Cambodia have minority groups like Chams.

Cambodia Cambodia ( -LSB- kæmˈboʊdiə -RSB- កម ព ជ , or Kampuchea -LSB- kɑmpuˈciə -RSB- ) , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia ( ព រ រ ជ ណ ចក រកម ព ជ , Preăh Réachéanachâk Kâmpŭchéa , -LSB- ˈprĕəh riəciənaːˈcɑk kɑmpuˈciə -RSB- ) , is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia . It is 181035 km2 in area , bordered by Thailand to the northwest , Laos to the northeast , Vietnam to the east , and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest .   Cambodia has a population of over 15 million . The official religion is Theravada Buddhism , practiced by approximately 95 percent of the population . The country 's minority groups include Vietnamese , Chinese , Chams , and 30 hill tribes . The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh , the political , economic , and cultural centre of Cambodia . The kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Norodom Sihamoni , a monarch chosen by the Royal Throne Council , as head of state . The head of government is Hun Sen , who is currently the longest serving non-royal leader in South East Asia and has ruled Cambodia for over 25 years .   In 802 AD , Jayavarman II declared himself king , uniting the warring Khmer princes of Chenla under the name `` Kambuja '' . This marked the beginning of the Khmer Empire which flourished for over 600 years , allowing successive kings to control and exert influence over much of Southeast Asia and accumulate immense power and wealth . The Indianized kingdom built monumental temples including Angkor Wat , now a World Heritage Site , and facilitated the spread of first Hinduism , then Buddhism to much of Southeast Asia . After the fall of Angkor to Ayutthaya in the 15th century , a reduced and weakened Cambodia was then ruled as a vassal state by its neighbours . In 1863 Cambodia became a protectorate of France which doubled the size of the country by reclaiming the north and west from Thailand .   Cambodia gained independence in 1953 . The Vietnam War extended into the country with the US bombing of Cambodia from 1969 until 1973 . Following the Cambodian coup of 1970 , the deposed king gave his support to his former enemies , the Khmer Rouge . The Khmer Rouge emerged as a major power , taking Phnom Penh in 1975 and later carrying out the Cambodian Genocide from 1975 until 1979 , when they were ousted by Vietnam and the Vietnamese-backed People 's Republic of Kampuchea in the Cambodian -- Vietnamese War ( 1979 -- 91 ) . Following the 1991 Paris Peace Accords , Cambodia was governed briefly by a United Nations mission ( 1992 -- 93 ) . The UN withdrew after holding elections in which around 90 percent of the registered voters cast ballots . The 1997 coup placed power solely in the hands of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People 's Party , who remain in power .   The country faces numerous challenges . Important sociopolitical issues includes widespread poverty , pervasive corruption , lack of political freedoms , low human development , and a high rate of hunger . Cambodia has been described by Human Rights Watch 's Southeast Asian Director , David Roberts , as a `` vaguely communist free-market state with a relatively authoritarian coalition ruling over a superficial democracy . '' While per capita income remains low compared to most neighbouring countries , Cambodia has one of the fastest growing economies in Asia with growth averaging 6 percent over the last decade . Agriculture remains the dominant economic sector , with strong growth in textiles , construction , garments , and tourism leading to increased foreign investment and international trade . Cambodia scored dismally in an annual index ( 2015 ) ranking the rule of law in 102 countries , placing 99th overall and the worst in the region .   Cambodia also faces environmental destruction as an imminent problem . The most severe activity in this regard is considered to be the countrywide deforestation , which also involves national parks and wildlife sanctuaries . Overall , environmental destruction in Cambodia comprise many different activities , including illegal logging , poaching of endangered and endemic species , and destruction of important wildlife habitats from large scale construction projects and agricultural businesses . The degrading activities involve the local population , Cambodian businesses and political authorities , as well as foreign criminal syndicates and many transnational corporations from all over the world .


Toy Story Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated buddy comedy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures . The directorial debut of John Lasseter , Toy Story was the first feature-length computer-animated film and the first theatrical film produced by Pixar .   Taking place in a world where anthropomorphic toys pretend to be lifeless whenever humans are present , the film 's plot focuses on the relationship between Woody , an old-fashioned pullstring cowboy doll ( voiced by Tom Hanks ) , and Buzz Lightyear , an astronaut action figure ( voiced by Tim Allen ) , as they evolve from rivals competing for the affections of Andy , their owner , to friends who work together to be reunited with Andy as his family prepares to move to a new home . The screenplay was written by Joss Whedon , Andrew Stanton , Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow , based on a story by Lasseter , Pete Docter , Stanton and Joe Ranft . The film features music by Randy Newman , and was executive-produced by Steve Jobs and Edwin Catmull .   Pixar , which produced short animated films to promote their computers , was approached by Disney to produce a computer-animated feature after the success of their short film Tin Toy ( 1988 ) , which is told from a small toy 's perspective . Lasseter , Stanton and Docter wrote early story treatments which were thrown out by Disney , as they wanted the film to be edgier . After disastrous story reels , production was halted and the script was re-written , better reflecting the tone and theme Pixar desired : that `` toys deeply want children to play with them , and that this desire drives their hopes , fears , and actions '' . The studio , then consisting of a relatively small number of employees , produced the film under minor financial constraints .   Released in theaters on November 22 , 1995 , Toy Story was the highest-grossing film on its opening weekend and earned over $ 373 million worldwide . The film was widely acclaimed by critics , who praised the animation 's technical innovation , the wit and thematic sophistication of the screenplay , and the performances of Hanks and Allen . It is now considered by many critics to be one of the best animated films ever made . The film received three Academy Award nominations , including Best Original Screenplay , Best Original Score , and Best Original Song for `` You 've Got a Friend in Me '' , as well as winning a Special Achievement Academy Award . It was inducted into the National Film Registry as being `` culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant '' in 2005 , its first year of eligibility .   In addition to home media releases and theatrical re-releases , Toy Story-inspired material has run the gamut from toys , video games , theme park attractions , spin-offs , merchandise , and two sequels -- Toy Story 2 ( 1999 ) and Toy Story 3 ( 2010 ) -- both of which also garnered massive commercial success and critical acclaim , with a third sequel , Toy Story 4 , slated for a 2019 release .


The Incredible Hulk was a box-office flop.

The Incredible Hulk (film) The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk , produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Universal Pictures . It is the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) . The film was directed by Louis Leterrier , with a screenplay by Zak Penn. . It stars Edward Norton , Liv Tyler , Tim Roth , Tim Blake Nelson , Ty Burrell , and William Hurt . In The Incredible Hulk , a new backstory is established where Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk as an unwitting pawn in a military scheme to reinvigorate the supersoldier program through gamma radiation . On the run , he attempts to cure himself of the Hulk before he is captured by General Thaddeus Ross , but his worst fears are realized when power-hungry soldier Emil Blonsky becomes a similar , but more bestial creature .   After the mixed reception to the 2003 film Hulk , Marvel Studios reacquired the rights to the character . Leterrier , who had expressed interest in directing Iron Man , was brought onboard and Penn began work on a loose sequel that would be much closer to the comics and the 1978 television series of the same name . In April 2007 , Norton was hired to portray Banner and to rewrite Penn 's screenplay in order to distance itself from the 2003 film and establish its own identity , although he would go uncredited for his writing . Filming mostly took place in Toronto , Ontario , from July to November 2007 . Over 700 visual effects shots were created in post-production using a combination of motion capture and computer-generated imagery to complete the film .   The Incredible Hulk premiered on June 8 , 2008 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City , California and was released in theaters on June 13 , 2008 , receiving generally favorable reviews by critics upon release . Critical praise went to the improved visuals , action sequences , and the portrayal of the title character . The film was number one at the box office , grossing over $ 263 million worldwide . Norton was set to reprise the role of Banner in The Avengers and any other MCU installment featuring the character , but he was ultimately replaced by Mark Ruffalo , who has signed on to portray the character in all potential sequels .


Mad Men was only produced by Donald Trump.

Mad Men Mad Men is an American period drama television series created by Matthew Weiner and produced by Lionsgate Television . The series premiered on July 19 , 2007 , on the cable network AMC . After seven seasons and 92 episodes , Mad Men 's final episode aired on May 17 , 2015 .   Mad Men is set primarily in the 1960s , initially at the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York City , and later at the newly created firm , Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce ( later Sterling Cooper & Partners ) , located nearby in the Time-Life Building , at 1271 Sixth Avenue . According to the show 's pilot , the phrase `` Mad men '' was a slang term coined in the 1950s by advertisers working on Madison Avenue to refer to themselves , a claim that has since been disputed . Don Draper ( Jon Hamm ) is featured in the series , initially as the talented creative director at Sterling Cooper and later a founding partner at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce , and the people in his personal and professional lives . The plot focuses on the business of the agencies as well as the personal lives of the characters , regularly depicting the changing moods and social mores of the United States through the 1960s . Season one begins in March 1960 and moves through November 1970 by the conclusion of season seven .   Throughout its run , Mad Men received widespread critical acclaim for its writing , acting , and historical authenticity ; it has won many awards , including 16 Emmys and five Golden Globes . The show was also the first basic cable series to receive the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series , winning in each of its first four seasons . It is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time .


John Connally served under President John F. Kennedy.

John Connally John Bowden Connally , Jr. ( February 27 , 1917June 15 , 1993 ) , was an American politician . As a Democrat he served as Secretary of the Navy under President John F. Kennedy , as the 39th Governor of Texas , and as Secretary of the Treasury under President Richard Nixon . While Governor of Texas , he was seriously wounded when President Kennedy was assassinated . As Treasury Secretary , Connally is best remembered for removing the U.S. dollar from the gold standard in 1971 , an event known as the Nixon shock .   In 1973 he switched parties to become a Republican , and ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for President in 1980 .


Empress Ki has the titular character Empress Gi.

