Bangladesh's top diplomat elected UN General Assembly leader in tight race

Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has been elected president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, defeating Cyprus's Ambassador Andreas Kakouris in a secret ballot with 99 votes to 91 out of 190 cast. His one-year term will start on September 8, coinciding with the selection process for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's successor. Rahman, a former national security adviser and high representative on the Rohingya issue, joined Bangladesh's foreign service in 1979 and held senior UN positions.