The World - News from Dec. 23, 1988

The U.N. General Assembly adopted a budget by consensus for the first time in more than 40 years, and the plan includes financial reforms backed by both the United States and the Soviet Union. Washington responded by paying nearly $30 million of the $500 million-plus that it owes in back dues, an official said. The budget allocates $1.76 billion for 1990-91, about $22 million less than the revised figures for the 1988-89 budget. U.S., Soviet, Japanese and Western European officials sought a 15% U.N. staff reduction.