query: Azerbaijan is a place.

pos: Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ( -LSB- æzərbaɪˈʒɑːn -RSB- ; Azərbaycan ) , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan ( Azərbaycan Respublikası ) , is a country in the South Caucasus region , situated at the crossroads of Southwest Asia and Southeastern Europe . It is bound by the Caspian Sea to the east , Russia to the north , Georgia to the northwest , Armenia to the west and Iran to the south . The exclave of Nakhchivan is bound by Armenia to the north and east , Iran to the south and west , while having an 11 km border with Turkey in the north west .   The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence in 1918 and became the first democratic state in the Muslim orient world . The country was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920 as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic . The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991 , prior to the official dissolution of the USSR in December 1991 . In September 1991 , the Armenian majority of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region seceded to form the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic . The region and seven adjacent districts outside it became de facto independent with the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994 . These regions are internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan pending a solution to the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh , found through negotiations facilitated by the OSCE .   Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic . The country is a member state of the Council of Europe , the OSCE and the NATO Partnership for Peace ( PfP ) program . It is one of six independent Turkic states , an active member of the Turkic Council and the TÜRKSOY community . Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 158 countries and holds membership in 38 international organizations . It is one of the founding members of GUAM , the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons . A member of the United Nations since 1992 after its independence , Azerbaijan was elected to membership in the newly established Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 May 2006 . Its term of office began on 19 June 2006 . Azerbaijan is also a member state of the Non-Aligned Movement , holds observer status in World Trade Organization and is a correspondent at the International Telecommunication Union .   The Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion and all major political forces in the country are secularist . However , the majority of the population are of a Shiite Muslim background . Most Azerbaijanis however , do not actively practice any religion , and the country has been seen to be one of the most irreligious countries in the Muslim world , with 53 % stating religion has little to no importance in their lives , according to Pew Research Center and Gallup polls . Azerbaijan has a high level of human development which ranks on par with most Eastern European countries . It has a high rate of economic development and literacy , as well as a low rate of unemployment . According to the Davos World Economic Forum , Azerbaijan 's economy has scored 37th place within 138 countries in 2016 . Global Competitiveness Index 2015 indicates that Azerbaijan scores highest in its region .   ASAN services , established with Presidential Decree , are countrywide known for eliminating bribery and corruption in the provision of public services . ASAN Service has been awarded with United Nations ' Public Service Award 2015 , which is the most prestigious award in the world in the field of public service delivery .   The ruling party , the New Azerbaijan Party , has been accused of authoritarianism and human rights abuses .

neg: Beer in Azerbaijan Beer in Azerbaijan is typified by lighter lagers . Of the domestically produced beers , the most widely distributed is Xirdalan , formerly brewed by Baki-Castel ( BGI ) but bought by Baltika in 2008 . As a sponsor of Baku 's Eurovision Song Contest , Xirdalan issued special commemorative Eurovision cans and bottles in 2012 . Other relatively widespread brands include Novxanı ( brewed by Bakı-Praqa ) and draft-only NZS . Beer drinking is growing in popularity in Azerbaijan . Unlike almost all CIS countries , the beer bottles in Azerbaijan are marked with excise duty sticker .

neg: Beer in Armenia Beer is produced in Armenia since ancient times . In the 5th century BC , after arriving in a village in Ancient Armenia ( possibly in the territory of Artsakh ) , Xenophon wrote in the Anabasis that `` There were stored wheat , barley , vegetables , and barley wine in the craters ( clay pots ) . In upper level of vessels with the edges in the wine floated barley , and there was stuck a reed , large and small sizes and who wanted to drink , had to taken a reed in his mouth and pull it through the wine . Not mixed with water , the wine was very strong , but for local people it was a very pleasant drink '' .

neg: Nakhchivan (city) The city of Nakhchivan ( Naxçıvan , Нахчыван , ناخجیوان ) is the capital of the eponymous Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan , located 450 km west of Baku . The municipality of Nakhchivan consists of the city of Nakhchivan , the settlement of Əliabad and the villages of Başbaşı , Bulqan , Haciniyyət , Qaraçuq , Qaraxanbəyli , Tumbul , Qarağalıq , and Daşduz . It is spread over the foothills of Zangezur Mountains , on the right bank of the Nakhchivan River at an altitude of 873 m above sea level .   Since June 9 , 2009 , by the decree of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic , the Bulqan , Garachug , Garakhanbeyli , Tumbul and Haciniyyət villages of the Babek Rayon are included in the scope of the administrative territorial unit of the Nakhchivan city .

neg: Economy of Armenia The economy of Armenia is ranked 132nd in the world , with a nominal gross domestic product ( GDP ) of $ 10.561 billion per annum . It is also the 129th largest in the world by purchasing power parity ( PPP ) , at $ 25.329 billion per annum . Armenia is the second-most densely populated of the post-Soviet states because of its small size . It is situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea , bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan and on the south and west by Iran and Turkey .   Until independence , Armenia 's economy was based largely on industry -- chemicals , electronic products , machinery , processed food , synthetic rubber and textiles ; it was highly dependent on outside resources . Agriculture accounted for only 20 % of net material product and 10 % of employment before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 . Armenian mines produce copper , zinc , gold and lead . The vast majority of energy is produced with imported fuel , including gas and nuclear fuel from Russia ( for its one nuclear power plant . ) The main domestic energy source is hydroelectric . Small amounts of coal , gas and petroleum have not yet been developed .   Like other former states , Armenia 's economy suffers from the legacy of a centrally planned economy and the breakdown of former Soviet trading patterns . Soviet investment in and support of Armenian industry has virtually disappeared , so that few major enterprises are still able to function . In addition , the effects of the 1988 earthquake , which killed more than 25,000 people and made 500,000 homeless , are still being felt . Although a cease-fire has held since 1994 , the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh has not been resolved . The consequent blockade along both the Azerbaijani and Turkish borders has devastated the economy , because of Armenia 's dependence on outside supplies of energy and most raw materials . Land routes through Azerbaijan and Turkey are closed ; routes through Georgia and Iran are adequate and reliable . In 1992-93 , the GDP had fallen nearly 60 % from its 1989 level . The national currency , the dram , suffered hyperinflation for the first few years after its introduction in 1993 .   Armenia has registered strong economic growth since 1995 and inflation has been negligible for the past several years . New sectors , such as precious stone processing and jewelry making and communication technology ( primarily Armentel , which is left from the USSR era and is owned by external investors ) . This steady economic progress has earned Armenia increasing support from international institutions . The International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) , World Bank , EBRD , as well as other international financial institutions ( IFIs ) and foreign countries are extending considerable grants and loans . Total loans extended to Armenia since 1993 exceed $ 800 million . These loans are targeted at reducing the budget deficit , stabilizing the local currency ; developing private businesses ; energy ; the agriculture , food processing , transportation , and health and education sectors ; and ongoing rehabilitation work in the earthquake zone .   Continued progress will depend on the ability of the government to strengthen its macroeconomic management , including increasing revenue collection , improving the investment climate , and accelerating privatization . A liberal foreign investment law was approved in June 1994 , and a law on privatization was adopted in 1997 , as well as a program on state property privatization . The government has made major strides toward joining the World Trade Organization . By 1994 , however , the Armenian government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2005 . Armenia joined the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) in January 2003 . Armenia also has managed to slash inflation , stabilize its currency , and privatize most small - and medium-sized enterprises . Armenia 's unemployment rate , however , remains high , despite strong economic growth . The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor . Armenia is now a net energy exporter , although it does not have sufficient generating capacity to replace Metsamor , which is under international pressure to close . The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002 . Armenia 's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid , remittances from Armenians working abroad , and foreign direct investment . Economic ties with Russia remain close , especially in the energy sector . The government has made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years , but anti-corruption measures have been more difficult to implement .

neg: State awards of the Azerbaijani Republic State awards of the Azerbaijani Republic include the orders , decorations , and medals .   The following is a list of these awards of Azerbaijan .

neg: Türkan Türkan ( also , Turkyany , Tyurkend , Tyurkyan , and Tyurkyany ) is a settlement and municipality in Baku , Azerbaijan . It has a population of 10,108 . It means beautiful in Turkish .

neg: Turkmens The Turkmens ( Türkmenler Түркменлер ) are a Turkic people located primarily in Central Asia , in the state of Turkmenistan , as well as in Iran , Afghanistan , North Caucasus ( Stavropol Krai ) , and northern Pakistan . They speak the Turkmen language , which is classified as a part of the Eastern Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages . Examples of other Oghuz languages are Turkish , Azerbaijani , Qashqai , Gagauz , Khorasani , and Salar .

