Articles posted by Susan Yackee
Susan Yackee is anchor and producer of VOA's audio podcast, Middle East Monitor. She has been a reporter in the Washington area for more than 35 years and regularly interviews newsmakers and analysts in DC and around the world. Susan works in television, radio and social media.
Today marked the second anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden – instigator and mastermind of the 9-11 attacks in the United States in 2001. Nearly 3,000 people were killed when al-Qaida hijackers crashed two planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and one into the More »
The International Committee of the Red Cross reports an increase in indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Damascus and says people are fleeing the Syrian capital in greater numbers. Reuters separately reports that March was the most violent month in Syria’s now more than two-year-old conflict, with 6,000 people killed, The total estimated death toll More »
Twenty-seven European Union foreign ministers left a meeting in Brussels this week bitterly divided on whether forces trying to topple the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should receive outside military assistance. VOA’s Susan Yackee spoke on the subject with Chatham House Syria expert Christopher Phillips (audio below). Susan Yackee: The European Union has come More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee Russian FM Lavrov says only dialogue can end the crisis in Syria Also in today’s show: Health problems threaten displaced Syrians The U.N. and aid agencies pledge more help for Syria Is extremism on the rise in Tunisia? Libyan lawmakers debate exclusion law for Gadhafi associates The Libyan ambassador to the U.S. predicts a More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee NATO sets up more missile batteries on Turkey’s border with Syria Also in today’s show: Egyptians fight new limits on free speech Thoughts on a new constitution for Libya (Interview with Libyan Ambassador to the U.S. Ali Aujali) Israel again calls for action against Iran Pakistan reaches out to Iran on energy and security (audio More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee Repeated government aerial attacks empty Syrian town of Azaz Also in today’s show: The Red Cross urges more Syrian prison visits The Libyan ambassador to the U.S. talks about challenges facing his country (Interview with Ambassador Ali Aujali) Political deadlock in Tunisia fuels economic frustration Australia asks Israel to explain the death of an More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee A push for reforms and civil rights doesn’t die in Bahrain Also in today’s show: Syrian children seek a good education Libya tries to contain a crime wave Egyptians reeling from post-revolution economic woes A new report on a water drain in the Middle East (Interview with Jay Famiglietti, University of California, Irvine) (audio player More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee A protester is killed as Bahrain marks its uprising anniversary Also in today’s show: Syrians displaced by war struggle to survive The North Korean nuclear test shines a spotlight on Iran Three things Obama can do to improve the U.S. image in the MENA region (Interview with Robert Powell, Economist Intelligence Unit) (audio player More »
With fresh anti-American sentiment growing in some parts of the Middle East and North Africa, Economist Intelligence Unit expert Robert Powell offers some thoughts on what President Barack Obama could do to counter the trend. Powell spoke with VOA’s Susan Yackee. Yackee: What does President Obama need to do to improve his image in the More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee The U.S. president says 34,000 troops will come home within a year Also in today’s show: In major speech, Obama touches on Egypt, Syria and Israel Worsening attitudes toward the U.S. in the Middle East and North Africa An Africa ‘brain gain’ thanks to growing economies on the continent (audio player might not More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee Syria’s main opposition coalition plans to open an office in New York Also in today’s show: Is Iran supplying weapons to Islamists in Somalia? Libyans become wary of violence in Tunisia Egyptian women battle a rise in mob attacks (audio player might not display on all devices) Susan YackeeSusan Yackee is anchor and More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee A bleak assessment of water and sanitation conditions in Syria Also in today’s show: Two years after Mubarak’s ouster, Egyptians struggle to keep hope Tunisians question their future after a politician’s death Obama’s visit tops the agenda at an Israeli Cabinet meeting (audio player might not display on all devices) Susan YackeeSusan Yackee More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee Tunisians, mourning a slain opposition leader, clash with police Also in today’s show: Four car bombings rock Iraq The Benghazi attack – still a headache for the White House An Islamic summit ends with a call for dialogue in Syria A look at the rise of the “shoe attack” (audio player might not display More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee Amnesty calls for a thorough probe into the death of a Tunisian opposition leader (Interview with Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International) Also in today’s show: New sanctions press for ‘concrete progress’ in Iran nuclear talks Can more be done to protect Syrian refugees in Lebanon? (Interview with Nadim Houry, Human Rights Watch) Officials in More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee The killing of a Tunisian opposition figure ignites unrest (Interview with Philip Walker, Economist Intelligence Unit) Also in today’s show: Syrian rebel forces step up attacks on Damascus The U.N. struggles to provide medical care for Syrians The White House announces President Obama’s Middle East trip Bulgaria accuses Hezbollah in a 2012 airport attack (audio More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee Ahmadinejad meets Morsi as part of landmark visit Also in today’s show: Iranian and E.U. officials agree to hold new round of nuclear talks (Int. with Laicie Heeley, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation) Syrian refugees in Iraq face a harsh winter Libyans are frustrated by a constitution delay An all-girl band folds after More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee Egyptian police tactics prompt a massive backlash Also in today’s show: Israel hints at its responsibility for an air strike in Syria Iran’s nuclear ambitions and a bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Turkey draw scrutiny British authorities launch an investigation after pork is found in pies labeled halal (audio player might not More »
The recent second anniversary of the Egyptian revolution that toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak was marred by renewed violence between protesters and security forces of the country’s new government under President Mohamed Morsi. Disillusioned with the direction taken by Egypt’s new Islamist leader, activists took to the streets again reportedly only to see a replay More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee Demonstrators again take to the streets in Cairo and other cities Also in today’s show: Amnesty International reports a dark side to the protests in Cairo (Interview with Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International) Syria speaks out about an Israeli air attack Providing aid to the people of Syria, against all odds (Interview with Marie-Pierre Allié, More »
Middle East Monitor Podcast with Susan Yackee The joint U.N.-Arab League envoy warns of Syria’s destruction Also in today’s show: President Obama speaks out on the violence in Syria Israel’s concerns rise over Syria’s chemical stockpile The conflict in Egypt is seen as reaching a stalemate The outgoing U.S. secretary of state sounds a hopeful note on Middle East peace (audio More »
