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Massive Canyon Found Beneath Greenland Ice Sheet, Scientists have discovered a hidden canyon in Greenland that is 750 kilometers long and as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States. Scientists pieced together radar data collected by airplanes over decades to build a picture of the canyon hidden from view by ice and snow. They believe the canyon was a major pathway for water before it was covered by the ice sheet some 4 million years ago. Even today, the mega-canyon still transports water that melted from glaciers to the edge of the ice sheet and into the ocean. The canyon originates in the center of Greenland and runs to its northern coast.

James Van Der Beek, James Van Der Beek's brood is getting bigger! The actor's wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, is pregnant with the couple's third child, she announced on her blog on Friday, Aug. 30. "James and I are happy to report that we are expecting our third child this winter!" the self-proclaimed "professional mom" wrote. "Nesting mode is starting to kick in. I've been getting rid of clutter, reconfiguring rooms, reorganizing EVERYTHING, etc...My mind doesn't stop." Married since 2010, the Dawson's Creek alum and his wife are already parents to two kids, daughter Olivia, 2, and son Joshua, 17 months. Both are eager to welcome a new little sibling. "All the craziness, exhaustion, and moodiness aside, James and I are beyond elated and feeling so incredibly blessed," Kimberly wrote. "Olivia and Joshua are in on the news and seem to be excited about a baby coming into the family." Then, in a note to he...

Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones split, The big celeb news of the morning: Michael Douglas, 68, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, 43, are separating. The star couple is splitting after almost 13 years. Zeta-Jones' publicist, Cece Yorke and Douglas' publicist, Allen Burry, tell USA TODAY in a statement, "Catherine and Michael are taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage. There will be no further comment." The two haven't been seen together since April, says People magazine, and in recent days he's been relaxing on a yacht and playing golf in Sardinia, says the Daily Mail. They have had a rough few years, weathering his battle with throat cancer and her battle with bipolar II disorder. And most recently, Douglas' comments about HPV possibly causing his cancer are said to have not gone over well with her. He issued a statement clarifying that he was not saying he got it from her. Earlier this month, celeb rags began buzzing a...

Doctor: Valerie Harper's cancer close to remission, Valerie Harper's doctor says the actress' brain cancer is getting close to remission. The 74-year-old former sitcom star had announced in March that she had an incurable form of cancer and was given as little as three months to live. She's still here — and working, hired for a TV movie that filmed this month. Valerie Harper's great gift to us Valerie Harper gets a big surprise on "The Talk" Jason Bateman's touching message to Valerie Harper Dr. Jeremy Rudnick said Thursday on NBC's "Today" show that Harper has defied the odds. But he says the problem is that Harper's prognosis can change at any time. He and Harper agree that life is about buying time.

The Imperial House of Japan, The , also referred to as the Imperial Family, or the Yamato Dynasty, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the emperor is the symbol of the state and unity of the people. Other members of the imperial family perform ceremonial and social duties, but have no role in the affairs of government. The duties as an emperor are passed down the line to children and their children's children and so on. The Japanese monarchy is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world still in existence. The imperial house recognizes 125 legitimate monarchs since the accession of Emperor Jimmu (traditionally dated to February 11, 660 BC), including the reigning emperor, Akihito; see its family tree. Emperor of Japan: The of Japan is the symbol of the state and of the unity of the Japanese people. He is the head of the Japanese Imperial...

Saudi arabia prince defects, A Saudi Prince known as Khalid Bin Farhan al-Saud has decided to leave the royal family, saying the regime does not consider God’s rules. On Saturday, Khalid Bin Farhan said “With pride, I announce my defection from al-Saudi family in Saudi Arabia… This regime in Saudi Arabia does not stand by God’s rules or even [the country’s] established rules and its policies, decisions and actions are totally based on [the] personal will of its leaders.” He also slammed the royal family as well as the leaders in the kingdom, saying “All that is said in Saudi Arabia about respecting law and religion rules is factitious, so that they can lie and pretend that the regime obeys Islamic rules.” The prince went on to say that the royal family has rejected all calls for reform by people’s representatives and used violence as well as suppression against them. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, mainly its Eastern Province, has been witnessing anti-regime protests on an almost ...

