Topical News English – Angličtina Youradio Talk

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

John Kampfner z Iráku: In the early hours of April 2nd reporters were summoned to Central Command in Doha for an urgent announcement. They assumed coalition forces had captured or killed Saddam Hussein. Instead they were given the story of the dramatic rescue by US Special Forces of Private Jessica Lynch whose company had been ambushed by the Iraqis more than a week earlier. The official version, caught on camera by a Pentagon crew, was that a rescue squad stormed the building and took her away under fire. Private Lynch was said to have received bullet and stab wounds. Once in hospital, she was said to have been beaten and stabbed. But doctors at the hospital in Nasariyah tell a different tale. They insist that while Saddam's Fedayeen Militia had been at the hospital at the beginning, they had long since left, and that the Americans knew it. They said that far from mistreating Lynch, they gave her the best treatment they could at a time of war. They made clear that by the time the Americans descended on the hospital by helicopter they were aware that they would face no resistance. VOCABULARYcoalition forces - koaliční síly to capture - zajmout, vzít do zajetí to rescue - osvobodit to ambush - nečekaně napadnout, napadnout ze zálohy a rescue squad - záchranná jednotka to storm - prudce zaútočit, vzít ztečí under fire - pod palbou treatment - ošetření resistance - ozbrojený odpor

Jane Hugesová ze základního tábora na Mount Everestu : Sibusiso Vilane spoke to the BBC by radio from the summit of Everest and said he was crying tears of joy. He said he was feeling well and was very grateful to be there. He's spent weeks at base camp and up on the mountain acclimatising and waiting for a break in the weather. He reached the top of the world after climbing through a clear and starlit night. But the winds are now much stronger and he still has to get safely back down the mountain - something climbers regard as at least as much of a challenge as the summit itself. A few hours before he got there, Lakba Gelu Sherpa arrived at the top of Everest in record time. He took just under eleven hours to go from base camp to the summit - a journey that takes the average climber a good four days of hard climbing. His achievement breaks the world record set just a couple of days ago by a fellow Sherpa, Pemba Dorje, who got to the top of the mountain in twelve-hours-forty-five minutes. VOCABULARYsummit - vrchol tears of joy - slzy radosti be grateful - být vděčný, považovat si challenge - "výzva" achievement - významný čin, životní úspěch to break the world record - překonat světový record

Barbara Plettová z Jeruzaléma: Ariel Sharon presented his acceptance of the road map in terms of pragmatic self-interest rather than as a step towards peace. He told his cabinet that approving the US-backed plan would safeguard Israel's strategic relationship with Washington and it would help the country's struggling economy because, he said, diplomatic progress would lead to economic benefits. This largely negative endorsement faced strong opposition from the far right. But Mr Sharon is really swimming with the tide as polls show that a solid Israeli majority supports the road map. There is debate in Israel though about what the old warrior is really up to. Some analysts believe his new moves are only tactical, concealing old policies of expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied territories. Others believe he does want to achieve a settlement of the conflict in this his final term as prime minister. Ariel Sharon's view of the road map is ambiguous enough to allow for both readings. But where the road map is vague about the entity, Mr Sharon is clear. He said it would cover no more than fifty percent of the West Bank and have no control of its borders. That would allow him to keep most of the settlements in place - consistent with his long-held position that Israel needs to control at least half of the West Bank for its security interests. VOCABULARY"the road map" - "cestovní mapa" pragmatic self-interest - pragmatický vlastní zájem negative endorsement - negativní podpora swimming with the tide - plavat s proudem polls - průzkumy veřejného mínění to conceal - zastírat ambiguous - dvojznačný vague - vágní, nejasný, mlhavý

Michael Buchanan z USA: Hillary Clinton's supporters say she's caring and committed. Her opponents label her pig-headed and dangerous. But the New York senator left politics largely aside as she discussed how she coped with the series of personal scandals that have beset the couple. "He had not told me the truth about what the relationship was and I was furious, I was dumbfounded, I was just beside myself with anger and disappointment." Most of her energy is now spent serving the people of New York and that seems quite enough, as she quashes suggestions that she intends to run for the White House. "I don't have any intentions, or plans, of running. I'm flattered that the question gets asked (every day) and I hope that it will lead to a woman running for President." VOCABULARY"Living History" - živá historie, zažívat historii pigheaded - nenaslouchá druhým, paličatý leave politics aside - pominout politiku to beset - postihnout, pronásledovat, pohltit to be furious - zuřit dumbfounded - zdrcený, zděšený, konsternovaný beside myself with anger - zlostí bez sebe to quash - odmítat, negovat to be flattered - být polichocen