söndag 26 juli 2026
Iran threatens to escalate war
Iran warned on Sunday that the war will escalate further if the US continues its attacks on the country.
The warning comes ahead of a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, AFP reports.
The Americans are once again falling for the "Zionist deception," Mohammad Akraminia, a spokesman for the Iranian military, told state television.
The US has carried out a series of attacks on several Iranian cities a couple of days ago. Iran has responded with attacks on US military facilities in the vicinity.
The future of the UN
The UN could have its first female leader
Seven candidates have now been selected in the hunt for a new UN Secretary-General, writes TT. The latest to be nominated as António Guterres' successor is 75-year-old Olara Otunnu from Uganda, reports AFP.
The election is being held in a "crisis-ridden world organization" that is being shaken by harsh criticism and deadlocks in the Security Council.
One of the hottest names is Michelle Bachelet from Chile. If she were to be elected, she would become the first woman in the post.
According to TT, the UN's ambition to try to achieve geographical spread in the leadership could mean that one of the candidates from Latin America could be highly relevant.
The candidates will next be discussed behind closed doors in the UN Security Council. The formal election is expected to take place later this fall.
The candidates for the job
Michelle Bachelet, Chile – former president of Chile and head of the UN gender equality agency UN Women
Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Ecuador – former president of the UN General Assembly.
Rafael Grossi, Argentina – director-general of the UN Atomic Energy Agency.
Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rica – former minister.
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana – former foreign minister.
Macky Sall, Senegal – former president of Senegal and chair of the African Union.
Olara Otunnu – former foreign minister and UN envoy.
Source: FN/TT
Crisis-stricken UN seeks next secretary-general
“Dysfunctional”
Even the UN’s own refugee commissioner, Filippo Grandi, has called the UN a “pretty dysfunctional body.”
“The institution is no stronger than its member states. That’s where the erosion is happening and that’s where the UN’s reputation as a system for international coexistence is fading,” he said in an interview with TT last year.
US President Donald Trump has also called the UN ineffective.
“All they seem to do is write a sharply worded letter and then never follow up on that letter. They are empty words, and empty words don’t solve wars,” he said last fall.
The question is whether a new secretary-general can make a difference. So far, only men have held the prestigious position. The UN has therefore encouraged member states to nominate women, but does not see it as a formal selection criterion.
Geography can play a role
There is also a certain tradition of geographical spread when it comes to choosing leaders, which means that a person from Latin America can be a good fit. Of the previous secretaries-general, four have come from Europe, two from Asia, two from Africa and one from Latin America.
Although there are currently seven nominees, other candidates could also be considered if the Security Council members cannot agree on any of the seven on the list. The five permanent members of the Security Council also have veto power in the selection of a new UN chief.
Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile and UN human rights chief, is one of the hottest names for the top job. In her statement about what she wants for the UN, she writes, among other things, that the future of the UN will depend on “its ability to adapt, innovate and lead”.
Who gets the job is decided by the General Assembly after the Security Council has reviewed the candidates and made a recommendation.
Facts
The nominees for the UN’s top job
Michelle Bachelet, Chile. Former President of Chile, Head of the UN Women agency and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
María Fernanda Espinosa, Ecuador. Former President of the UN General Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Representative to the UN.
Rafael Grossi, Argentina. Director General of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency.
Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rica. Former Vice President of Costa Rica and Secretary-General of the UN trade agency Unctad.
Carolyn Rodrigues, Guyana. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN.
Macky Sall, Senegal. Former President of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union.
Olara Otunnu, Uganda. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and UN Envoy. Served as Under-Secretary-General and Envoy for Children and Armed Conflict from 1997 to 2005.
Source: UN
Facts
Nine Secretaries-General until 2026
The new UN Secretary-General will take office on 1 January 2027 and will be the UN's tenth in the order. The nine previous holders of the post have all been men:
António Guterres, Portugal, 2017 to 2026
Ban Ki-Moon, South Korea, 2007 to 2016
Kofi Annan, Ghana, 1997 to 2006
Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Egypt, 1992 to 1996
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Peru, 1982 to 1991
Kurt Waldheim, Austria, 1972 to 1981
U Thant, Myanmar (Burma), 1961 to 1971
Dag Hammarskjöld, Sweden, 1953 to 1961
Trygve Lie, Norway, 1946 to 1952
Source: UN
Facts
The UN and the General Assembly
The United Nations was formed during the final stages of World War II. The UN Charter was signed by 51 member states in the summer of 1945 and entered into force on 24 October of the same year. Today, the UN has 193 member states.
The work is led by the Secretary-General and is largely based on the UN Charter.
Important chambers where decisions are made are the General Assembly, the Security Council and the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
In the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, the 193 member states each have their own seat and vote. Decisions are made in the form of resolutions that are not binding on the member states. However, they are considered morally binding as they are a reflection of world opinion. A new General Assembly begins each year in September. The general debate is also held at that time, when leaders from the member states speak in the chamber, hold individual meetings and put forward initiatives.
Source: UN
Prenumerera på:
Inlägg (Atom)