Icelandic minister rebuts Netanyahu, Canada pivots from US, false Xi visit rumor debunked at UN
At the UN General Assembly, Iceland’s foreign minister condemned Netanyahu’s “moral cowards” label, Canada announced a shift toward broader global partners, and a rumor of Xi Jinping visiting New York was disproved.
During Saturday’s UN General Assembly, Iceland’s foreign minister Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir turned Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusation of “moral cowards” on its head, arguing that leaders who block humanitarian aid and ignore international law fit that description. Canada’s foreign minister Anita Anand used the forum to stress that Ottawa is diversifying its partnerships, citing recent economic and security agreements with Europe, India, China and African nations, increased defence spending to meet NATO goals, and the opening of a new consulate in Greenland to strengthen Arctic ties.
Prime Minister Mark Carney reiterated the “middle-power” message, urging cooperation in a changing world. Meanwhile, a rumor that Chinese President Xi Jinping would leave Washington for New York and speak at the UN was debunked; one outlet confirmed no advance team was present and Vice President Han Zheng delivered the planned address. The episode underscored the volatility of real-time diplomatic reporting at the UN.
Why it matters
The story shows shifting global alliances, diplomatic rhetoric on humanitarian aid, and how rumors can swirl in high-profile international forums.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 ICC leaders warn diplomatic isolation threatens global rule of law
- Sep 11 The United States imposed sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and a senior trial lawyer.
- Sep 17 A UN fact-finding mission concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe US forces carried out two February attacks in Iran that qualify as war crimes, and it also documented crimes against humanity by Iranian authorities during the protest crackdown.
- Sep 17 Prime Minister Mark Carney told the European Parliament that Canada appreciates the EU’s offer to join as its inaugural associate member and outlined a wide-ranging partnership vision.
- Sep 17 The UN experts also accused Iranian authorities of crimes against humanity for suppressing protests.
- Sep 17 President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs in response to the EU‑Canada partnership proposal.
- Sep 19 EU officials noted that the associate‑member concept has no existing definition in EU law and would need unanimous approval of all member states.
- Sep 22 President Donald Trump signed an agreement with Denmark and Greenland to expand U.S. military facilities in the Arctic, including plans for two major bases.
- Sep 23 The agreement specifies reopening Narsarsuaq and building a facility at Mestersvig rather than creating two entirely new bases.
- Sep 25 The trilateral security pact was signed at the United Nations, authorising U.S. bases at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig and an upgrade of Pituffik.
- Sep 26 The proposal was raised publicly at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
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