United Nations: The UN General Assembly on Friday appointed Antonio Guterres, to a second term as the Secretary-General to lead the world body through the crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic and the fight against global warming, which he has made his priority.

After being sworn-in to his second term, Guterres said that he would work for a "breakthrough" for a world at "a critical moment in history".

Security Council President and  Estonian diplomat Sven Jurgenson said that Guterres conformed to the highest standards of competence and integrity. The Assembly's endorsement of the Council's recommendation was only a formality because, in reality, the five permanent members of the Council through their veto powers control the selection and reappointment of the Secretary General.

India, which is a non-permanent member of the Security Council, supported Guterres's re-election there and in the Assembly.

Guterres displayed masterful diplomacy in navigating a deeply polarised Council without antagonising the permanent members while managing the reflexive opposition of former US President Donald Trump to the UN and China's aggressive diplomacy.

During the Covid-19 crisis, Guterres pursued the equitable distribution of vaccines and other resources while fighting disinformation, and set an agenda for post-pandemic rebuilding to put the world back on track in pursuit of the UN's sustainable development goals.

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