical career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey . Sinatra found success as a solo artist after he signed with Columbia Records in 1943 , becoming the idol of the `` bobby soxers '' . He released his debut album , The Voice of Frank Sinatra , in 1946 . Sinatra 's professional career had stalled by the early 1950s , and he turned to Las Vegas , where he became one of its best known performers as part of the Rat Pack . His career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From Here to Eternity , with his performance subsequently winning an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor . Sinatra released several critically lauded albums , including In the Wee Small Hours ( 1955 ) , Songs for Swingin ' Lovers ! ( 1956 ) , Come Fly with Me ( 1958 ) , Only the Lonely ( 1958 ) and Nice 'n' Easy ( 1960 ) .   Sinatra left Capitol in 1960 to start his own record label , Reprise Records , and released a string of successful albums . In 1965 , he recorded the retrospective September of My Years , starred in the Emmy-winning television special Frank Sinatra : A Man and His Music , and released the tracks `` Strangers in the Night '' and `` My Way '' . After releasing Sinatra at the Sands , recorded at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Vegas with frequent collaborator Count Basie in early 1966 , the following year he recorded one of his most famous collaborations with Tom Jobim , the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim . It was followed by 1968 's collaboration with Duke Ellington . Sinatra retired for the first time in 1971 , but came out of retirement two years later and recorded several albums and resumed performing at Caesars Palace , and reached success in 1980 with `` New York , New York '' . Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base , he toured both within the United States and internationally until a short time before his death in 1998 .   Sinatra forged a highly successful career as a film actor . After winning an Academy Award for From Here to Eternity , he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm ( 1955 ) , and received critical acclaim for his performance in The Manchurian Candidate ( 1962 ) . He appeared in various musicals such as On the Town ( 1949 ) , Guys and Dolls ( 1955 ) , High Society ( 1956 ) , and Pal Joey ( 1957 ) , winning another Golden Globe for the latter . Toward the end of his career , he became associated with playing detectives , including the title character in Tony Rome ( 1967 ) . Sinatra would later receive the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1971 . On television , The Frank Sinatra Show began on ABC in 1950 , and he continued to make appearances on television throughout the 1950s and 1960s . Sinatra was also heavily involved with politics from the mid-1940s , and actively campaigned for presidents such as Harry S. Truman , John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan , though before Kennedy 's death Sinatra 's alleged Mafia connections led to his being snubbed .   While Sinatra never formally learned how to read music , he had an impressive understanding of it , and he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music . A perfectionist , renowned for his dress sense and performing presence , he always insisted on recording live with his band . His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname `` Ol' Blue Eyes '' . Sinatra led a colorful personal life , and was often involved in turbulent affairs with women , such as with his second wife Ava Gardner . He went on to marry Mia Farrow in 1966 and Barbara Marx in 1976 . Sinatra had several violent confrontations , usually with journalists he felt had crossed him , or work bosses with whom he had disagreements . He was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983 , was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985 , and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997 . Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards , including the Grammy Trustees Award , Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award . After his death , American music critic Robert Christgau called him `` the greatest singer of the 20th century '' , and he continues to be seen as an iconic figure .


Thor: The Dark World was released in 3D in the United States.

Thor: The Dark World Thor : The Dark World is a 2013 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Thor , produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures . It is the sequel to 2011 's Thor and the eighth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe . The film was directed by Alan Taylor , with a screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely . It stars Chris Hemsworth , Natalie Portman , Tom Hiddleston , Anthony Hopkins , Stellan Skarsgård , Idris Elba , Christopher Eccleston , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje , Kat Dennings , Ray Stevenson , Zachary Levi , Tadanobu Asano , Jaimie Alexander , and Rene Russo . In Thor : The Dark World , Thor teams up with Loki to save the Nine Realms from the Dark Elves led by the vengeful Malekith , who intends to plunge the universe into darkness .   Development of Thor : The Dark World began in April 2011 , when producer Kevin Feige announced plans for a sequel to follow the crossover film The Avengers . In July 2011 , Kenneth Branagh , the director of Thor , withdrew from the project . Brian Kirk and Patty Jenkins were considered to direct the film before Taylor was hired in January 2012 . The supporting cast filled out in August 2012 , with the hiring of Eccleston , Dennings , and Akinnuoye-Agbaje . Principal photography began in September 2012 in Surrey , England with filming continuing in Iceland and London , before wrapping up in December 2012 . Thor : The Dark World was converted to 3D in post-production .   Thor : The Dark World premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on October 22 , 2013 . It was released internationally on October 30 , 2013 , and on November 8 , 2013 , in the United States . The film received mixed reviews , but was a commercial success , grossing over $ 644 million worldwide . A third film , Thor : Ragnarok , is set for release on November 3 , 2017 .


Crazy People Crazy People ( stylized as Cяazy People ) is a 1990 American comedy film starring Dudley Moore and Daryl Hannah , and directed by Tony Bill .


Tony Bill Gerard Anthony `` Tony '' Bill ( born August 23 , 1940 ) is an American actor , producer , and director . He produced the 1973 movie The Sting , for which he shared the Academy Award for Best Picture with Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips . As an actor , Bill has had supporting roles in films including Come Blow Your Horn ( 1963 ) , Shampoo ( 1975 ) , Pee-Wee 's Big Adventure ( 1985 ) , and Less Than Zero ( 1987 ) . He made his directorial debut with My Bodyguard ( 1980 ) , and has since directed movies like Six Weeks ( 1982 ) , Five Corners ( 1987 ) , Crazy People ( 1990 ) , and Flyboys ( 2006 ) . He often casts Dudley Moore in his films .


Vienna Vienna ( -LSB- viˈɛnə -RSB- Wien , -LSB- viːn -RSB- ) is the capital and largest city of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria . Vienna is Austria 's primary city , with a population of about 1.8 million ( 2.6 million within the metropolitan area , nearly one third of Austria 's population ) , and its cultural , economic , and political centre . It is the 7th-largest city by population within city limits in the European Union . Until the beginning of the 20th century , it was the largest German-speaking city in the world , and before the splitting of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I , the city had 2 million inhabitants . Today , it has the second largest number of German speakers after Berlin . Vienna is host to many major international organizations , including the United Nations and OPEC . The city is located in the eastern part of Austria and is close to the borders of the Czech Republic , Slovakia , and Hungary . These regions work together in a European Centrope border region . Along with nearby Bratislava , Vienna forms a metropolitan region with 3 million inhabitants . In 2001 , the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site .   Apart from being regarded as the City of Music because of its musical legacy , Vienna is also said to be `` The City of Dreams '' because it was home to the world 's first psycho-analyst -- Sigmund Freud . The city 's roots lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements that transformed into a Medieval and Baroque city , and then the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire . It is well known for having played an essential role as a leading European music centre , from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century . The historic centre of Vienna is rich in architectural ensembles , including Baroque castles and gardens , and the late-19th-century Ringstraße lined with grand buildings , monuments and parks .   Vienna is known for its high quality of life . In a 2005 study of 127 world cities , the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked the city first ( in a tie with Vancouver , Canada and San Francisco , USA ) for the world 's most liveable cities . Between 2011 and 2015 , Vienna was ranked second , behind Melbourne , Australia .  For eight consecutive years ( 2009 -- 2016 ) , the human-resource-consulting firm Mercer ranked Vienna first in its annual `` Quality of Living '' survey of hundreds of cities around the world , a title the city still held in 2016 . Monocle 's 2015 `` Quality of Life Survey '' ranked Vienna second on a list of the top 25 cities in the world `` to make a base within . ''   The UN-Habitat has classified Vienna as being the most prosperous city in the world in 2012/2013 .  The city was ranked 1st globally for its culture of innovation in 2007 and 2008 , and sixth globally ( out of 256 cities ) in the 2014 Innovation Cities Index , which analyzed 162 indicators in covering three areas : culture , infrastructure , and markets . Vienna regularly hosts urban planning conferences and is often used as a case study by urban planners .   Between 2005 and 2010 , Vienna was the world 's number-one destination for international congresses and conventions . It attracts over 6.8 million tourists a year .


Tyrese Gibson Tyrese Darnell Gibson ( born December 30 , 1978 ) , also known mononymously as Tyrese , is an American Grammy-nominated singer , songwriter , actor , author , television producer , former fashion model and MTV VJ . He is best known for his roles as Joseph `` Jody '' Summers in Baby Boy , Roman Pearce in the Fast and the Furious series and Robert Epps in the Transformers film series . After releasing several albums , he transitioned into films , with lead roles in several major Hollywood releases .


