Erstellt am: 1. 3. 2013 - 14:43 Uhr

The view from the fiscal cliff

Reality Check: US sequester, Lower Austria and Carinthia elections, Bradley Manning, Ban Ki Moon, earthbag homes

At the end of last year, the air was buzzing with talk of the "fiscal cliff" facing the United States. This was the financial armageddon awaiting the US if agreement could not be reached on tax and spending. Then it all went quiet. So what happened? Did the US fall off the cliff, and if it did, did anyone notice?

EPA Michael Reynolds

If it ever happens, the sequester is likely to hit low paid federal workers, not the decision makers

In fact, in time honoured tradition, the politicians DID reach agreement. They agreed to postpone a decision, and set a new deadline of March 1st. Now it's March 1st, and they still don't have an agreement. Now, in theory, the "sequester" kicks in, which will take money back from federal offices. Only there's every chance that they will agree to another postponement. For those of us who have been going through the Euro crisis for the last few years - the routine is very familiar. A new deadline will be set, and again it will come and go, and a decision will be postponed yet again.

Political analyst James Boys looks at the political paralysis facing the US and the consequences should the sequester eventually kick in.

Lower Austria and Carinthia elections

Reinhard Heinisch previews this weekend's regional elections and their significance for the whole country.

Bradley Manning on trial

Our Washington DC correspondent, Priscilla Huff, looks at the first stage of the trial of Bradley Manning. He has pleaded guilty to 10 of the 22 charges, but denies endangering the security of the USA or "aiding the enemy".

Ban Ki Moon - a historical view

Ahead of tomorrow's Saturday Special "Up Close and Personal with Ban Ki Moon", United Nations historian Thomas Weiss takes a critical look at the Secretary General and his achievements.

Earthbag houses

Kerry Bingham moved from middle class Norfolk to livein a tent in Southern Turkey. Now she lives off grid in a home she built herself out of earthbags.

Kerry Bingham

The house is secure against floods and earthquakes, with a strong, round structure based on earthbags and barbed wire

She tells Riem Higazi about her remarkable DIY building achievement and the joys of an "earthbag home".

Kerry Bingham

Inside, the house is comfortable and cosy, warm in winter and cool in summer

FM4 Reality Check

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