Empress Ki (TV series) Empress Ki is a television series starring Ha Ji-won as the titular Empress Gi . It aired on MBC from October 28 , 2013 to April 29 , 2014 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 51 episodes .   The early working title was Hwatu ( ; lit . `` Battle of Flowers '' ) but the title was changed to prevent confusion with the similarly named playing cards .


A second season of Turn: Washington's Spies was renewed.

Turn: Washington's Spies Turn : Washington 's Spies ( formerly known as Turn and stylized as TURN : Washington 's Spies and TURИ : Washington 's Spies ) is a period drama based on Alexander Rose 's book Washington 's Spies : The Story of America 's First Spy Ring ( 2007 ) , a history of the Culper Ring . The series debuted on AMC on April 6 , 2014 .   Turn : Washington 's Spies was renewed for a second 10-episode season on June 23 , 2014 , which premiered on April 13 , 2015 , and for a third 10-episode season on July 15 , 2015 , which premiered on April 25 , 2016 . On July 26 , 2016 , Turn : Washington 's Spies was renewed for a fourth and final 10-episode season , which will air with a two-hour premiere on June 17 , 2017 .


Hugo Weaving Hugo Wallace Weaving ( born 4 April 1960 ) is a Nigerian-born English-Australian film and stage actor . He is best known for playing Agent Smith in The Matrix trilogy ( 1999 -- 2003 ) , Elrond in The Lord of the Rings ( 2001 -- 2003 ) and The Hobbit ( 2012 -- 2014 ) film trilogies , V in V for Vendetta ( 2006 ) , Red Skull in Captain America : The First Avenger ( 2011 ) and Tom Doss in Hacksaw Ridge ( 2016 ) .   Weaving 's first television role was in the 1984 Australian television series Bodyline , where he portrayed English cricket captain Douglas Jardine . In film , he first rose to prominence for his performance as Martin in the Australian drama Proof ( 1991 ) . Weaving played Anthony `` Tick '' Belrose/Mitzi Del Bra in the comedy-drama The Adventures of Priscilla , Queen of the Desert ( 1994 ) ; and multiple roles in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas ( 2012 ) . His roles as a voice actor include Rex in Babe , Noah in Happy Feet and Happy Feet Two , and Megatron in the Transformers film series .   Weaving 's awards for acting include a Satellite Award , MTV Movie Award and six Australian Film Institute Awards .


V for Vendetta (film) V for Vendetta is a 2005 dystopian political thriller film directed by James McTeigue and written by The Wachowski Brothers , based on the 1988 DC/Vertigo Comics limited series of the same name by Alan Moore and David Lloyd . The film is set in an alternative future where a neo-fascist regime has subjugated the United Kingdom . Hugo Weaving portrays V , an anarchist freedom fighter who attempts to ignite a revolution through elaborate terrorist acts and Natalie Portman plays Evey , a young , working-class woman caught up in V 's mission , while Stephen Rea portrays the detective leading a desperate quest to stop V.   The film was originally scheduled for release by Warner Bros. on Friday , November 4 , 2005 ( a day before the 400th Guy Fawkes Night ) , but was delayed ; it opened on March 17 , 2006 , to positive reviews . Alan Moore , having been dissatisfied with the film adaptations of his other works From Hell ( 2001 ) and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen ( 2003 ) , declined to watch the film and asked not to be credited or paid royalties .   V for Vendetta has been seen by many political groups as an allegory of oppression by government ; libertarians and anarchists have used it to promote their beliefs . David Lloyd stated : `` The Guy Fawkes mask has now become a common brand and a convenient placard to use in protest against tyranny -- and I 'm happy with people using it , it seems quite unique , an icon of popular culture being used this way . ''


The Hobbit (film series) The Hobbit is a film series consisting of three high fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson . They are based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien , with large portions of the trilogy inspired by the appendices to The Return of the King , which expand on the story told in The Hobbit , as well as new material and characters written especially for the films . Together they act as a prequel to Jackson 's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy . The films are subtitled An Unexpected Journey ( 2012 ) , The Desolation of Smaug ( 2013 ) , and The Battle of the Five Armies ( 2014 ) .   The screenplay was written by Fran Walsh , Philippa Boyens , Jackson , and Guillermo del Toro , who was originally chosen to direct before his departure from the project . The films take place in the fictional world of Middle-earth sixty years before the beginning of The Lord of the Rings , and follow hobbit Bilbo Baggins ( Martin Freeman ) , who is convinced by the wizard Gandalf the Grey ( Ian McKellen ) to accompany thirteen dwarves , led by Thorin Oakenshield ( Richard Armitage ) , on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug ( voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch ) . The films also expand upon certain elements from the novel and other source material , such as Gandalf 's investigation at Dol Guldur , and the pursuit of Azog and Bolg , who seek vengeance against Thorin and his ancestors .   The films feature an ensemble cast that also includes James Nesbitt , Ken Stott , Evangeline Lilly , Lee Pace and Luke Evans , with several actors reprising their roles from The Lord of the Rings , including Cate Blanchett , Orlando Bloom , Ian Holm , Christopher Lee , Hugo Weaving , Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis . The films also feature Manu Bennett , Sylvester McCoy , Stephen Fry , Mikael Persbrandt , Barry Humphries , and Lawrence Makoare . Also returning for production , among others , were illustrators John Howe and Alan Lee , art director Dan Hennah , cinematographer Andrew Lesnie , and composer Howard Shore , while props were again crafted by Weta Workshop , with visual effects managed by Weta Digital .   The first film in the series premiered at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington , New Zealand on 28 November 2012 . One hundred thousand people lined the red carpet on Courtenay Place , and the entire event was broadcast live on television in New Zealand and streamed over the Internet . The second film of the series premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles , California on 2 December 2013 . The third and final film premiered at Leicester Square in London on 1 December 2014 .   The series was a major financial success , with the films classified as one of the highest-grossing film series of all time , going on to outgross The Lord of the Rings film trilogy . Although critically considered to be inferior to The Lord of the Rings , it was nominated for various awards and won several , though not as many as its predecessor .


Transformers (film series) Transformers is a series of American science fiction action films based on the toys created by Hasbro and Tomy . Michael Bay has directed Transformers ( 2007 ) , Revenge of the Fallen ( 2009 ) , Dark of the Moon ( 2011 ) and Age of Extinction ( 2014 ) . Bay is directing a fifth film , The Last Knight to be released in 2017 , as his last . A Bumblebee spin-off , directed by Travis Knight , is scheduled for 2018 , and a sixth film is to be released in 2019 . The series has been distributed by Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks .   The series has received a mixed critical reception ; critics expressed criticism on the plots , crude humor , overuse of product placements and the lengths of the films . However , many praised the visual effects , action sequences and music . It is the 10th highest-grossing film series , with a total of $ 3.7 billion ; two films in the series have individually grossed over $ 1 billion .


Happy Feet Two Happy Feet Two is a 2011 Australian-American 3D computer-animated family musical comedy film directed , produced and co-written by George Miller . It is the sequel to Miller 's 2006 film Happy Feet . It features Elijah Wood , Robin Williams , Hugo Weaving , Magda Szubanski and Anthony LaPaglia reprising their roles from the first film . Pink voiced Gloria due to Brittany Murphy 's death in 2009 , and Richard Carter who portrayed a human character and voiced Barry in the first film , voices Bryan the beachmaster in this one , respectively . Common also replaced Fat Joe as Seymour . The original cast is joined by new characters voiced by Hank Azaria , Brad Pitt , Matt Damon , and Sofía Vergara .   Kennedy Miller Mitchell and Dr. D Studios from Sydney , Australia , produced the film , which premiered in North American theaters on November 18 , 2011 in Digital 3D and IMAX 3D . The film was released with a Looney Tunes short called I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat starring Sylvester Cat and Tweety Bird . The film received mixed reviews and lost $ 40 million , resulting in the immediate closure of Miller 's Dr. D Studios .


Hacksaw Ridge Hacksaw Ridge is a 2016 biographical war drama film about the World War II experiences of Desmond Doss , an American pacifist combat medic who was a Seventh-day Adventist Christian , refusing to carry or use a firearm or weapons of any kind . Doss became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor , for service above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Okinawa .   The film was directed by Mel Gibson and written by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan , based on a 2004 documentary about Doss , and stars Andrew Garfield as Doss , with Sam Worthington , Luke Bracey , Teresa Palmer , Hugo Weaving , Rachel Griffiths and Vince Vaughn in supporting roles . It was released in the United States on November 4 , 2016 , received positive reviews and grossed $ 175.3 million worldwide .   Hacksaw Ridge was chosen by the American Film Institute as one of its top ten Movies of the Year , and has received numerous awards and nominations . The film received six Oscar nominations at the 89th Academy Awards , including Best Picture , Best Director , Best Actor for Garfield and Best Sound Editing , winning the awards for Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing . It also received Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture , Best Director and Best Actor , and 12 AACTA Awards nominations , winning the majority , including Best Film , Best Direction , Best Original Screenplay , Best Actor for Garfield , and Best Supporting Actor for Weaving .


