192 nations have pledged to agree a global treaty at a two-week negotiating marathon in Paris at the end of 2015 - the most ambitious political task in history.

NZ's UN Ambassador Jim McLay says there are heavy expectations on New Zealand's shoulders when it takes Security Council seat.

The war is officially over, victory secured. And Afghanistan, once again, has been rebuilt. But for many, life in the restive provinces is much as it ever was.

Assumptions that President Barack Obama was a lame duck, counting down his last quarter after Republicans seized Congress, were confounded by several White House coups.

This week, as The Interview's December 25 US release date loomed, the Guardians of Peace threatened "the world will be full of fear", hinting at a 9/11-style attack.

The UN's refugee agency has revealed "the most lethal route in the world" after a record number of deaths.

US embassies have been told to prepare for violent protests ahead of a report into the CIA's use of torture.

New Zealand's proposal to tackle climate change on an international scale is seen as "the only game in town" by the United States, Climate Change Minister Tim Groser says.

Turkey's Foreign Minister says Ankara has no hard feelings towards New Zealand after its defeat in its bid to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Terrorism is an affront to our freedom, human dignity and right to life.

New Zealand's ambassador to the United Nations says the country's independence was one of the strongest benefits it will bring to its newly won Security Council seat role.

In the UN General Assembly hall it was Christmas at every desk.

The World Health Organisation bungled efforts to halt the spread of Ebola in West Africa, an internal report revealed Friday.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says winning a seat on the United Nations Security Council does not mean New Zealand is committed to military action in Iraq.

Although a small country, New Zealand will have "a loud voice" on the United Nations Security Council as it works for global peace and stability, Prime Minister says.

NZ winning a seat on the UN Security Council 'proves small countries have a role to play' says the Prime Minister, as his Foreign Minister expresses relief.

If New Zealand becomes a member of the UN Security Council early tomorrow, hoping to get a pay-off for the hundreds of thousands of dollars in schmoozing we've done to get there, let us see how much of an independent voice we will retain.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says whether or not New Zealand wins a seat on the United Nations Security Council tomorrow morning, the campaign has been of huge benefit to New Zealand.

Emma Watson’s recent speech in which she discussed the definition of feminism has been well received by pretty much everyone with a mild interest in gender equality.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has addressed the United Nations General Assembly, in a bid to secure New Zealand a place on the United Nations Security Council.

Tony Abbott vowed Australia’s “unflinching” support for the fight against Islamic State as he backed an ambitious United Nations plan to stamp out the terrorist threat.

Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has brought star power to the UN summit on climate change on Tuesday, urging leaders to stop treating global warming as "fiction".

The planet will be drowned in love and good intentions from the United Nations today when leaders from around the world gather for a climate summit that will try to give fresh impetus to global negotiations.