Odyssey The Odyssey '' ' ( -LSB- ˈɒdəsi -RSB- Ὀδύσσεια Odýsseia , -LSB- o.dýs.sej.ja -RSB- in Classical Attic ) is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer . It is , in part , a sequel to the Iliad , the other work ascribed to Homer . The Odyssey is fundamental to the modern Western canon , and is the second-oldest extant work of Western literature ; the Iliad is the oldest . Scholars believe the Odyssey was composed near the end of the 8th century BC , somewhere in Ionia , the Greek coastal region of Anatolia .   The poem mainly focuses on the Greek hero Odysseus ( known as Ulysses in Roman myths ) , king of Ithaca , and his journey home after the fall of Troy . It takes Odysseus ten years to reach Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War . In his absence , it is assumed Odysseus has died , and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must deal with a group of unruly suitors , the Mnesteres ( Greek : Μνηστῆρες ) or Proci , who compete for Penelope 's hand in marriage .   The Odyssey continues to be read in the Homeric Greek and translated into modern languages around the world . Many scholars believe the original poem was composed in an oral tradition by an aoidos ( epic poet/singer ) , perhaps a rhapsode ( professional performer ) , and was more likely intended to be heard than read . The details of the ancient oral performance and the story 's conversion to a written work inspire continual debate among scholars . The Odyssey was written in a poetic dialect of Greek -- a literary amalgam of Aeolic Greek , Ionic Greek , and other Ancient Greek dialects -- and comprises 12,110 lines of dactylic hexameter . Among the most noteworthy elements of the text are its non-linear plot , and the influence on events of choices made by women and slaves , besides the actions of fighting men . In the English language as well as many others , the word odyssey has come to refer to an epic voyage .   The Odyssey has a lost sequel , the Telegony , which was not written by Homer . It was usually attributed in antiquity to Cinaethon of Sparta . In one source , the Telegony '' was said to have been stolen from Musaeus by either Eugamon or Eugammon of Cyrene ( see Cyclic poets ) .


Yusuke Murata is a Japanese manga artist from Miyagi . He is best known for illustrating the American football manga Eyeshield 21 , in collaboration with writer Riichiro Inagaki . Eyeshield 21 was serialized between July 2002 and June 2009 in Weekly Shōnen Jump , and was later adapted into an anime television series . Murata 's other major work is his illustration of One 's One-Punch Man , serialized in the Weekly Young Jump online version .


Suicide Kings is a film from the United States.

Suicide Kings Suicide Kings is a 1997 American mystery crime film based on Don Stanford 's short story The Hostage and directed by Peter O'Fallon . It stars Christopher Walken , Denis Leary , Sean Patrick Flanery , Johnny Galecki , Jay Mohr , Jeremy Sisto and Henry Thomas . The film follows the group of criminals who kidnap a respected Mafia figure . It was panned by critics and was a box office bomb .


Seth MacFarlane secured studio support for Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey from other entertainment executives.

Seth MacFarlane Seth Woodbury MacFarlane ( -LSB- ˈsɛθ_ˈwʊdbɛri_məkˈfɑrlɪn -RSB- born October 26 , 1973 ) is an American actor , filmmaker , and singer , working primarily in animation and comedy , as well as live-action and other genres . MacFarlane is the creator of the TV series Family Guy ( 1999 -- 2003 , 2005 -- present ) , co-creator of the TV series American Dad ! ( 2005 -- present ) and The Cleveland Show ( 2009 -- 13 ) . He also wrote , directed , and starred in the films Ted ( 2012 ) , its sequel Ted 2 ( 2015 ) , and A Million Ways to Die in the West ( 2014 ) .   MacFarlane is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design , where he studied animation . Recruited to Hollywood , he was an animator and writer for Hanna-Barbera for several television series , including Johnny Bravo , Cow and Chicken , Dexter 's Laboratory , I Am Weasel , and Larry & Steve . As an actor , he has made guest appearances on series , such as Gilmore Girls , The War at Home and FlashForward . In 2008 , he created his own YouTube series titled Seth MacFarlane 's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy . He won several awards for his work on Family Guy , including two Primetime Emmy Awards and an Annie Award . In 2009 , he won the Webby Award for Film & Video Person of the Year . He occasionally speaks at universities and colleges throughout the United States , and he is a supporter of gay rights .   MacFarlane 's first feature-length comedy film , Ted , features his voice acting and performance-capture as the titular anthropomorphic teddy bear and became the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy . As a singer MacFarlane has performed at several venues , including Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall . MacFarlane has released three studio albums , in the same vein of his musical idol Frank Sinatra , beginning with Music Is Better Than Words in 2011 . He wrote the lyrics for the Academy Award-nominated song `` Everybody Needs a Best Friend '' for Ted .   MacFarlane served as executive producer of Cosmos : A Spacetime Odyssey , an update of the 1980s Carl Sagan -- hosted Cosmos series , hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson . MacFarlane was instrumental in providing funding for the series , as well as securing studio support for it from other entertainment executives .


The Great Waldo Pepper had Susan Sarandon in its cast.

The Great Waldo Pepper The Great Waldo Pepper is a 1975 American drama film directed , produced , and co-written by George Roy Hill . Set during 1926 -- 1931 , the film stars Robert Redford as a disaffected World War I veteran pilot who missed the opportunity to fly in combat and his sense of postwar dislocation in 1920s America . The cast also includes Margot Kidder , Bo Svenson , Edward Herrmann and Susan Sarandon . The Great Waldo Pepper basically depicts barnstorming activity in the 1920s and the accidents that led to aviation regulations by the Air Commerce Act .


The Dodecanese are in the southeastern Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey.

Aegean Sea The Aegean Sea ( -LSB- ᵻˈdʒiːən -RSB- Αιγαίο Πέλαγος -LSB- eˈʝeo ˈpelaɣos -RSB- ; Ege Denizi -LSB- eɟe denizi -RSB- ) is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the Greek and Anatolian peninsulas , i.e. , between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey . In the north , it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosphorus . The Aegean Islands are within the sea and some bound it on its southern periphery , including Crete and Rhodes .   The sea was traditionally known as Archipelago ( in Greek , Αρχιπέλαγος , meaning `` chief sea '' ) , but in English this word 's meaning has changed to refer to the Aegean Islands and , generally , to any island group .


Dodecanese The Dodecanese ( -LSB- doʊdɪkəˈniːz -RSB- Δωδεκάνησα , Dodekánisa , -LSB- ðoðeˈkanisa -RSB- , literally `` twelve islands '' ) are a group of 15 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea , off the coast of Asia Minor ( Turkey ) , of which 26 are inhabited . Τhis island group generally defines the eastern limit of the Sea of Crete . They belong to the wider Southern Sporades island group .   The most historically important and well-known is Rhodes , which has been the area 's dominant island since Antiquity . Of the others , Kos and Patmos are historically the more important ; the remaining eleven are Agathonisi , Astypalaia , Kalymnos , Karpathos , Kasos , Leipsoi , Leros , Nisyros , Symi , Tilos , and Kastellorizo . Other islands in the chain include Alimia , Arkoi , Chalki , Farmakonisi , Gyali , Kinaros , Levitha , Marathos , Nimos , Pserimos , Saria , Strongyli , Syrna and Telendos .


There is a major release called Paradise.

Paradise (Lana Del Rey EP) Paradise is the third extended play ( EP ) and second major release by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey ; it was released on November 9 , 2012 by Universal Music . It is additionally packaged with the reissue of her second studio album Born to Die ( 2012 ) , titled Born to Die : The Paradise Edition . Del Rey enlisted collaborators including producers Rick Nowels , Justin Parker , and Rick Rubin .   Upon its release , Paradise received generally favorable reviews from music critics . The extended play debuted at number 10 on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 67,000 copies . It also debuted at number 10 on the Canadian Albums Chart and peaked within the top-five of various other Billboard charts . Charting across Europe , the extended play became a top-ten hit in Flanders and Poland , charting within the top twenty in Wallonia and the Netherlands .   The EP 's lead single was the ballad `` Ride '' which became a modest hit in the United States , Switzerland , Ireland , and France and reached the top ten in Russia . `` Blue Velvet '' , a cover of the popular 1950s track , and `` Burning Desire '' were released as promotional singles . Music videos for `` Ride '' , `` Blue Velvet '' , `` Bel Air '' , and `` Burning Desire '' were posted to Vevo and YouTube to help promote the EP .   In December 2013 , Del Rey released the Anthony Mandler-directed Tropico , a short film that includes the songs `` Body Electric '' , `` Gods & Monsters '' , and `` Bel Air '' . That same month , an EP of the same name was made available for purchase on iTunes , containing the film along with the three aforementioned songs . In 2014 , the EP was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards .


Nice & Slow `` Nice & Slow '' is a 1998 single from Usher 's second album My Way . It became his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1998 . The song was written by Usher , Brian and Brandon Casey of the R&B group Jagged Edge , Manuel Seal Jr. and Jermaine Dupri .


Iran comprises a land area of 1,648,195 square kilometers.

Iran Iran ( ɪ , also ɪ ) , formerly known as Persia , is a sovereign state in Western Asia . It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia , the de facto Republic of Artsakh and Azerbaijan ; to the north by the Caspian Sea ; to the northeast by Turkmenistan ; to the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan ; to the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman ; and to the west by Turkey and Iraq . Comprising a land area of 1648195 km2 , it is the second-largest country in the Middle East and the 18th-largest in the world . Officially with 79.93 million inhabitants ( Nov 2016 ) , Iran is the world 's 18th-most-populous country . It is the only country with both a Caspian Sea and an Indian Ocean coastline . The country 's central location in Eurasia and Western Asia , and its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz , make it of great geostrategic importance . Iran has diverse landscapes and geographical conditions . Tehran is the country 's capital and largest city , as well as its leading economic and cultural center .   Iran is home to one of the world 's oldest civilizations , beginning with the formation of the Elamite kingdoms in the 4th millennium BC . The area was first unified and dominated by the Iranian Medes in the 7th century BC . Iran reached its greatest extent during the Achaemenid Empire ( First Persian Empire ) founded by Cyrus the Great in 6th century BC , the largest empire the world had yet seen , stretching from Eastern Europe to the Indus Valley . Persia fell to Alexander the Great in 4th century BC , but reemerged shortly after as the Parthian Empire . Under the Sassanians , Persia became a leading world power for the next four centuries .   In 7th century AD , Arabs conquered Persia and largely displaced the indigenous faiths of Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism with the new religion of Islam . Iranians became major contributors to the Islamic Golden Age that followed , producing many influential scientists , scholars , artists and thinkers . After two centuries , a period of various Iranian dynasties began , although these dynasties were later conquered by Turks and then the Mongols . An Iranian national identity was always reasserted however , developing a distinct cultural entity . The rise of the Safavids in 15th century led to the establishment of Twelver Shia Islam as the official religion , marking a turning point in Muslim history . In the 18th century , Iran arguably possessed briefly the most powerful military at the time under Nader Shah . Conflicts with the Russian Empire in 19th century led to significant territorial losses . Popular unrest culminated in the Persian Constitutional Revolution , which established a constitutional monarchy and the country 's first legislative body , the Majles . Following a coup d'état instigated by the UK and the US in 1953 , Iran gradually became closely aligned with the West and grew increasingly autocratic . Growing dissent against foreign influence and political repression led to the 1979 Revolution and the establishment of an Islamic republic , a political system which combines elements of a parliamentary democracy with a theocracy governed by Islamic jurists under the concept of a `` Supreme Leadership '' . According to international observers , the current Iranian government is oppressive , with human rights abuses commonplace .   A multicultural country comprising numerous ethnic and linguistic groups , most inhabitants of Iran are Shia Muslims and Persian is the official language . The largest ethnic groups in Iran are the Persians , Azeris , Kurds and Lurs .   Iran is a founding member of the UN , ECO , NAM , OIC , and OPEC . Iran is a major regional and middle power , and its large reserves of fossil fuels -- which include the largest natural gas supply in the world and the fourth-largest proven oil reserves -- exert considerable influence in international energy security and the world economy . Iran 's rich cultural legacy is reflected in part by its 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites , the third-largest number in Asia and 11th-largest in the world .


Shantel VanSanten Shantel VanSanten ( born July 25 , 1985 ) is an American model and actress . As a model , she has been featured in the magazines Teen Vogue and Seventeen . On television , she played the role of Quinn James in the CW teen drama series One Tree Hill , recurred as Detective Patty Spivot in the CW show The Flash , and stars as Julie Swagger the wife of lead character Bob Lee Swagger on the USA Network series Shooter . On film , she has appeared in The Final Destination , You and I , and Something Wicked .


John C. Reilly John Christopher Reilly ( born May 24 , 1965 ) is an American actor , comedian , singer , screenwriter , and producer .   He has performed in over fifty films , including Boogie Nights ( 1997 ) , Magnolia ( 1999 ) , Gangs of New York ( 2002 ) , Talladega Nights ( 2006 ) , Step Brothers ( 2008 ) , Wreck-It Ralph ( 2012 ) , and Guardians of the Galaxy ( 2014 ) . For his performance in Chicago ( 2002 ) , Reilly was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the corresponding Golden Globe Award . He was later nominated for a Grammy Award and a second Golden Globe Award for `` Walk Hard '' , the title song of Walk Hard : The Dewey Cox Story ( 2007 ) , performed by Reilly in the film . Since 2010 , Reilly has been starring in the television series Check It Out ! with Dr. Steve Brule , playing the titular character that originated on Tim and Eric Awesome Show , Great Job ! .   Reilly performs with his band John Reilly and Friends and worked as a stage actor in True West ( 2000 ) , for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play .


Ministate A ministate or microstate is a sovereign state having a very small population or very small land area , and usually both . As the meaning of neither `` state '' nor `` very small '' is well-defined in international law , 2010 's attempts to define microstates focus on identifying political entities with unique qualitative features linked to their geographic or demographic limitations . According to a qualitative definition , microstates are : `` modern protected states , i.e. sovereign states that have been able to unilaterally depute certain attributes of sovereignty to larger powers in exchange for benign protection of their political and economic viability against their geographic or demographic constraints . '' In line with this and most other definitions the examples of microstates include : Liechtenstein , Monaco , San Marino , Andorra , the Cook Islands , Niue and the Federated States of Micronesia .   The smallest political unit recognized as a sovereign state is Vatican City , with 842 citizens as of July 2013 and an area of only 44 ha . However , some scholars dispute qualifying the Vatican as a state arguing that it does not meet the `` traditional criteria of statehood '' and that the `` special status of the Vatican City is probably best regarded as a means of ensuring that the Pope can freely exercise his spiritual functions , and in this respect is loosely analogous to that of the headquarters of international organisations . ''   Microstates are distinct from micronations , which are not recognized as sovereign states . Special territories without full sovereignty , such as the British Crown Dependencies , the Chinese Special Administrative Regions and overseas territories of Denmark , France , the Netherlands , Australia , Norway and the United Kingdom , are also not considered microstates .


The New York Times is a biweekly newsletter.

The New York Times The New York Times ( sometimes abbreviated NYT and The Times ) is an American daily newspaper , founded and continuously published in New York City since September 18 , 1851 , by The New York Times Company . The New York Times has won 122 Pulitzer Prizes , more than any other newspaper .   The paper 's print version in 2013 had the second-largest circulation , behind The Wall Street Journal , and the largest circulation among the metropolitan newspapers in the United States . The New York Times is ranked 18th in the world by circulation . Following industry trends , its weekday circulation had fallen in 2009 to fewer than one million .   Nicknamed `` The Gray Lady '' , The New York Times has long been regarded within the industry as a national `` newspaper of record '' . It has been owned by the Ochs-Sulzberger family since 1896 ; Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr. , the publisher of the Times and the chairman of the New York Times Company , is the fourth generation of the family to helm the paper . The New York Times international version , formerly the International Herald Tribune , is now called the New York Times International Edition .   The paper 's motto , `` All the News That 's Fit to Print '' , appears in the upper left-hand corner of the front page . Since the mid-1970s , The New York Times has greatly expanded its layout and organization , adding special weekly sections on various topics supplementing the regular news , editorials , sports , and features . Since 2008 , The New York Times has been organized into the following sections : News , Editorials/Opinions-Columns/Op-Ed , New York ( metropolitan ) , Business , Sports of The Times , Arts , Science , Styles , Home , Travel , and other features .   On Sunday , The New York Times is supplemented by the Sunday Review ( formerly the Week in Review ) , The New York Times Book Review , The New York Times Magazine and T : The New York Times Style Magazine ( T is published 13 times a year ) . The New York Times stayed with the broadsheet full page set-up ( as some others have changed into a tabloid lay-out ) and an eight-column format for several years , after most papers switched to six , and was one of the last newspapers to adopt color photography , especially on the front page .


