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The race to become the next United Nations secretary-general is taking shape, with seven candidates currently seeking the top diplomatic post. The 10th UN secretary-general will be selected this year for a five-year term beginning on January 1, 2027. The successful candidate will succeed current UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The candidates come from different regions and have backgrounds in diplomacy, politics, human rights, development and international affairs. Rafael Grossi Rafael Grossi, 65, is widely viewed as a leading contender. The Argentine diplomat has headed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the past six years. Grossi has played a prominent role in international nuclear diplomacy. He was involved in efforts to preserve parts of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement after the United States withdrew from the deal in 2018. His diplomatic efforts have also taken him to some of the world’s most sensitive conflict zones. One of his notable achievements was securing the presence of an IAEA team at Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. His experience dealing with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council could strengthen his chances. Their support is considered crucial in the selection process. Rebeca Grynspan Rebeca Grynspan, 70, is a former vice president of Costa Rica and currently heads the UN Conference on Trade and Development. She presents herself as a reform-oriented multilateralist. Her campaign focuses on strengthening the UN while protecting its commitment to peace, development and human rights. If elected, Grynspan would make history as the first woman to serve as UN secretary-general. She has spoken about the challenges women face in senior leadership positions. She has also argued for equal treatment rather than special treatment for women. Grynspan says the UN needs to become more flexible and effective. She supports greater cooperation with governments and other international actors. Michelle Bachelet Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, 74, is another prominent candidate. Bachelet served as Chile’s president twice. She also held senior positions within the UN, including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and head of UN Women. Her candidacy has received support from Brazil and Mexico. However, Chile withdrew its backing in March following a political shift in the country. Bachelet has also faced criticism from some US conservatives over her views on abortion and her record as UN human rights chief. These political objections could affect her campaign as the selection process moves forward. Macky Sall Macky Sall, 64, served as president of Senegal for 12 years before leaving office in 2024. A geologist by training, Sall has focused much of his international agenda on the challenges faced by developing countries. He has called for reforms to the UN Security Council. He supports greater representation for developing nations, including permanent seats on the powerful body. Sall was nominated by Burundi. If elected, he would become only the third African to serve as UN secretary-general, following Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Kofi Annan. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Maria Fernanda Espinosa, 61, is an experienced Ecuadorian diplomat and former government minister. She previously served as Ecuador’s foreign affairs and defence minister under former President Rafael Correa. Espinosa has also held important positions within the UN. She served as Ecuador’s ambassador to the organisation and later became president of the UN General Assembly. Her international work has included issues involving climate change, biodiversity and Indigenous peoples. She has called for a more decisive and effective UN. Her campaign emphasises stronger priorities, better implementation and greater political confidence within the organisation. Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett is Guyana’s permanent representative to the UN, a position she has held since 2020. A career diplomat and former politician, she previously made history as the first woman and the highest-ranking Indigenous person to serve as Guyana’s foreign minister. She has also worked in senior positions at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Rodrigues Birkett is seeking to make the UN more effective, particularly in conflict prevention and climate action. If elected, she would become the first woman and the first Caribbean national to lead the United Nations. Olara Otunnu Olara Otunnu, 75, is the oldest candidate currently seeking the position. The Ugandan diplomat previously served as a UN under-secretary-general. He was nominated by Uganda for the secretary-general post. Otunnu has made institutional reform a central part of his campaign. He has also said that ending major international conflicts would be an immediate priority if he were elected. His programme includes proposals for greater UN oversight of artificial intelligence. He has also called for stronger climate action while ensuring that environmental policies do not undermine economic development. The candidates bring different priorities and regional perspectives to the race. The selection will be closely watched because the secretary-general plays a central role in international diplomacy, conflict resolution, humanitarian efforts and coordination among UN member states. The next UN chief will also inherit a number of major global challenges, including armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions, climate change, economic pressures and the growing impact of artificial intelligence.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed that its nationwide distribution of body-worn cameras to all field officers and agents is moving ahead of schedule, with deployment set to wrap up by the end of August. Acting Director David Venturella announced the accelerated timetable amidst intense public and congressional scrutiny following recent fatal enforcement encounters. Public outrage mounted after lethal shootings during traffic stops in Maine and Texas, as well as the fatal shooting of two US citizens during an immigration crackdown in Minnesota. In response to the incidents, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previously stated that the camera programme would expand nationwide as funding allowed, while border czar Tom Homan directed that officers record vehicle stops using at least one body camera. Under current internal policies, ICE permits expedited footage releases following incidents involving severe injury or death in custody. However, the agency retains broad authority to withhold recordings to safeguard active investigations or personal privacy. Transparency advocates and legal scholars have criticised the framework, arguing that granting agency leadership discretionary power to block or delay footage releases risks shielding federal operations from meaningful public oversight.