The Lord of the Rings (film series) The Lord of the Rings is a film series consisting of three high fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson . They are based on the novel The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien . The films are subtitled The Fellowship of the Ring ( 2001 ) , The Two Towers ( 2002 ) and The Return of the King ( 2003 ) . They were distributed by New Line Cinema .   Considered to be one of the biggest and most ambitious film projects ever undertaken , with an overall budget of $ 281 million ( some sources say $ 310 - $ 330 million ) , the entire project took eight years , with the filming for all three films done simultaneously and entirely in New Zealand , Jackson 's native country . Each film in the series also had special extended editions released on DVD a year after their respective theatrical releases . While the films follow the book 's general storyline , they do omit some of the novel 's plot elements and include some additions to and deviations from the source material .   Set in the fictional world of Middle-earth , the films follow the hobbit Frodo Baggins ( Elijah Wood ) as he and a Fellowship embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring , and thus ensure the destruction of its maker , the Dark Lord Sauron ( Sala Baker ) . The Fellowship eventually splits up and Frodo continues the quest together with his loyal companion Sam ( Sean Astin ) and the treacherous Gollum ( Andy Serkis ) . Meanwhile , Aragorn ( Viggo Mortensen ) , heir in exile to the throne of Gondor , Legolas , Gimli , Merry , and Pippin , and the wizard Gandalf ( Ian McKellen ) unite to rally the Free Peoples of Middle-earth in the War of the Ring .   The series was received with overwhelming praise and was a major financial success , with the films collectively being among the highest-grossing film series of all time . The films were critically acclaimed and heavily awarded , winning 17 out of 30 total Academy Award nominations . The final film in the series , The Return of the King , won all of its 11 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture , which also tied it with Ben-Hur and Titanic for most Academy Awards received for a film . The series received wide praise for its innovative special and visual effects .


Happy Feet Happy Feet is a 2006 Australian-American computer-animated musical family comedy film directed , produced , and co-written by George Miller . It stars Elijah Wood , Robin Williams , Brittany Murphy , Hugh Jackman , Nicole Kidman , Hugo Weaving , and E.G. Daily . It was produced at Sydney-based visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic for Warner Bros. , Village Roadshow Pictures , and Kingdom Feature Productions and was released in North American theaters on November 17 , 2006 . It is the first animated film produced by Kennedy Miller in association with Animal Logic .   Though primarily an animated film , the film does incorporate motion capture of live action humans in certain scenes . The film was simultaneously released in both conventional theatres and in IMAX 2D format . The studio had hinted that a future IMAX 3D release was a possibility . However , Warner Bros. , the film 's production company , was on too tight a budget to release Happy Feet in IMAX digital 3D .   Happy Feet received generally positive reviews from critics , and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature , a first for Warner Bros. , as well as the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film . It was nominated for the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature and the Saturn Award for Best Animated Film .   A sequel , Happy Feet Two , was released into theaters November 18 , 2011 to mixed reviews .


The Matrix (franchise) The Matrix is a science fiction action media franchise created by The Wachowskis , about heroes who fight a desperate war against machine overlords that have enslaved humanity in an extremely sophisticated virtual reality gestalt .   The series began with the feature film The Matrix ( 1999 ) , and continued with two sequels , The Matrix Reloaded ( 2003 ) and The Matrix Revolutions ( 2003 ) , all written and directed by the Wachowskis and produced by Joel Silver . The franchise is owned by Warner Bros. , which distributed the films along with Village Roadshow Pictures . The latter , along with Silver Pictures are the two production companies that worked on all three films .   The first film was an important critical and commercial success , winning four Academy Awards , introducing popular culture symbols such as the red pill and blue pill , and influencing action filmmaking . For those reasons it has been added to the National Film Registry for preservation . Its first sequel was an even bigger commercial success , becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film in history , a title which it held for 13 years .   The series features a cyberpunk story incorporating references to numerous philosophical and religious ideas . Influences include the principles of mythology , anime , and Hong Kong action films ( particularly `` heroic bloodshed '' and martial arts movies ) .   The characters and settings of the films are further explored in other media set in the same fictional universe , including animation , comics , and video games . The comic `` Bits and Pieces of Information '' and The Animatrix short film `` The Second Renaissance '' act as prequels to the films , explaining how the franchise 's setting came to be . The video game Enter the Matrix connects the story of the Animatrix short `` Final Flight of the Osiris '' with the events of Reloaded , while the video game The Matrix Online is a direct sequel to Revolutions .   As of February 2016 , the franchise has generated $ 3 billion in revenue , making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time . In March 2017 , it was reported that Warner Bros. was in early stages of developing a relaunch of the franchise with new films .


Babe (film) Babe is a 1995 Australian-American comedy-drama film directed by Chris Noonan , produced by George Miller , and written by both . It is an adaptation of Dick King-Smith 's 1983 novel The Sheep-Pig , also known as Babe : The Gallant Pig in the US , which tells the story of a pig who wants to be a sheepdog . The main animal characters are played by a combination of real and animatronic pigs and Border Collies .   After seven years of development , Babe was filmed in Robertson , New South Wales , Australia . The talking-animal visual effects were done by Rhythm & Hues Studios and Jim Henson 's Creature Shop .   The film was a box office success and grossed $ 36,776,544 at the box office in Australia . It has received considerable acclaim from critics : it was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture , Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay , winning Best Visual Effects . It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy and the Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film .   In 1998 , Miller directed a sequel , Babe : Pig in the City .


Steffi Graf competed in multiple professional tennis competition.

Grand Slam (tennis) The Grand Slam tournaments , also called majors , are the four most-important annual tennis events . They offer the most ranking points , prize money , public and media attention , the greatest strength and size of field , and greater number of `` best of '' sets for men . The Grand Slam itinerary consists of the Australian Open in mid January , the French Open in May and June , Wimbledon in June and July , and the US Open in August and September . Each tournament is played over a period of two weeks . The Australian and United States tournaments are played on hard courts , the French on clay , and Wimbledon on grass . Wimbledon is the oldest , founded in 1877 , followed by the US in 1881 , the French in 1891 , and the Australian in 1905 . However , of these four , only Wimbledon was a major before 1924 -- 25 , the time when all four became designated Grand Slam tournaments . Skipping Grand Slam tournaments -- especially the Australian Open because of the remoteness , the inconvenient dates ( around Christmas and New Year 's Day ) and the low prize money -- was not unusual before 1982 , which was the start of the norm of counting Grand Slam titles .   The term Grand Slam also , and originally , refers to the achievement of winning all four major championships in a single calendar year within one of the five events : men 's and women 's singles ; men 's , women 's , and mixed doubles . In doubles , one team may accomplish a Grand Slam playing together or one player may achieve it with different partners . The term `` Grand Slam '' without qualification refers to winning the four majors in a single calendar year .   Winning the four majors in consecutive tournaments but not in the same year is known as a Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam , while winning all four majors at any point during the course of a career is known as a Career Grand Slam . Winning the gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games in addition to the four majors in a one calendar year is known as a `` Golden Grand Slam '' or more commonly the `` Golden Slam '' . Also , winning the Year-End Championship ( known as ATP World Tour Finals for men 's singles and doubles disciplines , and WTA Tour Championships for both women 's disciplines ) in the same period is known as a `` Super Slam '' . Together , all four Majors in all three disciplines ( singles , doubles , and mixed doubles ) are called a `` boxed set '' of Grand Slam titles . No male or female player has won all twelve events in one calendar year , although a `` career boxed set '' has been achieved by three female players .


Steffi Graf Stefanie Maria `` Steffi '' Graf ( -LSB- ˈʃtɛfiː ˈgʁa : f -RSB- ; born 14 June 1969 ) is a German former tennis player , who was ranked world No. 1 during her career . Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles . Her 22 singles titles put her second on the list of Major wins by a tennis player ( male or female ) since the introduction of the Open Era in 1968 and is third all-time behind Margaret Court ( 24 ) and Serena Williams ( 23 ) . In 1988 , she became the first and only tennis player ( male or female ) to achieve the Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year . Furthermore , she is the only tennis player to have won each Grand Slam event at least four times .   Graf was ranked world No. 1 by the Women 's Tennis Association ( WTA ) for a record 377 total weeks -- the longest period for which any player , male or female , has held the number-one ranking since the WTA and the Association of Tennis Professionals began issuing rankings . She won 107 singles titles , which ranks her third on the WTA 's all-time list after Martina Navratilova ( 167 titles ) and Chris Evert ( 157 titles ) . She and Margaret Court are the only players , male or female , to win three grand slams in a calendar year five times ( 1988 , 1989 , 1993 , 1995 and 1996 ) .   Notable features of Graf 's game were her versatility across all playing surfaces , footwork and her powerful forehand drive . Graf won six French Open singles titles ( second to Evert ) , seven Wimbledon singles titles , four Australian Open titles , and five U.S. Open singles titles . She is the only singles player ( male or female ) to have achieved a Grand Slam since hard court was introduced as a surface at the US Open in 1978 . Consequently , Graf 's Grand Slam was achieved on grass , clay , and hard court while the previous five Grand Slams were decided on only grass and clay . Graf reached thirteen consecutive Grand Slam singles finals , from the 1987 French Open through to the 1990 French Open , winning nine of them . She won 5 consecutive Majors ( 1988 Australian Open to 1989 Australian Open ) , and seven Majors out of eight , in two calendar years ( 1988 Australian Open to 1989 US Open , except 1989 French Open ) . She reached a total of 31 Grand Slam singles finals .   Graf is regarded by some to be the greatest female tennis player of all time . Navratilova included Graf on her list of great players . In 1999 Billie Jean King said `` Steffi is definitely the greatest women 's tennis player of all time '' . In December 1999 , Graf was named the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by the Associated Press . Tennis writer Steve Flink , in his book The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century , named her as the best female player of the 20th century . In March 2012 , Tennis Channel picked Graf as the greatest female tennis player ever in their list of 100 greatest tennis players of all time .   Graf retired in 1999 while she was ranked World No. 3 . She married former World No. 1 men 's tennis player Andre Agassi in October 2001 . The couple has two children -- Jaden Gil and Jaz Elle . Graf was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004 .


Psychological findings are independent of research and perspectives from medicine.

