Erstellt am: 22. 5. 2012 - 15:08 Uhr

Europe doesn't need the Euro

Reality Check: Thilo Sarazzin, Italy earthquake, Yemen bombings, Mexico drug cartels, Do Not Track

"Europe doesn't need the Euro" - says Thilo Sarrazin in the title of his new book. Well, I suppose one could argue that Europe survived without the Euro for thousands of years, and has only actually had it for just over 10 years (or 13, if you count the time when it was used in accounting, but not as notes and coins) - but now that we're in it, it would be an enormous headache to get out of it.

In the controversial German politician and former central banker, claims that Germany is being blackmailed by the Eurozone to pay out vast sums to atone for the Holocaust.

What he appears to have overlooked is that Germany was one of the driving forces behind the 1992 Maastricht Treaty which set out the criteria for the Euro and monetary union. In fact Germany even employed a certain amount of creative accounting to make sure it met the criteria - so it seems a bit rich to assert the Euro was some sort of anti-Germany device.

It's also fair to say that Germany has done pretty well out of the Euro over its first decade, and it's the southern European countries who have struggled to keep up with their industrialised northern members.

However, Sarrazin's book is out there and will undoubtedly find some populist appeal. Our Berlin correspondent, Ben Knight, looks at the impact the book is likely to have.

Italy earthquake

Josephine McKenna reports on the situation following Sunday's earthquake, which his the region home to key industries such as Parmesan, Ferrari and Lamborghini, and the impact it will have on Italy's already struggling economy.

Major suicide bomb in Yemen

Joanna Bostock reports on the aftermath of the bomb in the Yemeni capital, Sana, which killed over 90 soldiers.

Mexico's drug wars

The Zetas cartel is the largest and most feared in Mexico, and is believed to be behind the brutal massacre of 49 people last week. Jo Tuckman looks at the cartel and the significance of the arrest of the local leader, Daniel Jesus Elizondo, also called "El Loco" - "The Madman".

Do Not Track

Twitter has announced it is joining the "Do Not Track" movement. Dave Dempsey explains how Do Not Track is supposed to work, and whether it is likely to be effective in protecting the privacy of Internet users.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.