Erstellt am: 12. 7. 2011 - 13:46 Uhr

Reality Check Today

Can you count to 14 trillion?

The major stories of the day include continued fears about Italy & Greece’s debt crisis. But we’ve been ignoring so far what could be an even bigger crisis for the world – the US’s financial woes and what happens if the US
defaults on its debt (which by the way is running in the trillions). There’s nothing new about US debt but this time the clock is ticking. The current budget runs out on the 2nd of August and if Republicans and Democrats can’t agree on the next budget by then, the US government can’t have access to the cash it needs, people don’t get paid, job losses,
recession, the next crisis for the world? So we’ll wake up our Washington Bureau and ask one of our correspondents there to tell us is there much of a mood amongst the politicians for compromise?

Ali Akbar Salehi

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi

Iranian Foreign Minister in Vienna

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister is in Vienna today and it’s a controversial visit with fears about Iran’s nuclear programme. He was banned from travelling into the EU and he remains banned from visiting the US. Protests are expected in Vienna too so we wanted to know what’s he doing here and why has the Austrian government invited him?
Rime Allaf, a writer, broadcaster and consultant specializing in Middle East affairs, and an Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, also known as Chatham House, gave Joanna King some insight into the relationship between Iran and Austria as it stands here and now.

US Debt Crisis

President Obama held a press conference yesterday in Washington addressing the serious US debt crisis. To get a perspective on what it means to be in the red to the tune of $ 14 TRILLION and rising, I spoke with FM4's washington correspondent Priscilla Huff.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to friday from 12 to 14. And after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.