Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee Obama says the Syrian government has lost its legitimacy (1) Also in today’s show: The U.N. finds Syria a game changer in the world refugee problem (2) Amnesty spokesman endorses the “standing man” style of protest in Turkey (3) (Interview with Bill Jones, Amnesty International) A military attack on Iran may be the More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee  The Afghan president says no talks with the Taliban for now (1) (Interview with Karl Inderfurth, former assistant U.S. secretary of state for South Asia) Also in today’s show: President Obama speaks out about nuclear weapons (2) Turkish demonstrators adopt a new type of protest (3) The U.N. nudges Lebanon to open camps More »

Many Muslims in America, who reject extremist interpretations of Islam both at home and abroad, feel that their views are not always adequately represented in the escalating debate about the place of Islam in the United States and other Western countries. Seeking a voice that would speak for them, many look to Imam Feisal More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee  No-fly zone over Syria lacks broad support (1) (Interview with David Butter, Chatham House in London) Also in today’s show: Gulf states to target Hezbollah (2) Egypt sending mixed messages on Syria (3) U.N. cuts aid for Syrian refugees in Lebanon (4) U.S. and Russia are cautiously optimistic about Iran’s newly elected president (5) Ethiopia More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee  Debate starts over how the U.S. will arm Syrian rebels Also in today’s show: Turkey could become the first consolidated Muslim democracy of the 21st century (Interview with Soner Cagaptay, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Iran’s president-elect hails his won win in the country’s election Iran presidential election – an overview The More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee  The White House finds the Syrian regime has crossed the ‘Red Line’ Also in today’s show: Gradual changes are seen coming to Saudi Arabia (Interview with Frederic Wehrey, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) The Turkish prime minister agrees to postpone a park redevelopment Iran holds its presidential election India takes steps to boost trade More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee The U.N. says 93,000 people have died in Syria’s conflict Also in today’s show: Protesters in Turkey are given a ‘final warning’ Using oil resources to calm youth in Saudi Arabia (Interview with Frederic Wehrey, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) Analysts see little choice for Iranians in the presidential poll (To listen to select More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee Turkish police clear Taksim Square (Interview with Erdag Goknar, Duke University) Also in today’s show: Did Saudi Arabia dodge the Arab Spring? Iran’s election might affect nuclear talks Traditional Palestinian weddings keep a heritage alive (To listen to select segments, click ‘play’ and drag the sound line to the appropriate bookmark) *Middle East Monitor podcasts More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee Demonstrations continue against Turkey’s PM Erdogan Also in today’s show: The White House is holding meetings on a U.S. response on Syria Khatami backs a moderate in the Iranian presidential race Egyptians are increasingly concerned about an Ethiopian dam (To listen to select segments, click ‘play’ and drag the sound line to the More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee US, British newspapers identify NSA whistleblower Also in today’s show: Protesters clash with police in the Turkish capital for the 11th straight day The U.N. launches its biggest ever appeal for humanitarian aid to Syria (To listen to select segments, click ‘play’ and drag the sound line to the appropriate bookmark) *Middle East More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Dave DeForest The U.N. warns of a worsening Syrian refugee crisis Also in today’s show: Turkey’s PM demands an end to demonstrations in his country Tensions rise between Egypt and Ethiopia over water diverted from a Nile tributary (To listen to select segments, click ‘play’ and drag the sound line to the appropriate bookmark) *Middle More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Paul Westpheling Syrian peace talks pushed back to July at the earliest Also in today’s show: Syrian troops take control of the strategic town of Qusair The Red Cross plans to begin withdrawing some staff from Afghanistan (To listen to select segments, click ‘play’ and drag the sound line to the appropriate bookmark) *Middle East More »

It is intriguing to note the extent to which the Internet and social media in particular – such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and other digital tools – have become newsworthy topics in their own right in the context of press coverage of the dramatic popular uprisings we have seen across the Middle East. But how More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Paul Westpheling In Turkey, an apology for a police crackdown as protests continue for a fifth day Also in today’s show: An Egyptian court convicts nearly 50 for trying to stir up unrest in the country Iran government tightens controls on using Internet in advance of elections (To listen to select segments, click ‘play’ More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Paul Westpheling The Turkish PM says the weekend protests were inspired by extremists Also in today’s show: Mixed reactions among Palestinians to the new prime minister Iran seeks to exert more influence in Afghanistan (To listen to select segments, click ‘play’ and drag the sound line to the appropriate bookmark) *Middle East Monitor podcasts comprise More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee Syria’s president suggests arms purchase from Russia Also in today’s show: Syrian refugees top 1.6 million, says U.N. Iran’s increasing involvement in terrorism (To listen to select segments, click ‘play’ and drag the sound line to the appropriate bookmark) *Middle East Monitor podcasts comprise elements featured in VOA on-air More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee The U.N. Human Rights Council demands an end to hostilities in the Syrian town of Qusair Also in today’s show: The Syria conflict hits the Lebanese economy  Iran’s culture minister is said to be pushing for additional media restrictions (Interview with Sherif Mansour, Committee to Protect Journalists) Egypt fears diversion of Nile waters More »

Almost two and a half years have now passed since the world witnessed the onset of popular uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa that became known as the Arab Spring. While it seems that a number of countries in the region managed to escape revolutionary upheavals, there are those who believe that More »

Middle East Monitor Podcast* with Susan Yackee Syrian rebels bristle at stalled opposition talks Also in today’s show: Obstacles on the road to the international peace conference on Syria Fears rise in Lebanon of a Syrian war spillover Russian sale of missiles to Syria may complicate a no-fly zone (Interview with Ben MacQueen, Monash University, Australia) The U.S. says it’s time More »