Global conference votes 'no' to stepping up ivory sales ban

JOHANNESBURG • The global conference that governs wildlife trade has voted against strengthening the ban on ivory sales, exposing bitter divisions among African countries and experts over elephant conservation.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora on Monday rejected a proposal to include all African elephants in its highest category of protection, which bans trade in species facing extinction, after South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe said they should continue to be excluded as they have stable or growing elephant populations.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Britain plans to exempt troops from European human rights laws

BIRMINGHAM • Britain will protect its armed forces serving overseas from "vexatious" human rights claims by making it possible to opt out of the European Convention on Human Rights in future conflicts, Prime Minister Theresa May has said.

She told her Conservative Party's conference yesterday that troops must be recognised for the incredible job they do and legal claims against them will be prevented.

The government said despite the opt-out, soldiers would continue to abide by the Geneva Conventions.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

12,000 Turkish police officers suspended after failed coup

ANKARA • The Turkish authorities suspended more than 12,000 police officers over alleged links to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of masterminding the July failed coup, the police headquarters said yesterday.

The statement said 2,523 were police chiefs.

Turkey on Monday extended the state of emergency introduced after the failed putsch for another 90 days, starting on Oct 19. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously suggested that it might be necessary for the state of emergency to be kept for at least 12 months.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE