Putin marks World War II victory with Xi at his side
Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia Editor with BBC Monitoring, reports that Russia has marked the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II with a major military parade.
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RTÉ News
4 days ago
- RTÉ News
Leaving Cert 2025 Reaction: History was a tricky paper
Here is reaction to 2025 Leaving Certificate History (Higher Level) by Stephen Tonge, History teacher at The Institute of Education - part of their Leaving Cert Analysis series. Download the exam papers here: Key points: Questions with narrower focuses will require students to quickly edit and adjust their approach to topics. The reappearance of topics from last year will have upset some. For many, things are winding down but it has already been tough going - here are tips on nutrition, sleep and minding yourself. Opening Section 1's documents-based question many students will be pleased with the topic of The Jarrow March. While Document B was perhaps a little longer that you'd like for such a pressurised environment, the first three questions were very approachable. At question four, the challenge increases. Being asked to "argue your case" on the failure of the march is an unusually narrow focus and while students could easily approach it, it would tax them to write a fully robust answer in order to get the marks. In Section 2: Ireland, many will have been drawn to "Topic 3: The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition". This section seems designed to upset a reliance on sample answers - which while that is a fair ambition, makes it much harder for students to revise and navigate the vast course. The first question on the rise of Sinn Fein and the decline of Home Rule offers a range of relevant years but in practice was narrowly focused on 1916 to the election of 1918. The question on de Valera's leadership needed the combination of Civil War and World War II, which prioritises a key personality in a way that differs from previous approaches which emphasised contexts. While some would be happy with the cultural identity question, the inclusion of "North and South" makes it trickier to fully address. The most surprising element of the paper was likely "Topic 5: Politics and Society in Northern Ireland, 1949-93". The questions themselves were not particularly difficult but 3 of the 4 questions returned to topics from last year's exam. In a curriculum as vast as History, students and teachers often must prioritize some elements over others, and the reappearance of questions on Lord Brookeborough and the Coleraine University Controversy will be an unpleasant surprise. If students had thoroughly prepared this case study, they would be fine, but many would not have anticipated a second outing for such comparatively minor elements of the topic. Those who planned to write on "Europe and the Wider World Topic 6: The United States and the world, 1945-1989", will be relieved by the Lyndon Johnson question which many consider to be a banker when preparing. Additionally, the question on Berlin and Cuba would allow students good range to show their understanding. However, what stands out here is that only one case study appears (Vietnam). Earlier "Ireland Topic 6: The Republic of Ireland 1949-1989" had three case studies, so there is an imbalance in question selection. Indeed, the US Economy comprises roughly one third of that part of the course and is only tangentially related to one of the questions, while the much more niche power of religion in American life got a question to itself. For students who really knew the material and are confident in their ability to adapt, edit and combine under pressure, this was a nice exam. However, many will have found themselves adjusting to narrower confines in question choice and demanded material. Definitely more taxing than they may have expected given previous exams.
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- RTÉ News
Poland scrambles jets after major Russian strikes on Ukraine
Poland scrambled fighter jets this morning to secure its airspace after neighbouring western Ukraine was hit by major Russian strikes. "Due to the intensive air attack by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft began to operate in Polish airspace in the morning," Warsaw's Operational Command said in a statement on social media. Russia struck deep beyond the frontlines overnight, hitting western Ukraine with dozens of drones and missiles, according to Rivne Mayor Oleksandr Tretyak, who called it "the largest attack" on the region. Russia has recently accelerated its campaign against Ukraine, dampening hopes of a ceasefire after a renewed diplomatic push to end the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. Poland is one of Ukraine's closest allies and serves as a crucial logistics hub for Western military aid to Kyiv. In March 2024, NATO member Poland reported a breach of its airspace by a Russian cruise missile, demanding an explanation from Moscow. A similar incident occurred in December 2023, when a Russian missile penetrated Polish airspace for several minutes before returning to Ukraine. Russian electronics factory struck Meanwhile the Ukrainian military has said that it had struck the VNIIR electronic plant in Russia's Chuvashia region overnight, more than 600km east of Moscow. The facility specialized in manufacturing navigation equipment used in Shahed-type drones, guided aerial bombs and high-precision weapons, it added in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. Local officials in the region said works were briefly suspended due to falling Ukrainian drones. "This morning, Ukrainian attempts to use drones in Chuvashia were detected," regional governor Oleg Nikolayev wrote on Telegram, adding that there were no victims from the attack. Ukraine regularly launches drone attacks on Russia in response to aerial bombardments by Moscow. "Two drones fell on the territory of the VNIIR factory," said Mr Nikolayev. The VNIIR facility is one of the main factories producing electronic components in Russia. A decision was taken to "temporarily suspend production to ensure the safety of employees", the governor added. Two drones fell into fields in the region without causing any danger to people, Mr Nikolayev said. "The situation is entirely under control," he added. Russia's defence ministry said it intercepted 49 Ukrainian drones overnight. Putin approves big revamp of Russia's navy, Kremlin aide says Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a new naval strategy which aims to fully restore Russia's position as one of the world's leading maritime powers, Kremlin aide Nikolai Patrushev said. Russia has the world's third most powerful navy after China and the United States, according to most public rankings, though the navy has suffered a series of high-profile losses in the Ukraine war. Mr Patrushev, a former KGB officer who served with Mr Putin in the northern Russian city of St Petersburg during Soviet times, said the new naval strategy - entitled "The Strategy for the Development of the Russian Navy up to 2050" - had been approved by Mr Putin in late May. "Russia's position as one of the world's greatest maritime powers is gradually recovering," Mr Patrushev told the Argumenti i Fakti newspaper in an interview. "It is impossible to carry out such work without a long-term vision of the scenarios for the development of the situation in the oceans, the evolution of challenges and threats, and, of course, without defining the goals and objectives facing the Russian Navy," Mr Patrushev said. Mr Patrushev gave no further details about the strategy, though Russia has ramped up spending on defence and security to Cold War levels as a percentage of gross domestic product. A US Department of Defence report said in 2021 that China had the largest navy in the world and that Beijing's overall battle force is expected to grow to 460 ships by 2030. Open source data suggests Russia has 79 submarines, including 14 nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines, as well as 222 warships. It's main fleet is the Northern Fleet headquartered in Severomorsk on the Barents Sea.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Irish Independent
Ukraine turns on Poland over World War II massacre commemoration
©Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Today at 21:30 Ukraine has criticised Polish plans to establish a remembrance day for Poles massacred by Ukrainians during World War II. Poland's parliament last week approved a new public holiday on July 11 to commemorate victims of a 'genocide' committed by Ukrainian nationalist groups during the conflict.