The royal family of Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid Bin Farhan Al-Saud has announced his defection from Al Saud royal family through a statement, calling on other princes to break their silence and reveal the truth for sake of God. In his statement on Saturday, the Saudi prince referred to his ‘sufferings’ under reign of Al Saud regime describing them as bitter experiences that will be revealed by the Saudi twitter writer Mujtahid and Saudi activist Saad al-Faqih, who is currently living in London. He said he thanked God that helped him understand the truth about Saudi regime through a “direct horrible personal experience” so that he could have a taste of what people suffered from throughout the country. “With pride, I announce my defection from Al Saudi family in Saudi Arabia,” he wrote in his statement. “This regime in Saudi Arabia does not stand by God’s rules or even (country’s) established rules and its policies, decisions, and actions are totally based on personal will of...

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, The Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, known as 'the Shop', was established in 1741 to educate the military branch of the Board of Ordnance to produce officers for the Artillery and Engineers. The two corps were referred to as the Ordnance Corps until 1856. Because there was strong competition to be selected to be selected as an Engineering officer, due to the good career prospects and interesting appointments, it was very much in the interest of gentleman cadets to study for their commissions. As regiments and corps were spun off on their own, so they maintained the same competitive system: sappers, gunners, signals and the tank corps. The RMA, Woolwich, remained open until 1939. In 1939, on the outbreak of World War II, RMA Woolwich closed and its senior students were commissioned into the artillery, engineers and signals. The remainder were sent to the territorial Officer Cadet Training Units. (Up to 1939 both RMA and RMC were fee-pay...

Jordanian royal family,  A barnstorming Stratford, Ont. woman with a daredevil streak and a passion for adventure has quietly become a member of Jordan’s royal family. Aerobatic pilot Basmah Hasan became Princess Basmah in January after she wed Prince Hamzah of Jordan’s Hashemite royal family. Hamzah is the son of the late King Hussein and his American-born wife, Queen Noor, and a senior officer in Jordan’s armed forces. He is the half-brother of the current King, Abdullah II, and for a short time had been Crown Prince before being replaced by his nephew in 2004. The couple met while 33-year-old Hasan was working as the chief pilot at the Royal Aero Sports Club of Jordan last year. She had blazed a trail in the skies over the Arab world by becoming the first certified aerobatic pilot and a certified glider pilot in the country. The prince, 32, was a fixed-wing pilot trained at Britain’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. “She fell in love with this man, madly in love w...

Al-Thani family ruled since 1825, The Al Thani were among a tribal group, which had settled for a long time at Gebrin oasis in southern Najd before they arrived in Qatar during the early 18th Century. Initially they stayed in the north of the peninsula before moving to Doha in the mid 19th century under the leadership of Mohammad Bin Thani. The family of Al Thani is a branch of the Arab tribe Tamim, whose descent can be traced back to Mudar Bin Nizar. This tribe inhabited the eastern parts of the Arabian Peninsula. The name of Al Thani is derived from that of the family’s ancestor, Thani Bin Mohammad, father of Mohammad Bin Thani, who was the first shaikh to rule over the Qatar peninsula during the mid 19th century. Shaikh Mohammad Bin Thani 1850-1878 In 1847, the Al Thani Family moved from Fuwairat, a small coastal community to Doha, under the leadership of Mohammad Bin Thani. He was born in Fuwairat and upon the death of his father, Thani Ibn Mohammad, became the leader of hi...

The royal family of Qatar, A former jockey working for the Qatari royal family was allegedly beaten up by one of Queen Elizabeth’s riders in an argument over a woman. John Maxse required hospital treatment for a suspected broken eye socket, broken collarbone and broken nose following the alleged attack in London’s Newmarket on Sunday, the Daily Mail reported. Jonathan Nolan, 32, who is a rider for the Queen’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute, has reportedly been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent. Maxse is a prominent figure in horseracing and was formerly the public face of the British Horseracing Authority and Jockey Club. He now works as a communications consultant for Qatar Racing, the horse investment firm owned by the Qatari royal family, according to the newspaper. When asked whether the alleged assault was due to him having an affair with Nolan’s girlfriend, Maxse told the Daily Mail the woman involved was Nolan’s ex-girlfriend. He joked on Twitter than he ...

