Human rights boss appointed

The UN General Assembly yesterday approved a veteran Austrian diplomat to be the global body’s human rights chief and its advocate for adherence to universal rights. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nominated Volker Trk, his top policy chief, late on Thursday and the 193-member assembly quickly approved the appointment.

Iranians exit embassy in Albania

Albanian special-forces police forced the door of the Iranian Embassy in Tirana yesterday and officers surrounded its compound, soon after the last staff left the building following the government’s order to expel them. The officers, in full fighting gear, entered the building, followed by other officers carrying equipment and accompanied by a dog. The Albanian government on Thursday gave the embassy’s staff 24 hours to leave the country after a major cyberattack it blamed on Iran. It is the first known case of a country cutting diplomatic relations over a cyberattack.