Four candidates are vying for the post of UN Secretary-General
This year marks the end of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s five-year term, and a new head of the organization will be elected by the end of the year. He will take office on January 1, 2027.
This was reported by Reuters
Among the leading contenders is current IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. The Argentine diplomat is considered one of the favorites thanks to his active international work, including his participation in negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program and the situation surrounding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Also on the list of candidates is economist and former Vice President of Costa Rica Rebecca Greenspan. She advocates for reforms at the UN and could become the first woman to hold the position of Secretary-General of the organization.
Another candidate is former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who previously headed the UN’s human rights division. Her campaign has faced criticism from some politicians in the U.S. and has lost the support of Chile’s current government.
The fourth candidate is former Senegalese President Macky Sall. He emphasizes the need to reform the UN Security Council and strengthen the role of developing countries, but his candidacy does not enjoy unanimous support even in Africa.
The UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) is developing an evacuation plan for hundreds of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf since the start of US and Israeli strikes on Iran over seven weeks ago. The plan calls for the evacuation of about 2,000 ships and the rescue of 20,000 sailors.
During an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Russian representative Vasily Nebenzya pointedly checked his phone while Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Andriy Melnyk, was speaking and presenting data on civilian casualties resulting from Russian attacks.
