Chilean politician and international public servant
The UN Security Council has conducted a straw poll for the next secretary-general, with Rodrigues-Birkett leading the field, followed by Grynspan and Grossi. Several other contenders remain, and a formal vote in the General Assembly will determine the outcome. The process involves nine votes in the Council and potential vetoes by the five permanent members.
Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn from the UN secretary-general contest after weak support in Security Council straw polls. The withdrawal leaves four candidates and intensifies focus on Latin American leadership in the rotating process ahead of the General Assembly vote.
The UN has updated its human-rights database to list 214 companies across 11 countries, most of them Israeli, with five removals this year. The update, first published in 2020, comes as Britain, France and Canada take steps to restrict settlement-linked trade. Volker Türk reiterates that firms must conduct due diligence to respect human rights.