Erstellt am: 12. 12. 2014 - 14:33 Uhr

EU Commission creates a bad atmosphere

Reality Check: Will a "day of silence" lead to new talks on Ukraine? Also: EU Commission scraps anti-pollution plans, SeaWorld C.E.O. resigns, Amnesty International letterwriting, talking books for Ghana.

EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

Juncker's commission gets off to a bad start with environmentalists

EU bins its plans to fight pollution

According to a leaked report, the EU Commission looks set to scrap planned legislation on air quality and waste disposal.

Sandra Gathmann reports from Brussels on what is known about this decision and its implications.

Ukraine's "day of silence"

EPA/WALLACE WOON

Poroshenko's call for "Day of Silence" seems to have been heeded

Following Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko's call for a "day of silence", the country has seen a lull in fighting between government troops and pro-Russia rebels.

It's the first full 24 hours with no fatalities on the government side since a "ceasefire" was agreed in September. Meanwhile, the Russian Tass news agency says new peace talks are imminent. David Stern reports from Kiev.

SeaWorld C.E.O. resigns

This head of the California aquatic park SeaWorld is stepping. His decision comes after visitors to the park dwindled following the controversial "Blackfish" film criticises treatment of killer whales.

Environmental and animal rights activist, Nicolas Entrup, reacts to the news.

Umida Niyazova

Uzbek human rights campaigner, Umida Niyazova, talks about her imprisonment and release in Tashkent, and how Amnesty International's letter writing campaign gave her hope in the darkest times.

Literacy Bridge

The talking books are simple to use, and could save lives

Ghana's talking books

Surangani Abeyesekera of UNICEF explains how the Literacy Bridge talking books project is changing life for illiterate people in the poorest corners of Ghana.

FM4 Reality Check

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