A surge in killing African elephants for ivory has led to the “majestic” animal’s numbers falling by more than 100,000 in a decade, conservationists warned.

A surge in killing African elephants for ivory has led to the "majestic" animal's numbers falling by more than 100,000 in a decade, conservationists have warned.

More than 2,000 plant species were discovered last year, the first study of their global status has found, but many species are in danger of extinction.

A New Zealand man has won the French language Scrabble championship, despite not speaking French.

Tullow Oil’s first half revenues are likely to tumble by nearly 40%, year-on-year. However, the Irish-founded explorer is also anticipating a significant rise in production levels for 2015.

We know a lot of people whose favourite thing is to preen in front of a mirror but these wild animals in the jungles of Gabon give them a run for their money.

Ghana 3 Equatorial Guinea 0

World leaders and top dignitaries have begun arriving in Saudi Arabia to give their condolences following the death of King Abdullah, who died yesterday aged 90 after nearly two decades at the helm.

Swiss researchers have suspended testing of one of the leading Ebola vaccine candidates after some volunteers reported unexpected side effects.

A gift from Ireland was ranked the 24th best out of the 274 presents given to US president Barack Obama between 2009 and 2012.

Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla may have been expecting the question, but he was still hesitant with his answer.

Security concerns deepened in the capital of Central African Republic after the US ambassador and other diplomats were evacuated by plane overnight amid fears rebels could try to take the capital.

The president of Central African Republic urgently called on France and other foreign powers to help his government fend off rebels who are quickly seizing territory and approaching the capital city, but French officials declined to offer any military assistance.

Irish oil exploration company Tullow Oil has discovered the first natural gas find off Kenya, adding to Tullow’s recent first inland oil discovery in March.

FIFA are facing a dispute over the release of three players for the Olympic football tournament.

Old habits die hard.

THIS has been an extremely difficult tournament to cover. Anybody who’s attempted to move from one venue to another is already feeling the effects of a night spent huddled on an airport floor, or squashed into a packed train for an overnight journey. Little wonder there are swathes of empty seats at stadiums for the first time at a European Championship since 1996.

Great Britain’s footballers face a tough group in the Olympic football tournament after being drawn against Uruguay, the United Arab Emirates and Senegal for the London 2012 tournament.

Armed pirates have robbed a cargo ship at anchor in a Nigerian port and kidnapped at least two crew members in the latest of several attacks off Africa’s west coast, an international maritime watchdog said.

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has warned Newcastle they could lose star striker Demba Ba for a pittance if they do not tie him to a new deal.

We know that sensitive types often complain that newspapers are only interested in bad news.

Pirates have killed the captain and chief engineer of a cargo ship they attacked off the coast of Nigeria.

Zambia clinched their first African Nations Cup crown with a poignant penalty shootout win over Ivory Coast last night.

Zambia 0 Ivory Coast 0 (after extra-time, Zambia win 8-7 on penalties)

Chelsea enjoyed a fitness boost today ahead of their Barclays Premier League game at Everton when John Obi Mikel returned to full training after seven weeks on the sidelines.

JOHN MENSAH scored, then saw red as 10-man Ghana held on to beat Botswana in their African Nations Cup Group D opener.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA is not a football nation. Or at least, that’s what everybody said before the start of the 28th Cup of Nations, which the tiny former Spanish colony is co-hosting with Gabon.

Chelsea have failed in their bid to have Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou available for tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie against Portsmouth.

EGYPT, winners of the last three tournaments, will not be there when the African Cup of Nations begins in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in a fortnight. Neither will Cameroon, who won in 2000 and 2002.

MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini has raised the possibility of the world’s richest club not being able to fill their bench for Sunday’s mouthwatering FA Cup tie with Manchester United.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson insisted there was no need for panic after seeing his title-chasers humbled at Newcastle.

GORDON TAYLOR believes the punishment meted out to Luis Suarez for racially abusing Patrice Evra sends a warning that racism in the game will not be tolerated.

Yaya Toure admits he feels "guilty and confused" about having to leave to play in the Africa Cup of Nations next month.

A FORMER Clare student has landed a major coup by recording the first known video of an African golden cat as part of her work to protect the rare species.

THE Palestinians have secured eight Security Council “yes” votes for their UN membership bid, just one short of the nine they need, the Palestinian foreign minister said.

The United Nations Security Council will meet tomorrow to start the process of formally considering the Palestinian request for membership in the world body.

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov today attacked “fools and idiots” after defending his decision to remove Jim Jefferies as manager.

TULLOW Oil is expecting its most lucrative asset, the Jubilee field in Ghana, to further boost its overall profitability this year following its partial contribution to a more than four-fold increase in pre-tax profits last year.

A baby gorilla dubbed Tiny has taken his first steps at his home in London Zoo.

EGYPTIAN police fought protesters in two cities in eastern Egypt yesterday and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei headed back to the country to join demonstrators trying to oust President Hosni Mubarak.

Tullow Oil has announced that the Nzizi-3 well in Uganda Block 2 has appraised the Nzizi gas field, and that the well is a viable future gas producer.

ARSENE Wenger has questioned fellow Premier League bosses’ motivation for calling for their players to return from the African Nations Cup over security concerns.

Hull have injury doubts over defenders Anthony Gardner and Andy Dawson for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash against Blackburn.

Charity chiefs today paid tribute to former Concern chief executive Fr Aengus Finucane, who has lost his battle with cancer.