Erstellt am: 1. 10. 2015 - 15:05 Uhr

Putin's "war of words" shifts the power balance

Russia air strikes on Syria, monk seals, Palestine and Oslo Accords, Kreig gegen das Kalifat

As Russia starts its air campaign in Syria, the US is expressing concern that the targets may include non-Islamic State opponents of President Assad.

If this is the case, and Russia is directly supporting President Assad with its military action, the diplomatic situation takes on a new and potentially very dangerous dimension.

EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV

Putin has "changed the balance of power in Syria" by taking regime change and no-fly zones off the table. Now the crisis cannot be solved without Putin's involvement.

Analyst, Shashank Joshi, looks at the potential for escalation of the conflict.

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The Mediterranean monk seal is endangered

The dangers of mapping the Med

Nicolaus Entrup of Ocean Care explains the threat to endangered monk seals posed by a project to map the floor of the Mediterranean.

With only a few hundred monk seals left in the Mediterranean, it is feared that the planned tests could lead to their extinction.

The end of the Oslo Accords

EPA/JUSTIN LANE

The Palestinian flag is flying, but the Oslo Accords appear to be dead

As the Palestinian flag is raised at the United Nations in New York, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, says he no longer feels bound by the Oslo Accords.

The Oslo Accords, signed in 1994, set up a plan to establish a Palestinian state by 2000, but not only has that not happened, but President Abbas says Israel has broken their side of the deal.

Irris Makler reports from Jerusalem on reactions on both sides of the Middle East conflict.

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The people on the front-line against Islamic State

Wieland Schneider, author of "Krieg gegen das Kalifat"
talks about the different people fighting Islamic State, their backgrounds and motivations.

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