Reuters - The U.N. Security Council voted on Thursday to keep the United Nations mission in Iraq for another year, as Baghdad urged the world body to do more to help it transform into a functioning democracy.

Reuters - Ambassadors from the United States and Libya exchanged hugs and kisses at the U.N. Security Council on Thursday in an unusual public display of affection between former arch enemies.

Reuters - The United Nations on Thursday raised concerns Sudanese anti-terrorism courts which condemned 30 Darfur rebels to death did not meet international standards and urged the appeals courts to review the sentences.

AFP - The UN atomic watchdog's number two held a new round of talks on Thursday on Iran's nuclear drive as Western governments said the time had come for the Security Council to impose more sanctions.

AP - Major world powers agreed Wednesday to pursue new sanctions against Iran, even though the watered-down penalties already levied by the U.N. have only made Iran rush faster to perfect nuclear expertise.

Reuters - Britain on Wednesday criticized a United Nations probe into the March storming of a courthouse by U.N. and NATO troops in Kosovo that concluded that commanders had ignored cautionary advice from New York.

AFP - The UN atomic watchdog's number two was in Tehran on Thursday for a new round of talks on Iran's nuclear drive as Western governments said the time had come for the Security Council to impose fresh sanctions.

AFP - The United States and its European allies have rejected Iran's latest letter on its suspect nuclear program and now plan to seek new UN Security Council sanctions, US media reported Wednesday.

AP - Six nations agreed Wednesday to pursue new U.N. sanctions against Iran after it failed to accept incentives offered in hopes of defusing the dispute over its nuclear program, the United States said.

Reuters - Major powers agreed to consider a fourth U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran because of its refusal to freeze sensitive nuclear work, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.

AP - Israel will almost surely boycott the next U.N. racism conference in Geneva, its ambassador said Wednesday, warning that the meeting is likely to sink into the same anti-Semitism that prompted the U.S. and Israel to walk out of the last one seven years ago.

Reuters - Violence has decreased and security has improved across most of Iraq in the past three months but much progress is needed on the political front, a top U.N. official said on Wednesday.