The royal family of Bhutan, Dungkar, the northern-most village of Kurtoe, has long been renowned not only as the birth place of Bhutan's royal family but as a land blessed by Guru Rimpoche, and the site of several nyes (sacred places) such as Rinchen Bumpa and Belyul Khenpajong. According to Lam Neten of Lhuenste Rabdey, history has it that Guru Rimpoche meditated in a Dra-phu (meditation cave) on the face of a steep cliff overlooking Dungkar - what we now know as Rinchen Bumpa - from across the Kurichhu river. A little further south, nestled higher up in the mountains, it is believed that there is a hidden sacred abode of Guru Rimpoche, which will be revealed at a pre-ordained time, for the preservation of the Dharma. Dungkar was also visited many times by Terton Pemalingpa, the great treasure revealer of Bhutan, who lived in the 15th century. A lhakhang built by Pemalingpa on a flat stretch of land near the riverbed of Kurichhu, is known as Goeshog Pang (meadow resemblin...

Thai royal family, When Chinese President Hu Jintao landed at LA/Ontario International Airport in June, he was the most high-profile visitor in several years. But Hu wasn't the first Asian head of state to use Ontario's airport. Exactly 53 years earlier, the king and queen of Thailand flew into Ontario. Unlike Hu, who traveled to Rancho Mirage for a summit with President Barack Obama, the Thai royal family settled in for a weeklong stay. Using a home in La Verne as their base, the royal couple and their four children saw the sights in Southern California. Much of their expansive retinue, meanwhile, lodged in Upland. Ontario, Upland and La Verne? This is a perfect Daily Bulletin story. I learned about their visit in an appropriately oddball way some years ago, via Charles Phoenix's book "Cruising the Pomona Valley 1930 Thru 1970." His entry on the all-American Betsy Ross ice cream parlor in Pomona said the location was visited by the royal family of Tha...

British royal family, There's always a moment after major events involving the British monarchy -- Jubilee, wedding, birth, what have you -- when sort of a collective royal hangover sets in. We laugh as we see news stories about our over-the-top fascination with a seemingly trivial development (It was the hottest day in seven years! This lady's cake melted!) We wonder why it is the royal family captivates us so, anyway. Some people go a step further, arguing that we shouldn't just pay less attention to the majestic goings-on, we should do away with the non-democratically-elected head of state altogether -- even if their role is largely ceremonial. Over at Gawker, Hamilton Nolan published an impassioned plea for the monarchy to end, likening it to the mafia and saying it siphons needed revenue away from millions of unemployed Britons, or any number of other, more worthy causes. "For the sake of all that is holy, please allow this Royal Baby to grow up free of th...

Swazi Royal Family, The Kingdom of Swaziland is located between South Africa and Mozambique. It has a population of over 1 million people, but the average life expectancy is less than 40 years due in large part to the AIDS epidemic. In 1999, Swaziland's King Mswati declared AIDS a national disaster. Swaziland's king rules jointly with his mother, who is called the Indlovukazi ("Queen Mother" or "She Elephant)". The king traditionally has many wives. According to the Swaziland National Trust Commission, the king's first two wives, called ritual wives, are chosen for him from specific clans by councilors. After that, the king can choose his own wives. When the king dies, the royal family meets to choose a new Indlovukazi, usually from among the late king's wives (but not his ritual wives). Traditionally, the woman who is chosen should have only one son, who in time becomes the new king. Swaziland's Sobhuza II was born in 1899 and became p...

The world’s heaviest monarch, The world's biggest and heaviest ruler in the smallest kingdom has died at the age of 88. The people of the South Pacific island of Tonga are mourning the death of King Tupou IV following a reign of 41 years. His eldest son, Crown Prince Tupouto will ascend to the throne. Twenty-stone King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga made international headlines in 1976 when he entered the Guinness Book of Records as the world's heaviest monarch weighing in at 209 kg (32 st). He had since shed a substantial amount of weight, particularly over the past decade, when he worked out three times a week and dropped to 130 kg (20.5st). Details of his health problems have not been released, but he was believed to have been suffering from heart disease, diabetes and associated ailments. Because of ill-health, he has spent most of the past year in Auckland, where he owns a residence, making frequent visits to hospital. He was Tonga's first university ...

The Tongan Royal Family, If the Guinness Book of Records is anything to go by, the tiny South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga has two claims to fame. First, a tortoise given to the royal family by Captain Cook that lived for nearly two centuries. And second, the world’s heaviest monarch – King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV. Now 85 years old and somewhat slimmed on doctor’s orders, the King is still an imposing presence. His six-foot-three-inch frame is stooped over walking sticks but his hand, proffered to foreign guests, is like a massive ham. His ordinary subjects, known as ‘commoners’, are more likely to approach him on hands and knees. Taufa’ahau ascended the throne after the death of his mother, Queen Sälote, in 1965. He has four children – three sons and a daughter. The eldest, Crown Prince Tupouto’a, is an unmarried playboy in his 50s who lives in a grand palace on the outskirts of the capital Nuku’alofa. He tootles around the island in a black, chauffeur-driven London taxi. But his real...

