UN peacekeepers in South Sudan (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The 193-member UN General Assembly budget committee agreed on Tuesday to the peacekeeping budget for the year through June 30, 2022, allowing peacekeeping missions totaling about 100,000 "blue berets" to continue to operate around the world.

Also Tuesday, the UN Security Council issued Resolution 2584 to extend the operation of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and called on the Malian transitional government to organize free and fair presidential and legislative elections.