neg: Subdivisions of Azerbaijan There are two trees of Subdivisions of Azerbaijan :  Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan - 59 rayons , 11 cities , 1 autonomous republic  Regions of Azerbaijan - 10 regions

neg: Caucasus The Caucasus -LSB- ˈkɔ : kəsəs -RSB- or Caucasia -LSB- kɔ : ˈkeɪʒə -RSB- is a region at the border of Europe and Asia , situated between the Black and the Caspian seas .   It is home to the Caucasus Mountains , which contain Europe 's highest mountain , Mount Elbrus , 5642 m. Politically , the Caucasus region is separated between northern and southern parts . While the northern parts are under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation , the southern parts consist of independent sovereign states . These include Georgia , Armenia , Azerbaijan . The southern Caucasus mountain range ( the Lesser Caucasus ) extends eastwards to the Caspian Sea in northwestern Iran , and into northeastern Turkey .   The region is known for its linguistic diversity : aside from Indo-European and Turkic languages , the Kartvelian , Northwest Caucasian , and Northeast Caucasian families are indigenous to the area .

neg: Russian Orthodox Church in Azerbaijan The Russian Orthodox Church is the main group of Eastern Orthodoxy in Azerbaijan . Many of its members are Russians . Azerbaijan is a mainly Shiite Muslim country which used to be part of the Russian Empire and the USSR . The Holy Myrrhbearers Cathedral , the Church of Michael Archangel and at least one further Russian Orthodox church exist in Baku .

neg: Azerbaijan at the 2017 World Games Azerbaijan is scheduled to compete at the World Games 2017 in Wroclaw , Poland , from 20 July 2017 to 30 July 2017 .

neg: Islam in Georgia (country) Islam in Georgia was introduced in 654 when an army sent by the Third Caliph of Islam , Uthman , conquered Eastern Georgia and established Muslim rule in Tbilisi . Currently , Muslims constitute approximately 9.9 % of the Georgian population . According to other sources , Muslims constitute 10-13 % of Georgia 's population .   In July 2011 , Parliament of Georgia passed new law allowing religious minority groups with `` historic ties to Georgia '' to register . The draft of the law specifically mentions Islam and four other religious communities .   Mosques in Georgia operate under the supervision of the Georgian Muslim Department , established in May 2011 . Until then the affairs of Georgia 's Muslims had been governed from abroad by the Baku-based Caucasus Muslims Department .   In 2010 , Turkey and Georgia signed an agreement by which Turkey will provide funding and expertise to rehabilitate three mosques and to rebuild a fourth one in Georgia . While Georgia will rehabilitate four Georgian monasteries in Turkey . The Georgia-Turkey agreement will allow the reconstruction of the historical Azize mosque in Batumi , Ajaria demolished in the middle of the last century . Turkey will rehabilitate the mosques at Samtskhe-Javakheti and Akhaltsikhe regions , Kobuleti District , build the Azize mosque burned down in 1940 and restore the Turkish bathhouse in Batumi .

neg: Qabala Gabala ( Qəbələ , Гәбәлә , قبه له ; Кьвепеле , Q̇wepele , قوه په له ) , also known as Qabala , is a city in Azerbaijan and the capital of the Qabala Rayon . The municipality consists of the city of Gabala and the village of Küsnat . Before 1991 the city was known as Kutkashen , but after Azerbaijan 's independence the town was renamed in honour of the much older city of Gabala , the former capital of Caucasian Albania , the archaeological site of which is about 20 km southwest .

neg: Chess in Azerbaijan Chess is one of the most popular sports in Azerbaijan , where it is governed by the Azerbaijan Chess Federation ( ACF ) . On May 5 , 2009 Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev , who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee , signed an executive order initiating a state-supported chess development program , covering the years 2009 -- 2014 .

neg: LGBT rights in Armenia Lesbian , gay , bisexual , and transgender ( LGBT ) rights in Armenia are not legislated in both the legal and social spheres .   Homosexuality has been legal in Armenia since 2003 . However , even though it has been decriminalized , the situation of local lesbian , gay , bisexual , and transgender ( LGBT ) citizens has not changed substantially . Many LGBT Armenians fear being socially outcast by their friends and families , causing them to keep their sexual orientation or gender identity private . Recently , the LGBT community in Armenia has become better connected due to social media , although a sense of fear and a desire for anonymity remains due to the nation 's conservative culture .   Homosexuality remains a taboo topic in many parts of Armenian society . In a 2012 study , 55 % of correspondents in Armenian stated that they would cease their relationship with a friend or relative if they were to come out as gay . Furthermore , this study found that 70 % of Armenians find LGBT people to be `` strange . '' There is , moreover , no legal protection for LGBT persons whose human rights are violated regularly . Armenia has been ranked 47th out of 49 European countries for LGBT rights , with Russia and neighboring Azerbaijan taking the 48th and 49th positions , respectively . The younger generation of Armenians still remain very unknowledgeable about many LGBT issues , likely attributed to the family culture where young people live at home until they reach the primary goal for many Armenians , heterosexual marriage .   Many LGBT claim to fear violence in their workplace or from their family , and therefore , are said to not file complaints of claimed human rights violations or of criminal offences .

neg: Geography of Iran Geographically , Iran is located in West Asia and borders the Caspian Sea , Persian Gulf , and Gulf of Oman . Its mountains have helped to shape both the political and the economic history of the country for several centuries . The mountains enclose several broad basins , on which major agricultural and urban settlements are located . Until the 20th century , when major highways and railroads were constructed through the mountains to connect the population centers , these basins tended to be relatively isolated from one another .   Typically , one major town dominated each basin , and there were complex economic relationships between the town and the hundreds of villages that surrounded it . In the higher elevations of the mountains rimming the basins , tribally organized groups practiced transhumance , moving with their herds of sheep and goats between traditionally established summer and winter pastures . There are no major river systems in the country , and historically transportation was by means of caravans that followed routes traversing gaps and passes in the mountains . The mountains also impeded easy access to the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea .   With an area of 1648000 km2 , Iran ranks eighteenth in size among the countries of the world . Iran shares its northern borders with three post-Soviet states : Armenia , Azerbaijan , and Turkmenistan . These borders extend for more than 2000 km , including nearly 650 km of water along the southern shore of the Caspian Sea . Iran 's western borders are with Turkey in the north and Iraq in the south , terminating at the Arvand Rud .   The Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman littorals form the entire 1770 km southern border . To the east lie Afghanistan on the north and Pakistan on the far south . Iran 's diagonal distance from Azerbaijan in the northwest to Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast is approximately 2333 km .

neg: Zakatala State Reserve The reserve of Zakatala , located in the north of Azerbaijan , was created in 1929 . It consists of an area of 25.218 ha on the southern slopes of the Caucasus mountains .

neg: Baku State Circus Baku State Circus ( Bakı Dövlət Sirki ) - is the main arena circus of Baku , capital of Azerbaijan .   In 1945 , a collective of Azerbaijani circus was organized in the Azerbaijan SSR , it included estrade actors , who performed tricks in the circus and amateur participants with artistic skills .   Famous Azerbaijani composers , poets , ballet masters and artists worked along with the collective of the circus . Starting from 1946 , troupe of Baku Circus had regular tours in cities of the USSR , the collective performed programs `` We are from Baku '' and `` Dawn over the Rock '' . Besides the USSR they had tours in Southern Europe , Asia , Africa and the United States .   In 1967 , a new building of Baku Circus equipped with necessary equipment for full operation of the circus was built according to architects E. Ismayilov and F. Leontyev 's project . There are 2000 seats in the new building .

neg: Azeri style The `` Azerbaijani style '' or `` Azeri style '' is a style ( sabk ) of architecture when categorizing Iranian architecture development in Iranian Azerbaijan history . Landmarks of this style of architecture span from the late 13th century ( Ilkhanate ) to the appearance of the Safavid Dynasty in the 16th century CE .   Examples of this style are Dome of Soltaniyeh , Arg e Tabriz , Jameh Mosque of Varamin , Goharshad Mosque , Bibi Khanum mosque in Samarqand , tomb of Abdas-Samad , Gur-e Amir , Jameh mosque of Yazd and Jameh Mosque of Urmia .

neg: Shahdag National Park Shahdag National Park ( Şahdağ Milli Parkı ) -- is a national park of Azerbaijan . It was established by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev , on an area of 115900 ha in the Quba Rayon , Qusar Rayon , İsmayıllı Rayon , Qəbələ Rayon , Oğuz Rayon and Şamaxı Rayon administrative districts on December 8 , 2006 . It was enlarged by presidential decree on July 8 , 2010 from 115900 ha to 130508.1 ha .   It is located in northern Azerbaijan , close to the border with Russia at the Greater Caucasus Mountains .  Mount Bazardüzü , the highest mountain of Azerbaijan is located in Shadag National Park .  The Shahdag National Park is the largest national park not only Azerbaijan but in the whole Caucasus .   The World Bank has allocated a $ 17 million loan and $ 8 million grant for the national park 's creation , while the government of Japan has provided $ 8 million as a grant for the project implementation . The Shakhdag National Park will help address ecological issues and build a tourist infrastructure in the Caucasus for visitors .