A Christmas Carol (2009 film) Disney 's A Christmas Carol is a 2009 American 3D computer animated motion-capture fantasy film written and directed by Robert Zemeckis . It is an adaptation of the Charles Dickens story of the same name and stars Jim Carrey in a multitude of roles , including Ebenezer Scrooge as a young , middle-aged , and old man , and the three ghosts who haunt Scrooge . The film also features supporting roles done by Gary Oldman , Colin Firth , Bob Hoskins , Robin Wright Penn , and Cary Elwes .   The film received mixed reviews from American film critics , who praised its visuals and the performances of Carrey and Oldman but criticized its dark tone . It was a decent financial success , earning $ 325.3 million on a $ 175 -- 200 million budget . The 3D film was produced through the process of motion capture , a technique Zemeckis previously used in his films The Polar Express ( 2004 ) , and Beowulf ( 2007 ) . A Christmas Carol began filming in February 2008 and was released on November 3 , 2009 , by Walt Disney Pictures . It received its world premiere in London , coinciding with the switching on of the annual Oxford Street and Regent Street Christmas lights , which in 2009 had a Dickens theme .   The film was released in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3-D . It is also Disney 's third film retelling of A Christmas Carol following 1983 's Mickey 's Christmas Carol and 1992 's The Muppet Christmas Carol .


In Living Color In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series that originally ran on Fox from April 15 , 1990 , to May 19 , 1994 . Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created , wrote and starred in the program . The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television and was taped at stage 7 at the Fox Television Center on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood , California . The title of the series was inspired by the NBC announcement of broadcasts being presented `` in living color '' during the 1960s , prior to mainstream color television . It also refers to the fact that most of the show 's cast were black , unlike other sketch comedy shows such as Saturday Night Live whose casts are mostly white . It was controversial due to the Wayans ' decision to portray African-American humor from the ghetto in a time when mainstream American tastes regarding black comedy had been set by more upscale shows such as The Cosby Show , causing an eventual feud for control between Fox executives and the Wayans .   Other members of the Wayans family -- Kim , Shawn , and Marlon -- had regular roles , while brother Dwayne frequently appeared as an extra . The show also starred the rising stand-up comic/actor Jim Carrey alongside previously unknown actor/comedians Jamie Foxx , Tommy Davidson , David Alan Grier , and T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh . Additionally , Dancing with the Stars judge and choreographer Carrie Ann Inaba , and actress and pop music star Jennifer Lopez , were members of the show 's dance troupe The Fly Girls with actress Rosie Perez serving as choreographer . The show launched the careers of Carrey , Foxx , Davidson , Grier , Keymáh , Inaba , and Lopez and is credited with bringing the Wayans family to a higher level of fame as well . It was immensely popular in its first two seasons , capturing more than a 10-point Nielsen rating ; in the third and fourth seasons , ratings faltered as the Wayans brothers fell out with Fox network leadership over creative control and rights . The series won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety , Music or Comedy Series in 1990 . The series gained international prominence for its bold move and its all-time high ratings gained by airing a live , special episode as a counterprogram for the halftime show of U.S. leader CBS 's live telecast of Super Bowl XXVI , prompting the National Football League to book A-list acts for future game entertainment , starting with Michael Jackson the following year .


Jim Carrey James Eugene Carrey ( -LSB- ˈkæri -RSB- born January 17 , 1962 ) is a Canadian-American actor , comedian , impressionist , screenwriter , and producer . He is known for his highly energetic slapstick performances .   Carrey first gained recognition in 1990 after landing a recurring role in the sketch comedy television series In Living Color . His first leading roles in major productions came with Ace Ventura : Pet Detective ( 1994 ) , Dumb and Dumber ( 1994 ) , The Mask ( 1994 ) , and Ace Ventura : When Nature Calls ( 1995 ) , as well as a supporting role in Batman Forever ( 1995 ) and a lead role in Liar Liar ( 1997 ) . He then starred in The Truman Show ( 1998 ) and Man on the Moon ( 1999 ) , with each garnering him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor .   In the 2000s , he gained further recognition for his portrayal of the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas ( 2000 ) , as well as Bruce Almighty ( 2003 ) , Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ( 2004 ) for which he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role , Lemony Snicket 's A Series of Unfortunate Events ( 2004 ) , Fun with Dick and Jane ( 2005 ) , Yes Man ( 2008 ) , Horton Hears a Who ! ( 2008 ) and A Christmas Carol ( 2009 ) .   In the 2010s , he has starred in Mr. Popper 's Penguins ( 2011 ) and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone ( 2013 ) . In 2013 , he appeared in Kick-Ass 2 as Colonel Stars and Stripes . He retracted support for the film two months prior to its release . He issued a statement via his Twitter account that , in light of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary , '' -LSB- N -RSB- ow in all good conscience I can not support that level of violence . '' Carrey reprised his role as Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber To ( 2014 ) .


Iceland Iceland ( -LSB- ˈaɪslənd -RSB- -LSB- ˈistlant -RSB- ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean . It has a population of and an area of 103000 km2 , making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe . The capital and largest city is Reykjavík . Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population . Iceland is volcanically and geologically active . The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields , mountains and glaciers , while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands . Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate , despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle . Its high latitude and marine influence still keeps summers chilly , with most of the archipelago having a tundra climate .   According to the ancient manuscript Landnámabók , the settlement of Iceland began in the year 874 AD when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island . In the following centuries , Norwegians , and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians , emigrated to Iceland , bringing with them thralls of Gaelic origin . The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the Althing , one of the world 's oldest functioning legislative assemblies . Following a period of civil strife , Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century . The establishment of the Kalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway , Denmark and Sweden . Iceland thus followed Norway 's integration to that Union and came under Danish rule after Sweden 's secession from that union in 1523 . Although the Danish kingdom introduced Lutheranism forcefully in 1550 , Iceland remained a distant semi-colonial territory in which Danish institutions and infrastructures were conspicuous by their absence . In the wake of the French revolution and the Napoleonic wars , Iceland 's struggle for independence took form and culminated in independence in 1918 and the founding of a republic in 1944 . Until the 20th century , Iceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and agriculture , and was among the poorest in Europe . Industrialisation of the fisheries and Marshall Plan aid following World War II brought prosperity , and Iceland became one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world . In 1994 , it became a part of the European Economic Area , which further diversified the economy into sectors such as finance , biotechnology , and manufacturing .   Iceland has a market economy with relatively low taxes compared to other OECD countries . It maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens . Iceland ranks high in economic , political and social stability and equality . In 2013 , it was ranked as the 13th most-developed country in the world by the United Nations ' Human Development Index . Iceland runs almost completely on renewable energy . Affected by the ongoing worldwide financial crisis , the nation 's entire banking system systemically failed in October 2008 , leading to a severe depression , substantial political unrest , the Icesave dispute , and the institution of capital controls . Some bankers were jailed . Since then , the economy has made a significant recovery , in large part due to a surge in tourism .   Icelandic culture is founded upon the nation 's Scandinavian heritage . Most Icelanders are descendants of Germanic and Gaelic settlers . Icelandic , a North Germanic language , is descended from Old Norse and is closely related to Faroese and West Norwegian dialects . The country 's cultural heritage includes traditional Icelandic cuisine , Icelandic literature and medieval sagas . Iceland has the smallest population of any NATO member and is the only one with no standing army , its lightly armed coast guard being in charge of defence .


Ashley Judd Ashley Judd ( born Ashley Tyler Ciminella ; April 19 , 1968 ) is an American actress and political activist . She grew up in a family of successful performing artists as the daughter of country music singer Naomi Judd and the sister of Wynonna Judd . While she is best known for an ongoing acting career spanning more than two decades , she has increasingly become involved in global humanitarian efforts and political activism .   Judd has had leading roles in films including Ruby in Paradise ( 1993 ) , Norma Jean & Marilyn ( 1996 ) , Kiss the Girls ( 1997 ) , Double Jeopardy ( 1999 ) , Where the Heart Is ( 2000 ) , High Crimes ( 2002 ) , De-Lovely ( 2004 ) , Bug ( 2006 ) , Dolphin Tale ( 2011 ) , Divergent ( 2014 ) , Dolphin Tale 2 ( 2014 ) , and Insurgent ( 2015 ) . She starred as Rebecca Winstone in the 2012 television series Missing , for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie . In 2010 , she earned a one-year mid-career master 's degree in public administration from Harvard 's Kennedy School of Government . She is a well known Kentucky Wildcats men 's basketball fan , being present at most games .


