Latest news with #UkrainianRefugees
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Rivals neck-and-neck ahead of Poland's ‘clash of civilisations' election
Centrist Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski (left) faces off against right-leaning Karol Nawrocki on Sunday. (AP pic) WARSAW : Warsaw's pro-EU mayor and a nationalist historian vying for Poland's presidency hold their last day of campaigning today, with opinion polls predicting a close race in Sunday's vote, which will determine the direction of the key central European EU and Nato member. Centrist Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, faces off against right-leaning Karol Nawrocki, 42, on Sunday in a run-off presidential vote, with some analysts describing the contest as a 'clash of civilisations'. Latest polls predict a close race, with 50.6% of the vote going to Trzaskowski and 49.4% to Nawrocki, a tiny difference within the polling margin of error. A victory for Trzaskowski would be a major boost for Poland's government, which has been in a political deadlock with the current president. It could also mean significant changes such as the introduction of civil partnerships for same-sex couples and easing Poland's near-total ban on abortion. A win for Nawrocki, backed by the right-wing Law and Justice Party, could undermine Poland's steadfast support for neighbouring Ukraine against Russia. Nawrocki, an admirer of US President Donald Trump, opposes Nato membership for Kyiv and has called for curbs on benefits for the estimated one million Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Analysts say a Nawrocki victory could also lead to fresh parliamentary elections in the EU and Nato member, which has been one of Europe's best economic performers. Given the narrow polling margins, the result of the election may not be known until Monday. 'I would be cautious about popping the champagne on Sunday evening,' said Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political expert. Tens of thousands of supporters took part in rival rallies for both candidates on May 25, a week before the run-off. 'Clash of civilisations' The final result is expected to hinge on whether Trzaskowski can mobilise enough supporters to come out and vote and whether far-right voters will cast their ballots for Nawrocki. Far-right candidates fared better than expected in the first round of the election on May 18, getting more than 21% of the vote – and leaving Nawrocki a larger pool of votes to draw upon. Trzaskowski won that round by a razor-thin margin of 31% against 30% for Nawrocki. Materska-Sosnowska called the election 'a real clash of civilisations', pointing to major policy differences between candidates who have diverging views on abortion or LGBTQ rights. The job of Polish president is sometimes dismissed as a ceremonial post, but it comes with crucial veto power over legislation. And that has often stymied prime minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council chief whose centrist Civic Coalition (KO) has clashed on multiple fronts with conservative president Andrzej Duda since it came to power in 2023. In Kleszczow, a village in central Poland where far-right candidates got around a third of the vote in Round 1, most people AFP spoke to said they would vote for Nawrocki on Sunday. 'If Trzaskowski wins, they (the ruling centrists) will sell the country, destroy it,' 40-year-old Kamil Skulimowski, who works at the local coal mine, told AFP. Anna Bednarska, a 27-year-old greengrocer, said she would be backing Nawrocki in the run-off because she believes his opponent 'wants to introduce immigrants into Poland'. 'And I think it would be better for Poland to remain Poland.' The final stretch of the election campaign saw Nawrocki mired in a few scandals. While arguing against a property tax, he claimed to only own one flat. Later it was revealed he had acquired a second one in a convoluted deal with an elderly man. A bombshell news report also alleged he had arranged prostitutes for guests while working as a hotel security guard. Nawrocki called the accusations 'a bunch of lies' and said he would sue the news site that published the report.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rivals neck-and-neck ahead of Poland's 'clash of civilisations' vote
Warsaw's pro-EU mayor and a nationalist historian vying for Poland's presidency hold their last day of campaigning on Friday, with opinion polls predicting a close race in Sunday's vote, which will determine the direction of the key central European EU and NATO member. Centrist Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, faces off against right-leaning Karol Nawrocki, 42, on Sunday in a runoff presidential vote, with some analysts describing the contest as a "clash of civilisations." Latest polls predict a close race, with 50.6 percent of the vote going to Trzaskowski and 49.4 percent to Nawrocki, a tiny difference within the polling margin of error. A victory for Trzaskowski would be a major boost for Poland's government, which has been in a political deadlock with the current president. It could also mean significant changes such as the introduction of civil partnerships for same-sex couples and easing Poland's near-total ban on abortion. A win for Nawrocki, backed by the right-wing Law and Justice Party, could undermine Poland's steadfast support for neighbouring Ukraine against Russia. Nawrocki, an admirer of US President Donald Trump, opposes NATO membership for Kyiv and has called for curbs on benefits for the estimated one million Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Analysts say a Nawrocki victory could also lead to fresh parliamentary elections in the EU and NATO member, which has been one of Europe's best economic performers. Given the narrow polling margins, the result of the election may not be known until Monday. "I would be cautious about popping the champagne on Sunday evening," said Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political expert. Tens of thousands of supporters took part in rival rallies for both candidates on May 25, a week before the runoff. - 'Clash of civilisations' - The final result is expected to hinge on whether Trzaskowski can mobilise enough supporters to come out and vote and whether far-right voters will cast their ballots for Nawrocki. Far-right candidates fared better than expected in the first round of the election on May 18, getting more than 21 percent of the vote -- and leaving Nawrocki a larger pool of votes to draw upon. Trzaskowski won that round by a razor-thin margin of 31 percent against 30 percent for Nawrocki. Materska-Sosnowska called the election "a real clash of civilisations", pointing to major policy differences between candidates who have diverging views on abortion or LGBTQ rights. The job of Polish president is sometimes dismissed as a ceremonial post, but it comes with crucial veto power over legislation. And that has often stymied Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council chief whose centrist Civic Coalition (KO) has clashed on multiple fronts with conservative President Andrzej Duda since it came to power in 2023. In Kleszczow, a village in central Poland where far-right candidates got around a third of the vote in round one, most people AFP spoke to said they would vote for Nawrocki on Sunday. "If Trzaskowski wins, they (the ruling centrists) will sell the country, destroy it," 40-year-old Kamil Skulimowski, who works at the local coal mine, told AFP. Anna Bednarska, a 27-year-old greengrocer, said she would be backing Nawrocki in the runoff because she believes his opponent "wants to introduce immigrants into Poland". "And I think it would be better for Poland to remain Poland." The final stretch of the election campaign saw Nawrocki mired in a few scandals. While arguing against a property tax, he claimed to only own one flat. Later it was revealed he had acquired a second one in a convoluted deal with an elderly man. A bombshell news report also alleged he had arranged prostitutes for guests while working as a hotel security guard. Nawrocki called the accusations "a bunch of lies" and said he would sue the news site that published the report. bur/mmp/yad
Russia Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU could end protections for Ukrainian immigrants
EU member states are reportedly preparing to reevaluate the legal status of Ukrainian refugees who live in the bloc, Euractiv reported on Monday, citing an EU diplomat. Discussions on a potential exit from the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) may begin as early as June. Brussels invoked the TPD shortly after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in early 2022. Originally established in 2001, the directive offers a broad array of benefits, including residence permits, housing, access to employment, education, healthcare, financial benefits and social services. While the program was initially set to expire in March 2025, it has recently been extended until March 2026. Talks around 'exit strategies' are intensifying behind the scenes amid a 'shifting geopolitical landscape,' the unnamed diplomat told Euractiv. The issue is expected to be a central focus at the bloc's upcoming Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting scheduled for June 12–13. Although most member states support continuing the program for now, Euractiv noted, legal experts warn that further extensions may stretch the directive's original intent. 'We're already on thin ice with the last prolongation,' Martin Wagner, a senior policy adviser at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, told the outlet. 'A straightforward reading of the directive would mean that after three years, it's over.' Wagner stressed the need for 'a real discussion about alternatives and how to exit temporary protection in one way or another,' pointing out that the directive was never intended as a long-term solution. Another anonymous diplomat warned that the EU risks 'overwhelming national asylum systems — exactly what the TPD was meant to prevent.' According to Wagner the current number of beneficiaries is 'multiple times more than what countries usually handle,' calling the status quo 'an incredible burden.' The debate comes amid growing challenges faced by member states in managing the large-scale influx of Ukrainian refugees. As of March 2025, over 4.3 million Ukrainians had been granted temporary protection in the EU, according to Eurostat data. While Brussels has maintained that continued support is essential, several governments are reconsidering the level of assistance they can provide. Germany, currently hosting more than 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees, has begun scaling back welfare benefits due to sustainability concerns. Meanwhile, Poland has opposed taking in additional migrants under the EU's newly proposed migration pact. More Ukrainians fleeing the conflict have reportedly migrated to Russia than any there country. According to a law enforcement official as cited by TASS, 5.5 million people had migrated as of 2023.
