Renee Montagne

Select Young Afghans Chosen As Commandoes In Training

Renee Montagne — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:14:00 +0000

From the Afghan capital Kabul, Morning Edition's Renee Montagne talks to Gen, Joseph Dunford, the commander of all U.S. and international forces there. They discuss the challenges of the current situation on the ground, and look ahead to the withdrawal of NATO combat troops in 2014.

Younger Generation Poised To Lead Afghanistan's Future

Renee Montagne — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:49:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne, in Kabul, Afghanistan.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And I'm Steve Inskeep, in Washington, with David Greene.

Renee's been in Afghanistan as the United States prepares to substantially draw down its presence in that country, which puts the focus on the Afghans who will try to run the country next.

Cyprus Proposes Exempting Smaller Deposits From Tax

Renee Montagne — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:38:00 +0000

The government of Cyprus is trying to ease fears over a proposed tax on bank deposits. Newly proposed legislation would exempt savers with smaller accounts. It's part of a bailout plan for that Mediterranean country, negotiated with the E.U. and IMF over the weekend.

E.U. Bailout Tax Causes Bank Run In Cyprus

Renee Montagne — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 08:06:00 +0000

Citizens of Cyprus did not react well to the news that their government wants to allow the European Union to take nearly 10 percent of their savings deposits in exchange for a $13 billion bailout. Banks are closed through Tuesday after worries over bank runs. Depositors stood in long lines to withdraw money over the weekend.

Ethnic Violence Haunts Kenya's Presidential Election

Renee Montagne — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:01:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Kenya votes for a new president today for the first time in five years. It's an important election, in part because the country is still haunted by the ethnic violence that bloodied the last presidential election in 2007. More than 1,200 people were killed and the violence only ended after the international community stepped in. NPR's Gregory Warner is out visiting polling stations and talking to people in Nairobi. He joins us to talk about the election.

Benedict XVI Leaves The Vatican, Headed To Retirement

Renee Montagne — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:04:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

We're hearing this morning that Pope Benedict has left the Vatican. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli is covering the first papal retirement in 600 years, and she joins us now from Rome. And Sylvia, describe the scene for us there.

SYLVIA POGGIOLI, BYLINE: Well, it was a very emotional scene as Benedict first left all his close aides and employees and officials at the Vatican and then he went to the helicopter pad and has taken off. And I can't help but say this, but we see him now on pictures of Vatican TV flying into the sunset.

Sequester Politics In The News

Renee Montagne — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:13:00 +0000

Usually when we come up to the edge of one of these deadlines there are 11th-hour negotiations, and the two parties manage to swerve away from the precipice at the last minute. What about this time?

Pope Benedict XVI To Resign Feb. 28

Renee Montagne — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Pope Benedict announced Monday morning he is retiring at the end of the month. He will be the first pontiff to step aside in six centuries.

Politics In the News

Renee Montagne — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:38:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. Good morning. I'm David Greene.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

President Obama is taking his campaign against gun violence to the country, beginning today with a trip to Minneapolis and a visit to that city's police department. Many police organizations favor tougher gun laws. The president leaves behind a new Congress that's getting down to business. And consuming most of lawmakers' time: the budget and the deficit.

Joining us, as she does most Mondays, is Cokie Roberts.

Smaller Crowds At Capitol, But 2009's Enthusiasm Persists

Renee Montagne and Ailsa Chang — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:55:00 +0000

Four years ago, the National Mall was packed with record crowds. People gathering as President Obama prepares to take the oath of office and deliver a second inaugural address share some of the same sentiments as the crowds from 2009. But the crowds — and the vendors — are less numerous.

Inaugural Parade Begins At The Pentagon Moves To D.C.

Renee Montagne — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:45:00 +0000

After George Washington took his oath of office he was joined by a procession made up of local militias as he made his way from Mount Vernon to New York City. These days, the parade is a colorful blend of marching bands, floats and different organizations — led by ceremonial military regiments.

Crowds Begin Converging On Washington, D.C.

Renee Montagne — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:18:00 +0000

Morning Edition has a team of reporters spread out across the city, getting a feel for how things are going in different areas. Thousands of people are descending on the nation's capital to be a part of President Obama's second inauguration.

Obama To Pick New Pentagon, CIA Leaders

Renee Montagne — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:56:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

President Obama wants a Republican to be his next secretary of Defense, and some Republicans really don't like the choice.

Senator Chuck Hagel is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. He's a former Nebraska senator but some of his former colleagues in Congress are reluctant to endorse him.

Politics In The News

Renee Montagne — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:59:00 +0000

For more about the week ahead in politics, Renee Montagne talks to regular Morning Edition contributor Cokie Roberts.

5 Days Left To Avoid 'Fiscal Cliff" Extremes

Renee Montagne — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 09:34:00 +0000

President Obama returns to Washington Thursday as do members of the U.S. Senate. They're cutting holiday plans short in hopes of coming up with a deal to avoid the tax hikes and budget cuts set to take effect on Jan. 1.

In Cairo, Efforts To Reach Mideast Cease-Fire

Renee Montagne — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:49:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Let's turn now to the urgent diplomatic efforts underway. Secretary of State Clinton is now in Cairo, meeting with Egyptian leaders in efforts to reach a ceasefire. NPR's Leila Fadel joins us from Cairo to discuss the latest.

