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For the first time since 1979, Iraqi oil started flowing to markets legally today. It's a result of the UN oil-for-food resolution that relaxes the stringent embargo against Saddam Hussein's nation. US officials express confidence that the UN-monitored oil sales will not erode the general sanctions program and the grand coalition that opposed Saddam Hussein in Desert Storm. But analysts are not so sure. They expect nations in the region will see the deal as a green light to resume trading and smuggling with Iraq. NPR's Ted Clark reports.

NPR's Ted Clark reports that the United Nations Security Council today broke a deadlock and selected Kofi Annan (KO-fee ah-NAHN) of Ghana to be the next U-N secretary general. Annan will succeed Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who was blocked from a second term by the United States. For the past several days France had objected to Annan, but Paris joined the rest of the Security Council today in backing the Ghanaian, who currently is head of UN peacekeeping operations.

Former U.N. weapons inspector David Kay tells Congress that no evidence has been found to date of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Congress is preparing to weigh President Bush's request for an additional $600 million to continue the hunt for banned Iraqi arms. The request was part of Bush's $87 billion funding request for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hear NPR's Vicky O'Hara and Charles Duelfer, formerly with the U.N. Special Commission on Iraq.

Some countries have paused funding to a UN agency that looks after Palestinian refugees after Israel provided evidence that it said showed Palestinian employees took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

The conflict in the Middle East dominates day one of the annual UN general assembly — as the UN secretary general warns of a "powder keg" of global conflicts that risk engulfing the world.

A day after they were turned away by Syrian security forces, U.N. monitors reach the village where 78 people were believed slaughtered on Wednesday.

The U.S. wants to see changes within the United Nations, as well as its peacekeeping operations worldwide — most of which are in Africa. The U.S. is the biggest donor to the budget.

Belarus is accused of trafficking migrants to the E.U. The U.N. calls for an end to the violence in Myanmar.

U.N. officials say a quarter of the population in Gaza is experiencing "famine-like conditions."

World leaders will gather next week at the United Nations General Assembly, where an independent U.N. commission will present the findings of a recent investigation that found Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.