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Ireland's population outperforms increasingly ageing EU
Ireland's population continues to strongly increase, though the rate of growth is slowing, according to the latest European Union estimates. Ireland has one of the healthiest demographics in Europe, but only relative to countries where more people are dying than being born. The population of the State reached 5.32 million at the start of last year, an annual increase of 81,000 or 1.5 per cent in 2023, according to Eurostat , the European Commission 's statistical agency. In 2022, when there was a surge of Ukrainian refugees as a result of the Russian invasion, the population increased by 117,000 or 2.2 per cent. READ MORE According to Eurostat, there were 135,617 immigrants to Ireland in 2023, compared with 157,537 in 2022. There was also a spike in emigration from Ireland with 75,020 leaving in 2023 (34,000 of whom were Irish nationals) compared with 61,133 in 2022. Ireland's rate of population growth is almost four times the EU average of 0.4 per cent. The EU took in 1.6 million Ukrainian refugees in 2023 among six million immigrants who entered the EU. Otherwise, the population of the bloc as a whole would have declined. Since the 2004 accession treaty, which admitted 10 states from eastern Europe, the population of the Irish State, then at just four million, has increased by a third. Only Luxembourg (plus 48 per cent) and Malta (plus 41 per cent) have seen higher population growth. By contrast the population of the EU has grown by only 4 per cent since 2004 from 432.8 million to 449.2 million at the start of 2024. There has been a large transfer of population from east to West with countries including Romania, Poland and Lithuania seeing sharp population declines. The Eurostat analysis shows Ireland retains the healthiest demographics in an increasingly ageing EU. Ireland is one of only seven EU countries out of 27 where the birth rate continues to exceed the death rate. Since 2012 Europe's population growth has been negative as deaths have been greater than births since then. Ireland's natural population growth continues to be positive and was 3.7 per 1,000 in 2023. However, it has fallen off and the baby boom of the noughties, which fuelled the population increase, is over. The birth rate in 2023, at 10.3 per 1,000, is the second highest in Europe after Cyprus and looks positive, but it peaked at 16.7 in 2008 during the Celtic Tiger boom. Ireland's is the youngest population in the EU at a median age of 39.4 (the age at which half the population is younger and half is older) compared with the EU average of 44.7 years. The number of people aged 65 and over in Ireland, at 15.5 per cent, compares with an EU average of 21.7 per cent. The death rate at 6.6 per 1,000 in Ireland is the lowest in Europe. Irish first-time mothers are among the second-oldest in the EU at 31.6 years, and Ireland has the joint highest number of women giving birth over the age of 40 (11 per cent).