Psychology Psychology is the science of behavior and mind , embracing all aspects of conscious and unconscious experience as well as thought . It is an academic discipline and a social science which seeks to understand individuals and groups by establishing general principles and researching specific cases .   In this field , a professional practitioner or researcher is called a psychologist and can be classified as a social , behavioral , or cognitive scientist . Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behavior , while also exploring the physiological and biological processes that underlie cognitive functions and behaviors .   Psychologists explore behavior and mental processes , including perception , cognition , attention , emotion ( affect ) , intelligence , phenomenology , motivation ( conation ) , brain functioning , and personality . This extends to interaction between people , such as interpersonal relationships , including psychological resilience , family resilience , and other areas . Psychologists of diverse orientations also consider the unconscious mind . Psychologists employ empirical methods to infer causal and correlational relationships between psychosocial variables . In addition , or in opposition , to employing empirical and deductive methods , some -- especially clinical and counseling psychologists -- at times rely upon symbolic interpretation and other inductive techniques . Psychology has been described as a `` hub science '' , with psychological findings linking to research and perspectives from the social sciences , natural sciences , medicine , humanities , and philosophy .   While psychological knowledge is often applied to the assessment and treatment of mental health problems , it is also directed towards understanding and solving problems in several spheres of human activity . By many accounts psychology ultimately aims to benefit society . The majority of psychologists are involved in some kind of therapeutic role , practicing in clinical , counseling , or school settings . Many do scientific research on a wide range of topics related to mental processes and behavior , and typically work in university psychology departments or teach in other academic settings ( e.g. , medical schools , hospitals ) . Some are employed in industrial and organizational settings , or in other areas such as human development and aging , sports , health , and the media , as well as in forensic investigation and other aspects of law .


50 First Dates 50 First Dates is a 2004 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Segal and written by George Wing . The film stars Adam Sandler as a lothario veterinarian and Drew Barrymore as an amnesiac , along with Rob Schneider , Sean Astin , Lusia Strus , Blake Clark , and Dan Aykroyd . Most of the film was shot on location in Oahu , Hawaii on the Windward side and the North Shore . Sandler and Barrymore won an MTV award . The fictitious memory impairment suffered by Barrymore 's character , Goldfield 's Syndrome , is similar to short term memory loss and anterograde amnesia . The 2014 Malayalam film Ormayundo Ee Mukham is inspired by 50 First Dates .


Rebecca Ferguson had a starring role in "Life".

Rebecca Ferguson Rebecca Louisa Ferguson Sundström ( born 19 October 1983 ) , known professionally as Rebecca Ferguson , is a Swedish actress . She is best known for her lead role as Elizabeth Woodville in The White Queen ( 2013 ) , which earned her a Golden Globe nomination , and her starring roles as Ilsa Faust in Mission : Impossible -- Rogue Nation ( 2015 ) and as Dr. Miranda North in Life ( 2017 ) . Ferguson is set to return in Mission : Impossible 6 ( 2018 ) .


Cosmopolitan as of 2011 contains content which includes articles on celebrities.

Cosmopolitan (magazine) Cosmopolitan is an international fashion magazine for women . Formerly titled The Cosmopolitan , the magazine was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine ; it was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women 's magazine in the late 1960s . Often referred to as Cosmo , its content as of 2011 includes articles on women 's issues , relationships , sex , health , careers , self-improvement , celebrities , fashion , and beauty . Published by Hearst Corporation , Cosmopolitan has 64 international editions , is printed in 35 languages , and is distributed in more than 110 countries .


Omar Sharif Omar Sharif ( عمر الشريف , -LSB- ˈʕomɑɾ eʃʃɪˈɾiːf -RSB- ; born Michel Dimitri Chalhoub -LSB- - arzmiˈʃel dɪˈmitɾi ʃælˈhuːb -RSB- 10 April 193210 July 2015 ) was an Egyptian actor . He began his career in his native country in the 1950s , but is best known for his appearances in both British and American productions . His films included Lawrence of Arabia ( 1962 ) , Doctor Zhivago ( 1965 ) , and Funny Girl ( 1968 ) . He was nominated for an Academy Award . He won three Golden Globe Awards and a César Award .   Sharif , who spoke Arabic , English , Greek , French , Spanish , Portuguese and Italian fluently , was often cast as a foreigner of some sort . He bridled at travel restrictions imposed by the government of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser , leading to self-exile in Europe . The estrangement led to an amicable divorce from his wife , the iconic Egyptian actress Faten Hamama . He had converted to Islam in order to marry her . He was a lifelong horse racing enthusiast , and at one time ranked among the world 's top contract bridge players .


Richard Branson worked with Simon Draper.

Richard Branson Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson ( born 18 July 1950 ) is an English business magnate , investor and philanthropist . He founded the Virgin Group , which controls more than 400 companies .   Branson expressed his desire to become an entrepreneur at a young age . At the age of sixteen his first business venture was a magazine called Student . In 1970 , he set up a mail-order record business . In 1972 , he opened a chain of record stores , Virgin Records , later known as Virgin Megastores . Branson 's Virgin brand grew rapidly during the 1980s , as he set up Virgin Atlantic airline and expanded the Virgin Records music label .   In March 2000 , Branson was knighted at Buckingham Palace for `` services to entrepreneurship '' . For his work in retail , music and transport ( with interests in land , air , sea and space travel ) , his taste for adventure , and for his humanitarian work , he became one of the most prominent figures in British culture . In 2002 he was named in the BBC 's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons . In January 2016 , Forbes listed Branson 's estimated net worth at $ 5.2 billion .


Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British-founded record label founded by English entrepreneurs Richard Branson , Simon Draper , Nik Powell , and musician Tom Newman in 1972 . The company grew to be a worldwide phenomenon over time , with the success of its platinum performers such as Janet Jackson , Roy Orbison , Devo , Genesis , Keith Richards , the Human League , Culture Club , Simple Minds , Lenny Kravitz , dc Talk , the Smashing Pumpkins , Mike Oldfield , Spice Girls and more on their list of artists . It was later sold to Thorn EMI in 1992 .   Currently wholly owned by Universal Music Group after its purchase of EMI in 2012 , UMG absorbed Virgin 's British operations , Virgin Records , Ltd. , to create Virgin EMI Records in March 2013 , which in turn absorbed Mercury Records ' UK operations .   Today , the operations of Virgin Records America , Inc. ( a unit of Virgin Records , Ltd. ) are still active and headquartered in Hollywood , California , as it operates exclusively under the Capitol Music Group since 2007 . A heavily minor amount of artists remain on Virgin Records America 's roster , which today is mostly occupied with European artists such as Bastille , Circa Waves , Corinne Bailey Rae , Ella Eyre , Grizfolk , Walking on Cars , Seinabo Sey , and Prides . US artists include Knox Hamilton , L'Tric and Rise Against .


A Song of Ice and Fire is by someone who works in the fantasy genre and he is American.

A Song of Ice and Fire A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of epic fantasy novels by the American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin . He began the first volume of the series , A Game of Thrones , in 1991 and had it published in 1996 . Martin , who initially envisioned the series as a trilogy , has published five out of a planned seven volumes . The fifth and most recent volume of the series published in 2011 , A Dance with Dragons , took Martin five years to write . He is still writing the sixth novel , The Winds of Winter .   A Song of Ice and Fire takes place on the fictional continents Westeros and Essos . The point of view of each chapter in the story is a limited perspective of a range of characters growing from nine , in the first novel , to thirty-one by the fifth . Three main stories interweave a dynastic war among several families for control of Westeros , the rising threat of the supernatural Others in the northernmost reaches of Westeros , and the ambition of Daenerys Targaryen , the deposed king 's exiled daughter , to assume the Iron Throne .   Martin 's inspirations included the Wars of the Roses and the French historical novels The Accursed Kings by Maurice Druon . A Song of Ice and Fire received praise for its diverse portrayal of women and religion , as well as its realism . An assortment of disparate and subjective points of view confronts the reader , and the success or survival of point of view characters is never assured . Within the often morally ambiguous world of A Song of Ice and Fire , questions concerning loyalty , pride , human sexuality , piety , and the morality of violence frequently arise .   As of April 2015 , the books have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide and , as of January 2017 , have been translated into 47 languages . The fourth and fifth volumes reached the top of The New York Times Best Seller lists upon their releases . Among the many derived works are several prequel novellas , a TV series , a comic book adaptation , and several card , board , and video games .


Emmanuel Adebayor plays football professionally.

Emmanuel Adebayor Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor ( -LSB- ɛmanɥɛl adəbɛjɔʁ -RSB- ; born 26 February 1984 ) is a Togolese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir . He previously played for English clubs Arsenal , Manchester City , Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace , as well as French sides Metz and Monaco and Spanish team Real Madrid . He was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008 .   Adebayor represented the Togo national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany , the country 's debut , and to date only , appearance at the World Cup . In January 2010 , Adebayor was one of the players involved when the Togo team 's bus came under gunfire on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola , after which he retired from national team duty . In 2013 , he returned to the Togo team for the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa , where he helped them to qualify for the quarter-finals . He is currently Togo 's all-time top goalscorer with 31 goals .


Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional football club based in Highbury , London , England , that plays in the Premier League , the top flight of English football . The club has won 13 League titles , a record 13 FA Cups , two League Cups , the League Centenary Trophy , 14 FA Community Shields , one UEFA Cup Winners ' Cup and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup .   Arsenal was the first club from the South of England to join The Football League , in 1893 . They entered the First Division in 1904 , and have since accumulated the second most points . Relegated only once , in 1913 , they continue the longest streak in the top division . In the 1930s , Arsenal won five League Championships and two FA Cups , and another FA Cup and two Championships after the war . In 1970 -- 71 , they won their first League and FA Cup Double . Between 1989 and 2005 , they won five League titles and five FA Cups , including two more Doubles . They completed the 20th century with the highest average league position .   Herbert Chapman won Arsenal 's first national trophies , but died prematurely . He helped introduce the WM formation , floodlights , and shirt numbers , and added the white sleeves and brighter red to Arsenal 's kit . Arsène Wenger has been the longest-serving manager and has won the most trophies . His teams set several English records : the longest win streak ; the longest unbeaten run ; and the only 38 match season unbeaten .   In 1886 , Woolwich munitions workers founded the club as Dial Square . In 1913 , the club crossed the city to Arsenal Stadium in Highbury . They became Tottenham Hotspur 's nearest club , commencing the North London derby . In 2006 , they moved down the road to the Emirates Stadium . Arsenal earned $ 435.5 m in 2014 -- 15 , with the Emirates Stadium generating the highest revenue in world football . Based on social media activity from 2014 -- 15 , Arsenal 's fanbase is the fifth largest in the world . In 2016 , Forbes estimated the club was the second most valuable in England , worth $ 2.0 billion .