DHAKA: Bangladesh has asked India to clarify its position over a planned virtual address by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, saying political activities by a fugitive could undermine efforts to improve relations between the two neighboring countries. The request comes ahead of an event scheduled for August 5 in New Delhi, where Hasina is expected to deliver a video address alongside her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, during a programme organized by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia. Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Dhaka is committed to strengthening ties with India but believes New Delhi should clearly explain its stance regarding political activities by individuals wanted by Bangladeshi authorities. She said Bangladesh has repeatedly expressed concerns over Hasina and other leaders of the Awami League making political statements while residing in India. According to the minister, Dhaka does not want such activities to negatively affect the progress made in bilateral relations. The minister noted that the event is not being organized by the Indian government but added that Bangladesh is prepared to raise the matter through diplomatic channels if required. India’s Ministry of External Affairs had not issued an official response to the remarks at the time of reporting. Relations between Bangladesh and India have remained under strain since Hasina left Bangladesh in August 2024 following a student-led uprising that ended her tenure in office. Although both countries have recently indicated a willingness to rebuild diplomatic engagement, the issue of Hasina’s stay in India continues to be a sensitive matter. Bangladesh has formally requested Hasina’s extradition to face legal proceedings. In 2025, she was sentenced to death in absentia over crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 crackdown on anti-government protests. Hasina has rejected the verdict, describing it as politically motivated and without legal validity. Despite the legal cases against her, Hasina has said she intends to return to Bangladesh in the future, while her planned virtual appearance has once again brought the issue of her presence in India into the diplomatic spotlight.

South Korean investigators have launched a major investigation into the National Election Commission after allegations that officials altered voter turnout figures during the June 3 local elections. Authorities searched the commission’s offices on Thursday as part of a widening probe into what could become one of the country’s most serious election controversies in recent years. The investigation follows widespread problems that disrupted voting on election day. Dozens of polling stations ran out of ballot papers, creating confusion for voters across the country. The shortages occurred during the first nationwide local elections held after President Lee Jae Myung took office last year. The incident sparked public criticism, street protests, and growing demands for greater transparency in the country’s election system. The controversy also forced National Election Commission chief Roh Tae-ak to resign. President Lee responded by ordering a full investigation into the failures that affected the election process. Since then, police and prosecutors have been examining whether the problems were caused by simple mistakes or deliberate misconduct. According to investigators, there is evidence that officials from both the National Election Commission and the Gyeonggi Provincial Election Commission entered false voter turnout figures into the election reporting system. Authorities believe some staff members changed numbers without following the commission’s official approval procedures. Investigators suspect the changes were made to fix earlier reporting mistakes while officials waited for accurate turnout data from polling stations. Instead of correcting the figures through the required process, they allegedly adjusted turnout numbers across several voting locations to make the overall totals appear consistent. Reports suggest one example involved a polling station where officials accidentally recorded 1,000 voters instead of the actual 100. Rather than immediately correcting the mistake, investigators believe the excess figures were temporarily distributed among other polling stations with the expectation that later voter turnout would balance the totals. Authorities are now examining whether similar adjustments were made elsewhere during the election. Under the commission’s regulations, any correction to turnout figures must receive formal approval before being entered into the system. Investigators believe those procedures may have been bypassed in several cases. Officials leading the investigation confirmed that two election workers have already been placed under formal investigation on suspicion of falsifying official electronic records. Authorities are now trying to determine whether the alleged actions were limited to lower level employees or whether senior officials knew about or approved the changes. Analysts say the case has drawn attention to long standing concerns about oversight within South Korea’s election commission. Because the commission operates as an independent constitutional body, critics argue that its internal monitoring and disciplinary systems have not always been strong enough to prevent misconduct. The ballot paper shortages also affected voters directly. Data provided by the commission to lawmakers showed that at least 90 people were unable to cast their ballots because voting papers were unavailable at their polling stations. The controversy has also fueled political tensions. Supporters of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who is currently in jail while facing trial on insurrection charges, have renewed claims that the country’s elections require closer scrutiny. Some far right groups have repeated allegations of foreign interference despite the absence of verified evidence supporting those claims. In recent weeks, university students have joined demonstrations calling for a complete investigation into the election commission. Protesters are demanding stronger safeguards to protect voting rights and restore public confidence in South Korea’s democratic institutions. As the investigation continues, authorities say they will examine every level of the election process to determine whether any broader misconduct took place.