Ugandan diplomat warns UN faces grave risk without radical reform 'Reform is no longer an optional choice. It is an imperative.' — Olara Otunnu, candidate for UN Secretary-General Africa 38 min ago

What you need to know: Otunnu says UN at grave risk without reformUgandan is among eight candidates in secretary-general raceSecond straw poll due to be held on Friday Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu, one of eight candidates seeking to succeed Antonio Guterres as UN secretary-general next year, on Wednesday called for continued reform of the world body and the restoration of its moral authority.

A first so-called straw poll took place at the end of July and showed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan as a narrow early frontrunner, followed by former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Argentina's Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog.

Otunnu, a former UN under-secretary-general who served as a special representative for children and armed conflict, invoked St Francis of Assisi as he spoke of the need for the world body to help bridge growing global divisions.