Elephant summit closes without support to lift ban

Zimbabwe’s African elephant summit has closed without broad support to lift the ban on the ivory trade, but it did conclude that decisions taken by the body overseeing endangered species were “no longer scientific”.

Senegal's President Macky Sall has confirmed that eleven new-born babies have died in a fire at the maternity ward of Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in the western city of Tivaouane.

More than 80,000 people displaced by clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are in urgent need of food, according to the UN as fighting between government soldiers and M23 rebels has intensified in recent weeks in North Kivu province.

(Zimbabwe wants the existing ban on ivory trade to be lifted. Credit: Getty)