Princely Family of Liechtenstein art collection, Collecting can be a transmissible disease. In the Liechtenstein royal family the affection goes back to their ancestor Hartmann von Liechtenstein (1544-85). The principality, known for its welcoming banks, was only established in 1719, though the princes actually went on living in Vienna and buying lots of paintings, as well as many other items, on show at the Liechtenstein museum in Vienna. The Palais Lumière in Evian, on the shores of Lake Geneva, is exhibiting an impressive selection of works from the collection with 70 paintings, 20 sculptures and 15 pieces of furniture. We lingered for a moment in front of a copy by Brueghel the Younger of one of his father's most famous paintings, Census at Bethlehem, in which the Virgin Mary on her ass and Joseph, bearing his saw, arrive in a snow-covered village in Flanders, then stopped to admire Mars and Rhea Silvia by Peter Paul Rubens. It brims over with energy and colour, Mars'...

Princely Family of Liechtenstein, His Serene Highness Prince Hans-Adam II was born on 14 February 1945, as the eldest son of His Serene Highness Prince Franz Josef II von und zu Liechtenstein and Her Serene Highness Princess Gina. The name Hans-Adam forms an apt link between history and the present day, for Ruling Prince Hans-Adam of Liechtenstein was the founder of the State through his purchases of the Lordship of Schellenberg (1699) and the County of Vaduz (1712). Hans-Adam spent his youth with his parents and brothers and sister at Vaduz Castle. He attended the primary school in Vaduz along with the local children of his age and he also joined the Vaduz scouts. In 1972 His Serene Highness the Ruling Prince Franz Josef issued a general power of attorney entrusting the Hereditary Prince Hans-Adam with the management and administration of the whole of the Princely House's property. Since then, with his profound experience, the Hereditary Prince has run the finances of the ...

Protests escalate in bahrain, Formula one moves to Bahrain this weekend, with the Grand Prix again taking place against a backdrop of long-running dissent and continued protest. In 2011 the race was shelved due to pro-democracy protests but resumed last year, despite calls for it to be axed due to human rights abuses and heavy-handed police tactics against protesters. The run-up to Sunday's race has again witnessed an increase in protests by opposition groups and a crackdown by the Bahrain authorities, prompting fresh calls for F1 to question its annual presence in the country on ethical grounds. Young protesters who took to the streets sounding drums have called the race "the Formula of blood". Formula One's commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, though, has dismissed concerns about holding the race in the country, while the Bahrain government has pledged to take "appropriate" measures to ensure security. One notable absentee from the race...

The royal family of bahrain, Bahrain is a small archipelago (island group) in the Persian Gulf. It has been ruled by the al Khalifa dynasty since 1783. It became a British protectorate in the 19th century, and became independent in 1971. The country's first elected parliament was suspended in 1975 by then-emir Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Bahrain became a traditional monarchy. In 1999, Sheikh Isa died suddenly of a heart attack. His son Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa assumed the throne and moved toward democratic reform. Bahrain officially became a constitutional monarchy in 2002. It is now called the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Sheik Hamad's title has been changed from emir to king. There is now a democratically elected parliament, although King Hamad has the right to appoint a consultative Shura council with legislative powers equal to those of parliament. Women can run for office. Political parties are still officially banned, but political societies can back c...

Luxembourg prime minister Juncker resigns, Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg and Europe's longest-serving leader, stepped down on Wednesday over his implication in a spying scandal. But both his friends and his adversaries believe a comeback is likely. "Luxembourg is like Wuppertal," Jean-Claude Juncker once said. He was trying to project modesty. We were sitting in the tiny garden right next to his office on the ground floor of his small headquarters. Passing tourists occasionally approached the iron garden fence. A few waved and shouted, "Hello, Mr. Juncker!" But that talk took place some time ago, and Luxembourg is not like Wuppertal. The population of the tiny country is not much greater than that of the provincial German city near Düsseldorf. But Luxembourg has a grand duke, and, above all, it has Jean-Claude Juncker, a prime minister who has been in power since 1995, whose role is something like that of an elected king, who has help...