Erstellt am: 24. 5. 2012 - 14:47 Uhr

Colonial nostalgia and responsibilities

Reality Check: Congo from the inside, EU summit, Amnesty criticises UN Security Council, Syria and Lebanon, New species discovered.

It was the Belgian Congo, then the Democratic Republic of the Congo, then Zaire, then the Democratic Republic of the Congo once again. Whatever you call it, the country that was under Belgian colonial rule from 1908 to 1960, has a difficult and chequered modern history. Dictatorships, civil war, and genocide featured strongly in the decades following independence, and things do not seem to be improving. But while we hear a great deal of tutting and analysis from the experts, we rarely hear the feelings of the Congolese people.

Belgian writer, David Van Reybrouck, set out to put this right with his book Congo: A History, which tells the history of the DRC from the inside, from the viewpoins of the Congolese people. In today's Reality Check, David tells Rainer Springenschmid about Congo today, and the legacy and responsibilies attached to the colonial age.

EU Summit

Europe is divided over the Euro crisis and little progress seems to be being made at the summit, but our Brussels correspondent, Vanessa Mock, says there are important developments behind the scenes.

Amnesty International criticised Security Council

In its latest report, AI says that the UN Security Council is out of touch with human rights, and is failing to fulfil its role in protecting world peace. It says business and trade concerns are overriding the promotion of basic human rights. UN correspondent and commentator, Andreas Zumach, looks at the criticisms and their validity.

Syria and Lebanon

How events in Syria could push Lebanon into another civil war. Rosemary Hollis examines the intricate relationship between the two countries, and how the Syrian conflict resonates through the whole region and beyond.

Strange new species

A monkey that sneezes when it rains and the Spongebob Squarepants mushroom are among the new species described last year. While we usually consider the species being lost, Riem Higazi investigates the weird and wonderful world of new species being added to the list.

FM4 Reality Check

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