On March 31st, 2009, Cupid (2009 TV series) began airing.

Cupid (2009 TV series) Cupid is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC from March 31 to June 16 , 2009 and was broadcast Tuesdays at 10:02 PM Eastern/9 :02 PM Central . The series is a revival of sorts of the network 's 1998 series of the same name , changing its primary setting from Chicago to New York City .  Cupid was canceled on May 19 , 2009 .


Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children had a production budget of one million dollars.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (film) Miss Peregrine 's Home for Peculiar Children is a 2016 American dark fantasy film directed by Tim Burton and written by Jane Goldman , based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Ransom Riggs . The film stars Eva Green , Asa Butterfield , Chris O'Dowd , Allison Janney , Rupert Everett , Terence Stamp , Ella Purnell with Judi Dench and Samuel L. Jackson .   Filming began in February 2015 in London and the Tampa Bay Area . The film premiered at Fantastic Fest in Austin , Texas on September 25 , 2016 and was theatrically released in the United States on September 30 , 2016 by 20th Century Fox . It grossed $ 296 million worldwide against a production budget of $ 110 million .


Bedazzled (2000 film) stars an actor with dual citizenship.

Bedazzled (2000 film) Bedazzled is a 2000 fantasy-comedy film remake of the 1967 film of the same name , originally written by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore , which was itself a comic retelling of the Faust legend . The film was directed by Harold Ramis and stars Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley .


Brendan Fraser Brendan James Fraser ( -LSB- ˈfreɪzɚ -RSB- ; born December 3 , 1968 ) is a Canadian-American actor . He is best known for playing Rick O'Connell in The Mummy trilogy ( 1999 , 2001 , 2008 ) , and for his comedy and fantasy leading roles in films , such as Encino Man ( 1992 ) , George of the Jungle ( 1997 ) , Bedazzled ( 2000 ) and Journey to the Center of the Earth ( 2008 ) . He also starred in numerous dramatic roles , such as Gods and Monsters ( 1998 ) , The Quiet American ( 2002 ) and Crash ( 2004 ) .


Greyson Chance Greyson Michael Chance ( born August 16 , 1997 ) is an American singer , songwriter , and pianist . His April 2010 performance of Lady Gaga 's `` Paparazzi '' at a sixth-grade music festival went viral on YouTube , gaining widespread attention and over 59 million views as of May 2017 , as well as an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show shortly afterward . Two of his original compositions , `` Stars '' and `` Broken Hearts '' , gained over six and eight million views respectively on his YouTube channel . His debut single , `` Waiting Outside the Lines '' , was released in October 2010 . Chance 's debut album , Hold On 'Til the Night , was released on August 2 , 2011 .   Chance released his second EP , Somewhere Over My Head , on May 13 , 2016 . The lead single , `` Afterlife '' , was released in October 2015 , followed by `` Hit and Run '' and `` Back On the Wall '' in February and April 2016 respectively .


Greece Greece ( Ελλάδα , -LSB- eˈlaða -RSB- ) , officially the Hellenic Republic ( Greek : Ελληνική Δημοκρατία , -LSB- eliniˈci ðimokraˈti.a -RSB- ) , historically also known as Hellas ( Ἑλλάς , -LSB- heˈlas -RSB- , modern pronunciation Ellás ) , is a country in southeastern Europe , with a population of approximately 11 million as of 2015 . Athens is the nation 's capital and largest city , followed by Thessaloniki .   Greece is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe , Asia , and Africa . Situated on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula , it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest , the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north , and Turkey to the northeast . Greece consists of nine geographic regions : Macedonia , Central Greece , the Peloponnese , Thessaly , Epirus , the Aegean Islands ( including the Dodecanese and Cyclades ) , Thrace , Crete , and the Ionian Islands . The Aegean Sea lies to the east of the mainland , the Ionian Sea to the west , the Cretan Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the south . Greece has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean Basin and the 11th longest coastline in the world at 13676 km in length , featuring a vast number of islands , of which 227 are inhabited . Eighty percent of Greece is mountainous , with Mount Olympus being the highest peak at 2918 m.   Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization , being the birthplace of democracy , Western philosophy , the Olympic Games , Western literature , historiography , political science , major scientific and mathematical principles , and Western drama . From the eighth century BC , the Greeks were organised into various independent city-states , known as polis , which spanned the entire Mediterranean region and the Black Sea . Philip of Macedon united most of the Greek mainland in the fourth century BC , with his son Alexander the Great rapidly conquering much of the ancient world , spreading Greek culture and science from the eastern Mediterranean to the Indus River . Greece was annexed by Rome in the second century BC , becoming an integral part of the Roman Empire and its successor , the Byzantine Empire , wherein the Greek language and culture were dominant . The Greek Orthodox Church also shaped modern Greek identity and transmitted Greek traditions to the wider Orthodox World . Falling under Ottoman dominion in the mid-15th century , the modern nation state of Greece emerged in 1830 following a war of independence . Greece 's rich historical legacy is reflected by its 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites , among the most in Europe and the world .   Greece is a democratic and developed country with an advanced high-income economy , a high quality of life , and a very high standard of living . A founding member of the United Nations , Greece was the tenth member to join the European Communities ( precursor to the European Union ) and has been part of the Eurozone since 2001 . It is also a member of numerous other international institutions , including the Council of Europe , the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) , the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) , the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) , the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ( OSCE ) , and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie ( OIF ) . Greece 's unique cultural heritage , large tourism industry , prominent shipping sector and geostrategic importance classify it as a middle power . It is the largest economy in the Balkans , where it is an important regional investor .


Bill Gates was born on November 3, 1912.

Bill Gates William Henry Gates III ( born October 28 , 1955 ) is the co-founder of Microsoft and is an American business magnate , investor , author and philanthropist .   In 1975 , Gates and Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft , which became the world 's largest PC software company . During his career at Microsoft , Gates held the positions of chairman , CEO and chief software architect , while also being the largest individual shareholder until May 2014 . Gates stepped down as chief executive officer of Microsoft in January 2000 , but he remained as chairman and created the position of chief software architect for himself . In June 2006 , Gates announced that he would be transitioning from full-time work at Microsoft to part-time work and full-time work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . He gradually transferred his duties to Ray Ozzie and Craig Mundie . He stepped down as chairman of Microsoft in February 2014 , taking on a new post as technology adviser to support the then newly appointed CEO Satya Nadella .   Gates is one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution . He has been criticized for his business tactics , which have been considered anti-competitive , an opinion that has in some cases been upheld by numerous court rulings . Later in his career , Gates pursued a number of philanthropic endeavors , donating large amounts of money to various charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , established in 2000 .   Since 1987 , Gates has been included in the Forbes list of the world 's wealthiest people . Gates is the richest person in the world , with an estimated net worth of US$ 88.5 billion . In 2009 , Gates and Warren Buffett founded The Giving Pledge , whereby they and other billionaires pledge to give at least half of their wealth to philanthropy .


19 Kids and Counting 19 Kids and Counting ( formerly 17 Kids and Counting and 18 Kids and Counting ) was an American reality television show that aired on the cable channel TLC for seven years , until its cancellation in 2015 . The show featured the Duggar family : parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their nineteen children -- nine girls and ten boys , all of whose names begin with the letter `` J. '' During the life of the show , three children were born , three children were married and four grandchildren were born .   The reality show focused on the life of the Duggar family who are devout Baptists . and frequently discussed values of purity , modesty , and faith in God . The Duggars avoid birth control saying they have decided to allow God to determine the number of children they have . All of the children are homeschooled , and access to entertainment such as movies and television is limited . They practice chaperoned courtship , in which a couple acquaints itself only in a group setting . The values presented on the show have been associated with the Quiverfull movement , which has been described as promoting strict family conformity , male hierarchies , and subservient roles for women . The Duggars have stated they are not associated with the Quiverfull movement .   The series began on September 29 , 2008 and concluded on May 19 , 2015 . The show was TLC 's most popular , averaging 2.3 million viewers per new episode in Season 10 , and scoring in the Nielsen `` Cable Top 25 . ''   On May 22 , 2015 , TLC suspended the series when the Duggars ' eldest son , Josh , publicly apologized for having `` acted inexcusably '' following reports that he molested five girls , including some of his sisters , by fondling them . These events occurred in 2002 and 2003 , when he was 14 to 15 years of age , and prior to the beginning of the show . On July 16 , 2015 , TLC announced that the show was officially canceled and would not resume production . A spin-off show , Counting On , aired in December 2015 and the fourth season will premiere June 12 , 2017 .


The Olympic Games are sporting events that are international.

