The Iran deal

According to a report, there is a possibility of a less than robust deal regarding the joint comprehensive plan of action. Reportedly, participants in Iran nuclear talks, the u.s., France, the u.k., Russia, China and the eu say they are drawing to a close. According to the report, the french president spoke to his Iranian counterpart Saturday, urging him to agree to a deal.

Reportedly, according to a french presidential statement, Iran should preserve the Vienna deal, a step by step return to the jcpoa, and avoid a major crisis. According to the report, the draft being discussed would suspend Iran’s uranium enrichment and freeze $7 billion in Iranian funds stuck in south Korean banks.

According to the report, the main conditions of the jcpoa is eliminating its enriched uranium stockpile. Reportedly, the u.s. would waive sanctions on Iranian oil.

Ukraine

According to a report, multiple explosions could be heard late on Saturday in the centre of Donetsk. Reportedly, the origin of the explosions were not clear and there was no immediate comment from Kyiv or Donetsk.

According to the report, the osce said two regions in Donbas were hit by more than 1400 explosions on Friday. Reportedly, the osce’s special monitoring mission confirmed one casualty.

According to the report, Ukraine’s military said mercenaries arrived in Donbas to stage provocations in collaberation with russian special forces. Reportedly, many civilians in Donbas are expected to evacuate. According to the report, the leader in Luhansk claimed his region’s forces had prevented attacks, but the Ukraine army had continued its offensive.

Reportedly, the president of Ukraine didn’t change his plans to attend the Munich security conference. According to the report, on Saturday the eu were coordinating aid deliveries to Ukraine. Reportedly, the french president was scheduled to speak to the president of Russia in a telephone call on Sunday.

According to the report, the Ukrainian president who was asked by the u.s. if it was wise to leave Kyiv, answered, everything is under control. Reportedly, in a speech to the munich security conference he called for clear feasible time frames for Ukraine to join u.s. lead alliance.

Ukraine and the osce

According to a report, amid an exodus of pro Russians to Russia, a Ukrainian migration to Poland has intensified since fighting broke out in 2014. Reportedly, there was plenty of work on offer due to an emigration of poles to the uk and Ireland. Reportedly, there is now visa free entry for Ukrainians.

According to a report, the Ukrainian president wanted pro Russians to allow the osce/organisation for security and cooperation in europe in, to monitor. Reportedly, the osce was created during the cold war era as an east west forum in an attempt to ease relations, member states now cover much of the land area of the northern hemisphere.

According to a report, the soviet union who had lost its influence in western countries such as Italy, Spain and France invaded Czekoslavakia along with allies Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary. Reportedly, this followed demonstrations concerning reforms in the country, and resulted in a soviet presence until 1991. According to a report, the Soviet union who were politically confronted organised a conference on security and cooperation in europe, first phase 1973. Reportedly, it was known in Finland that a positive response to the conference initiative may increasingly link Finland to the soviet union.

According to the report, the charter of Paris for a new europe was a reform adopted by a summit meeting in 1990, involving most european countries plus Canada and the u.s. Reportedly, thirty osce states signed treaties on conventional armed forces and in a range of other areas, though it does not have legal status because all members haven’t signed.

Garda reforms set to continue

According to a report, the garda commisioner will remain in his position until 2025, an extension of two years. Reportedly, the commissioner’s appointment in 2018 was synonymous with radical garda reforms which are set to continue.

According to a report, former commisioner Martin Callinan resigned as a result of investigations into allegations by garda Maurice McCabe regarding mismanagement within the gardai. Reportedly, garda McCabe resigned after a victim in an assault in a public house was contacted and asked to withdraw the charges against the perpetrator.

Reportedly, the pulse computer system, police using leading systems effectively became part of an enquiry into allegations that gardai supplied information with insurance companies in order to settle claims. According to a report, the system was awarded to Accenture, a multinational, and is managed by a directorate of three senior gardai and an Accenture consultant.

