Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
New Epstein Photos Surface Showing Trump as Lawmakers Near Document Release Deadline 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
Belarus Pledges to Halt Smuggling Balloons Into Lithuania 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
Costa Rica has officially nominated Rebeca Grynspan, the current Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), as its candidate for the next U.N. Secretary-General, President Rodrigo Chaves announced on Wednesday. The decision positions Grynspan, a seasoned politician and economist, as one of the leading figures in a historic race where global leaders are urging the selection of a woman to lead the United Nations for the first time in its 80-year history.
Grynspan, 69, previously served as Costa Rica’s Vice President and has built an extensive career within international institutions. Her past roles include leading the Ibero-American General Secretariat, serving as a U.N. Under-Secretary-General, and working as Associate Administrator of the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP). President Chaves highlighted her “commitment to multilateralism” and vast experience in development and international cooperation, stating that she represents a balanced and unifying choice for the role.
Born to Polish Jewish immigrants, Grynspan is widely regarded as a moderate candidate capable of navigating complex global tensions. Analysts note that her deep institutional knowledge gives her an edge, though geopolitical challenges—such as the ongoing Gaza war and Costa Rica’s perceived closeness to U.S. President Donald Trump—could pose diplomatic hurdles. Political analyst Carlos Cascante cautioned that these factors might complicate her path to securing widespread support among U.N. member states.
Her nomination follows that of former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, while Mexico’s Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena is also rumored to be considering a bid. With Antonio Guterres set to step down in 2026, the race for his successor could mark a defining moment in U.N. history—potentially ushering in its first female Secretary-General and a renewed focus on inclusive global leadership.
