Muammar Al Khadafi

For the first time since 2008, there will be a transperson sitting in their nation's highest legislative body.

57 year old Anna Grodzka is a member of the newly minted liberal party called Pallikot's Support Movement, which stunned the political establishment in Poland by garnering 10 percent of the vote in Sunday's election..

The party was founded by vodka tycoon Janusz Palikot who was a lawmaker in Prime Minister Donald Tusk's center-right Civic Platform until he got exasperated with the party's conservatism on social issues and broke away to form his own party.   Pallikot's Support Movement has attracted younger voters with its support for gay rights, abortion and legalization of soft drugs and with its attacks on the influential Roman Catholic Church

Grodzka is also an example of what can happen if you just step out there, put yourself in the game and get in it to win it. "I decided to be a candidate for Palikot's Movement because I want the voice of people who are excluded and discriminated against in the Polish political system to be heard," she wrote in her blog. "I believe that little by little does the trick."

She garnered 19,541 votes in the Krakow II electoral district to secure her place in the Sejm, Poland's lower house of Parliament.  She is set to become the first transperson in Poland to become an MP and the first in Europe since Vladimir Luxuria lost her seat in the Italian elections in 2008.

Georgina Beyer, the world first transsexual to be elected to their national legislative body, retired from New Zealand's Parliament after serving as a Labour MP from November 27, 1999 until February 14, 2007

Grodzka is the founder and president of NGO Trans-Fuzja, and has her work cut out for her in her stated mission of help Poles understand the problems of people who transition as she did last year.   The Polish anti-discrimination law of 2010 does not include gender identity nor gender expression as possible grounds for discrimination.

Congrats Anna on making some trans history.  May you be wildly successful in your dual missions of representing your constituents and fostering increased understanding of transpeople in a staunchly Catholic Poland.

Britains continuing role as the benefits Riviera of the world is again confirmed as details emerge that we are paying £42million a year in child benefit abroad - mostly to those living in Eastern Europe.

Topping the list of recipients is Poland, which a recent study said was a better place to live than Britain - in fact Britain came bottom - and is it any wonder why when Polish families, with much lower cost of living, are being subsidised by the British taxpayer.

Over £2 million a month in your money goes to claimants in Poland. Child benefit there amounts to £3.30 per week per child, whereas by claiming in Britain it soars to £20.30 for the first child, and £14.75 for each additional child, paid for by you.

Once again Britain is financing a foreign population whilst preaching austerity and cutbacks at home.

Full Story - Express

Mariusz Trybus has been jailed for life after being convicted of murdering Karol Krawczyk in Bristol.

Trybus and victim Krawczyk, both Polish, had an altercation after a day of drinking and shoplifting during which Krawczyk punched Trybus in the face.

Intent on revenge, Trybus waited until Krawczyk was sleeping at the squat which they shared, and beat him to death with a blunt instrument when he was in bed.

Prosecuting QC Adam Vaitlingam said that "The examination of Mr Krawczyk's body confirmed he died from massive injury to the brain and catastrophic bleeding from multiple blunt force impact to the head and face. The injuries were non-survivable and would have brought about immediate unconsciousness, with death soon after"

"The pattern of blood loss at the scene strongly suggests that he had died where he lay. It is likely that a pillow was placed over his head for part or all of the attack".

Trybus had denied murder, but was convicted after a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

His partner, Edyta Baranska, who had also denied the murder was acquitted.

Judge Neil Ford QC said that Trybus should serve a minimum of 15 years before parole is considered.