Animal Cruelty: "Poachers poison 90 elephants with cyanide in Zimbabwe wildlife park"

Almost 90 elephants have been slaughtered by poachers who poisoned them with industrial cyanide, authorities in Zimbabwe said Wednesday.  

Rangers in the Hwange National Park discovered the carcasses of more than 40 of the gentle giants earlier this month and they continue to find bodies in recent weeks.

 Park spokesperson Caroline Washaya-Moyo told NBC News that 87 corpses had been found so far, all with their tusks removed.

Death toll climbs as army, militants fight on in the Philippines

Soldiers carry the flag-draped coffin of policemen who died at the Zamboanga rebel attack in Mindanao.

At least 158 people have been killed since fighting broke out earlier this month between separatist rebels and soldiers in the Philippines, state news reported Wednesday.

The majority of those killed, 125, were militants from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the government-run Philippines News Agency (PNA) said. Also among the reported dead were 15 members of the military, five from police, and 13 civilians.

Update: Death toll climbs to at least 349 after powerful Pakistan earthquake

QUETTA, Pakistan -- The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck northwest Pakistan rose to at least 349 early Thursday, authorities said.

The Pakistani military said it had rushed almost 1,000 troops to the area and was sending helicopters in the wake of Tuesday's temblor. 

 Most of the victims were killed when their houses collapsed. At least 550 people were injured.

Interesting: "Chinese man has new nose grown on his forehead to replace the original which was damaged in a car crash"

Xiaolian, 22, had a new nose grown on his forehead after his original one was irreparably damaged in a traffic accident. The new nose was sculpted from cartilage taken from his rib. his nose was damaged in a traffic accident in August 2012 but failed to seek treatment.

As a result, an infection corroded the cartilage leaving the surgeons unable to repair it.

Iran's new president: Yes, the Holocaust happened

Iran's new president has acknowledged the Holocaust, furthering the stark contrast between himself and his predecessor.

"Any crime that happens in history against humanity, including the crime the Nazis committed towards the Jews as well as non-Jews, was reprehensible and condemnable," President Hassan Rouhani said in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

Watch a part of the interview HERE

Crisis: Syrian rebels reject interim government, embrace Sharia

Some Opposition fighters

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-Syrian rebel brigades oppose Western-backed group that announced government in exile
-Thirteen rebel groups call on supporters of the Syrian opposition to embrace Sharia
-Moderate opposition groups appear to have suffered a series of setbacks this month
-Secular Syrian activists have been warning of the rise of Islamist groups

Read full story here

Victory: Oracle Team USA wins America's Cup

Oracle Team USA skippered by James Spithill celebrates onstage after defending the Cup as they beat Emirates Team New Zealand to defend the America's Cup during the final race on September 25 in San Francisco, California.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-Oracle Team USA wins America Cup
-Only second time in 162-year history that competition has gone down to the final race
-Emirates New Zealand had led 8-1 before losing 9-8

Here are the details via CNN
 

Update: Arrests made in Air France flight cocaine case

$270 million in cocaine found on flight

Venezuelan authorities on Wednesday announced additional arrests in connection with a massive shipment of cocaine in an Air France flight from Caracas that landed in Paris.

In a prepared statement, the Venezuelan Attorney General's Office said 17 people have been arrested in the drug trafficking case. The flight originated at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital.

Elop, Ex-Nokia CEO refuses to return his €18.8m pay-off

Former President and CEO of Nokia Stephen Elop says he will not give back €18.8 million to his prior company despite mounting political pressure.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-Nokia's chairman asked Stephen Elop, former group CEO, to return pay-off
-Elop said no, citing divorce proceedings with his wife
-Nokia gave Elop €18.8 million who returns to former company Microsoft
-Political pressure rising for Elop to return funds

"New Kindle Fires get faster, add personal support"

Amazon on Wednesday announced three new Kindle Fire tablets: a 8.9- and 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX and a lower-end Kindle Fire HD. The tablets feature faster hardware, better screens, improved software and a subtle new look.

This Day In History

September 26

1789

Thomas Jefferson was appointed America's first Secretary of State.

Can you relate?: "Soap Opera Stars"

 Here is an excerpt from the book "Attitude Is Everything" by Keith Harrell.

"Do you ever watch the soaps? You can admit it, no one will jump out from behind the page and arrest you. For many people, soap operas are a guilty pleasure. They're certainly not boring. There are people, though, who think life is one big soap opera, minus the commercials. Like characters in a soap opera, these people often have over-the-top attitudes. They can be charming, charismatic, narcissistic, flamboyant, imaginative, compelling, and persuasive.

Album Release: "Nothing Was The Same" by Drake!

For the fans --- Drake’s new album, Nothing Was the Same, was officially released yesterday, Tuesday, September 24th. Unfortunately for Drake, it hit the interent and leaked over a week ahead of the release date but that hasn’t slowed the hype for his new album.

It is now available on iTunes and in stores everywhere. There are two copies of the CD, Standard Version and a Deluxe Version with extra tracks.

Enjoy!! :-)

Bids for Chevron's Oil Blocks to be Submitted Next Week.

United States oil major, Chevron Corporation, will next week receive bids from about 30 companies jostling to acquire its interest in three Nigerian oil blocks, while prospective buyers will pay 15 per cent of the transaction value of the assets on September 30. Chevron had in June unveiled plans to sell its 40 per cent interest in five onshore blocks, beginning with Oil Mining Leases (OMLs 52, 53 and 55, which will be collectively sold to one firm. 

Meet Curtis Elton, the 9 year old piano prodigy!

Curtis Elton has become the youngest person in the world to receive an ATCL diploma, the equivalent of a first-year degree, for his piano skills. 

Recording-breaking achievements seem to run in the family. Hayley Elton became the youngest person to be admitted to London's Guildhall School of Music when she was 8 years old. She began teaching Curtis how to play the piano when he was 3 1/2.

You can follow this sweet boy on twitter @curtispiano :-)

China lifts Facebook ban ... a bit?

According to the South China Morning Post, the Chinese government has decided to lift a ban on foreign websites deemed politically sensitive, albeit only within the newly developed Shanghai Free Trade Zone. 

 The Free Trade Zone launches on Sunday and is intended to serve as a testing ground for financial and service sector reforms, including increased access to the tightly-controlled yuan.