UN cuts budget amid global downturn
The 193 UN member countries agreed on Saturday to cut the global body's budget for only the second time in the past 50 years following a long night of negotiations, AFP reported.
An accord struck at dawn on Saturday saw the 2012-13 budget set at $5.15 billion, down from $5.41 billion in 2010-11.
The United States and crisis-stricken European countries had fought for cuts while developing countries had demanded spending should be maintained.
"All budget years are tough. But this year was especially difficult," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, welcoming the accord and vowing more cuts in the coming months. “Governments and people everywhere are struggling."