Erstellt am: 18. 9. 2012 - 14:20 Uhr

The show must go on!

Reality Check: Gabriela Moser resigns as chair of the parliamentary inquiry into corruption, latest on stem cell research, Burma prisoner release, Skatestan tragedy, author Daniel Woodrell

The experts and analysts have been divided. The parliamentary inquiry into corruption has been grinding on for months and months, and while it has most certainly struck a blow for transparency, it has recently threatened not just to trip over its own red tape, but tobe actually strangled by it.

While some experts said it was only a matter of time until the whole thing ground to a halt and the politicians found a way to stop the process in the interests of next year's election, others said stopping the process would be political suicide for both major parties.

Today, the Chair of the committee, the Greens Gabriele Moser, has thrown the whole thing into confusion and pulled the rug out from under the feet of the main parties and anyone who wanted to see the process gently fade away. She resigned her position, and in doing so, ensured that the investigation will continue. The show must go on!

Moser had come under criticism from both ÖVP and SPÖ for her handling of the committe, but her resignation came as a surprise to just about everyone. Now the question is, who will take over?

Media analyst Thomas Hofer looks at the likely fallout of the resignation for the inquiry and the political scene.

Latest breakthroughs in stem cell research

A team at the University of Sheffield have found the they can cure deafness in gerbils, using human embryonic stem cells. This extraordinary breakthrough means there could be a cure for certain types of deafness in humans withing a few years.

That's not the only remarkable breakthrough in this controversial area of science. The researchers dream, that they could eventually find a way to heal spinal injuried such as those sustained by the late film star Christopher Reeve, is also coming closer.

There are even prospects for growing "spare organs" for babies before birth that could potentially be a permanent solution for conditions like "hole in the heart".

Riem Higazi explores the new frontiers of stem cell research with New Scientist's Andy Coghlan.

Prisoner release in Burma

Burma has released over 500 prisoners including 84 political prisoners in the latest in the series of prisoner releases since President Thein Sein came to power. Although Thein Sein is part of the "old guard" and a former military general, he seems to be pioneering a programme of reform and democratisation that could eventually see Burma brought back into the International Community. Jonathan Head reports from the region on the Burma's complicated diplomatic relations and how the relationship between Suu Kyi and Thein Sein is working to take reform forward at a fast pace.

Education project hit by tragedy

While suicide bombs in Afghanistan are an almost daily occurrence, it's rarely that we see a human picture of the victims. The education project "Skateistan" that brings young people into school through skateboarding, recently lost 4 of its members in a suicide bomb in Kabul. Joanna Bostock reports on the project and the young lives that were so tragically lost.

Author Daniel Woodrell

Daniel Woodrell is not just a successful writer, he has also had two of his books turned into highly successful films. Riem Higazi meets the "country noir" author, who is reading from his work at "Die Krimi Nacht" tonight in Vienna.

FM4 Reality Check

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