But there was no deal when Blair went to see President Vladimir Putin to ask him to drop his insistence that U.N. inspectors should go back to Iraq before sanctions were ended.

CNN: Analysis: Battles ahead over U.N. role

Climate negotiators are heading back to the table today in Durban, South Africa, for the latest go-round of the U.N. climate change talks, the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17).

FORBES: Climate Treaty Would Actually Be Good for Business