Second straw poll could shake up race for UN chief

United Nations

THE race to become the next United Nations chief was set to gather pace on Friday with a second straw poll that could spring surprises and prompt some candidates to end their bid to become the world's top diplomat.

Portugal's former prime minister Antonio Guterres took the lead in the first informal vote last month to select the next secretary-general, followed closely by Danilo Turk, the former president of Slovenia.