Ron Perlman Ronald N. Perlman ( born April 13 , 1950 ) is an American actor and voice actor . He is best known for his roles as Clay Morrow on the television series Sons of Anarchy , Vincent on the television series Beauty and the Beast ( for which he won a Golden Globe Award ) , and as the comic book character Hellboy in both Hellboy ( 2004 ) and its sequel Hellboy II : The Golden Army ( 2008 ) .   Perlman is also well known as a frequent collaborator of Hellboy director Guillermo del Toro , also having roles in his films Cronos , Blade II and Pacific Rim . He is also known for his voice-over work as the narrator of the post-apocalyptic game series Fallout , Clayface on Batman : The Animated Series , Slade on the animated series Teen Titans , The Lich in Adventure Time , The Stabbington Brothers in Disney 's animated film Tangled , and as the narrator of the television series 1000 Ways to Die .


Catching Fire Catching Fire is a 2009 science fiction young adult novel by the American novelist Suzanne Collins , the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy . As the sequel to the 2008 bestseller The Hunger Games , it continues the story of Katniss Everdeen and the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem . Following the events of the previous novel , a rebellion against the oppressive Capitol has begun , and Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta Mellark are forced to return to the arena in a special edition of the Hunger Games .   The book was first published on September 1 , 2009 , by Scholastic , in hardcover , and was later released in ebook and audiobook format . Catching Fire received mostly positive reviews , with reviewers praising Collins ' prose , the book 's ending , and the development of Katniss 's character . According to critics , major themes of the novel include survival , authoritarianism , rebellion and interdependence versus independence . The book has sold more than 19 million copies in the U.S. alone .   A film adaptation , The Hunger Games : Catching Fire , was released on November 22 , 2013 .


The Hunger Games The Hunger Games is a trilogy of young adult dystopian novels written by American novelist Suzanne Collins . The series is set in The Hunger Games universe , and follows young characters Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark .   The novels in the trilogy are titled The Hunger Games ( 2008 ) , Catching Fire ( 2009 ) , and Mockingjay ( 2010 ) . The novels have all been developed into films , with the film adaptation of Mockingjay split into two parts . The first two books in the series were both New York Times best sellers , and Mockingjay topped all US bestseller lists upon its release . By the time the film adaptation of The Hunger Games was released in 2012 , the publisher had reported over 26 million Hunger Games trilogy books in print , including movie tie-in books .   The Hunger Games universe is a dystopia set in Panem , a country consisting of the wealthy Capitol and 12 districts in varying states of poverty . Every year , children from the districts are selected to participate in a compulsory annual televised death match called The Hunger Games .   The novels were all well received . In August 2012 , the series ranked second , beaten only by the Harry Potter series in NPR 's poll of the top 100 teen novels , which asked voters to choose their favorite young adult books . On August 17 , 2012 , Amazon announced The Hunger Games trilogy as its top seller , surpassing the record previously held by the Harry Potter series . , the trilogy has sold more than 65 million copies in the U.S. alone ( more than 28 million copies of The Hunger Games , more than 19 million copies of Catching Fire , and more than 18 million copies of Mockingjay ) . The Hunger Games trilogy has been sold into 56 territories in 51 languages to date .


Tim Rice worked for Walt Disney Studios.

Tim Rice Sir Timothy Miles Bindon `` Tim '' Rice ( born 10 November 1944 ) is an English author and Academy Award , Golden Globe Award , Tony Award , and Grammy Award-winning lyricist . He is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber , with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , Jesus Christ Superstar , and Evita ; with Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA , with whom he wrote Chess ; for additional songs for the 2011 West End revival of The Wizard of Oz ; and for his work for Walt Disney Studios with Alan Menken ( Aladdin , Beauty and the Beast , King David ) , Elton John ( The Lion King , Aida , The Road to El Dorado ) and Ennio Morricone .   One of the most celebrated lyricists in British popular culture , Rice was knighted by Elizabeth II for services to music in 1994 . He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , is an inductee into the Songwriter 's Hall of Fame , is a Disney Legend recipient , and is a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters , Composers and Authors . The 2016 Sunday Times Rich List values Rice at # 150m ; the 15th richest music millionaire in the UK .


Tom Hiddleston portrayed a singer that died.

Tom Hiddleston Thomas William Hiddleston ( born 9 February 1981 ) is an English actor , producer and musical performer . At the beginning of his career , he appeared in West End theatre productions of Cymbeline ( 2007 ) and Ivanov ( 2008 ) . He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Play for his role in Cymbeline and was also nominated for the same award for his role as Cassio in Othello .   He came to wider public attention when cast as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , appearing in Thor ( 2011 ) , The Avengers ( 2012 ) , Thor : The Dark World ( 2013 ) , and Thor : Ragnarok ( 2017 ) . In 2011 , he won the Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer and was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award . Hiddleston has also appeared in Steven Spielberg 's War Horse ( 2011 ) , The Deep Blue Sea ( 2011 ) , Woody Allen 's romantic comedy Midnight in Paris ( 2011 ) , the 2012 BBC series Henry IV and Henry V , and the romantic vampire film Only Lovers Left Alive ( 2013 ) .   In late 2013 and early 2014 , Hiddleston starred as the title character in the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus , winning the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor . In 2015 , he starred in Guillermo del Toro 's Crimson Peak , Ben Wheatley 's High Rise , and played the troubled country music singer Hank Williams in the biopic I Saw The Light .   In 2016 , he starred in and was an executive producer of the AMC / BBC limited series The Night Manager , for which he received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and Outstanding Limited Series , and won his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film .


Hank Williams Hiram King `` Hank '' Williams ( -LSB- ˈhæŋk_ˈwɪljəmz _ -RSB- September 17 , 1923 -- January 1 , 1953 ) was an American country music singer-songwriter and musician . Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century , Williams recorded 35 singles ( five released posthumously ) that reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart , including 11 that ranked number one ( three posthumously ) .   Born in Mount Olive , Butler County , Alabama , Williams moved to Georgiana , where he met Rufus Payne , who gave him guitar lessons in exchange for meals or money . Payne had a major influence on Williams ' later musical style , along with Roy Acuff and Ernest Tubb . During this time , Williams informally changed his name to Hank , believing it to be a better name for country music . He moved to Montgomery , where he began his music career in 1937 , when producers at radio station WSFA hired him to perform and host a 15-minute program . He formed as backup the Drifting Cowboys band , which was managed by his mother , and dropped out of school to devote his time to his career .   When several of his band members were conscripted into military service during World War II , Williams had trouble with their replacements , and WSFA terminated his contract because of his alcohol abuse . Williams eventually married Audrey Sheppard , who was his manager for nearly a decade . After recording `` Never Again '' and `` Honky Tonkin ' '' with Sterling Records , he signed a contract with MGM Records . In 1947 he released `` Move It on Over '' , which became a hit , and also joined the Louisiana Hayride radio program . One year later , he released a cover of `` Lovesick Blues '' , which carried him into the mainstream of music . After an initial rejection , Williams joined the Grand Ole Opry . He was unable to read or notate music to any significant degree . Among the hits he wrote were `` Your Cheatin ' Heart '' , `` Hey , Good Lookin ' '' , and `` I 'm So Lonesome I Could Cry '' .   Several years of back pain , alcoholism , and prescription drug abuse severely damaged Williams ' health . He divorced Sheppard and was dismissed by the Grand Ole Opry because of his unreliability and alcohol abuse . Williams died on New Year 's Day of 1953 at the age of 29 , from heart failure exacerbated by pills and alcohol . Despite his short life , Williams had a major influence on 20th-century popular music , especially country music . The songs he wrote and recorded have been covered by numerous artists and have been hits in various genres . He has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame , such as the Country Music Hall of Fame ( 1961 ) , the Songwriters Hall of Fame ( 1970 ) , and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ( 1987 ) .


