AFP: Motherhood and work don't mix in Poland 20 August

Melanie Chisholm, aka Mel Spice, is the last of the Spice Girls to embrace motherhood. The singer announced Friday she's expecting. (Aug. 22)

Maybe it's just me, but I don't get this whole motherhood craze going around.

A New York based Greek artist has created opera costumes from 20 thousand beer and soft drink cans for an art exhibition in Athens. Nikos Floros spent endless days for years weaving together strips of the cans to create tailored works of art.

Ian goes to work. He is pitching for a major shoe client. But he also has eyes for a new secretary, and something in his drawer at work. And he likes to go to the lavatory too.

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.

Poland is to get a new government after the right-wing premier steps down on Monday, to be replaced by the head of the victorious liberal party, Donald Tusk. Nurses and medical staff who have been striking for months are delighted by the change. They expect from his Civic Platform nothing less than a full reform of the nation's public health system. Voiced report.

Since Poland dropped its west-facing borders to join the Schengen free trade zone last month, thousands of Chechen refugees have arrived. Many see Poland as a waystation on their migration further west to Germany or France. This report from the Debak centre for asylum seekers, where many have only one desire: to move away.

Poland is playing joint host to the Euro 2012 football championships but little is on track for being ready in time. Stadiums lie in ruins, motorways remain unbuilt and there is still a massive lack of hotels.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski is holding talks with a number of EU leaders this week over his objections to a simplified EU constitution, which is due to be discussed at an EU summit on June 21 and 22. Poland has threatened to veto the proposals for the scaled-down treaty unless concerns over its voting rights within the bloc are addressed, something Germany refuses. Voiced report.