Iran has struck a historic nuclear deal with the US and five other world powers, after more than three decades of estrangement,

An old rift between rich and poor has reopened in UN climate talks as developing countries look for ways to make developed countries accept responsibility for global warming - and pay for it.

An al-Qaeda-affiliated extremist group has claimed responsibility for twin suicide attacks on the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged governments to put forth more ambitious plans to cut carbon emissions, saying "current pledges are simply inadequate".

In the last of a three-part series, Young New Zealander of the Year and CEO of the Sustainable Coastlines Charitable Trust ,Sam Judd, discusses the United Nations Environment Programs’ Global Partnership on Marine Litter.

Sam Judd writes that perhaps the biggest environmental problem we currently face is the contamination of our waterways by nutrients.

Prime Minister John Key spoke with US President Barack Obama last night about the Trans Pacific Partnership meeting on Tuesday.

Environmental columnist Sam Judd reflects on the challenges and opportunities that the United Nations Environment Program faces with regard to oceans.

Prime Minister John Key has arrived in Canberra for a flying visit with his new Australian counterpart, Tony Abbott.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani scooped Barack Obama with a tweet revealing a break in the 34-year silence between leaders of the two nations.

The mouse might have roared very loudly indeed - but the elephants he was busy poking with his toothpick were far too busy to hear it.

John Key took to the stage at the United Nations General Assembly yesterday with an old message, made urgent by the crisis in Syria.

Prime Minister John Key has stuck by his criticism of the giants on the United Nation's Security Council despite their apparent breakthrough last night on a resolution to deal with Syria's chemical weapons.

Prime Minister John Key has taken a sarcastic poke at the excuses used by nuclear countries for moving slowly on disarmament.

Prime Minister John Key has his big day addressing the United Nations General Assembly today - but his bid for the Security Council seat will be overshadowed by the Security Council itself, meeting to discuss Syria at the same time as his speech.

Former PM-turned UNDP head Helen Clark says NZ's bid for a Security Council seat is a "David and Goliath" battle - but we could still win.

John Key is to meet with former Australian PM Julia Gillard in New York today, following a meeting with his predecessor Helen Clark.

Prime Minister John Key says NZ's rivals for a Security Council seat are likely to be spending up to secure the required votes, but we still have some tricks to play.

Syria says it's ready to state where its chemical weapons are and to halt their production, but the US says it'll have to do more than sign up to a treaty.

The US administration has bluntly accused Bashar Assad's government of launching a chemical weapons attack that killed at least 1,429 people - far more than previous estimates- including more than 400 children.

A probe into policing in the troubled new country of South Sudan has uncovered 11,000 fake names on the payroll.

This posh Seoul suburb is a hub of luxury and excess, discovers Sharon Stephenson.

Diplomats and ministers are grappling with thorny issues as they work to secure New Zealand a seat on the UN Security Council for 2015-16.