Grynspan gains 12 votes in U.N. leadership race as Turkish bid trails
Costa Rican strengthens her lead in eighth Security Council straw poll, but secret ballots leave potential vetoes unresolved.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a Central American nation known for its long-standing democracy, political stability, and environmental conservation efforts. A unique fact about the country is that it abolished its army in 1948, becoming one of the few nations to operate without a standing military.
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Grynspan widens lead in U.N. race as UAE candidate trails
Security Council poll gives Costa Rica's candidate 11 votes, while Lana Nusseibeh draws six objections in her first test.
Sudan scrutiny shadows late entrant in race for next U.N. chief
Lana Nusseibeh reshapes a deadlocked contest as rights advocates challenge UAE’s denials of support for Sudan’s RSF.
Veto threats leave U.N. leadership race deadlocked after 6th straw poll
Rebeca Grynspan leads a three-way contest to succeed António Guterres, but all seven candidates face opposition.
Grynspan still ahead in U.N. race as Security Council deadlock persists
Costa Rican falls to nine positive votes in fifth straw poll as support declines across the leading candidates.
Grynspan leads U.N. race but veto uncertainty leaves contest unsettled
Costa Rican wins nine ‘encourage’ votes in third Security Council straw poll as Bachelet withdrawal narrows the field.
Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana takes lead in second U.N. chief straw poll
No candidate reaches nine-vote threshold as opposition grows and race to succeed António Guterres remains wide open.
Early U.N. straw poll puts Grynspan ahead in race to succeed Guterres
Confidential Security Council vote offers first indication of support as selection process for the next U.N. chief gears up.
The U.N.'s AI governance vision pushes coordination, not regulation
Discussions in Geneva revealed concern over fragmented regulation, unequal access and the need for safeguards.
The next U.N. leader may need to be a science diplomat
Scientists and policy leaders argue the secretary-general's job is increasingly shaped by science and technology.
Secretary-general candidates call for a more activist U.N. as race heats up
At the first globally televised debate of the 2026 contest, contenders argued the U.N. must rebuild trust through results.
Ecuador's Espinosa becomes fifth candidate to lead United Nations
If elected, Espinosa, Bachelet or Grynspan would become the first woman to serve as U.N. chief since the U.N.’s founding.
U.N. chief candidates diverge on priorities, converge on deadlock
In General Assembly dialogues, candidates show shared values but offer no specifics on reshaping power structure.
Leadership race for U.N.'s top job narrows ahead of public hearings
Withdrawals and regional divisions unsettle the field, while closed-door straw polls and veto power shape the outcome.
U.N. chief's selection enters public phase as calls for transparency rise
Since 1946, a woman has never been chosen for the top job, and four of the nine U.N. chiefs have been Europeans.
Nations establish advisory bodies to serve as global watchdog for AI
The twin moves reflect an attempt to navigate intense competition between the U.S., China, and the E.U.