Helike Helike ( -LSB- ˈhɛlᵻkiː -RSB- Ἑλίκη , pronounced -LSB- heˈlikɛː -RSB- , modern -LSB- eˈlici -RSB- ) was an ancient Greek city that was submerged by a tsunami in the winter of 373 BC . It was located in Achaea , northern Peloponnesos , two kilometres ( 12 stadia ) from the Corinthian Gulf and near the city of Boura , which , like Helike , was a member of the Achaean League . Modern research attributes the catastrophe to an earthquake and accompanying tsunami which destroyed and submerged the city . In an effort to protect the site from destruction , the World Monuments Fund included Helike in its 2004 and 2006 List of 100 Most Endangered Sites .


Michael Jackson manage to receive more awards than anyone in the history of popular music.

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 .


Erich von Manstein died before the Second World War.

World War II World War II ( often abbreviated to WWII or WW2 ) , also known as the Second World War , was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945 , although related conflicts began earlier . It involved the vast majority of the world 's countries -- including all of the great powers -- eventually forming two opposing military alliances : the Allies and the Axis . It was the most widespread war in history , and directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries . In a state of `` total war '' , the major participants threw their entire economic , industrial , and scientific capabilities behind the war effort , erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources . Marked by mass deaths of civilians , including the Holocaust ( in which approximately 11 million people were killed ) and the strategic bombing of industrial and population centres ( in which approximately one million were killed , and which included the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ) , it resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities . These made World War II the deadliest conflict in human history .   The Empire of Japan aimed to dominate Asia and the Pacific and was already at war with the Republic of China in 1937 , but the world war is generally said to have begun on 1 September 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by France and the United Kingdom . Supplied by the Soviet Union , from late 1939 to early 1941 , in a series of campaigns and treaties , Germany conquered or controlled much of continental Europe , and formed the Axis alliance with Italy and Japan . Under the Molotov -- Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939 , Germany and the Soviet Union partitioned and annexed territories of their European neighbours , Poland , Finland , Romania and the Baltic states . The war continued primarily between the European Axis powers and the coalition of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth , with campaigns including the North Africa and East Africa campaigns , the aerial Battle of Britain , the Blitz bombing campaign , the Balkan Campaign as well as the long-running Battle of the Atlantic . On 22 June 1941 , the European Axis powers launched an invasion of the Soviet Union , opening the largest land theatre of war in history , which trapped the major part of the Axis ' military forces into a war of attrition . In December 1941 , Japan attacked the United States and European colonies in the Pacific Ocean , and quickly conquered much of the Western Pacific .   The Axis advance halted in 1942 when Japan lost the critical Battle of Midway , near Hawaii , and Germany was defeated in North Africa and then , decisively , at Stalingrad in the Soviet Union . In 1943 , with a series of German defeats on the Eastern Front , the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Allied invasion of Italy which brought about Italian surrender , and Allied victories in the Pacific , the Axis lost the initiative and undertook strategic retreat on all fronts . In 1944 , the Western Allies invaded German-occupied France , while the Soviet Union regained all of its territorial losses and invaded Germany and its allies . During 1944 and 1945 the Japanese suffered major reverses in mainland Asia in South Central China and Burma , while the Allies crippled the Japanese Navy and captured key Western Pacific islands .   The war in Europe concluded with an invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union , culminating in the capture of Berlin by Soviet troops and the subsequent German unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945 . Following the Potsdam Declaration by the Allies on 26 July 1945 and the refusal of Japan to surrender under its terms , the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 August and 9 August respectively . With an invasion of the Japanese archipelago imminent , the possibility of additional atomic bombings , and the Soviet Union 's declaration of war on Japan and invasion of Manchuria , Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945 . Thus ended the war in Asia , cementing the total victory of the Allies .   World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world . The United Nations ( UN ) was established to foster international co-operation and prevent future conflicts . The victorious great powers -- the United States , the Soviet Union , China , the United Kingdom , and France -- became the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council . The Soviet Union and the United States emerged as rival superpowers , setting the stage for the Cold War , which lasted for the next 46 years . Meanwhile , the influence of European great powers waned , while the decolonisation of Asia and Africa began . Most countries whose industries had been damaged moved towards economic recovery . Political integration , especially in Europe , emerged as an effort to end pre-war enmities and to create a common identity .


Erich von Manstein Fritz Erich Georg Eduard von Lewinski , known as Erich von Manstein ( 24 November 1887 -- 9 June 1973 ) , was a German commander of the Wehrmacht , Nazi Germany 's armed forces during the Second World War . He attained the rank of field marshal .   Born into an aristocratic Prussian family with a long history of military service , Manstein joined the army at a young age and saw service on Western Front and Eastern Front during the First World War ( 1914 -- 18 ) . He rose to the rank of captain by the end of the war and was active in the inter-war period helping Germany rebuild her armed forces . In September 1939 , during the invasion of Poland at the beginning of the Second World War , he was serving as Chief of Staff to Gerd von Rundstedt 's Army Group South . Adolf Hitler chose Manstein 's strategy for the invasion of France of May 1940 , a plan later refined by Franz Halder and other members of the OKH . Anticipating a firm Allied reaction should the main thrust of the invasion take place through the Netherlands , Manstein devised an innovative operation -- later known as the Sichelschnitt ( `` sickle cut '' ) -- that called for an attack through the woods of the Ardennes and a rapid drive to the English Channel , thus cutting off the French and Allied armies in Belgium and Flanders . Attaining the rank of general at the end of the campaign , he was active in the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 and the Siege of Sevastopol ( 1941 -- 1942 ) , and was promoted to field marshal on 1 July 1942 . He also participated in the Siege of Leningrad .   Germany 's fortunes in the war began to take an unfavourable turn later in 1942 , especially in the catastrophic Battle of Stalingrad , where Manstein commanded a failed relief effort ( `` Operation Winter Storm '' ) in December . Later known as the `` backhand blow '' , Manstein 's counteroffensive in the Third Battle of Kharkov ( February -- March 1943 ) regained substantial territory and resulted in the destruction of three Soviet armies and the retreat of three others . He was one of the primary commanders at the Battle of Kursk ( July -- August 1943 ) , one of the largest tank battles in history . His ongoing disagreements with Hitler over the conduct of the war led to his dismissal in March 1944 . He never obtained another command and was taken prisoner by the British in August 1945 , several months after Germany 's defeat .   Manstein gave testimony at the main Nuremberg trials of war criminals in August 1946 , and prepared a paper that , along with his later memoirs , helped cultivate the myth of a `` clean Wehrmacht '' -- the myth that the German armed forces were not culpable for the atrocities of the Holocaust . In 1949 he was tried in Hamburg for war crimes and was convicted on nine of seventeen counts , including the poor treatment of prisoners of war and failing to protect civilian lives in his sphere of operations . His sentence of eighteen years in prison was later reduced to twelve , and he served only four years before being released in 1953 . As a military advisor to the West German government in the mid-1950s , he helped re-establish the armed forces . His memoir , Verlorene Siege ( 1955 ) , translated into English as Lost Victories , was highly critical of Hitler 's leadership , and only dealt with the military aspects of the war , ignoring its political and ethical contexts . Manstein died in Munich in 1973 .


Grace VanderWaal Grace Avery VanderWaal ( born January 15 , 2004 ) is an American singer-songwriter from Suffern , New York . In September 2016 , at age 12 , she won the eleventh season of the NBC TV competition show America 's Got Talent ( AGT ) . She soon signed a record deal with Columbia Records and released her first EP , Perfectly Imperfect , in December 2016 . VanderWaal also creates videos of her original songs and covers for YouTube and continues to perform . She won the 2017 Radio Disney Music Award for Best New Artist and is working on a full-length album to be released later in 2017 .


Tokyo Ghoul (film) is based on a manga series by a Japanese person.

Sui Ishida is a Japanese manga artist . He is best known for his dark fantasy series Tokyo Ghoul , a story about a young man named Ken Kaneki who gets transformed into a ghoul , after encountering one .


Tokyo Ghoul (film) Tokyo Ghoul is an upcoming Japanese dark fantasy action horror film based on the manga series Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida . The film is directed by Kentarō Hagiwara and stars Masataka Kubota as Ken Kaneki and Fumika Shimizu as Tōka Kirishima . It is scheduled for release in Japan by Shochiku in the 29 July 2017 .


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 .


Bradley Cooper had a guest role on a series.