Summer Olympic Games The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad ( Jeux olympiques d'été ) , first held in 1896 , is an international multi-sport event that is hosted by a different city every four years . The most recent Olympics were held in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil . The International Olympic Committee organizes the games and oversees the host city 's preparations . In each Olympic event , gold medals are awarded for first place , silver medals are awarded for second place , and bronze medals are awarded for third ; this tradition began in 1904 . The Winter Olympic Games were created due to the success of the Summer Olympics .   The Olympics have increased in scope from a 42-event competition with fewer than 250 male competitors from 14 nations in 1896 to 302 events with 10,768 competitors ( 5,992 men , 4,776 women ) from 204 nations in 2012 .   Eighteen countries have hosted the Summer Olympics . The United States has hosted four Summer Olympics ( 1904 , 1932 , 1984 , 1996 ) , more than any other nation , and Great Britain has hosted three Summer Olympics ( 1908 , 1948 , 2012 ) , all in London . Four cities have hosted two Summer Olympics : Athens ( 1896 , 2004 ) , Paris ( 1900 , 1924 ) , Los Angeles ( 1932 , 1984 ) , and Tokyo ( 1964 , 2020 ) . Tokyo is the first city outside of the Western world to host the Summer Olympics multiple times .   Asia has hosted the Summer Olympics four times ( 1964 , 1988 , 2008 , 2020 ) in Japan , South Korea , and China . The only Summer Olympics held in the Southern Hemisphere have been in Australia ( 1956 , 2000 ) and Brazil ( 2016 ) . The 2016 Games are the first Summer Olympics to be held in South America and the first to be held during the local winter season . Africa has yet to host a Summer Olympics .   Only five countries -- Greece , Australia , France , Great Britain , and Switzerland -- have been represented at every Summer Olympic Games . The only country to have won at least one gold medal at every Summer Olympic Games is Great Britain . The United States leads the all-time medal table .


Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics ( Jeux olympiques ) are leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions . The Olympic Games are considered the world 's foremost sports competition with more than 200 nations participating . The Olympic Games are held every four years , with the Summer and Winter Games alternating by occurring every four years but two years apart .   Their creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games , which were held in Olympia , Greece , from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD . Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) in 1894 , leading to the first modern Games in Athens in 1896 . The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement , with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority .   The evolution of the Olympic Movement during the 20th and 21st centuries has resulted in several changes to the Olympic Games . Some of these adjustments include the creation of the Winter Olympic Games for ice and winter sports , the Paralympic Games for athletes with a disability , and the Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes . The IOC has had to adapt to a variety of economic , political , and technological advancements . As a result , the Olympics has shifted away from pure amateurism , as envisioned by Coubertin , to allowing participation of professional athletes . The growing importance of mass media created the issue of corporate sponsorship and commercialisation of the Games . World wars led to the cancellation of the 1916 , 1940 , and 1944 Games . Large boycotts during the Cold War limited participation in the 1980 and 1984 Games .   The Olympic Movement consists of international sports federations ( IFs ) , National Olympic Committees ( NOCs ) , and organising committees for each specific Olympic Games . As the decision-making body , the IOC is responsible for choosing the host city for each Games , and organises and funds the Games according to the Olympic Charter . The IOC also determines the Olympic programme , consisting of the sports to be contested at the Games . There are several Olympic rituals and symbols , such as the Olympic flag and torch , as well as the opening and closing ceremonies . Over 13,000 athletes compete at the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in 33 different sports and nearly 400 events . The first , second , and third-place finishers in each event receive Olympic medals : gold , silver , and bronze , respectively .   The Games have grown so much that nearly every nation is now represented . This growth has created numerous challenges and controversies , including boycotts , doping , bribery , and a terrorist attack in 1972 . Every two years the Olympics and its media exposure provide unknown athletes with the chance to attain national and sometimes international fame . The Games also constitute an opportunity for the host city and country to showcase themselves to the world .


Kate Beckinsale starred in an adaptation of Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma.

Emma (1996 TV film) Jane Austen 's Emma is an adaptation of the 1815 novel of the same name . It was adapted for the British television network ITV in 1996 , directed by Diarmuid Lawrence and dramatised by Andrew Davies , the same year as Miramax 's film adaptation of Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow . This production of Emma stars Kate Beckinsale as the title character , and also features Samantha Morton as Harriet Smith and Mark Strong as Mr. Knightley .   Davies had recently adapted another Austen novel as the successful 1995 television serial Pride and Prejudice for BBC when he proposed to adapt the novel Emma for the network . BBC had already made such an agreement with another screenwriter however , leading Davies to approach ITV .   Emma received generally positive reviews from critics , who believed it to be superior to the 1996 Miramax film . Most focused on Beckinsale 's performance as a positive highlight . It aired on ITV on the 24 November 1996 and garnered an estimated 12 million viewers . It also was broadcast on the American channel A&E in 16 February 1997 .


Jane Austen Jane Austen ( -LSB- ˈdʒeɪn_ˈɒstɪn -RSB- 16 December 1775 -- 18 July 1817 ) was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels , which interpret , critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century . Austen 's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security . Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism .   With the publications of Sense and Sensibility ( 1811 ) , Pride and Prejudice ( 1813 ) , Mansfield Park ( 1814 ) and Emma ( 1815 ) , she achieved success as a published writer . She wrote two additional novels , Northanger Abbey and Persuasion , both published posthumously in 1818 , and began another , eventually titled Sanditon , but died before its completion . Her novels have rarely been out of print , although they were published anonymously and brought her little fame during her lifetime . A significant transition in her posthumous reputation occurred in 1869 , fifty-two years after her death , when her nephew 's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced her to a wider audience .   Austen has inspired a large number of critical essays and literary anthologies . Her novels have inspired many films , from 1940 's Pride and Prejudice to more recent productions like Sense and Sensibility ( 1995 ) and Love & Friendship ( 2016 ) .   Jane Austen 's use of biting irony , along with her realism and social commentary have earned her great and historical importance to critics and scholars .   The Bank of England has confirmed that Austen will appear on the new polymer # 10 note , to be released in September 2017 .


Kate Beckinsale Kathrin Romary Beckinsale ( born 26 July 1973 ) is an English actress . After some minor television roles , she made her film debut in Much Ado About Nothing ( 1993 ) while still a student at the University of Oxford . She then appeared in British costume dramas such as Prince of Jutland ( 1994 ) , Cold Comfort Farm ( 1995 ) , Emma ( 1996 ) , and The Golden Bowl ( 2000 ) , in addition to various stage and radio productions . She began to seek film work in the United States in the late 1990s and , after appearing in small-scale dramas The Last Days of Disco ( 1998 ) and Brokedown Palace ( 1999 ) , she had starring roles in the war drama Pearl Harbor and the romantic comedy Serendipity . She followed those with appearances in The Aviator ( 2004 ) and Click ( 2006 ) .   Since being cast as Selene in the Underworld film series ( 2003-present ) , Beckinsale has become known primarily for her work in action films , including Van Helsing ( 2004 ) , Whiteout ( 2009 ) , Contraband ( 2012 ) , and Total Recall ( 2012 ) . She also continues to make appearances in smaller dramatic projects such as Snow Angels ( 2007 ) , Nothing but the Truth ( 2008 ) , and Everybody 's Fine ( 2009 ) . In 2016 , she appeared in Whit Stillman 's Jane Austen comedy Love & Friendship .


Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( born Destiny Hope Cyrus ; November 23 , 1992 ) is an American singer , songwriter , and actress . After playing minor roles in the television series Doc and the film Big Fish in her childhood , she became a teen idol starring as the character Miley Stewart in the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana in 2006 . Her father Billy Ray Cyrus also starred in the show . She subsequently signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records , and her debut studio album Meet Miley Cyrus ( 2007 ) was certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) having shipped over three million units . She released her second album Breakout and launched her film career as a voice actress in the animated film Bolt in 2008 .   Cyrus starred in the feature film Hannah Montana : The Movie , and began cultivating a more mature image with her EP The Time of Our Lives in 2009 . In 2010 , she released her third album Ca n't Be Tamed , which stands as the lowest-selling record of her career , and starred in the coming-of-age film The Last Song . Cyrus focused on her acting career with several television and film appearances in 2011 and 2012 . Her sexually explicit behavior generated widespread controversy while promoting her fourth album Bangerz ( 2013 ) , her first under her recording contract with RCA Records . Cyrus ' independently-released fifth studio album Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz ( 2015 ) deviated from her traditional pop style for more psychedelic experimentation . In 2016 , she was a coach for the eleventh season of the singing competition series The Voice .   With Bangerz , Cyrus achieved her third number-one album on the U.S. Billboard 200 , and fifth overall including Hannah Montana soundtrack albums . She has logged eight top 10 entries on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with : `` See You Again '' , `` 7 Things '' , `` The Climb '' , `` Party in the U.S.A. '' , `` Ca n't Be Tamed '' , `` We Ca n't Stop '' , `` Malibu '' and the chart-topping `` Wrecking Ball '' . Cyrus has earned numerous awards and nominations , as Billboard ranked her as the fourth best-selling female artist of 2009 . She was ranked number thirteen on Forbes Celebrity 100 in 2010 , and in 2013 was declared `` Artist of the Year '' by MTV . She has been included on the Time 100 list of most influential people in 2008 and 2014 .


Naomi Watts was in an Australian television series.

Brides of Christ This article is about the Australian television show . For the early 1900s American religious cult see Edmund Creffield . For nuns , see nun .   Brides of Christ was an Australian television miniseries produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1991 .   The series takes place behind the walls of a Sydney convent school and deals with the struggles of both the Roman Catholic nuns and the young students to adapt to the many social changes taking place within the church and the outside world during the 1960s .   Six fifty-minute episodes were made . Each episode focused on a particular story and set of characters . Some characters would appear in multiple episodes with varying levels of prominence from episode to episode . Lead characters in one episode might appear in a support role in another episode . Josephine Byrnes ' character was the focus of both the first and last episodes .   In her first major role , Naomi Watts starred as Frances , one of the students . One episode also guest starred the then unknown Russell Crowe as a young man distressed about being called up for the Vietnam War .   The series was filmed on location at St Mary 's Tower 's , Douglas Park , New South Wales , Santa Sabina College , Strathfield , New South Wales and St Scholastica 's College , Glebe , New South Wales .   The entire series has since been released on DVD .


