AFP: A year on, twins still at top in Poland 25 July

The Lisbon treaty on the future shape of the European Union may be running into trouble in Poland. Although the government backs it, the Kaczynski twins are against ratification. Even though former prime minister Jaroslaw was voted out of office last year his party has enough seats in the Polish parliament to block the process.

Poland's conservative prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski handed in his resignation to his twin, President Lech Kaczynski, on Monday ending a surprise political double act on the European stage. The newly-elected parliament held its first sitting later Monday, putting the official seal on the end of his premiership. Lech Kaczynski is expected to name a bitter political rival Donald Tusk the new prime minister later this week. Tusk's party, the Civic Platform, won the early elections after camapigning on a platform of free-market reforms and promising warmer relations with Warsaw's EU partners. An AFPTV voiced report.

Gay and lesbian rights have improved in recent years, and pride marches have become annual events across the West. But homosexuality remains illegal in 75 countries, including in nine where it is punishable by death. In Poland, the arch-conservative government has proposed to roll back gay rights by banning discussion of homosexuality in schools. The EU has warned such a law will violate European law. Gays in Poland are the object of widespread discrimination, and four out of every five feel they are outcasts. Retransmission of a voiced report from Warsaw originally filed on April 26, 2007.

ON THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER 1939 AT 4:45 IN THE MORNING, THE SECOND WORLD WAR BEGUN. THE GERMAN BATTLESHIP SCHLESWIG HOLSTIEN BEGUN THE BATTLE OF WESTERPLATTE IN GDANSK, POLAND. HAVING ANCHORED IN THE CHANNEL PRETENDING TO MAKE A COURTESY VISIT TO THE REGION, THE SHIP STARTED SHELLING THE POLISH GARRISON. IT WAS NOT THE SWIFT AND DECISIVE VICTORY HITLER HAD PLANNED AS IT WENT ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THERE WERE 2600 GERMANS UP AGAINST JUST 205 POLISH GARRISON. THE POLISH SURRENDERED ON THE 7TH OF SEPTEMBER, BUT UK, FRANCE, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND HAD ALREADY OFFICIALLY DECLARED WAR AGAINST GERMANY FOUR DAYS EARLIER. THE TWIN TOWERS WERE COMPLETED IN 1972, THEY DOMINATED THE BIG APPLE FOR THE NEXT NEARLY THIRTY YEARS, THEY WERE 110 STORIES HIGH. THE BUILDINGS WEREN’T WITHOUT CRITICISM. BUT THAT ALL STOPPED ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 WHEN THE HIJACKED AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 11 WAS FLOWN INTO THE NORTH TOWER AND THE HIGH JACKED UNTIED AIRLINES FLIGHT 175 WAS FLOWN INTO THE SOUTH TOWER. AT LEAST 2603 PEOPLE DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF THE TOWERS BEFORE THEY COLLAPSED. TO THIS DAY 24 PEOPLE REMAIN MISSING.

Even though Roman Catholicism is well implanted in Poland, the country has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe. In 2005, the figure was 1.2 children per woman and until last year, there were more deaths than births. One of the problems is that women worry they won't be able to reconcile their family life with their working one. And discrimination against young mothers is a real problem.

A political comedy set in an election year! Sibling rivalry and immigration are the hot topics in this story of twin sisters Lavinia and Virginia Albatross, both played by Maggie Lacey. A film deeply influenced by BUGS BUNNY and THE PARENT TRAP.

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