query: The capital of England is the birthplace of Daniel Day-Lewis.

pos: London London -LSB- ˈlʌndən -RSB- is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom . Standing on the River Thames in the south east of the island of Great Britain , London has been a major settlement for two millennia . It was founded by the Romans , who named it Londinium . London 's ancient core , the City of London , largely retains its 1.12 sqmi medieval boundaries . Since at least the 19th century , `` London '' has also referred to the metropolis around this core , historically split between Middlesex , Essex , Surrey , Kent , and Hertfordshire , which today largely makes up Greater London , See also : Independent city § National capitals . governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.The London Mayor is not to be confused with the Lord Mayor of London who heads the City of London Corporation , which administers the City of London .   London is a leading global city in the arts , commerce , education , entertainment , fashion , finance , healthcare , media , professional services , research and development , tourism , and transportation . It is crowned as the world 's largest financial centre and has the fifth - or sixth-largest metropolitan area GDP in the world.Rankings of cities by metropolitan area GDP can vary as a result of differences in the definition of the boundaries and population sizes of the areas compared , exchange rate fluctuations and the method used to calculate output . London and Paris are of broadly similar size in terms of total economic output which can result in third party sources varying as to which is the fifth-largest city GDP in the world . A report by the McKinsey Global Institute published in 2012 estimated that London had a city GDP of US$ 751.8 billion in 2010 , compared to US$ 764.2 billion for Paris , making them respectively the sixth - and fifth-largest in the world . A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers published in November 2009 estimated that London had a city GDP measured in purchasing power parity of US$ 565 billion in 2008 , compared to US$ 564 billion for Paris , making them respectively the fifth - and sixth-largest in the world . The McKinsey Global Institute study used a metropolitan area with a population of 14.9 million for London compared to 11.8 million for Paris , whilst the PricewaterhouseCoopers study used a metropolitan area with a population of 8.59 million for London compared to 9.92 million for Paris . London is a world cultural capital . It is the world 's most-visited city as measured by international arrivals and has the world 's largest city airport system measured by passenger traffic . London is the world 's leading investment destination , hosting more international retailers and ultra high-net-worth individuals than any other city . London 's universities form the largest concentration of higher education institutes in Europe . In 2012 , London became the first city to have hosted the modern Summer Olympic Games three times .   London has a diverse range of people and cultures , and more than 300 languages are spoken in the region . Its estimated mid-2015 municipal population ( corresponding to Greater London ) was 8,673,713 , the largest of any city in the European Union , and accounting for 12.5 % of the UK population . London 's urban area is the second most populous in the EU , after Paris , with 9,787,426 inhabitants at the 2011 census . The city 's metropolitan area is the most populous in the EU with 13,879,757 inhabitants , while the Greater London Authority states the population of the city-region ( covering a large part of the south east ) as 22.7 million .  London was the world 's most populous city from around 1831 to 1925 .   London contains four World Heritage Sites : the Tower of London ; Kew Gardens ; the site comprising the Palace of Westminster , Westminster Abbey , and St Margaret 's Church ; and the historic settlement of Greenwich ( in which the Royal Observatory , Greenwich marks the Prime Meridian , 0 ° longitude , and GMT ) . Other famous landmarks include Buckingham Palace , the London Eye , Piccadilly Circus , St Paul 's Cathedral , Tower Bridge , Trafalgar Square , and The Shard . London is home to numerous museums , galleries , libraries , sporting events , and other cultural institutions , including the British Museum , National Gallery , Natural History Museum , Tate Modern , British Library , and West End theatres . The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world .

pos: Daniel Day-Lewis Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis ( born 29 April 1957 ) is an English actor who holds both British and Irish citizenship . Born and raised in London , he excelled on stage at the National Youth Theatre , before being accepted at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School , which he attended for three years . Despite his traditional actor training at the Bristol Old Vic , he is considered to be a method actor , known for his constant devotion to and research of his roles . He often remains completely in character for the duration of the shooting schedules of his films , even to the point of adversely affecting his health . He is one of the most selective actors in the film industry , having starred in only five films since 1998 , with as many as five years between roles . Protective of his private life , he rarely gives interviews and makes very few public appearances .   Day-Lewis shifted between theatre and film for most of the early 1980s , joining the Royal Shakespeare Company and playing Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Flute in A Midsummer Night 's Dream , before appearing in the 1984 film The Bounty . He starred in My Beautiful Laundrette ( 1985 ) , his first critically acclaimed role , and gained further public notice with A Room with a View ( 1985 ) . He then assumed leading man status with The Unbearable Lightness of Being ( 1988 ) .   One of the most acclaimed actors of his generation , Day-Lewis has earned numerous awards , including three Academy Awards for Best Actor for his performances in My Left Foot ( 1989 ) , There Will Be Blood ( 2007 ) and Lincoln ( 2012 ) , making him the only male actor in history to have three wins in the lead actor category and one of only three male actors to win three Oscars . He was also nominated in this category for In the Name of the Father ( 1993 ) and Gangs of New York ( 2002 ) . He has also won four BAFTA Awards for Best Actor , three Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Golden Globe Awards . In November 2012 , Time named Day-Lewis the `` World 's Greatest Actor . '' In June 2014 , he received a knighthood at Buckingham Palace for services to drama .

neg: City of London (disambiguation) The City of London is the historic centre and main financial district of London , England .   City of London may also refer to :  London , the capital city of England  London , Ontario , Canada  City of London Corporation , the governing body of the City of London , England

neg: A tour thro' the whole island of Great Britain A tour thro ' the whole island of Great Britain is an account of his travels by English author Daniel Defoe , first published in three volumes between 1724 and 1727 . Other than Robinson Crusoe , Tour was Defoe 's most popular and financially successful work during the eighteenth century . Pat Rogers notes that in Defoe 's use of the `` literary vehicle ( the ` tour ' or ` circuit ' ) that could straddle the literal and the imaginative , '' `` Nothing ... anticipated Defoe 's Tour '' . Thanks in part to his extensive travels and colourful background as a soldier , businessman , and spy , Defoe had `` hit on the best blend of objective fact and personal commentary '' in his descriptions of locations and trips around Britain .

neg: History of Chester The history of Chester extends back nearly two millennia , covering all periods of British history in between then and the present day . The city of Chester was founded as a fort , known as Deva , by the Romans in AD 79 . The city was the scene of battles between warring Welsh and Saxon kingdoms throughout the post-Roman years until the Saxons strengthened the fort against raiding Danes .   Following the Norman Conquest in 1066 , Chester came under the Earl of Chester . It became a centre of the defense against Welsh raiders and a launch point for raids on Ireland .   The city grew as a trading port until the power of the Port of Liverpool overtook it . However the city did not decline and during the Georgian and Victorian periods was seen as a place of escape from the more industrial cities of Manchester and Liverpool .

neg: Portsmouth Portsmouth ( -LSB- ˈpɔrtsməθ -RSB- ) is a port city in Hampshire , England , mainly on Portsea Island , 70 mi south-west of London and 19 mi south-east of Southampton . It is the United Kingdom 's only island city and has a population of 205,400 . The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area , which also covers Southampton and the towns of Havant , Waterlooville , Eastleigh , Fareham , and Gosport .   The city 's history can be traced to Roman times . A significant naval port for centuries , Portsmouth has the world 's oldest dry dock and was England 's first line of defence during the French invasion in 1545 . Special Palmerston Forts were built in 1859 in anticipation of another invasion from continental Europe . By the early-19th century , Portsmouth was the most heavily fortified city in the world , and was considered `` the world 's greatest naval port '' at the height of the British Empire throughout Pax Britannica . The world 's first mass production line was set up in the city , making it the most industrialised site in the world . During the Second World War , the city was a pivotal embarkation point for the D-Day landings and was bombed extensively in the Portsmouth Blitz , which resulted in the deaths of 930 people . In 1982 , a large proportion of the task force dispatched to liberate the Falkland Islands deployed from the city 's naval base . Her Majesty 's Yacht Britannia left the city to oversee the transfer of Hong Kong in 1997 , which marked for many the end of the empire .   Portsmouth is one of the world 's best known ports . HMNB Portsmouth is considered to be the home of the Royal Navy and is home to two-thirds of the UK 's surface fleet . The city is home to some famous ships , including HMS Warrior , the Tudor carrack Mary Rose and Horatio Nelson 's flagship , HMS Victory ( the world 's oldest naval ship still in commission ) . The former HMS Vernon naval shore establishment has been redeveloped as a retail park known as Gunwharf Quays . Portsmouth is among the few British cities with two cathedrals : the Anglican Cathedral of St Thomas and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Evangelist . The waterfront and Portsmouth Harbour are dominated by the Spinnaker Tower , one of the United Kingdom 's tallest structures at 560 feet . Nearby Southsea is a seaside resort with a pier amusement park and medieval castle .   Portsmouth F.C. , the city 's professional football club , play their home games at Fratton Park . The city has several mainline railway stations that connect to London Waterloo amongst other lines in southern England . Portsmouth International Port is a commercial cruise ship and ferry port for international destinations . The port is the second busiest in the United Kingdom after Dover , handling around three million passengers a year . The city formerly had its own airport , Portsmouth Airport , until its closure in 1973 . The University of Portsmouth enrols 23,000 students and is ranked among the world 's best modern universities . Portsmouth is also the birthplace of author Charles Dickens and engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel .

neg: History of Southampton Southampton is a city in Hampshire , England . The area has been settled since the stone age . Its history has been affected by its geographical location , on a major estuary on the English Channel coast with an unusual double high-tide , and by its proximity to Winchester and London ; the ancient and modern capitals of England . Having been an important regional centre for centuries , Southampton was awarded City status by The Queen in 1964 .   Southampton became an important port in medieval times , experiencing several hundred years of fluctuating fortunes until it was expanded by the Victorians .   As a centre of commerce , an industrial town and an important military embarkation point , Southampton was a strategic target for the Luftwaffe and was severely damaged in World War II .   Post-war re-development and the need to accommodate 20th century innovations such as the motor car has significantly altered the character of Southampton .

neg: Grade II listed buildings in Liverpool-L7 Liverpool is a city and port in Merseyside , England , which contains many listed buildings . A listed building is a structure designated by English Heritage of being of architectural and/or of historical importance and , as such , is included in the National Heritage List for England . There are three grades of listing , according to the degree of importance of the structure . Grade I includes those buildings that are of `` exceptional interest , sometimes considered to be internationally important '' ; the buildings in Grade II * are `` particularly important buildings of more than special interest '' ; and those in Grade II are `` nationally important and of special interest '' . Very few buildings are included in Grade I -- only 2.5 % of the total . Grade II * buildings represent 5.5 % of the total , while the great majority , 92 % , are included in Grade II .   Liverpool contains more than 1,550 listed buildings , of which 28 are in Grade I , 109 in Grade II * , and the rest in Grade II . This list contains the Grade II listed buildings in the L7 postal district of Liverpool . The district stretches from buildings used by the University of Liverpool in the area around Abercromby Square in the west of the district , to the suburbs of Edge Hill and Kensington in the east . It is mainly residential , and a high proportion of the buildings in the list are houses . Residential development started in 1819 -- 20 in Abercromby Square , and many of the houses here and elsewhere date from the 1820s , 1830s , and 1840s . To the east , the district includes Edge Hill railway station , the world 's first railway station , and there are three Grade II listed buildings relating to it . Also in the district is Wavertree Botanic Gardens , which contains two Grade II listed buildings , the lodge and a fountain . In addition to these , this list contains three churches and a chapel ( some of which have been converted into other uses ) , a library , a bank , a public house , a former hospital , the entrance to a cemetery , a students ' union , a war memorial , and a pillar box .   Grade II listed buildings from other areas in the city can be found through the template on the right , along with the lists of the Grade I and Grade II * buildings in the city .

neg: Croydon Croydon is a large town in south London , England , 9.5 mi south of Charing Cross . The principal settlement in the London Borough of Croydon , it is one of the largest commercial districts outside Central London , with an extensive shopping district and night-time economy . Its population of 52,104 at the 2011 census includes the wards of Addiscombe , Broad Green and Fairfield .   Historically part of the hundred of Wallington in the county of Surrey , at the time of the Norman conquest of England Croydon had a church , a mill , and around 365 inhabitants , as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 . Croydon expanded in the Middle Ages as a market town and a centre for charcoal production , leather tanning and brewing . The Surrey Iron Railway from Croydon to Wandsworth opened in 1803 and was the world 's first public railway . Later nineteenth century railway building facilitated Croydon 's growth as a commuter town for London . By the early 20th century , Croydon was an important industrial area , known for car manufacture , metal working and Croydon Airport . In the mid 20th century these sectors were replaced by retailing and the service economy , brought about by massive redevelopment which saw the rise of office blocks and the Whitgift Centre , the largest shopping centre in London until 2008 . Croydon was amalgamated into Greater London in 1965 .   Croydon lies on a transport corridor between central London and the south coast of England , to the north of two gaps in the North Downs , one followed by the A23 Brighton Road through Purley and Merstham and the main railway line and the other by the A22 from Purley to the M25 Godstone interchange . Road traffic is diverted away from a largely pedestrianised town centre , mostly consisting of the North End . East Croydon is a major hub of the national railway transport system , with frequent fast services to central London , Brighton and the south coast . The town is unique in Greater London for its Tramlink light rail transport system .

neg: St Paul's Cathedral St Paul 's Cathedral , London , is an Anglican cathedral , the seat of the Bishop of London and the mother church of the Diocese of London . It sits on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grade 1 listed building . Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site , founded in AD 604 . The present cathedral , dating from the late 17th century , was designed in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren . Its construction , completed in Wren 's lifetime , was part of a major rebuilding programme in the City after the Great Fire of London .   The cathedral is one of the most famous and most recognisable sights of London . Its dome , framed by the spires of Wren 's City churches , dominated the skyline for 300 years . At 365 ft high , it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1967 . The dome is among the highest in the world . St Paul 's is the second-largest church building in area in the United Kingdom after Liverpool Cathedral .   St Paul 's Cathedral occupies a significant place in the national identity . It is the central subject of much promotional material , as well as of images of the dome surrounded by the smoke and fire of the Blitz . Services held at St Paul 's have included the funerals of Lord Nelson , the Duke of Wellington , Sir Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher ; jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria ; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars ; the wedding of Charles , Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer ; the launch of the Festival of Britain ; and the thanksgiving services for the Silver , Golden and Diamond Jubilees and the 80th and 90th birthdays of Elizabeth II .   St Paul 's Cathedral is a working church with hourly prayer and daily services . The tourist entry fee at the door is # 18 for adults ( March 2017 , cheaper online ) , but no charge is made to worshippers .

neg: London (novel) London is a historical novel by Edward Rutherfurd published in 1997 , which charts the history of London from 54 B.C. to 1997 . The novel begins with the birth of the River Thames and moves to 54 B.C. , detailing the life of Segovax , a curious character with slightly webbed hands and a flash of white hair . Seqovax becomes the ancestor of the Ducket and Dogget families , prominent fictional families woven into the novel .   Historical figures , such as Julius Caesar , Geoffrey Chaucer , William Shakespeare , and Pocahontas , make appearances alongside fictional characters and historical kings and queens of England .

neg: Centre points of the United Kingdom There has long been debate over the exact location of the geographical centre of the United Kingdom , and its constituent countries , due to the complexity and method of the calculation , such as whether to include offshore islands , and the fact that erosion will cause the position to change over time . There are two main methods of calculating this `` centre '' : either as the centroid of the two-dimensional shape made by the country ( projected to the Airy ellipsoid then flattened using the Transverse Mercator projection ) , or as the point farthest from the boundary of the country ( either the sea , or , in the case of constituent countries , a land border ) . These two methods give quite different answers .

neg: Ellesmere Port Ellesmere Port -LSB- ˈɛlzmɪərpɔrt -RSB- is a large town and port in Cheshire , England , south of the Wirral . The town had a population of 55,715 in 2011 .   As well as a service sector economy , the town has retained large industries including Stanlow oil refinery , a chemical works and the Vauxhall Motors car factory . There are also a number of tourist attractions : the National Waterways Museum , the Blue Planet Aquarium and Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet .

neg: History of the Port of Southampton The Port of Southampton is a major passenger and cargo port located in the central part of the south coast of England . It has been an important port since the Roman occupation of Britain nearly two thousand years ago , and has a multifaceted history . From the Middle Ages to the end of the 20th century , it was a centre for naval shipbuilding and a departure point for soldiers going to war . The port also played a role in the development of hovercraft , flying boat services , seaplanes and the Spitfire fighter plane . Before the advent of jet travel , Southampton was Britain 's gateway to the world . The port also played a minor role in the history of Britain 's canals .

