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Bruselský zpravodaj Chris Morris: It may be scarcely noticed amidst the flurry of war in Iraq, but this is something of a turning point for European defence. For the first time, the EU, that most political of organisations, will run a military mission. It's putting flesh on the bones of its ambitions to create a viable European defence identity. It's neither the biggest, nor the most ambitious of missions - just three hundred troops in Macedonia to begin with, for just six months - but it is a start and it has great symbolic importance. If all goes well, and as the EU is taking over from a successful NATO mission there's no reason why it shouldn't, then there will be more to come. VOCABULARYa turning point for European defence - mezník evropské obranné politiky putting flesh on the bones - rámcový plán byl rozpracován symbolic importance - symbolický význam largely symbolic - negativní konotace

Catherine Davisová z Kábulu: UNICEF warns that failing to address these health and nutritional challenges will hamper any serious long-term development here. It says the health of the population is directly related to their country's reconstruction. Chronic malnutrition is said to be widespread; major cases of mortality among children include diarrhoea, respiratory infections and malaria. Iodine deficiency is common in women, resulting in low birth weight and deafness in newborn babies. What the UN is calling for is long-term investment in projects that strengthen Afghan women and children's rights to good health care. VOCABULARYto address - vrhnout se (na řešení úkolu) directly related - přímo souviset malnutrition - chronická podvýživa diarrhoea - průjem respiratory infections - záněty dýchacích cest malaria - malárie mortality among children - dětská úmrtnost to call for - požadovat, volat po long-term investment - dlouhodobá investice rights to good health care - právo na kvalitní zdravotní péči

Nick Thorpe z Budapešti: Turnout was extremely disappointing - only around 45 percent of eligible voters. This was much less than the resounding "yes" the government had been hoping for and somewhat embarrassing for Hungary. The Prime Minister, Peter Medgyessy, put a brave face on the result nevertheless. The citizens of Hungary, he said, like good parents, had provided a future for their children. Rival explanations have been advanced for the poor turnout. The campaign was one-sided with no state funds at all provided for the small civil groups campaigning for a "no" vote. Many Hungarians expressed their worries about accession by staying away. But the result was valid, so the prime minister is now authorised to sign the accession treaty, and Hungary will join the union in May next year. VOCABULARYpoor turnout - slabá volební účast resound - znít, zvučet less than the resounding 'yes'… - ne příliš zvučné „ano“ rival explanations - protichůdná vysvětlení one-sided campaign - jednostranná kampaň expressed their worries about accession - vyjádřili své obavy ze vstupu to put a brave face on - předstírat, že situace je lepší než ve skutečnosti je

Holly Williamsová z Pekingu: In an unusual move in this authoritarian state, the government admitted to under-reporting the number of SARS patients. Today's figures take the new official total to well over four hundred. Beijing's SARS nightmare has increased more than ten-fold in just twenty-four hours. Belatedly, after months of playing down the epidemic, China has signalled a drastic new approach to SARS, sacking Beijing's mayor and dismissing the health minister from his Communist Party job as punishment for the cover-up. China says it wants health officials to come clean about SARS and this sudden new jump in reported infections seems to indicate that the message is getting through. VOCABULARYunder-reporting the number of patients - přiznat nižší počet onemocnění to play down - zlehčovat vážnost situace cover-up - ukrývání skutečnosti to come clean - vyjít s pravdou ven (otevřený přístup) the message is getting through - záměr se podařilo prosadit Dick Thompson - mluvčí Světové zdravotnické organizace: The first step in containing any outbreak is to know where it is and what the size of the problem is you're confronting. But now we're getting a better idea of where it is and we know what we're facing, and I think that it can be contained. But China's the big question mark. If this disease is going to remain with us forever we'll know that first from China. VOCABULARYconfronting the problem - čelit, potýkat se to contain an outbreak - zastavit šíření, zamezit propuknutí we know what we're facing - víme, čemu čelíme the big question mark - velká neznámá

Claire Marshallová z Iráku: The invited delegates were patted down and searched carefully by US soldiers as they made their way through the tight security cordon around the conference centre. Several hundred people have come here, both from within Iraq and from abroad including the United States and Britain. These are the so-called engaging personalities, which the US believes could potentially turn into future leaders. They include tribal chiefs and other prominent figures. The idea of the conference is to exchange views on the possible shape of a future Iraqi government. Some religious groups are boycotting the event, but one delegate told the BBC that it was vital to work with the Americans for the time being to get Iraq up and running again. VOCABULARYpatted down - od hlavy až k patě proklepat the tight security cordon - bezpečnostní kordon engaging personalities - lidé s osobností, příjemní a šarmantníso-called - naznačujete názor, aniž byste ho sami vyjádřili či podpořili to get Iraq up and running - postavit Irák na vlastní nohy

Rachel Harveyová z Bali: For more than an hour, Amrozi sat quietly listening to the long list of charges brought against him. Wearing cut-off trousers and flip-flops, from time to time, he shuffled uncomfortably in his chair. The first person arrested after the devastating bomb attacks last October, Amrozi is now the first of more than thirty suspects to face the courts. He's accused of buying the chemicals to make the bombs and of supplying the van, which delivered them. Under Indonesia's new anti-terrorism laws, if found guilty, he could face the death penalty. Outside the court, a crowd of local people watched proceedings on live television. Every time Amrozi appeared on screen, they jeered and threw makeshift missiles at his image. Inside the court, Amrozi's lawyers began their defence. Amrozi naively admitted his role in the attack they said, but the law needs more than confessions, it needs evidence. VOCABULARYcharges - obvinění accused - obviněn, obviněný suspects - podezřelí anti-terrorism laws - anti-teroristický zákon he could face the death penalty - hrozí mu trest smrti makeshift - po domácku vyrobený, provizorní defence - obhajoba confession- přiznání evidence - důkaz