According to a report, Irish soldiers are to stay in Mali despite french soldiers withdrawing. Reportedly, other nations are expected to leave following a major deterioration in relations with the Malian government. Reportedly, France, who have a major commitment in the area are angry with the Malian military who have hired mercenaries from the russian group, wagner.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in the Sahel region is scene to a conflict which began in 2011. According to the report, Ireland first deployed troops in 2013. Reportedly, an Irish defence forces spokesperson said any drawdown on an irish presence will be taken by the government. According to the report, Ireland has thirty four troops based in Mali, twenty to twenty three personnel being involved in training Malian troops. Deemed controversial.

Reportedly, there is a possibility of placing more irish troops in the area in September 2022, intended to be a scoping exercise looking at possibilities for u.n. missions.

According to a report, sources said there was a serious deterioration in the security situation in the Sahel in recent months. Fifty three french soldiers have died and freight drivers have been murdered and hijacked.

Reportedly, the gsim was formed as a merger of several militant groups, occurring as a consequence of french operations that resulted in several hundred being killed and their camps destroyed. According to the report, the gsim have support from other African nations.

Reported, sixty six exchanges of fire overnight in Kyiv

According to a report, Ukraine armed forces reported sixty six exchanges of fire in Kyiv overnight. Reportedly, there was an estimated 149,000 troops amassed on Ukraine’s border overnight, 190,000 when including russian seperatists.

According to a report, the situation in Donbas was described as critical. Reportedly, Ukraine forces had amassed troops and lethal weapons.

According to the report, the Ukraine president was scheduled to travel to Germany where talks with the u.s. vice president are expected. Reportedly, in 2008 nato welcomed the suggestion that Ukraine and Georgia join nato but were not offered membership action plans. Membership may mean deployment to the Sahel.

Exodus from Donetsk

According to a report, Ukraine has denied offensive operations or acts of sabotage in chemical production facilities following an account of intense provocation in Luhansk. Reportedly, in Donetsk, people are boarding buses or driving to Russia. According to the report, emergency ministers are flying to Rostov to help organize the exodus.

Reportedly, there is a build up of 190,000 russian troops on Ukraines border. According to the report, the whitehouse said, if Russia invades Ukraine they will be isolated from global financial markets.

Evacuation in Donbas

According to a report, a seperatist leader has called on residents to flee to Russia amid the tense military standoff between Ukraine and Moscow. Reportedly, the head of the self proclaimed republic said in a statement that the Ukrainian army planned to seize Donbas by force, and that civilians needed to be evacuated.

According to the report, he accused Ukrainian forces of having amassed troops and lethal weapons along the point of contact, and claimed that the army is in combat formation, and ready. Reportedly, he said, the lives and health of our citizens may be endangered. For this reason, as from today, 18 February a mass centralised evacuation of the population to Russia has been organised in cooperation with Moscow, with reception and accommodation facilities for our citizens in the Rostov region. All conditions have been created for a quick transition at the checkpoints. Women, children and the elderly are to be the first to be evacuated.

Gender based violence

According to reports, domestic violence has increased in recent years, especially during lockdown. Reportedly, the number of currently available spaces needs to almost treble in order to meet the obligations of the Istanbul convention, ratified by Ireland in 2019. According to the report, this means fifty-six new refuge places comprising of 7-8 buildings.

Reportedly, a woman can seek aid from a domestic violence refuge by contacting them directly. According to the report, in 2019, 1,134 women and 2,918 children were accommodated in refuges. Reportedly, in 2019 almost 3,000 enquiries from women seeking shelter in refuges were turned away. According to the report, the lack of available places is exacerbated by the housing crisis.

War in Donbas

Reportedly, Russia, who according to an estimate have 60% of their ground forces positioned around Ukraine’s borders said the military withdrawal announced earlier this week will take time.

According to the report, seperatist authorities in the Luhansk region announced an increase in Ukrainian government shelling along the line of contact. Reportedly, the Ukrainian military command said shells hit a kindergarten in Luhanska, wounding two teachers. According to the report, a kremlin spokesman said, we have repeatedly warned that the excessive concentration of Ukrainian armed forces in the immediate vicinity, coupled with possible provocations could pose a terrible danger.