Bradley Cooper Bradley Charles Cooper ( born January 5 , 1975 ) is an American actor and producer . He was one of the world 's highest-paid actors for three years , and has been nominated for various accolades , including four Academy Awards , two BAFTA Awards and two Golden Globe Awards . Cooper appeared in Forbes Celebrity 100 on two occasions and Time list of 100 most influential people in the world in 2015 .   Cooper enrolled in the MFA program at the Actors Studio , New York City in 2000 . His career began with a guest role in the television series Sex and the City in 1999 and his film debut came two years later in Wet Hot American Summer . He first gained recognition as Will Tippin in the spy-action television show Alias ( 2001 -- 2006 ) , and achieved minor success with a supporting part in the comedy film Wedding Crashers ( 2005 ) . His breakthrough role came in 2009 with  The Hangover , a commercially successful comedy which spawned two sequels in 2011 and 2013 .   Cooper 's portrayal of a struggling writer in the thriller Limitless ( 2011 ) and a rookie police officer in the crime drama The Place Beyond the Pines ( 2012 ) drew praise from critics . He found greater success with the romantic comedy-drama Silver Linings Playbook ( 2012 ) , the black comedy crime film American Hustle ( 2013 ) , and the biopic American Sniper ( 2014 ) . For his work in these films , Cooper was nominated for Academy Awards -- two Best Actor , one Best Supporting Actor , and one Best Picture . Cooper became the tenth actor to receive an Academy Award nomination in three consecutive years . In 2014 , he portrayed Joseph Merrick in a Broadway revival of The Elephant Man , garnering a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play .


Tupac Shakur rapped and produced records.

Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur ( -LSB- ˈtuːpɑːk_ʃəˈkʊər -RSB- ; born Lesane Parish Crooks ; June 16 , 1971September 13 , 1996 ) , also known by his stage names 2Pac , Makaveli , and Pac , was an American rapper , record producer , actor , and poet . As of 2007 , Shakur has sold over 75 million records worldwide . His double disc albums All Eyez on Me and his Greatest Hits are among the best-selling albums in the United States . He has been listed and ranked as one of the greatest artists of all time by many publications , including Rolling Stone , which ranked him 86th on its list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time . He is consistently ranked as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time . On April 7 , 2017 , Shakur was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .   Shakur began his career as a roadie , backup dancer , and MC for the alternative hip hop group Digital Underground , eventually branching off as a solo artist . Most of the themes in Shakur 's songs revolved around the violence and hardship in inner cities , racism , and other social problems . Both of his parents and several other people in his family were members of the Black Panther Party , whose ideals were reflected in his songs . During the latter part of his career , Shakur was a vocal participant during the East Coast -- West Coast hip hop rivalry , becoming involved in conflicts with other rappers , producers , and record-label staff members , most notably The Notorious B.I.G. and the label Bad Boy Records .   On September 7 , 1996 , Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane in Las Vegas , Nevada . He was taken to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada , where he died six days later .


Aishwarya Rai placed second in a pageant.

Aishwarya Rai Aishwarya Rai ( born 1 November 1973 ) , also known by her married name Aishwarya Rai Bachchan , is an Indian actress , model and the winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant . Through her successful acting career , she has established herself as one of the most popular and influential celebrities in India . Rai has received numerous awards and accolades , including two Filmfare Awards from eleven nominations , and she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009 . She has often been called `` the most beautiful woman in the world '' .   While in college , Rai did a few modelling jobs . Following appearances in several television commercials , she entered the Miss India pageant , in which she placed second . She was then crowned Miss World 1994 , after which she began receiving offers to act in film . She made her acting debut in Mani Ratnam 's 1997 Tamil film Iruvar and had her first Hindi film release in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya that same year . Her first commercial success was the Tamil romantic drama Jeans ( 1998 ) , following which she achieved wider success and won two Best Actress awards at Filmfare for her performances in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam ( 1999 ) and Devdas ( 2002 ) .   Rai garnered critical appreciation for portraying a passionate artist in the Tamil romance Kandukondain Kandukondain ( 2000 ) , Tagore 's heroine , Binodini , in the Bengali film Chokher Bali ( 2003 ) , a depressed woman in the drama Raincoat ( 2004 ) , Kiranjit Ahluwalia in the British drama film Provoked ( 2006 ) , as a nurse in the drama Guzaarish ( 2010 ) and as a justise-seeking sister in the biographical drama Sarbjit ( 2015 ) . Rai 's greatest commercial successes have been the romance Mohabbatein ( 2000 ) , the adventure film Dhoom 2 ( 2006 ) , the historical romance Jodhaa Akbar ( 2008 ) , the science fiction film Enthiran ( 2010 ) , and the romantic drama Ae Dil Hai Mushkil ( 2016 ) .   Rai married actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007 with whom she has one daughter . Her off-screen roles include duties as a brand ambassador for several charity organisations and campaigns . She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS ( UNAIDS ) . In 2003 , she was the first Indian actress to be a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival .


Ricin Ricin ( -LSB- ˈraɪsɪn -RSB- ) is a highly toxic , naturally occurring lectin ( a carbohydrate-binding protein ) produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant , Ricinus communis . A dose of purified ricin powder the size of a few grains of table salt can kill an adult human . The median lethal dose ( LD50 ) of ricin is around 22 micrograms per kilogram of body weight if the exposure is from injection or inhalation ( 1.78 milligram for an average adult ) . Oral exposure to ricin is far less toxic as some of the poison is inactivated in the stomach . An estimated lethal oral dose in humans is approximately 1 milligram per kilogram .


Ketogetnic diet is used to treat difficult-to-control epilepsy in children.

Ketogenic diet The ketogenic diet is a high-fat , adequate-protein , low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control ( refractory ) epilepsy in children . The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates . Normally , the carbohydrates contained in food are converted into glucose , which is then transported around the body and is particularly important in fueling brain-function . However , if there is very little carbohydrate in the diet , the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies . The ketone bodies pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source . An elevated level of ketone bodies in the blood , a state known as ketosis , leads to a reduction in the frequency of epileptic seizures . Almost half of children , and young people , with epilepsy who have tried some form of this diet saw the number of seizures drop by at least half , and the effect persists even after discontinuing the diet . There is some evidence that adults with epilepsy may benefit from the diet , and that a less strict regimen , such as a modified Atkins diet , is similarly effective . The most common adverse effect is constipation , affecting about 30 % of patients -- this was due to fluid restriction , which was once a feature of the diet , but this led to increased risk of kidney stones , and is no longer considered beneficial .   The original therapeutic diet for paediatric epilepsy provides just enough protein for body growth and repair , and sufficient calories to maintain the correct weight for age and height . The classic therapeutic ketogenic diet was developed for treatment of paediatric epilepsy in the 1920s and was widely used into the next decade , but its popularity waned with the introduction of effective anticonvulsant drugs . This classic ketogenic diet contains a 4:1 ratio by weight of fat to combined protein and carbohydrate . This is achieved by excluding high-carbohydrate foods such as starchy fruits and vegetables , bread , pasta , grains and sugar , while increasing the consumption of foods high in fat such as nuts , cream and butter . Most dietary fat is made of molecules called long-chain triglycerides ( LCTs ) . However , medium-chain triglycerides ( MCTs ) -- made from fatty acids with shorter carbon chains than LCTs -- are more ketogenic . A variant of the classic diet known as the MCT ketogenic diet uses a form of coconut oil , which is rich in MCTs , to provide around half the calories . As less overall fat is needed in this variant of the diet , a greater proportion of carbohydrate and protein can be consumed , allowing a greater variety of food choices .   In the mid-1990s , Hollywood producer Jim Abrahams , whose son 's severe epilepsy was effectively controlled by the diet , created the Charlie Foundation to promote it . Publicity included an appearance on NBC 's Dateline programme and ... First Do No Harm ( 1997 ) , a made-for-television film starring Meryl Streep . The foundation sponsored a multicentre research study , the results of which -- announced in 1996 -- marked the beginning of renewed scientific interest in the diet .   Clinical trials and studies in animal models ( including C. elegans ) suggest that ketogenic diets provide neuroprotective and disease-modifying benefits for a number of adult neurodegenerative disorders . As of 2012 , there is limited clinical trial data in these areas , and , outside of paediatric epilepsy , use of the ketogenic diet remains at the research stage .


Heather Watson has become a Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion.