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Ukrainian children ‘forced' to study Russian GCSE
Ukrainian children living in the UK have claimed they are being 'forced' to take Russian GCSE to boost their schools' grades. The Telegraph has spoken to several Ukrainian refugees who allege they were pressured into taking the subject despite feeling deeply uncomfortable speaking the language following the Russian invasion. Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, has now written to exam boards asking them to consider introducing a GCSE in Ukrainian. Ms Phillipson is also expected to meet her Ukrainian counterpart this week to discuss deepening educational links between London and Kyiv. Top private schools are among those understood to be pushing Ukrainian children to sit a GCSE in Russian, alongside several high-performing academies. The Telegraph has chosen not to name the schools after the children asked to remain anonymous, with each school likely only to accept a handful of Ukrainian refugees. The Government described the allegations as 'shocking' and said it was encouraging exam boards to introduce a Ukrainian GCSE to help refugees 'celebrate their heritage and their native language'. 'It feels like a betrayal of Ukraine' Liuba, an 18-year-old from the west of Ukraine, said she was pressured by a UK academy into sitting Russian GCSE even though she did not speak the language. 'I only had science, maths, [English] language and literature – I needed at least one more to get into college. I got told to do Russian, even though I was thinking of doing German, but I wasn't allowed,' she told The Telegraph. 'It was psychologically hard for me because I don't use Russian in my day-to-day life and I'd never done it before the war… There was one point in one of my teaching sessions where the woman was like 'oh well, if we're learning Russian then you might as well just start speaking Russian, because an exam has a speaking part as well'. 'I kept on trying to say something in Russian, and I kept crying because it was such an emotional thing for me to do – it was psychologically hard to find it inside of myself and to actually start speaking that language.' Liuba said she felt 'guilty' about learning Russian during the invasion and chose not to disclose the matter to her friends back in Ukraine. 'I felt like I betrayed Ukraine by taking this GCSE because I had to speak the language of Russia, of a country that is killing our people, and I found it very hard,' she said. 'I felt furious as my friends were dying' Liza, a 17-year-old from Kharkiv who arrived in the UK with her mother in 2022, said also she was 'forced to take Russian' for her formal exams last year. 'In Year 11, my school said I needed to do one language except English, and they suggested to me Russian or Ukrainian [GCSE], but then found out there wasn't a Ukrainian one,' she said. 'So I was forced to take Russian because I didn't have another choice, I didn't know another language… I felt furious about the fact that I needed to take Russian GCSE [while] my friends, my relatives [were] dying in the city I was living in.' 'Cruel and dreadful' Vitalik, an 18-year-old from Ukraine, said: 'When I arrived in the UK, I wasn't familiar with the GCSE system, so I was a bit confused when I was asked to choose additional subjects. 'I was asked if I knew the Russian language. I said that I could hold a small conversation but have no understanding of the grammar or writing. Despite this, I was suggested to take Russian GCSE as an additional subject, as it could be beneficial to my grades and future education. I refused. 'Suggesting Ukrainians do Russian GCSE is cruel and dreadful. How can I do Russian GCSE when my people are being tortured and bombarded by Russians? It's ridiculous to me.' Around 35,000 Ukrainian children are thought to have fled to the UK since the Russian invasion in February 2022, with official figures showing more than 20,000 were offered places at English schools in 2022/23. Although many Ukrainians do speak Russian given their linguistic similarities, some have made a concerted effort to abandon the language in favour of Ukrainian to show solidarity with Kyiv during the war. Russian GCSE entries rise There is currently no Ukrainian among the formal exams on offer in Britain, but entries for Russian GCSE have been steadily increasing over the past few years. A Telegraph analysis shows overall entries for the subject have jumped 47 per cent since Russia's invasion of Ukraine – with 3,484 pupils taking the subject in the UK last year, up from 2,376 in 2022 and 3,255 in 2023. The rise may be partially explained by increased interest in Russia as its role on the world stage has received heightened attention, or by families fleeing Moscow for Britain. However, some think schools are pushing Ukrainian children to take the subject as an easy way of bolstering their grades. The Ukrainian children The Telegraph spoke to received top marks in Russian GCSE, although some said they were made to study the language in their own time and with little teaching support. Inna Hryhorovych, the head teacher of St Mary's Ukrainian School, which provides support for around 2,500 displaced Ukrainian children across the UK, said many were 'being encouraged – or in some cases, pressured – to take Russian GCSEs'. 'I think the schools act from the best intentions for the children – but quite often it's not discussed on another level other than boosting the grade it might have,' Ms Hryhorovych said. 'Sometimes the schools will also push, [and say] 'oh, you've got [grade] 9 in Russian GCSE, why don't you do A-level?' So it doesn't stop there. 