Civilians in Syria not only face attacks from Bashar al Assad's regime, but also from its ally Russia. These targeted attacks on civilians are war crimes, according to Human Rights Watch. So, will anyone be held to account? Hyder Abbasi reports.

The results of the upcoming US presidential elections, the most divisive in generations, are sure to reverberate across the world. How will the election's outcome impact the Middle East and Turkey in particular? Plus, Bashar al Assad's regime and its ally Russia have targeted civilians in opposition-held Idlib province, which rights groups say, is a crime against humanity. We discuss this as well as the latest on the war in Syrian.

Guests:

Douglas Ollivant

Senior Fellow at New America Foundation

Ugur Yasin Asal

Assistant Professor at Istanbul Ticaret University

Ali Demirdas

Political Analyst

Fadel Abdul Ghany

Chairman of the Syrian Network for Human Rights

There is supposed to be a ceasefire in place between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region. But as Strait Talk correspondent Sara Firth reports from near one of Azerbaijan's frontlines, it has been a different story on the ground.

Azerbaijan says dozens have been killed in attacks on civilians by Armenia. The attacks have continued despite a Russia-brokered ceasefire, which has all but collapsed. We discuss the latest in this ongoing conflict between the two countries over the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Plus, the abandoned coastal town of Maras in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has partially reopened to the public after 46 years. What does this mean for TRNC and the region?

Guests:

Farid Shafiyev

Former Azerbaijani Ambassador

Idil Tuncer Kilavuz

Associate Professor at Istanbul Medeniyet University

Tahsin Ertugruloglu

Former TRNC Foreign Minister

Tarik Oguzlu

Professor at Antalya Bilim University

After 46 years of neglect, the buildings in the coastal town of Maras in TRNC are decaying and roads crumbling. But the town has partially reopened, and as Hyder Abbasi reports, it stands as a symbol of the island's division.

Azerbaijan says Armenia continues to target civilian settlements in an act of war crimes and despite the a Russia-backed ceasefire to end the fighting over the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region. We discuss the latest in the fighting that threatens that has thrown the region into a crisis.

Guests:

Farid Shafiyev

Former Azerbaijani Ambassador

Idil Tuncer Kilavuz

Associate Professor at Istanbul Medeniyet University

For almost half a century, entry was forbidden into the abandoned coastal town of Maras located in a military zone in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The area, once known as the 'Las Vegas of the Mediterranean,' has partially reopened to the public and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara is ready to support the Turkish Cypriot administration in the efforts. So, what led to the decision? And what impact will it have on the island as well as the region?

Guests:

Tahsin Ertugruloglu

Former TRNC Foreign Minister

Tarik Oguzlu

Professor at Antalya Bilim University

French President Emmanuel unveiled a plan to tackle what he calls 'Islamic separatism' to safeguard the country's secular values. But critics say the proposal panders to the far-right and will stigmatise Muslims. So, is Macron moving France towards a more confrontational approach when it comes to Islam? Plus, Gulf nations are banding against Turkey as its regional clout expands. But what’s behind this ‘anti-Turkey' alliance, and what does it mean for the many conflicts across the region?

Guests:

Yasser Louati

Human Rights and Civil Liberties Activist

Ahmet Uysal

Director, ORSAM Center for Middle Eastern Studies

Vehbi Baysan

Assistant Professor at Ibn Haldun University

Giorgio Cafiero

CEO and founder of Gulf State Analytics

Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have found themselves on the opposing sides of many Middle East conflicts from the Syrian civil war, the coup in Egypt to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. There's also an emerging 'anti-Turkey' alliance among the Gulf nations. The UAE's foreign minister accused Turkey of 'interference in the affairs of Arab countries,' and most recently, a leading Saudi business leader called for the boycott of 'everything Turkish.' So why are these Arab countries uniting against Ankara?

Guests:

Vehbi Baysan

Assistant Professor at Ibn Haldun University

Giorgio Cafiero

CEO and founder of Gulf State Analytics

French President Emmanuel Macron says 'Islam is a religion that is in crisis today all over the world' and proposed a plan to tackle what he calls 'Islamic separatism' to protect the country's secular values. But critics say the proposal panders to the far-right and will only serve to stigmatise Muslims. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Macron's statement an 'open provocation beyond disrespect.' So, is Macron moving the French Republic towards a more confrontational approach when it comes to Islam? And what does this mean for the two countries, who share a growing list of disputes?

Guests:

Yasser Louati

Human Rights and Civil Liberties Activist

Ahmet Uysal

Director, ORSAM Center for Middle Eastern Studies