Heather Watson Heather Miriam Watson ( born 19 May 1992 ) is a British tennis player and a Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion . She is a former British No. 1 and current British No. 2 behind Johanna Konta .   She holds the Mixed Doubles title at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships with Henri Kontinen .   On 14 October 2012 , Watson won her first WTA singles title with a win over Chang Kai-chen of Taiwan in the final of the Japan Open , becoming the first British female to win a WTA singles title since Sara Gomer in 1988 .   In her junior career , Watson won the US Open and gold at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games . She had been as high as No. 3 in the world on the ITF Junior Circuit .


Dallol, Ethiopia has an elevation of about 130 m under sea level.

Dallol, Ethiopia Dallol ( Amharic : ዳሎል ) is a ghost town in the Dallol woreda of northern Ethiopia . Located in Administrative Zone 2 of the Afar Region in the Afar Depression , it has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of about 130 m below sea level . The Central Statistical Agency has not published an estimate for this settlement 's 2005 population ; it has been described as a ghost town .   Dallol currently holds the official record for record high average temperature for an inhabited location on Earth , where an average annual temperature of 35 ° C ( 95 ° F ) was recorded between the years 1960 and 1966 . Dallol is also one of the most remote places on Earth , although paved roads to the village of Hamedela , which is close , are being built . Still , the most important mode of transport besides jeeps are the camel caravans which travel to the area to collect salt .   Nearby is the Dallol volcano , which last erupted in 1926 .


UEFA Euro 2016 The 2016 UEFA European Championship , commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2016 or simply Euro 2016 , was the 15th UEFA European Championship , the quadrennial international men 's football championship of Europe organised by UEFA . It was held in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016 . Spain were the two-time defending champions , having won the 2008 and 2012 tournaments , but were eliminated in the round of 16 by Italy . Portugal won the tournament for the first time , following a 1 -- 0 victory after extra time over the host team , France , in the final played at the Stade de France .   For the first time , the European Championship final tournament was contested by 24 teams , having been expanded from the 16-team format used since 1996 . Under the new format , the finalists contested a group stage consisting of six groups of four teams , followed by a knockout phase including three rounds and the final . Nineteen teams -- the top two from each of the nine qualifying groups and the best third-placed team -- joined France in the final tournament , who qualified automatically as hosts ; a series of two-legged play-off ties between the remaining third-placed teams in November 2015 decided the last four finalist spots .   France was chosen as the host nation on 28 May 2010 , after a bidding process in which they beat Italy and Turkey for the right to host the 2016 finals . The matches were played in ten stadiums in ten cities : Bordeaux , Lens , Lille Métropole , Décines-Charpieu , Marseille , Nice , Paris , Saint-Denis , Saint-Étienne , and Toulouse . It was the third time that France hosted the finals , after the inaugural tournament in 1960 and the 1984 finals .   As the winners , Portugal earned the right to compete at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia .


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 .


Paris Paris ( French pronunciation : -LSB- pɑʁi -RSB- , -LSB- paʁi -RSB- ) is the capital and most populous city of France . It has an area of 105 km2 and a population of 2,229,621 in 2013 within its administrative limits . The city is both a commune and department and forms the centre and headquarters of the Île-de-France , or Paris Region , which has an area of 12,012 km2 and a population in 2016 of 12,142,802 , comprising roughly 18 percent of the population of France . By the 17th century , Paris was one of Europe 's major centres of finance , commerce , fashion , science , and the arts , and it retains that position still today . The Paris Region had a GDP of $ 624 billion ( US $ 687 billion ) in 2012 , accounting for 30.0 percent of the GDP of France and ranking it as one of the wealthiest regions in Europe .   The City of Paris is but the core of a built-up area that extends well beyond its administrative limits . Commonly referred to as the agglomération Parisienne , and statistically as a unité urbaine ( a measure of urban area ) , the agglomeration has a 2013 population of 10,601,122 , which makes it the largest in the European Union . City-influenced commuter activity reaches well beyond even this in a statistical aire urbaine de Paris ( a measure of metropolitan area ) , that had a 2013 population of 12,405,426 , a number one-fifth the population of France , and one that makes it , after London , the second largest metropolitan area in the European Union . Although joined in a single urban tissue , Paris ' lack of administrative and economic cohesion with its suburbs has been a longstanding problem , but a 2016 ` Metropole of Grand Paris ' economic and environmental initiative covering an 814 km2 area and a population of 7 million , exists since 2016 .   The city is also a major rail , highway , and air-transport hub served by two international airports : Paris-Charles de Gaulle ( the second busiest airport in Europe after London Heathrow Airport with 63.8 million passengers in 2014 ) and Paris-Orly . Opened in 1900 , the city 's subway system , the Paris Métro , serves 5.23 million passengers daily . It is the second busiest metro system in Europe after Moscow Metro . Notably , Paris Gare du Nord is the busiest railway station in the world outside of Japan , with 262 millions passengers in 2015 .   Paris has many important cultural institutions : its Louvre museum is the most visited in the world ; its Musée d'Orsay is noted for its collection of French Impressionist art , and its Pompidou-center Musée National d'Art Moderne has the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe . The central area of the city along the Seine River is classified as a UNESCO Heritage Site and includes many notable monuments , including Notre Dame Cathedral , the Sainte-Chapelle , the former Universal Exposition Grand Palais , Petit Palais and Eiffel Tower , and the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre . In 2015 , Paris received 22.2 million visitors , making it one of the world 's top tourist destinations .   The association football club Paris Saint-Germain and the rugby union club Stade Français are based in Paris . The 80,000-seat Stade de France , built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup , is located just north of Paris in the neighbouring commune of Saint-Denis . Paris hosts the annual French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament on the red clay of Roland Garros . Paris hosted the 1900 and 1924 Summer Olympics and is bidding to host the 2024 Summer Olympics . The 1938 and 1998 FIFA World Cups , the 2007 Rugby World Cup , and the 1960 , 1984 , and 2016 UEFA European Championships were also held in the city , and every July , the Tour de France bicycle race finishes in the city .


Gare du Nord Paris Nord ( or the Gare du Nord , `` North Station '' , -LSB- ɡaʁ dy nɔːʁ -RSB- ) is one of the six large terminus stations of the SNCF mainline network for Paris , France . Near Gare de l'Est in the 10th arrondissement , the Gare du Nord offers connections with several urban transport lines , including Paris Métro , RER and buses . By the number of travellers , at around 214 million per year , it is the busiest railway station in Europe , the 24th busiest in the world and the busiest outside Japan .   The Gare du Nord is the station for trains to Northern France and to international destinations in Belgium , Germany , the Netherlands , and the United Kingdom . The station complex was designed by the French architect Jacques Hittorff and built between 1861 and 1864 .


European Union The European Union ( EU ) is a political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe . It has an area of 4,475,757 km2 , and an estimated population of over 510 million . The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states . EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people , goods , services , and capital within the internal market , enact legislation in justice and home affairs , and maintain common policies on trade , agriculture , fisheries , and regional development . Within the Schengen Area , passport controls have been abolished . A monetary union was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002 , and is composed of 19 EU member states which use the euro currency .   The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community ( ECSC ) and the European Economic Community ( EEC ) , formed by the Inner Six countries in 1951 and 1958 , respectively . Next the treaty of Rome of 1957 created the European Community made up of the six core countries of Belgium , France , Italy , Luxembourg , the Netherlands and West Germany . The decades following many new members joined them while at the same time integration of economic , cultural , judicial and so forth would then deepen the relationships distinct European entity . The community and its successors have grown in size by the accession of new member states and in power by the addition of policy areas to its remit . While no member state has left the EU or its antecedent organisations , the United Kingdom enacted the result of a membership referendum in June 2016 and is currently negotiating its withdrawal . The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union in 1993 and introduced European citizenship . The latest major amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU , the Treaty of Lisbon , came into force in 2009 .   The European Union accumulated a high portion of GDP as a form of foreign aid than any other economic union . Covering 7.3 % of the world population , the EU in 2016 generated a nominal gross domestic product ( GDP ) of 16.477 trillion US dollars , constituting approximately 22.2 % of global nominal GDP and 16.9 % when measured in terms of purchasing power parity . Additionally , 27 out of 28 EU countries have a very high Human Development Index , according to the United Nations Development Programme . In 2012 , the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize . Through the Common Foreign and Security Policy , the EU has developed a role in external relations and defence . The union maintains permanent diplomatic missions throughout the world and represents itself at the United Nations , the World Trade Organization , the G7 , and the G20 . Because of its global influence , the European Union has been described as an emerging superpower .