neg: History of education in England The history of education in England can be documented to the Anglo-Saxons ' settlement of England . During the Middle Ages , schools were established to teach Latin grammar to the sons of the aristocracy , as part of preparation also for the entry of some into the clergy and religious orders . The church preserved literacy and learning during this period , and education was closely tied to the religious vocation , in order to read the Bible and related documents . Apprenticeship was the main way for youths to enter practical occupations . Two universities were established in affiliation with the church : the University of Oxford , followed by the University of Cambridge , both related closely to training for clergy . A reformed system of `` free grammar schools '' was established in the reign of Edward VI .   The Protestant Reformation had a major influence on education and literacy in England , as it encouraged the reading of the Bible in the vernacular of the people . ( Formerly , the Bible was printed only in Latin , the official language of the Catholic Church . ) Counties in the east of England , which had frequent interaction with the Low Countries , where the Reformation movement had flourished , developed a higher rate of literacy in the early years of the Reformation than did other areas of England .   In the 19th century the Church of England sponsored most formal education until the government established free , compulsory education towards the end of that century . University College London was established as the first secular college in England , open to students of all religions ( or none , ) followed by King 's College London ; the two institutions formed the University of London . Durham University was also established in the early nineteenth century . Towards the end of the century , the `` redbrick '' universities , new public universities , were founded .   The 1944 Education Act established the Tripartite System of grammar schools and secondary modern schools . The school leaving age was raised to 16 in 1972 .

neg: Grade II* listed buildings in Brighton and Hove There are 70 Grade II * listed buildings in the city of Brighton and Hove , England . The city , on the English Channel coast approximately 52 mi south of London , was formed as a unitary authority in 1997 by the merger of the neighbouring towns of Brighton and Hove . Queen Elizabeth II granted city status in 2000 .   In England , a building or structure is defined as `` listed '' when it is placed on a statutory register of buildings of `` special architectural or historic interest '' by the Secretary of State for Culture , Media and Sport , a Government department , in accordance with the Planning ( Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas ) Act 1990 . English Heritage , a non-departmental public body , acts as an agency of this department to administer the process and advise the department on relevant issues . There are three grades of listing status . Grade I , the highest , is defined as being of `` exceptional interest '' ; Grade II * is used for `` particularly important buildings of more than special interest '' ; and Grade II , the lowest , is used for buildings of `` special interest '' .   Brighton was founded on top of the sea-facing cliffs where the South Downs meet the English Channel . A series of valleys allowed transport routes to develop towards Lewes , London and other important settlements . Although Neolithic settlement has been confirmed , the Anglo-Saxons were the first permanent settlers ; the population was about 400 by the time of the Domesday survey in 1086 . Its neighbour Hove , on flatter , more fertile land to the west , developed concurrently but independently : its existence was recorded in 1288 , and two separate prebends ( similar to benefices ) existed by 1291 . Fishing , farming and smuggling drove the economy , but decline set in during the Middle Ages and persisted until the 19th century . Coastal flooding destroyed buildings on many occasions , the parish church fell into ruins , and the population -- almost all poor -- numbered about 100 in 1801 .   Brighton became fashionable as a holiday destination and health resort in the mid-18th century , and royal patronage ( particularly by the flamboyant Prince Regent ) increased its popularity with high society and the upper classes . Day-trippers and longer-term visitors from other social classes soon followed , and by the early 19th century the town was Britain 's foremost seaside resort . Developments such as Royal Crescent , Regency Square , Oriental Place and Park Crescent characterised the bold architectural vision of the town 's new residents ; the design triumvirate of Amon Wilds , Amon Henry Wilds and Charles Busby were instrumental in realising these plans . Hove 's fortunes improved in line with Brighton 's success , and developments such as Palmeira Mansions and Sir Isaac Goldsmid 's Adelaide Crescent covered the fields between the ancient village of Hove and Brighton 's continuous westward expansion .   The Vicar of Brighton , Rev. Henry Michell Wagner -- a wealthy , progressive clergyman with strong Anglo-Catholic views and an interest in architecture -- and his son and successor Rev. Arthur Wagner were responsible for an array of new churches throughout Brighton and Hove ( especially in poorer residential areas ) ; many are listed at Grade I , and the Grade II * - listed examples of St Martin 's and St Paul 's merely add to a stock of Victorian places of worship which has been described as one of the best outside London . Elsewhere during the Victorian era , the former parish churches of both Brighton and Hove were rebuilt ; an elaborate synagogue was provided for the Jewish population ; Roman Catholic worship became established at the Classical-style St John the Baptist 's Church ; a new parish church was established in the form of Charles Barry 's St Peter 's ; and several other churches were established .   Both towns were incorporated as boroughs : Brighton in 1854 , Hove in 1898 . Expansion in the 20th century , as the urban area became a large regional centre , resulted in ancient villages being absorbed into the boroughs . Hangleton , West Blatchington , Ovingdean , Rottingdean and others had historic buildings and long-established churches of their own ; by 1928 , Acts of Parliament had brought them into `` Greater Brighton and Hove '' . In 1997 , the towns were officially united as a unitary authority ; three years later , city status was secured .   Some listings include contributory fixtures such as surrounding walls or railings in front of the building . These are summarised by notes alongside the building name .

neg: Festival of Britain The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition and fair that reached millions of visitors throughout the United Kingdom in the summer of 1951 . Historian Kenneth O. Morgan says the Festival was a `` triumphant success '' as people :  flocked to the South Bank site , to wander around the Dome of Discovery , gaze at the Skylon , and generally enjoy a festival of national celebration . Up and down the land , lesser festivals enlisted much civic and voluntary enthusiasm . A people curbed by years of total war and half-crushed by austerity and gloom , showed that it had not lost the capacity for enjoying itself ... Above all , the Festival made a spectacular setting as a showpiece for the inventiveness and genius of British scientists and technologists .   Labour cabinet member Herbert Morrison was the prime mover ; in 1947 he started with the original plan to celebrate the centennial of the Great Exhibition of 1851 . However it was not to be another World Fair , for international themes were absent , as was the British Commonwealth . Instead the 1951 festival focused entirely on Britain and its achievements ; it was funded chiefly by the government , with a budget of # 12 million . The Labour government was losing support and so the implicit goal of the festival was to give the people a feeling of successful recovery from the war 's devastation , as well as promoting British science , technology , industrial design , architecture and the arts .   The Festival 's centrepiece was in London on the South Bank of the Thames . There were events in Poplar ( Architecture ) , Battersea ( The Festival Pleasure Gardens ) , South Kensington ( Science ) and Glasgow ( Industrial Power ) . Festival celebrations took place in Cardiff , Stratford-upon-Avon , Bath , Perth , Bournemouth , York , Aldeburgh , Inverness , Cheltenham , Oxford , Norwich , Canterbury and elsewhere and there were touring exhibitions by land and sea .   The Festival became a `` beacon for change '' that proved immensely popular with thousands of elite visitors and millions of popular ones . It helped reshape British arts , crafts , designs and sports for a generation . Journalist Harry Hopkins highlights the widespread impact of the `` Festival style '' . They called it `` Contemporary '' . It was :  clean , bright and new ... . It caught hold quickly and spread first across London and then across England ... In an island hitherto largely given up to gravy browns and dull greens , `` Contemporary '' boldly espoused strong primary colors .

neg: Lyon Lyon ( -LSB- liːˈɒn -RSB- or -LSB- ˈliːɒn -RSB- -LSB- ljɔ̃ -RSB- , locally : -LSB- lijɔ̃ -RSB- Liyon -LSB- - frpʎjɔ̃ -RSB- ) is a city in east-central France , in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region , about 470 km from Paris , 320 km from Marseille and 55 km from Saint-Etienne . Inhabitants of the city are called Lyonnais .   Lyon had a population of 506,615 in 2014 and is France 's third-largest city after Paris and Marseille . Lyon is the capital of the Metropolis of Lyon and the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes . The metropolitan area of Lyon had a population of 2,237,676 in 2013 , the second-largest in France after Paris .   The city is known for its cuisine and gastronomy and historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Lyon was historically an important area for the production and weaving of silk .   It played a significant role in the history of cinema : Auguste and Louis Lumière invented the cinematographe in Lyon . The city is also known for its famous light festival , Fête des Lumières , which occurs every 8 December and lasts for four days , earning Lyon the title of Capital of Lights .   Economically , Lyon is a major centre for banking , as well as for the chemical , pharmaceutical , and biotech industries . The city contains a significant software industry with a particular focus on video games , and in recent years has fostered a growing local start-up sector . Lyon hosts the international headquarters of Interpol , Euronews , and International Agency for Research on Cancer . Lyon was ranked 19th globally and second in France for innovation in 2014 . It ranked second in France and 39th globally in Mercer 's 2015 liveability rankings .

neg: Lytham St Annes Lytham St Annes ( -LSB- ˈlɪðəm_sənt_ˈænz -RSB- ) is a conurbation in the Fylde district of Lancashire , England . The neighbouring towns of Lytham and St. Annes-on-the-Sea ( nearly always abbreviated to St Annes ) have grown together and now form a seaside resort . The towns are situated on the Fylde coast , south of Blackpool at the point where the coastline turns east to form the estuary of the River Ribble leading inland to Preston . St Annes is situated on the northern side of the turning and , like Blackpool , overlooks the Irish Sea , whereas Lytham is on the eastern side and overlooks the Ribble Estuary . The population of Lytham St Annes taken at the 2011 census was 42,954 .   Lytham St Annes is internationally renowned for golf and has four courses and links , the most notable being the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club , one of the host courses for the Open Championship , also known as the `` British Open '' , which has been a competition course since first hosting the Open in 1926 . Approximately once every ten years , the coming of The Open -- a major sporting event -- brings a major influx of visitors , including the world 's media , into a fairly peaceful community . Lytham St Annes is considered to be a wealthy area with residents ' earnings among the highest in the North of England .

