No permanent Security Council member should possess an effective veto over the secretary-general selection

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Lawyers for former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak requested a sentence stay citing his declining health and an inability to pay the $2.8 billion fine.

High Court Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nordin ruled that former Prime Minister Najib Razak failed to establish special circumstances justifying a suspension of his 15-year jail sentence.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak set up the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state investment fund shortly after taking office in 2009.

In September 2026, King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar granted former Prime Minister Najib Razak a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his initial sentence under house arrest until August 2028.

U.S. investigators determined that approximately $4.5 billion was siphoned from the 1MDB state fund, with over $1 billion reaching accounts linked to Najib Razak.

Defense attorney Muhammad Shafee Abdullah stated that former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will appeal the High Court stay refusal at the Court of Appeal.

High Court Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nordin stated that the gravity of former Prime Minister Najib Razak's corruption offense was the primary public interest consideration in denying a sentence stay.

In January 2024, Malaysia's Pardons Board reduced former Prime Minister Najib Razak's initial prison sentence to six years and lowered his fine to 50 million ringgit.

In December 2025, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was convicted of abuse of power and money laundering in a second 1MDB trial, receiving a 15-year jail term and an 11.4 billion ringgit fine.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's 15-year sentence from his second 1MDB conviction is scheduled to take effect after his initial prison term ends in August 2028.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak must pay a 50 million ringgit fine before his transfer to house arrest can proceed, prompting a fundraising drive by his political party UMNO.

Democratic Action Party leader Anthony Loke offered to resign as transport minister following the September 2026 royal pardon granted to former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

On October 14, 2026, the Kuala Lumpur High Court denied former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's application to suspend his 15-year jail term in his second 1MDB graft case.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak lost power in the 2018 general election following public outrage over the multibillion-dollar 1MDB corruption scandal.

In 2020, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was convicted in his first trial involving SRC International and sentenced to 12 years in prison plus a 210 million ringgit fine.

Regional rotation should not determine the next UN secretary-general

Iraqi lawmakers approved Mohammed Ali Tamim and Muhsin Al Mandalawi alongside Laith al-Khazali as deputy prime ministers on October 15, 2026.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi took office with support from U.S. President Donald Trump and has maintained strong relations with Washington while also seeking to sustain ties with Tehran.

Century Foundation Iraq expert Sajad Jiyad stated that nominating Laith al-Khazali may signal to Iran-aligned factions that participating in formal politics offers access to senior government positions.

Iraq's parliament approved 11 cabinet portfolios on October 15, 2026, including Nayef al-Shammari as defense minister and Yasir al-Maliki as interior minister, completing Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's cabinet five months after he took office.