UNITED NATIONS: The General Assembly has approved a budget of $5.53 billion to cover the United Nations' regular operations in 2014-2015, cutting it for a second successive time.

But UN members again delayed action on a key proposal that would allow greater mobility of UN staff.

After lengthy negotiations, the assembly finally voted Friday afternoon to cut the budget by one per cent from the final spending level in 2012-2013.

It also approved a two per cent staffing cut, or some 221 posts, and a one year freeze in staff compensation.

The regular operating budget doesn't include the UN's far-flung peacekeeping operations which are funded by a separate budget, currently more than $7 billion annually.

The United States, which pays 22 per cent of the regular budget, welcomed the reduction in costs and staffing.