neg: King's Lynn King 's Lynn -LSB- ˌkɪŋz_ˈlɪn -RSB- , known until 1537 as Bishop 's Lynn , is a seaport and market town in Norfolk , England , 97 mi north of London and 44 mi west of Norwich . The population of the town is 42,800 .   The town has two theatres , museums and other cultural and sporting venues . There are three secondary schools and one college . The service sector , information and communication technologies and creative industries , provide employment for the population of King 's Lynn and the surrounding area .

neg: Economy of Devon Devon has the 19th largest economy in England out of 46 ceremonial counties . Situated in the region of South West England , it is a maritime county . Like neighbouring Cornwall to the west , Devon is disadvantaged economically compared to other parts of southern England , owing to the decline of a number of core industries , notably fishing , mining and farming . Consequently , most of Devon has qualified for the European Community 's Objective 2 status , particularly around Exmoor , Bideford Bay and the Hartland Point peninsula which is somewhat cut off from industrial Britain due to poor road and rail transport links . These areas of North Devon are , however , only around 50 mi by boat from Swansea in Wales . A proposal which has the backing of both the Welsh Assembly Government and the South West Regional Assembly , as well as Devon County Council , is a year-round ferry service from either Ilfracombe or Bideford to Swansea , which it is hoped would stimulate economic growth in both South West Wales and the North coast of Devon and Cornwall .   The 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis harmed the farming community severely .   The attractive lifestyle of the area is drawing in new industries which are not heavily dependent upon geographical location ; Dartmoor , for instance , has recently seen a significant rise in the percentage of its inhabitants involved in the financial services sector . In 2003 , the Met Office , the UK 's national and international weather service , moved to Exeter .  Devon is one of the rural counties , with the advantages and challenges characteristic of these . Despite this , the county 's economy is also heavily influenced by its two main urban centres , Plymouth and Exeter . Nearly half of the holdings of the Duchy of Cornwall are in Devon , including a large area of farmland .   Since the rise of seaside resorts with the arrival of the railways in the 19th century , Devon 's economy has been heavily reliant on tourism . The county 's economy has followed the declining trend of British seaside resorts since the mid 20th century , with some recent revival . This revival has been aided by the designation of much of Devon 's countryside and coastline as the Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks , and the Jurassic Coast and Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Sites . In 2004 the county 's tourist revenue was # 1.2 billion .   The Met Office is in Exeter as is Connaught plc , and Pennon Group , the water company . The Wrigley Company ( chewing gum ) and HMNB Devonport ( the largest naval base in western Europe ) are in Plymouth . Torquay was home to Beverage Brands , the producers of WKD Original Vodka . Britannia Royal Naval College is at Dartmouth .

neg: Winchester Winchester is a city and the county town of Hampshire , England . The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester , a local government district , and is located at the western end of the South Downs National Park , along the course of the River Itchen . It is situated 61 mi south-west of London and 13.6 mi from Southampton , its closest city . At the time of the 2011 Census , Winchester had a population of 45,184 . The wider City of Winchester district which includes towns such as Alresford and Bishop 's Waltham has a population of 116,800 .   Winchester developed from the Roman town of Venta Belgarum , which in turn developed from an Iron Age oppidum . Winchester 's major landmark is Winchester Cathedral , one of the largest cathedrals in Europe , with the distinction of having the longest nave and overall length of all Gothic cathedrals in Europe . The city is home to the University of Winchester and Winchester College , the oldest public school in the United Kingdom still to be using its original buildings .


query: Kung Fu Panda 3 had the involvement from an American actress.

pos: Kung Fu Panda 3 Kung Fu Panda 3 is a 2016 Chinese-American 3D computer-animated action-comedy martial arts film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox . It is the third installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise , and the sequel to Kung Fu Panda 2 ( 2011 ) . In the film , Po enters the panda village and reunites with his birth father and other pandas , but problems arise when a villainous spirit warrior , named Kai , returns to the mortal realm and steals chi from the kung fu masters . To prevent Kai from taking chi from all kung fu masters and pandas , Po forms the army of pandas to battle Kai 's jade minions and Po must become a master of chi to defeat him and save his friends .   The film was directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni , written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger , produced by Melissa Cobb , and executive produced by Guillermo del Toro . Jack Black , Dustin Hoffman , Angelina Jolie , Lucy Liu , Seth Rogen , David Cross , Jackie Chan and James Hong reprise their roles from the previous films with Randall Duk Kim reprising his role of Oogway from the first Kung Fu Panda film ( 2008 ) . They are joined by Bryan Cranston , J. K. Simmons and Kate Hudson in the roles of Li Shan , Kai , and Mei Mei , respectively .   Kung Fu Panda 3 received a limited release in China on January 23 for a special three-hour sneak preview and was released starting from January 28 in South Korea and Russia . It was released in theatres across the United States and Canada on January 29 in 3D , and on March 11 in the United Kingdom . The film grossed $ 521 million worldwide .

pos: Angelina Jolie Angelina Jolie Pitt ( -LSB- dʒoʊˈliː -RSB- ; née Voight ; born June 4 , 1975 ) is an American actress , filmmaker , philanthropist and humanitarian . She has received an Academy Award , two Screen Actors Guild Awards , and three Golden Globe Awards , and has been cited as Hollywood 's highest-paid actress . Jolie made her screen debut as a child alongside her father , Jon Voight , in Lookin ' to Get Out ( 1982 ) . Her film career began in earnest a decade later with the low-budget production Cyborg 2 ( 1993 ) , followed by her first leading role in a major film , Hackers ( 1995 ) . She starred in the critically acclaimed biographical cable films George Wallace ( 1997 ) and Gia ( 1998 ) , and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Girl , Interrupted ( 1999 ) .   Jolie 's starring role as the video game heroine Lara Croft in Lara Croft : Tomb Raider ( 2001 ) established her as a leading Hollywood actress . She continued her successful action-star career with Mr. & Mrs. Smith ( 2005 ) , Wanted ( 2008 ) , and Salt ( 2010 ) , and received critical acclaim for her performances in the dramas A Mighty Heart ( 2007 ) and Changeling ( 2008 ) , which earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress . Beginning in the 2010s , she expanded her career into directing , screenwriting , and producing , starting with the wartime dramas In the Land of Blood and Honey ( 2011 ) and Unbroken ( 2014 ) . Her biggest commercial success came with the fantasy picture Maleficent ( 2014 ) .   In addition to her film career , Jolie is noted for her humanitarian efforts , for which she has received a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and an honorary damehood of the Order of St Michael and St George ( DCMG ) , among other honors . She promotes various causes , including conservation , education , and women 's rights , and is most noted for her advocacy on behalf of refugees as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR ) . As a public figure , Jolie has been cited as one of the most influential and powerful people in the American entertainment industry , as well as the world 's most beautiful woman , by various media outlets . Her personal life is the subject of wide publicity . Divorced from actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton , she separated from her third husband , actor Brad Pitt , in September 2016 . They have six children together , three of whom were adopted internationally .

neg: Dawn Maxey Dawn Maxey ( born August 18 , 1966 ) , is an American former actress , known for her side starring roles in several 1990s movies .

neg: Faye Yu Yu Feihong ( born 1971 ) , also known as Faye Yu , is a Chinese actress and an occasional film director and producer , best known in the west for Wayne Wang 's award-winning American films A Thousand Years of Good Prayers ( 2007 ) and The Joy Luck Club ( 1992 ) . In the Chinese-speaking world she is best known for starring in a number of popular Chinese television series .

neg: Kung Fu Panda 2 Kung Fu Panda 2 is a 2011 3D American computer-animated comedy-drama martial arts film , directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson , produced by DreamWorks Animation , and distributed by Paramount Pictures . It is the sequel to the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda and the second installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise .   Jack Black , Angelina Jolie , Dustin Hoffman , Seth Rogen , Lucy Liu , David Cross , James Hong , and Jackie Chan reprise their character roles from the original film . They are joined by Gary Oldman , Michelle Yeoh and Danny McBride . In the film , Po and the Furious Five battle an evil peacock named Lord Shen who has a powerful weapon that he plans to conquer China with . However Po discovers a terrifying secret about his past in the process .   The film was released in theatres May 26 , 2011 in Real D 3D and Digital 3D . Kung Fu Panda 2 grossed $ 665 million worldwide against its $ 150 million budget . The film was the highest-grossing animated feature film of the year and was nominated for the 2011 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 84th Academy Awards .   A sequel , titled Kung Fu Panda 3 , and directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni , was released on January 29 , 2016 .