Naomi Watts Naomi Ellen Watts ( born 28 September 1968 ) is an English actress and film producer . She made her screen debut in the Australian drama film For Love Alone ( 1986 ) and then appeared in the Australian television series Hey Dad . . ! ( 1990 ) , Brides of Christ ( 1991 ) and Home and Away ( 1991 ) and alongside Nicole Kidman and Thandie Newton in the coming-of-age comedy-drama film Flirting ( 1991 ) . After moving to America , Watts appeared in films , including Tank Girl ( 1995 ) , Children of the Corn IV : The Gathering ( 1996 ) and Dangerous Beauty ( 1998 ) and had the lead role in the television series Sleepwalkers ( 1997 -- 1998 ) .   After years as a struggling actress , Watts came to attention in David Lynch 's psychological thriller Mulholland Drive ( 2001 ) . The following year she enjoyed box-office success with her role as Rachel Keller in The Ring ( 2002 ) , the remake of a successful Japanese horror film . She then received nominations at the Academy Awards and the Screen Actors ' Guild Awards in the Best Actress categories for her portrayal of Cristina Peck in Alejandro González Iñárritu 's neo-noir 21 Grams ( 2003 ) . Her subsequent films include David O. Russell 's comedy I Heart Huckabees ( 2004 ) , the 2005 remake of King Kong , the crime-thriller Eastern Promises ( 2007 ) and the Tom Tykwer-directed thriller The International ( 2009 ) . Since then , Watts has portrayed Valerie Plame Wilson in the biographical drama Fair Game ( 2010 ) and Helen Gandy in Clint Eastwood 's biographical drama J. Edgar ( 2011 ) . For her leading role as Maria Bennett in the disaster film The Impossible ( 2012 ) , she received second nominations for the Academy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress and a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress .   In 2002 , Watts was included in People magazine 's 50 Most Beautiful People . In 2006 , she became a goodwill ambassador for Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS , which helps to raise awareness of AIDS-related issues . She has participated in several fundraisers for the cause , and she is presented as an inaugural member of AIDS Red Ribbon Awards .


Iain Glen Iain Glen ( born 24 June 1961 ) is a Scottish film , television , and stage actor . Glen is best known for his roles as Dr. Alexander Isaacs / Tyrant in the Resident Evil films and for portraying Ser Jorah Mormont on Game of Thrones . Other notable roles include John Hanning Speke in Mountains of the Moon , Sir Richard Carlisle in Downton Abbey , the title role in Jack Taylor and Jarrod Slade in Cleverman .


Heinrich Himmler never commanded the Schutzstaffel.

Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Luitpold Himmler ( -LSB- ˈhaɪnʁɪç ˈluˑɪtˌpɔlt ˈhɪmlɐ -RSB- ; 7 October 1900 -- 23 May 1945 ) was Reichsführer of the Schutzstaffel ( Protection Squadron ; SS ) , and a leading member of the Nazi Party ( NSDAP ) of Germany . Nazi leader Adolf Hitler briefly appointed him a military commander and later Commander of the Replacement ( Home ) Army and General Plenipotentiary for the administration of the entire Third Reich ( Generalbevollmächtigter für die Verwaltung ) . Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and one of the people most directly responsible for the Holocaust .   As a member of a reserve battalion during World War I , Himmler did not see active service . He studied agronomy in college , and joined the Nazi Party in 1923 and the SS in 1925 . In 1929 , he was appointed Reichsführer-SS by Hitler . Over the next 16 years , he developed the SS from a mere 290-man battalion into a million-strong paramilitary group , and , following Hitler 's orders , set up and controlled the Nazi concentration camps . He was known to have good organisational skills and for selecting highly competent subordinates , such as Reinhard Heydrich in 1931 . From 1943 onwards , he was both Chief of German Police and Minister of the Interior , overseeing all internal and external police and security forces , including the Gestapo ( Secret State Police ) . Himmler had a lifelong interest in occultism , interpreting Germanic neopagan and Völkisch beliefs to promote the racial policy of Nazi Germany , and incorporating esoteric symbolism and rituals into the SS .   On Hitler 's behalf , Himmler formed the Einsatzgruppen and built extermination camps . As facilitator and overseer of the concentration camps , Himmler directed the killing of some six million Jews , between 200,000 and 500,000 Romani people , and other victims ; the total number of civilians killed by the regime is estimated at eleven to fourteen million people . Most of them were Polish and Soviet citizens .   Late in World War II , Hitler charged Himmler with the command of the Army Group Upper Rhine and the Army Group Vistula ; he failed to achieve his assigned objectives and Hitler replaced him in these posts . Realising that the war was lost , he attempted to open peace talks with the western Allies without Hitler 's knowledge shortly before the war ended . Hearing of this , Hitler dismissed him from all his posts in April 1945 and ordered his arrest . Himmler attempted to go into hiding , but was detained and then arrested by British forces once his identity became known . While in British custody , he committed suicide on 23 May 1945 .


The Incredibles wasn't pitched by Brad Bird.

The Incredibles The Incredibles is a 2004 American computer-animated superhero film written and directed by Brad Bird , produced by Pixar Animation Studios , and released by Walt Disney Pictures . The film follows a family of superheroes who are forced to hide their powers and live a quiet suburban life . Mr. Incredible 's desire to help people draws the entire family into a battle with his longtime enemy -- Syndrome , who was once his fan and now plots to wipe out every single superhuman being on Earth with his killer robot .   Bird , who was Pixar 's first outside director , developed the film as an extension of 1960s comic books and spy films from his boyhood and personal family life . He pitched the film to Pixar after the box office disappointment of his first feature , The Iron Giant ( 1999 ) , and carried over much of its staff to develop The Incredibles . The animation team was tasked with animating an all-human cast , which required creating new technology to animate detailed human anatomy , clothing and realistic skin and hair . Michael Giacchino composed the film 's orchestral score .   The film premiered on October 27 , 2004 , at the BFI London Film Festival and had its general release in the United States on November 5 , 2004 . The film performed well at the box office , grossing $ 633 million worldwide during its original theatrical run . The Incredibles was met with high critical acclaim , garnering high marks from professional critics , and provoking commentary on its themes . The film received the 2004 Annie Award for Best Animated Feature , along with two Academy Awards . It became the first entirely animated film to win the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation .   A sequel , The Incredibles 2 , is scheduled for release on June 15 , 2018 .


Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( -LSB- ˈrɒnəld_ˈwɪlsən_ˈreɪɡən -RSB- ) ( February 6 , 1911 -- June 5 , 2004 ) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 . Before his presidency , he was the 33rd Governor of California , from 1967 to 1975 , after a career as a Hollywood actor and union leader .   Raised in a poor family in small towns of northern Illinois , Reagan graduated from Eureka College in 1932 and worked as a sports announcer on several regional radio stations . After moving to Hollywood in 1937 , he became an actor and starred in a few major productions . Reagan was twice elected President of the Screen Actors Guild , the labor union for actors , where he worked to root out Communist influence . In the 1950s , he moved into television and was a motivational speaker at General Electric factories . Having been a lifelong Democrat , his views changed . He became a conservative and in 1962 switched to the Republican Party . In 1964 , Reagan 's speech , `` A Time for Choosing '' , in support of Barry Goldwater 's foundering presidential campaign , earned him national attention as a new conservative spokesman . Building a network of supporters , he was elected Governor of California in 1966 . As governor , Reagan raised taxes , turned a state budget deficit to a surplus , challenged the protesters at the University of California , ordered National Guard troops in during a period of protest movements in 1969 , and was re-elected in 1970 . He twice ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for the U.S. presidency in 1968 and 1976 ; four years later , he easily won the nomination outright , becoming the oldest elected U.S. president up to that time , defeating incumbent Jimmy Carter in 1980 .   Entering the presidency in 1981 , Reagan implemented sweeping new political and economic initiatives . His supply-side economic policies , dubbed `` Reaganomics '' , advocated tax rate reduction to spur economic growth , control of the money supply to curb inflation , economic deregulation , and reduction in government spending . In his first term he survived an assassination attempt , spurred the War on Drugs , and fought public sector labor . Over his two terms , the economy saw a reduction of inflation from 12.5 % to 4.4 % , and an average annual growth of real GDP of 3.4 ; while Reagan did enact cuts in domestic discretionary spending , tax cuts and increased military spending contributed to increased federal outlays overall , even after adjustment for inflation . During his re-election bid , Reagan campaigned on the notion that it was `` Morning in America '' , winning a landslide in 1984 with the largest electoral college victory in American history . Foreign affairs dominated his second term , including ending of the Cold War , the bombing of Libya , and the Iran -- Contra affair . Publicly describing the Soviet Union as an `` evil empire '' , and during his famous speech at the Brandenburg Gate , President Reagan challenged Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to `` tear down this wall ! '' . He transitioned Cold War policy from détente to rollback , by escalating an arms race with the USSR while engaging in talks with Gorbachev , which culminated in the INF Treaty , shrinking both countries ' nuclear arsenals . Reagan 's presidency came during the decline of the Soviet Union and just ten months after the end of his term , the Berlin Wall fell , and on December 26 , 1991 , nearly three years after he left office , the Soviet Union collapsed .   Leaving office in 1989 , Reagan held an approval rating of sixty-eight percent , matching those of Franklin D. Roosevelt , and later Bill Clinton , as the highest ratings for departing presidents in the modern era . He was the first president since Dwight D. Eisenhower to serve two full terms , after a succession of five prior presidents failed to do so . While having planned an active post-presidency , in 1994 Reagan disclosed his diagnosis with Alzheimer 's disease earlier that year , appearing publicly for the last time at the funeral of Richard Nixon ; he died ten years later in 2004 at the age of 93 ; Reagan had the second-longest life out of all the presidents ; the current longest lifespan of a president is held by Gerald Ford , who died two years after Reagan . An icon among Republicans , he is viewed favorably in historian rankings of U.S. presidents , and his tenure constituted a realignment toward conservative policies in the U.S.


