UN hails Syria’s first destruction of chemical munitions since 2014

The United Nations Security Council convened on Thursday to review the chemical weapons issue in Syria, commending the first verified destruction of chemical munitions in the country since 2014 as a significant progress.

Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, reported in her briefing that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has verified the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs in Syria.

This marks the first time since 2014 that the OPCW has verified the destruction of chemical munitions in Syria, according to Nakamitsu.

China also encouraged Syria to complete its destruction as soon as possible.

"China notes that for some time now, the Syrian transitional government has been fulfilling its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, establishing a Syrian National Authority, strengthening its staffing, and actively cooperating with the OPCW Technical Secretariat. China encouraged Syria to determine as soon as possible the full inventory of any sensitive chemical substances that may remain in Syria and complete their destruction," said Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government is ready to sign a trade deal with the United States that benefits both countries, when Washington is ready.

In an interview on Thursday, Carney said that any agreement would need to have stability and credibility.

This comes as Carney announced an investment of 4.7 billion Canadian dollars (3.4 billion U.S. dollars) to build and maintain over 300 passenger train cars for VIA Rail, Canada's national passenger rail service.

It's the first time in 40 years that Canada's passenger cars will be built entirely on Canadian soil, a shift of production away from the United States.