The UN General Assembly has a busy year ahead. First, the members have chosen their new president to preside over the 81st General Assembly. Then, the 193 members picked five new non-permanent members to serve on the 15-member Security Council. Later in the year, the full Assembly will choose a new secretary-general to lead the organisation for the next five years.
In early June, the assembly chose between the former Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and the Ambassador of Cyprus, Andreas Kakouris. In a narrow and surprising outcome, Bangladesh won with 99 votes over 91 for Cyprus. Thus, Mr Rahman will replace Germany's Annalena Baerbock, who has skilfully navigated the world body through the UN's 80th year.
Afterwards, the assembly elected five new members to serve two-year terms on the powerful Security Council. The candidates came from regional groups and, as is so often the case, were selected in non-competitive elections.
