Erstellt am: 21. 1. 2014 - 14:09 Uhr

Tuesday's Reality Check

Reality Check: Evidence of war crimes by Assad regime, Sochi security threat, dolphin cull in Japan, Serbia starts EU talks, "Rosetta" wakes up

EPA/SANA HANDOUT

Report shows "compelling" evidence of torture by Assad regime

Evidence has emerged that the Syrian government has tortured and executed around 11,000 prisoners since the start of the uprising against President Assad. Experts say the reports, published in The Guardian and on CNN, provide "direct" and "compelling" evidence of systematic torture and killing by the Assad regime.

Riem Higazi looks at the origins of the evidence, and the views of those who reported on it.

EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

Security is the issue ahead of Sochi '14

Security in Sochi

With less than 3 weeks to go before the start of the Sochi Winter Olympics, the event is receiving threats from a key terrorist group.

Our Moscow correspondent, Tom Barton, looks at the nature of the threats, and the response from the Russian authorities.

EPA/SEA SHEPHERED

A few dolphins will be sold to zoos and aquaria - the rest, killed

Annual dolphin cull begins in Japan

The annual dolphin cull begins today in Taiji, Japan, enraging not only activists, but also the UK and US ambassadors to Japan.

Hundreds of dolphins are rounded up; a few are selected for sale to zoos and aquaria, and the rest are brutally slaughtered.

Nicolas Entrup, consultant to the conservation organisations Ocean Care and Whale and Dolphin Conservation, describe what happens and how the hunt is tied up to the entertainment industry.

EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

Serbian Prime Minister, Ivica Dacic is hoping for progress in today's talks

Serbia EU accession talks

As the EU begins accession talks with Serbia, Nick Thorpe discusses the prospects for Serbia joining the bloc in the light of the on-going dispute over the statehood of Kosovo.

EPA/ESA

Solar powered Rosetta is now near enough to the sun to power up again.

Rosetta "wakes up" on time

Europe's comet chaser, Rosetta, has sent signals back to Earth after a two and a half year "hibernation". Peter Bond of New Scientist worked on the mission at the outset, and explains the importance of the phase this remarkable spacecraft is now entering.

FM4 Reality Check

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