Good morning.

LEILA FADEL, BYLINE: Good morning.

MONTAGNE: So what do you know about what's happening on the diplomatic front today there in Cairo?

FADEL: Well, at this point, actually, not much. Hillary Clinton arrived here earlier in the afternoon, but we still haven't heard anything from those meetings.

Push For Diplomatic Solution In Gaza Ramps Up

Renee Montagne — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:34:00 +0000

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Linda Wertheimer.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

Even as talk grows louder about a possible truce, intense air assaults went back and forth over the Israeli and Gaza border today. More Palestinians were killed overnight, pushing the death toll for days of fighting to over 100 for Palestinians and three Israelis.

Still, the push for a diplomatic solution is ramping up. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in the region today.

Sandy Likely To Affect New York Voter Turnout

Renee Montagne — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:46:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And I'm Steve Inskeep.

The triumph in some parts of the country this morning is that people are able to vote at all. Just over a week after Hurricane Sandy slammed ashore, people are voting today in New Jersey.

And in New York City, NPR's Robert Smith is in the Borough of Queens, part of New York City. He's on the line. Robert, what have you seen today?

ROBERT SMITH, BYLINE: Well, I'm actually in Rockaway Beach.

Bangladeshi Man Arrested In N.Y. Bomb Plot

Renee Montagne — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 08:37:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

A young Bangladeshi man has been charged with conspiring to blow up the Federal Reserve Bank in lower Manhattan. New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly commented on the arrest at a press conference last night.

RAYMOND KELLY: This individual came here for the purpose of doing a terrorist act.

MONTAGNE: Authorities emphasize that no one was in any danger. The young man was using dummy explosives provided by the FBI. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston is in New York and she has the latest.

A.L. Championship: Yankees Head To Detroit Down 2-0

Renee Montagne — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:52:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

In the baseball playoffs tonight, the Detroit Tigers have a chance to put the reeling New York Yankees on the brink of elimination. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants have slowed the St. Louis Cardinals who'd been playing with the kind of magic touch that carried them to last year's World Series title. Last night in San Francisco, the Giants beat St. Louis 7-1 to even their National League Championship Series at one game each.

Nobel Economic Prize Announced Monday

Renee Montagne — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:51:00 +0000

Americans Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley won the Nobel economics prize Monday for their theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design.

Nobel Prize For Literature Announced Thursday

Renee Montagne — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 08:47:00 +0000

Mo Yan was one of three writers favored to win. He is perhaps best known in the West as the author of Red Sorghum, which was made into a film. He is only the second Chinese writer to win the Nobel — the other is poet Gao Xingjian, who won in 2000.

Judge Postpones Pennsylvania's Voter ID Law

Renee Montagne — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

A judge in Pennsylvania has blocked a key part of that state's new voter ID law, a law that's caused controversy. Now, come Election Day, voters showing up at the polls can still be asked to show a government-issued photo ID, but they will not be prevented from voting if they don't have one. NPR's Pam Fessler has been covering the story and she joins us now.

As NFL Labor Dispute Drags On, Fill-in Refs Criticized

Renee Montagne — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 08:49:00 +0000

The NFL locked out the regular officials in June because of a labor dispute. While the league and the referees union continue to disagree over a new contract, the replacements on the field are making mistakes.

Deadly Incidents Take A Toll In Afghanistan

Renee Montagne — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:48:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

Events in Afghanistan these past couple of days are reflecting the various ways in which things are going wrong there. In Kabul today there are violent protests against the now infamous film that insults the Prophet Muhammad. This comes a day after four U.S. soldiers were killed in another insider attack. And also yesterday, a NATO airstrike killed several women and girls in the eastern part of the country.

Protests Continue Against Anti-Islam Film

Renee Montagne — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:48:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

We begin this morning in the Middle East. The violent protests outside U.S.

Attack In Libya Threatens To Upset U.S. Ties

Renee Montagne — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:12:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And if you're just joining us, we are covering this morning's statements by President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, all having to do with the attacks yesterday in Egypt, and particularly in Libya where consulate was attacked in Benghazi. And we now know that four Americans were killed including the United States Ambassador to Libya J.

U.S. Condemns Killing Of Ambassador, Staff In Libya

Renee Montagne — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:03:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne. We come to you this morning with grim news. The U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans have been killed when protesters stormed the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. The protests were sparked yesterday by an American-made video circulating on the Web that ridicules Islam and the prophet Muhammad.

Moments ago, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke of Ambassador John Christopher Stevens and the other men who died.

South African Police Accused Of Massacring Miners

Renee Montagne — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:23:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm David Greene.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

In South Africa, it was a scene that evoked the darkest days of the struggle against apartheid. Workers on strike at a platinum mine yesterday were gunned down by heavily armed South African police. Thirty-four lay dead in the dust when the shooting was over. Scores of more miners were wounded. Today, human rights, labor and political groups are calling the shooting a massacre.

Ecuador To Decide On Assange Asylum Request

Renee Montagne — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:38:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm David Greene.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

In the latest twist to the WikiLeaks story, its founder Julian Assange has been granted political asylum by the South American nation of Ecuador.