UN holds second informal poll for next leader

The United Nations Security Council holds an emergency meeting on the Ukraine-Russia war at UN Headquarters in New York, on Jul 27, 2026. (Photo: AFP/Leonardo Munoz) 21 Aug 2026 10:55AM (Updated: 21 Aug 2026 10:57AM) UNITED NATIONS: The UN's most powerful body, the Security Council, meets on Friday (Aug 21) to hold another straw poll to gauge the popularity of a growing field of contenders to lead the embattled organisation.Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan was the front-runner after last month's first informal vote, in which the council's 15 members, including the five with veto power, pass judgment in secret on the candidates.Argentina's Rafael Grossi - the current head of the UN nuclear watchdog - is also a candidate along with Chile's Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Gu