'We've heard more about the cases in the private schools. Because in state schools, the children often have to find a way to study Russian externally… in private schools, they [sometimes] offer the teacher in school.' Ms Hryhorovych, who was awarded an MBE for services to education in 2023, urged UK schools to reflect on the deep discomfort they could be placing Ukrainian children under by making them study the 'language of the invading force'. 'It would be the same as if English children were asked to take German in 1943, and being told you need to do that very quickly,' she said. 'There's this misconception that Ukrainian and Russian are the same languages – they're not. 'For them [the children], it's reinforcing the 'terrorist state' and then they have these feelings of guilt… their worry is also how society is going to judge that Russian will be on their list of GCSEs when they return to Ukraine.' Ukrainian GCSE proposed Ukraine has been lobbying the UK Government to introduce a Ukrainian GCSE to help boost the confidence of refugees and encourage British students to learn the language of a key ally. Ms Hryhorovych argued that there were enough Ukrainians in Britain to make the subject worthwhile, with other languages already on offer at GCSE despite relatively low uptake, including Bengali, Gujarati and Modern Hebrew. A Department for Education spokesman said: 'Children in Ukraine have had their education interrupted by Russia's war, and we are proud to have opened our classrooms to enable thousands to continue their studies here. 'But these allegations are shocking. This Government has set out our decisive support for our Ukrainian friends, and the 100 year partnership between our countries includes a long-term commitment to sharing best practice across both our education systems. 'That's why we have, this week, asked exam boards to consider introducing a Ukrainian GCSE – giving these young people the chance to celebrate their heritage and their native language.' To hear Ukrainian refugees discuss Russian GCSEs and their experiences in Britain, listen to The Telegraph's special episode of Ukraine: The Latest – the world's most listened to, and award-winning, podcast covering the war. The Russian language is not neutral for Ukraine's child refugees By Inna Hryhorovych More than three years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thousands of children have been forced to flee their homes and rebuild their lives in the UK. At St Mary's Ukrainian School, we work every day with displaced families who have endured unimaginable disruption. While the UK has shown great generosity in welcoming refugees, a critical oversight remains: many Ukrainian children are being encouraged – or in some cases, pressured – to take Russian GCSEs, while there is still no option for them to take an exam in their native Ukrainian language. For these young people, the Russian language is not neutral. It is the language of the invading force, used in propaganda, occupation, and disinformation. It is the language they have heard shouted during air raid sirens and military checkpoints – not the language of their family, their identity, or their hopes for the future. To present Russian as their only formal language option at GCSE level risks compounding the trauma of war, undermining cultural recovery, and sending the wrong message about whose identity matters. At St Mary's, we have heard first-hand how this affects children. One teenage girl who fled Kharkiv last year broke down in tears after being told she would need to enrol in Russian GCSE preparation classes. 'It's the language they used to interrogate my uncle,' she said. 'Why should I be forced to study it, when I've never spoken it at home?' Another boy asked simply, 'Can't I just take Ukrainian instead?' These are not unreasonable requests. They are heartfelt expressions of children trying to retain their dignity, identity, and academic continuity in an already unfamiliar education system. In many cases, schools mistakenly assume Russian and Ukrainian are interchangeable. They are not. Ukrainian is the official language of a democratic nation under attack – a symbol of national resilience and cultural survival. For families who hope one day to return, or even just to maintain a meaningful connection with their homeland, Ukrainian language education is not a luxury. It is essential. Including Ukrainian as a modern language GCSE would offer both symbolic and practical support. It would allow displaced pupils to continue their language studies, qualify for national exams aligned with the Ukrainian system, and keep open vital pathways for reintegration or future study. It would also reflect the UK's values and its solidarity with a nation fighting for its sovereignty and democratic future. We are already seeing what is possible. Since the war began, St Mary's Ukrainian School has doubled in size and opened six new sites across London to meet demand. Over 2,500 displaced children have joined us, supported by a dedicated team – 85 per cent of whom are themselves Ukrainian refugees. We provide trauma-informed teaching, academic support, and a curriculum rooted in both cultural heritage and global opportunity. This approach empowers not just students, but entire communities, giving parents and educators purpose, agency, and the tools to rebuild. We urge policymakers and exam boards to act. Ukrainian deserves recognition as a GCSE subject – not only to support those who have lost so much, but to uphold the principles of inclusivity, identity, and recovery that should define any compassionate education system. The UK has a proud tradition of standing up for those under siege. Now is the moment to extend that principle into our classrooms, and to ensure that Ukrainian children can learn, grow, and succeed – on their own terms, and in their own language. Inna Hryhorovych is the executive director at Ukrainian St Mary's Trust and St Mary's Ukrainian Schools