neg: Suzanne Friedline Suzanne Friedline ( Born January 14 , 1970 ) is an American actress and voice artist . She has appeared in numerous movies and TV series , as well as in theater dramas .

neg: Trevor Wright Trevor Christopher Wright ( born August 23 , 1980 in San Diego , California ) is an American actor .

neg: Sandra Luesse Sandra Carolina Luesse ( born June 16 , 1982 ) is an American actress with a Peruvian and German background . Luesse got her start in 2007 when she was cast as the lead girl in the Latin Rock sensation , MANA , Manda una Señal music video which shot to # 1 position of the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart .

neg: Amy Okuda Amy Kei Okuda ( born March 6 , 1989 ) is an American actress , best known for her portrayal of Tinkerballa in the web series The Guild .

neg: Leslie Andrews Leslie Andrews ( Phoenix , Arizona , United States , August 18 , 1981 ) is an American motion picture and television actress .

neg: Gia Mantegna Gina `` Gia '' Cristine Mantegna ( born April 17 , 1990 ) is an American actress .

neg: Yuan Quan Yuan Quan ( born October 16 , 1977 ) , also known as Yolanda Yuan , is a Chinese actress and singer .

neg: Caitlin Dulany Caitlin Dulany is an American actress .

neg: Annabella Sciorra Annabella Gloria Philomena Sciorra ( -LSB- ˈʃoʊrə -RSB- , ; born March 29 , 1960 ) is an Italian-American actress . Her film roles include Cadillac Man ( 1990 ) , Jungle Fever ( 1991 ) , The Hand That Rocks the Cradle ( 1992 ) , Cop Land ( 1997 ) and What Dreams May Come ( 1998 ) . She was nominated for a 2001 Emmy Award for playing Gloria Trillo in The Sopranos ( 2001 -- 04 ) .

neg: Joyce Ching Joyce Giselle Palad Ching ( born January 5 , 1995 ) , better known as Joyce Ching , is a Chinese-Filipino actress and commercial model .

neg: Doran Clark Doran Clark ( born August 8 , 1954 ) is an American actress .

neg: Claudia Wells Claudia Grace Wells ( born July 5 , 1966 ) is an American actress .

neg: Maggie Han Maggie Han ( born 1959 ) is an American actress . Her career began with modeling jobs in the United States and France , and progressed to acting in film and television productions . She is best known for playing Yoshiko Kawashima in The Last Emperor and Cheryl the lawyer in the NBC sitcom Seinfeld .

neg: Pam Potillo Pamela `` Pam '' Potillo ( born April 30 , 1974 in Trenton , New Jersey ) is an American actress .

neg: Money Lo Money Lo Man Yee ( 盧敏儀 , born 18 November 1960 ) is a Hong Kong actress .

neg: Kali Rocha Kali Michele Rocha ( born December 5 , 1971 ) is an American actress . She is known for portraying Karen Rooney , the mother of four Rooney children and school 's vice principal , in the Disney Channel sitcom , Liv and Maddie . She has also co-written four episodes of the show .

neg: Etsuko Shihomi , now known by her married name , ( born October 29 , 1955 in Okayama City , Japan as ) is a Japanese actress who appeared in several Japanese martial arts films of the 1970s and 1980s .


query: In 2016, A Monster Calls was released.

pos: A Monster Calls (film) A Monster Calls is a 2016 dark fantasy drama film directed by J. A. Bayona and written by Patrick Ness , based on his novel of the same name . The film stars Sigourney Weaver , Felicity Jones , Toby Kebbell , Lewis MacDougall , and Liam Neeson , and tells the story of Conor ( MacDougal ) , a child whose mother ( Jones ) is terminally ill ; one night , he is visited by a giant tree-like monster ( Neeson ) , who states that he will come back and tell him three stories .   A Monster Calls premiered on September 10 , 2016 , at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival . It was then released in Spain on October 7 , 2016 , and in the United Kingdom on January 1 , 2017 . In the United States , the film began a limited release in on December 23 , 2016 , followed by a wide release on January 6 , 2017 . It received positive reviews , being praised for its themes , directing , performances and visual effects . The film has grossed $ 45.6 million worldwide .

neg: The Neon Demon The Neon Demon is a 2016 psychological horror film directed by Nicolas Winding Refn , co-written by Mary Laws , Polly Stenham , and Refn , and starring Elle Fanning . The plot follows an aspiring model in Los Angeles whose beauty and youth generate intense fascination and jealousy within the industry . Supporting roles are played by Karl Glusman , Jena Malone , Bella Heathcote , Abbey Lee , Desmond Harrington , Christina Hendricks , and Keanu Reeves .   An international co-production between France , Denmark , and the United States , the film competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival , the third consecutive film directed by Refn to do so , following Drive ( 2011 ) and Only God Forgives ( 2013 ) . In the United States , the film was released theatrically on 24 June 2016 by Amazon Studios and Broad Green Pictures . It opened to polarized reviews and was a box office failure , grossing a little over $ 3 million from a $ 7 million budget .

neg: Creature Features Creature Features was a generic title for a genre of horror TV format shows broadcast on local U.S. television stations throughout the 1960s , 1970s and 1980s . The movies broadcast on the various shows were generally classic and cult horror movies of the 1930s to 1950s , the horror and science-fiction films of the 1950s , British horror films of the 1960s , and the Japanese `` giant monster '' movies of the 1960s and 1970s .

neg: Metallica: This Monster Lives Metallica : This Monster Lives is a book written by Joe Berlinger and Greg Milner about how Berlinger filmed the feature-length movie Some Kind of Monster with the legendary heavy metal band Metallica .  The book follows the emotional roller-coaster both he and his film partner Bruce Sinofsky and the band Metallica went through during the creation film . The book takes in the time from Berlinger and Sinofsky 's first meeting with Metallica in 1999 to the 2003 Summer Sanitarium Tour . Berlinger and Sinofsky 's relationship was at an all time low , exacerbated by Berlinger 's decision to direct the disastrous sequel to the Blair Witch . At the start of filming the relationship between the band members , especially between vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich , is in a similarly perilous position after bassist Jason Newsted quit the band and long standing grudges between the remaining members threaten to escalate past the point of no return .   It also follows the creative side of the film , after amassing over 1,600 hours of footage for what was originally supposed to be a short promo for the band 's new album the film 's editing team had to rapidly change plans as the footage changed from the promo to a TV series and eventually to a feature film .   The book 's title is reference to a line in the band 's song `` Some Kind of Monster '' which the film was named after .   Category : Books about film  Category : Show business memoirs  Category : Metallica

neg: Disasterpiece Theatre Disasterpiece Theatre was a comedy television program that aired in the early 1980s on XETV , a station in Tijuana , Mexico owned by Mexican media company Grupo Televisa which broadcasts in English across the border to neighboring San Diego , California . The show 's title is both a play on the long-running PBS anthology program Masterpiece Theatre and a reference to the low-budget , campy science fiction and horror films that were lampooned each week . At the time of Disasterpiece Theatre '' 's run , XETV was an independent station ; today it serves as the San Diego affiliate of The CW network .   The premise of the show was simple : show the worst movies ever made and make fun of them . Among the films shown were Shriek of the Mutilated , Monster on Campus , The Thing That Could n't Die , The Mummy 's Hand , Born to Speed , Big Boy Rides Again , First Spaceship on Venus and Curse of the Undead . Comments would be written as subtitles during the movie ; for example , in Track of the Moonbeast a character says , `` I 'm somewhat of an ... ( laughs ) an adventurer , '' and the word `` IDIOT '' appeared on screen during the pause in the middle of the sentence . Sometimes music would be added and , in some cases , redubbing by the writers would occur . On a showing of First Spaceship on Venus , the soundtrack was replaced by the writers ' voices arguing about which television show they are going to watch , similar to the overdubbing idea in What 's Up , Tiger Lily?Jay Curtis hosted the show as Sal U. Lloyd , a play on the word celluloid . Bruce Mueller played `` The Other Guy '' and would often dress up as The Mummy , A Lion Tamer , and the Network Producer . Curtis and Mueller wrote and produced the show . Fred Stern was a constant contributor and served as the show 's musical director . Stern chose popular music that was added to scenes for comic punctuation . As an example , during the film Beginning of the End , giant grasshoppers are attacking Chicago , scientists decide to use the grasshopper mating call to lure the creatures into Lake Michigan but instead of the mating call coming from a boat loudspeaker , the audience hears At the Hop by Danny and the Juniors and the monsters hop in and drown . San Diego radio announcer Gary Cocker appeared on the show many times . Guests included Whoopi Goldberg , Richard Simmons , and J. Michael Straczynski . The show was done so cheaply , the producers would tape over the same reels , thus erasing the previous episode . In the show , Curtis and Mueller 's microphone cords are easily visible , but it is the poor production quality that makes the show more humorous .   Sal U. Lloyd was portrayed as a big loser who hates his job . In one episode , he explains his position : `` I 'm sick of television ... I wan na be a rock and roll star . I wan na make some money . '' He is often seen receiving some kind of brain damage after showing a movie . Several times , Lloyd has a run-in with the network producer , George Mucas ( obviously a parody of George Lucas ) , who hates the show . In reality , Curtis had a strong rivalry with the actual network producer of XETV , who eventually cancelled the show .   The show became quite successful , generating a loyal following and beating Saturday Night Live in the ratings several times . However , the show was eventually cancelled due to creative control with the station . Although the show is not widely acclaimed , it is mentionable for inspiring a generation of cult television shows that used the same premise , such as Mystery Science Theater 3000 .   In 1991 , the Beetlejuice episode `` Moby Richard '' had Lydia staging a television dramatization of `` Moby Dick '' for the Neitherworld program `` Disasterpiece Theatre . ''   In 1993 , Animaniacs had an episode of the same title .   In 2009 , the creators of Disasterpiece Theatre '' created a YouTube Page posting archival footage of the show .

