Erstellt am: 18. 12. 2014 - 14:00 Uhr

"This is MASSIVE!"

USA and Cuba restore diplomatic relations, Tunisian revolution 4 years on, mass graves found in eastern Syria, Martin Habacher on the importance of personal assistants.

It's not that often that a major diplomatic event takes people in the know by surprise; diplomacy, by its nature, moves slowly and carefully.

Cuba was an exception. Of course, secret talks have been going on for a while, but they had apparently been a fairly well kept secret. While the experts knew they were happening, no one, it seems, expected a watershed event yesterday.

EPA/Doug Mills

Raul Castro and Barack Obama made simultaneous announcements that diplomatic ties will be restored

When the news broke in afternoon that an announcement was imminent that diplomatic relations are to be restored between Washington DC and Havana, the Reality Check team reached for the phones - but quite a few Cuba experts seemed to have already gone off for their Christmas holidays.

Not, however, Dr Stephen Wilkinson from the International Institute for the Study of Cuba - but even he was taken by surprise.

EPA/Ernesto Mastrascusa

After we told him that the news wires were buzzing with the expected announcement - his reaction was simply "This is MASSIVE!"

Obviously, the reversal of 50 years of hostility is big, but
you need to listen to Stephen's analysis to appreciate just how big. The implications spread far and wide, and change the whole balance of power both in the Americas and around the world.

After taking in what he has to say, I agree - this one is massive.

Also in the programme:

Mass grave of IS victims found in Syria

Over 230 bodies of people thought to have been massacred by Islamic State militants have been found in a mass grave in eastern Syria, near the border with Iraq. Analyst Shashank Joshi gives his reaction to the discovery.

4th anniversary of Tunisian revolution

Regional expert, Cengiz Gunay, explains why Tunisia is having such difficulty in finding its international footing 4 years after its revolution and transition to democracy.

Help with personal assistants

This year's FM4 Licht ins Dunkel campaign is for the Verein Reiz in Vorarlberg. Martin Habacher who uses a wheelchair and has an independent life with the help of his team of personal assistants, explains why this initiative is so important.

FM4 Reality Check

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