Chester Bennington Chester Charles Bennington ( born March 20 , 1976 ) is an American musician , singer , songwriter and actor . He is best known as the lead vocalist of rock bands Linkin Park , Dead by Sunrise , and live rock cover band Bucket of Weenies . He was originally the lead vocalist for Sean Dowdell And His Friends ? and Grey Daze . Bennington was the lead vocalist for Stone Temple Pilots from 2013 to 2015 .   Bennington became known as a vocalist with Linkin Park 's debut album , Hybrid Theory , in 2000 , which was a massive commercial success . The album was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 , making it the best-selling debut album of the decade , as well as one of the few albums to ever hit that many sales . Linkin Park 's following studio albums , Meteora ( 2003 ) , Minutes to Midnight ( 2007 ) , A Thousand Suns ( 2010 ) , Living Things ( 2012 ) , and The Hunting Party ( 2014 ) , continued the band 's success . Bennington formed his own band , Dead by Sunrise , as a side project in 2005 . The band 's debut album , Out of Ashes , was released on October 13 , 2009 . He worked on new material with Stone Temple Pilots in 2013 to release the EP High Rise on October 8 , 2013 via their own record label , Play Pen . Bennington has been ranked in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists by Hit Parader ( No. 46 ) .


BYD Auto is a Chinese automobile manufacturer.

BYD Auto BYD Auto Co. , Ltd. is a Chinese automobile manufacturer based in Xi'an , Shaanxi Province , and a wholly owned subsidiary of BYD Company . It was founded in 2003 , following BYD Company 's acquisition of Tsinchuan Automobile Company in 2002 . Its principal activity is the design , development , manufacture and distribution of passenger cars and buses sold under the BYD brand . It also has a 50:50 joint venture with Daimler AG , Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. , Ltd. , which develops and manufactures luxury electric cars sold under the Denza brand .   BYD Auto sold a total of 506,189 passenger cars in China in 2013 , making it the tenth-largest selling brand and the largest selling Chinese brand . In 2015 , BYD Auto was the best selling global electric vehicle brand , ahead of General Motors and Nissan . For a second year running , BYD was the world 's top selling plug-in electric car manufacturer with over 100,000 units delivered in 2016 , followed by Tesla , Inc. . In October 2016 , BYD Auto became the all-time second largest global plug-in car manufacturer after the Renault-Nissan Alliance .


Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant ( born August 23 , 1978 ) is an American retired professional basketball player and businessman . He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships with the Lakers . Bryant is an 18-time All-Star , 15-time member of the All-NBA Team , and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team . He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons , and ranks third on the league 's all-time regular season scoring and fourth on the all-time postseason scoring list . He holds the NBA record for the most seasons playing with one franchise for an entire career .   The son of former NBA player Joe Bryant , Kobe Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania , where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country . He declared for the NBA draft upon graduation , and was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets , who traded him to the Lakers . As a rookie , Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest , and he was named an All-Star by his second season . Despite a feud between them , Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002 .   In 2003 , Bryant was accused of sexual assault in Colorado , but the charges were eventually dropped , and a civil suit was settled out of court . After the Lakers lost the 2004 NBA Finals , O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat . Bryant became the cornerstone of the Lakers , and he led the NBA in scoring during the 2005 -- 06 and 2006 -- 07 seasons . In 2006 , he scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors , the second most points scored in a single game in league history behind Wilt Chamberlain 's 100-point game in 1962 . Bryant was awarded the regular season 's Most Valuable Player Award ( MVP ) in 2008 . After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals , he led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010 , earning the Finals MVP Award on both occasions . He continued to be among the top players in the league through 2013 , when the 34-year-old Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon . Although he recovered , his play was limited the following two years by season-ending injuries to his knee and shoulder , respectively . Citing his physical decline , he announced that he would be retiring after the 2015 -- 16 season .   At 34 years and 104 days of age , Bryant became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points . He became the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history on February 1 , 2010 , when he surpassed Jerry West . Following his second year in the league , Bryant was chosen to start every All-Star Game until his retirement for a record 18 consecutive appearances , and his four All-Star MVP Awards are tied for the most in NBA history . At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics , he won gold medals as a member of the U.S. national team . Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA player of the 2000s .


Garth Davis Garth Davis is an Australian television , film and commercial director , best known for directing episodes of the series Top of the Lake ( 2013 ) , for which he received Emmy and BAFTA nominations . In 2008 , he won a Gold Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and a D&AD Pencil for Schweppes ` Burst ' and in 2010 he received a finalist nomination in Directors Guild of America for best commercials director .   He recently directed The Weinstein Company film Lion , in his feature film directorial debut , which premiered to rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival . The film was nominated for six Oscars at the 89th Academy Awards , including Best Picture .


Lion (2016 film) Lion is a 2016 biographical film directed by Garth Davis ( in his feature debut ) and written by Luke Davies , based on the non-fiction book A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley with Larry Buttrose . The film stars Dev Patel , Rooney Mara , David Wenham and Nicole Kidman .   The film , which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10 , 2016 , was given a limited release on November 25 , 2016 , by the Weinstein Company before opening generally on January 6 , 2017 . It was released in Australia on January 19 , 2017 and in the United Kingdom on January 20 , 2017 .


Demi Lovato's albums failed to receive a gold certification.

Demi Lovato Demetria Devonne Lovato ( -LSB- ˈdɛmi_loʊ-ˈvɑːtoʊ -RSB- or ; born August 20 , 1992 ) is an American singer , songwriter , and actress . After making her debut as a child actress in Barney & Friends , Lovato rose to prominence in 2008 when she starred in the Disney Channel television film Camp Rock and released her debut single `` This Is Me '' which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 . The success of the film and its soundtrack resulted in a recording contract with Hollywood Records . Her debut album , Do n't Forget ( 2008 ) , debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 . The following year , Lovato was cast as the titular character of the television series Sonny with a Chance and she released her sophomore album , Here We Go Again , which became her first one to top the Billboard 200 chart .   After the release of additional television films and their soundtracks in 2010 , including Camp Rock 2 : The Final Jam , Lovato 's personal issues put her career on a hiatus and led to the discontinuation of Sonny with a Chance after a second season . She entered a treatment center in November 2010 to seek help for addictions , an eating disorder , and self-harm . While there , she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder . Work on her third studio album , Unbroken ( 2011 ) , began after she successfully completed treatment . The album addresses several of her difficulties . Its lead single , `` Skyscraper '' , became Lovato 's second top 10 entry in the US , while its second single , `` Give Your Heart a Break '' , was certified triple platinum in the country . Lovato was a judge and mentor on the American version of The X Factor in 2012 and 2013 . Her third album , Demi ( 2013 ) , opened with first-week sales of 110,000 copies . The lead single from her eponymous album , `` Heart Attack '' , became her third top 10 in the US and the album spawned three more singles . While promoting the project , Lovato released a book titled Staying Strong : 365 Days a Year ( 2013 ) . She also returned to acting as a recurring character in Glee , and released a memoir in 2014 . Lovato 's fifth album , Confident ( 2015 ) , reached number two on the Billboard 200 . Its lead single `` Cool for the Summer '' was eventually certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America . All five of Lovato 's albums have received a gold certification in the US .   Musically , Lovato is considered a pop , pop rock , and R&B artist . Lovato has received a considerable number of accolades , including an MTV Video Music Award , 13 Teen Choice Awards , five People 's Choice Awards , an ALMA Award , a Latin American Music Award and a Grammy Award nomination . In 2013 , Maxim ranked her 26th on its Hot 100 list and Billboard ranked her second on its Social 50 Artists of the Year list . Outside the entertainment industry , Lovato has been involved with several social and environmental causes since the launch of her career . In May 2013 , she was cited for her dedication as a mentor to teens and young adults with mental health challenges at a National Children 's Mental Health Awareness Day hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in Washington , D.C. . She has also become an advocate for the LGBT community , and women 's rights . In 2014 , she was announced as the Grand Marshal for LA Pride week , and that same year she became the face for Human Rights Campaign 's Americans for Marriage Equality Campaign . In April 2016 , Lovato was honored with the GLAAD Vanguard Award for making a significant difference in promoting equal rights for LGBT people .


Tennis Tennis is a racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent ( singles ) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles ) . Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over or around a net and into the opponent 's court . The object of the game is to play the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a valid return . The player who is unable to return the ball will not gain a point , while the opposite player will .   Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society and at all ages . The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racket , including wheelchair users . The modern game of tennis originated in Birmingham , England , in the late 19th century as `` lawn tennis '' . It had close connections both to various field ( `` lawn '' ) games such as croquet and bowls as well as to the older racket sport of real tennis . During most of the 19th century , in fact , the term `` tennis '' referred to real tennis , not lawn tennis : for example , in Disraeli 's novel Sybil ( 1845 ) , Lord Eugene De Vere announces that he will `` go down to Hampton Court and play tennis . ''   The rules of tennis have changed little since the 1890s . Two exceptions are that from 1908 to 1961 the server had to keep one foot on the ground at all times , and the adoption of the tiebreak in the 1970s . A recent addition to professional tennis has been the adoption of electronic review technology coupled with a point challenge system , which allows a player to contest the line call of a point , a system known as Hawk-Eye .   Tennis is played by millions of recreational players and is also a popular worldwide spectator sport . The four Grand Slam tournaments ( also referred to as the `` Majors '' ) are especially popular : the Australian Open played on hard courts , the French Open played on red clay courts , Wimbledon played on grass courts , and the US Open played also on hard courts .


Maisie Williams appeared in Game of Thrones.

Maisie Williams Margaret Constance `` Maisie '' Williams ( born 15 April 1997 ) is an English actress . She made her professional acting debut as Arya Stark in the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones in 2011 , for which she won the EWwy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama , the Portal Award for Best Supporting Actress -- Television and Best Young Actor , and the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor . In 2016 , she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series .   Williams has also had a recurring role in Doctor Who as Ashildr in 2015 . In addition to television , she made her feature film debut in the mystery The Falling ( 2014 ) , for which she won the London Film Critics ' Circle Award for Young Performer of the Year .