In a meeting with Hiroshima survivor Setsuko Thurlow and a delegation of ICAN campaigners, Mayor Ada Colau of Barcelona announced the passage of a resolution by the city to support the ICAN Cities Appeal and called on the Spanish government to join the TPNW.

In a speech outlining his vision for France’s nuclear deterrence strategy, President Macron touted the role of nuclear weapons in European security policy and dismissed calls for their global abolition as an ‘ethical debate’ that lacked ‘realism in the strategic context.’ Meanwhile, Elysee has yet to respond to an invitation to meet renowned Hiroshima survivor Setsuko Thurlow, while she is in Paris next week.

New Yorkers gathered in numbers at the New York City Council on Tuesday 28 January to give testimony in favour of two pieces of legislation in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. NYCAN - New York City-based Partners of ICAN organised a rally in support of Res. 976 and Int. 1621.

Photo: Noah Diamond

On 23 January, Paraguay became the 35th country to ratify the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapon. Only 15 further ratifications are now needed to bring this landmark treaty – which places nuclear weapons on the same legal footing as chemical and biological weapons – into force.

On Thursday, Belgian MPs will vote on a resolution proposing to remove US nuclear weapons stationed in the country, and join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

UPDATE 17/01: Despite a close-run vote, the resolution did not pass (74 against vs 66 in favour).  The close margin indicates how controversial the presence of US nuclear weapons on Belgian territory is to both citizens and the 66 elected representatives that voted in favour of removing those weapons and joining the UN #nuclearban treaty.

Get up to speed with the recent Iran nuclear deal news here.

Photo: U.S. State Department