neg: Pandora (2016 film) Pandora is a 2016 South Korean disaster film written and directed by Park Jung-woo , starring Kim Nam-Gil . The film was released in South Korea on December 7 , 2016 .

neg: 4th Platino Awards The 4th Platino Awards will be presented at Caja Mágica in Madrid , Spain on July 22 , 2017 to honour the best in Ibero-American films of 2016 .   A Monster Calls received the most nominations with seven .

neg: Abattoir (film) Abattoir is a 2016 American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by Christopher Monfette . It premiered on June 7 , 2016 at the Los Angeles Film Festival .

neg: Monster movie (disambiguation) Monster Movie may refer to :   Monster movie , a film genre that centers on the struggle of human beings against one or more monsters  Monster Movie ( band ) , a dream pop band  Monster Movie ( album ) , album by Can  Monster Movie ( film ) , a 2008 horror comedy film  `` Monster Movie '' ( Supernatural ) , an episode of the television series Supernatural

neg: Phantom Detective Phantom Detective ( ; lit . Detective Hong Gil-Dong : Disappeared Village ) is a 2016 South Korean film noir comedy action film directed and written by Jo Sung-hee . Its central protagonist is a modern iteration of the classic Korean folk hero Hong Gildong . It was released in South Korea on May 4 , 2016 . It was released in U.S. and Canada on 20 May 2016 .

neg: Gamera Gamera is a fictional giant monster or kaiju originating from a series of Japanese tokusatsu films of the same name . He first appeared in Daiei Film 's 1965 film Gamera : The Giant Monster , which was initially produced to rival the success of Toho 's Godzilla ; however , Gamera has gained fame and notoriety as a Japanese icon in his own right . The character has appeared in other media such as comic books and video games .   In the United States , Gamera attained prominence during the 1970s due to the burgeoning popularity of UHF television stations featuring Saturday afternoon matinee showcases like Creature Double Feature and later in the 1990s when five Gamera films were featured on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000 .

neg: Mostly Ghostly: One Night in Doom House Mostly Ghostly : One Night in Doom House is a 2016 horror comedy fantasy film directed by Ron Oliver and the sequel to Mostly Ghostly : Have You Met My Ghoulfriend ? ( 2014 ) . The film is based on the third book of the same name by R. L. Stine and the third installment of the Mostly Ghostly film series . The film was released on DVD on September 6 , 2016 .

neg: Monsters and Mysteries in America Monsters and Mysteries in America is an American documentary television series that premiered March 24 , 2013 , on Destination America . Repeats air on the network 's sister-station , the Discovery Channel . It also sometimes airs on Animal Planet , particularly during one of their `` Monster weeks '' . In the United Kingdom , the series airs on the Sky-owned television channel Pick as Monsters and Mysteries .

neg: List of Scream episodes Scream is an American slasher horror television series developed by Jill Blotevogel , Dan Dworkin and Jay Beattie for MTV and is based on the slasher film series of the same name created by Kevin Williamson . The series premiered of June 30 , 2015 , following the airing of the second episode of the fifth season of Teen Wolf , to mixed reviews from critics , though it has slowly earned a strong fan base throughout its run .   As of October 18 , 2016 , 24 episodes of Scream have aired , concluding the second season . Following the airing of the second season finale , it was announced that a two-hour Halloween special would air on October 18 , 2016 . On October 14 , 2016 , MTV renewed the series for a third season to consist of 6 episodes , which will premiere in 2017 .

neg: 2016 in film 2016 in film is an overview of events , including the highest-grossing films , award ceremonies , festivals , and a list of films released and deaths .

neg: Monster (Exo song) `` Monster '' is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Exo for their third studio album Ex ` Act . It was released in Korean and Chinese versions by S.M. Entertainment on June 9 , 2016 as the second single for the album .

neg: Manhattan Night Manhattan Night is a 2016 American crime film written and directed by Brian DeCubellis . It is based on the 1996 novel Manhattan Nocturne by Colin Harrison . The film stars Adrien Brody , Yvonne Strahovski , Jennifer Beals , Campbell Scott , Linda Lavin and Steven Berkoff . The film was released on May 20 , 2016 , by Lionsgate Premiere .

neg: Deadman Apocalypse Deadman Apocalypse is a 2016 science fiction film .

neg: Monster Cable Monster Inc. is an American company that manufactures and markets 6,000 different products , but is best known for audio and video cables . It also produces speakers , headphones , power strips , mobile accessories and audio devices for automobiles . The company was founded by an audiophile and engineer , Noel Lee , in 1979 by experimenting with different ways to build audio cables . It grew by doing demonstrations to convince the industry that audio cables made a difference in audio quality and by establishing relationships with retailers that were attracted to the cable 's profit margins .   Over the years it created new divisions like Monster Music , Monster Game , Monster Mobile , Monster Photo and Monster Power . In the 2000s , Monster had legal trademark disputes regarding other companies or products that have `` Monster '' in their name , such as Monster.com and the film Monsters , Inc. . Monster said it needed to defend its premium brand , while critics said it was pursuing litigation against companies that do not have confusingly similar products . It began manufacturing headphones in a partnership with Dr. Dre in 2008 , which ended in 2012 , and it created other celebrity branded or Monster-branded headphone products .   Several tests done by audiophile publications , news reporters and academics have conflicting viewpoints on whether more expensive audio or video cables like those from Monster make a difference in audio or video quality when compared to generic cables . Instead of advertising , Monster offers incentives to retailers and their salespeople to sell the cables . Retailers bundle high profit-margin cables with larger purchases that have smaller margins in order to improve profitability .

neg: Jay Wade Edwards Jay Wade Edwards ( born September 12 , 1968 ) is an American film director and editor . Edwards ' filmmaking career began when he wrote , directed , and edited three short science fiction films -- Mountain of Terror Day of Dread ( 1998 ) , Project : Tiki Puka Puka ( 1999 ) , and Esta Noche We Ride ! ( 2001 ) -- known collectively as The Monster Trilogy . The Monster Trilogy has been shown at film festivals in Liverpool , England ; Ontario , Canada ; and Austin , Texas . Edwards has overseen promotion for the film , which has received positive reviews .   Edwards co-produced and edited Y’ all Come ! The Hell Hole Swamp Festival , a 2002 documentary profiling Jamestown , South Carolina , home of the annual Hell Hole Swamp Festival . The film has screened in ten film festivals , including The Rural Route Film Festival in New York City , The Maryland Film Festival , and Detroit Docs , receiving two Best-of awards .   The beach-party rock - 'n' - roll monster movie Stomp ! Shout ! Scream ! , Edwards 's first feature film as writer/director , premiered at the Austin Film Festival in October 2005 to more good reviews . The film has gone on to screen at more than twenty film festivals . Awards include Best Feature Film at the Toofy Film Festival and The Magnolia Independent Film Festival , and nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Set Design at the B-movie Film Festival .   A professional television and film editor since 1991 , Edwards is the senior editor and producer of the animated series Aqua Teen Hunger Force for Cartoon Network 's Adult Swim and the feature Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters . Edwards 's television credits also include documentaries for CNN and TBS , Cartoon Network 's Space Ghost Coast to Coast , and numerous promotional campaigns .

neg: A Violent Prosecutor A Violent Prosecutor is a 2016 South Korean crime film directed by Lee Il-hyung , produced by Guk Su Ran and starring Hwang Jung-min , Kang Dong-won , Lee Sung-min and Park Sung-woong . It was released in South Korea on February 3 , 2016 by Showbox .