Susana Malcorra

Venezuela's top diplomat turned up uninvited to a meeting of the South America's Mercosur on Dec. 14, despite Caracas' suspension from the trade bloc for failing to meet democratic and trade standards.

NEW YORK - Former Serbian FM Vuk Jeremic, Belgrade's candidate for the new UN secretary general, has moved up to second place after the fifth round of the vote on Monday, with former Portuguese PM Antonio Guterres still in pole position.

Guterres received 12 encourage, 2 discourage and one no opinion votes, while Jeremic had eight encourage, six discourage and one no opinion votes.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov announced on Wednesday that Sofia now supported the candidacy of Kristalina Georgieva for the post of UN Secretary-General

NEW YORK - A fourth round of the vote to select the new UN secretary-general was held at the UN headquarters in New York Friday, with former Portuguese PM Antonio Guterres still leading the race as Serbia's candidate Vuk Jeremic remains in third position, but with two more encourage votes than in the previous round.