A veteran Mexican diplomat has been chosen to head the United Nations' newly upgraded climate office, UN chief Ban Ki-moon announced in a letter to France's environment minister, reports AFP. Ban said he will appoint Patricia Espinosa Cantellano "as the new UNFCCC Executive Secretary for…

The EU is set to give conditional approval on Wednesday for Turks to gain visa-free access to the Schengen zone, sources told AFP, meeting a key demand by Ankara to keep a migrant crisis deal alive, reports AFP. The European Commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation EU, will say Turkey must still…

AFP, Iran: Iran has stopped placing orders to import US-made cars after criticism from supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, news agencies in the Islamic republic reported on Tuesday. The industry, mining and trade ministry had previously allowed 24 models manufactured by the General Motors-owned Chevrolet…

The New York Times Co. on Tuesday reported a slump in advertising revenues for both print and digital, dragging the newspaper group into the red for the first quarter, reports AFP. The prestigious US daily posted a loss of $8.3 million in the quarter, narrower than the $14.3 million deficit in the same…

AFP, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's parliament erupted in brawls between rival lawmakers Tuesday, after a former army chief said a bomb blast apparently targeting ex-president Mahinda Rajapakse's brother 10 years ago was an "inside job". Legislators from Sri Lanka's ruling party traded…