Guyanese ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed António Guterres as UN secretary-general, receiving eight 'encourage' votes in the Security Council's second informal straw poll held on Friday. She edged ahead of Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan and Argentine IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, who each received seven 'encourage' votes; Grynspan had led after the first round in July. The non-binding polls are used to build consensus among the council's 15 members before a formal vote, with the chosen candidate needing at least nine votes and no veto from any of the five permanent members — the process must conclude before Guterres's term expires on 31 December.