Renee Montagne http://kuow.org en Voters Cast Ballots In Iran's Presidential Election http://kuow.org/post/voters-cast-ballots-irans-presidential-election Transcript <p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>In Syria's ally Iran, people are voting for president today. It is Iran's first presidential election since the stunning vote in 2009. Back then, a surprisingly early declaration of victory for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked a wave of protests, followed by years of government repression. This time around, six candidates are contending for power amid widespread skepticism about the election, and intensive security on the streets.<p>MORNING EDITION's Steve Inskeep has been reporting from Iran. He's on the line with us from the capital, Tehran. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:22:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 14920 at http://kuow.org Food Entrepreneur Is A New Bread Of Afgahn Business Owner http://kuow.org/post/food-entrepreneur-new-bread-afgahn-business-owner Transcript <p>DAVID GREENE, HOST: <p>MORNING EDITION's Renee Montagne has been in Kabul, a place she knows well. It's her ninth trip to Afghanistan since 2001. This time, she's reporting on a new generation in Afghanistan: young people born after the Soviet invasion, which set in motion more than three decades of conflict. These young Afghans will be the ones shaping their country after 2014. That's when U.S. and Allied combat operations are set to end and foreign aid and support is expected to dwindle. Mon, 27 May 2013 09:11:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 13802 at http://kuow.org Select Young Afghans Chosen As Commandoes In Training http://kuow.org/post/select-young-afghans-chosen-commandoes-training Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>All right, through much of this week, we've been hearing from young Afghans on the future of their country after NATO troops withdraw in 2014. Yesterday, our colleague Renee Montagne met with the American general who commands coalition forces in Afghanistan. They traveled to a special forces base where young Afghan men - and a few women - are being trained.<p>(SOUNDBITE OF HELICOPTER)<p>RENEE MONTAGNE, BYLINE: Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford was making what's called a battlefield circulation. Fri, 17 May 2013 09:14:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 13254 at http://kuow.org Younger Generation Poised To Lead Afghanistan's Future http://kuow.org/post/younger-generation-poised-lead-afghanistans-future Transcript <p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne, in Kabul, Afghanistan.<p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>And I'm Steve Inskeep, in Washington, with David Greene.<p>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. Tue, 14 May 2013 08:49:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 13028 at http://kuow.org Cyprus Proposes Exempting Smaller Deposits From Tax http://kuow.org/post/cyprus-proposes-exempting-smaller-deposits-tax 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. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:38:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 9984 at http://kuow.org E.U. Bailout Tax Causes Bank Run In Cyprus http://kuow.org/post/eu-bailout-tax-causes-bank-run-cyprus Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>It's MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.<p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>And I'm Renee Montagne. Stock prices are dropping around the world this morning, reacting to turmoil in the Mediterranean country of Cyprus. It's a domino effect that started on Saturday, when European officials approved a bailout of that country's biggest banks. The bailout requires customers to pay a tax on their deposits, and banks have already taken steps to freeze some of their customers' money. That proposal sent people rushing to their ATMs, to get their money out. Mon, 18 Mar 2013 08:06:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 9899 at http://kuow.org Venezuelans Mourns Late President Hugo Chavez http://kuow.org/post/venezuelans-mourns-late-president-hugo-chavez Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.<p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>And I'm Renee Montagne.<p>Venezuela is in a state of mourning for its late president, Hugo Chavez. The outsized leader died yesterday in the capital, Caracas, after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 58. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:08:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 9272 at http://kuow.org What Will Chavez's Death Mean For Cuba? http://kuow.org/post/what-will-chavezs-death-mean-cuba Transcript <p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>The death of Hugo Chavez could mean as much for Cuba as it will for Venezuela. As we just heard, Chavez looked to Fidel Castro for inspiration, and Castro has supplied Venezuela with thousands of Cuban doctors, health workers and security specialists. In return, Chavez sent a massive amount of Venezuelan oil to Cuba at cut-rate prices, and thus helped keep the Cuban economy afloat during years of crisis.<p>Joining us now is NPR's Tom Gjelten. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:45:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 9271 at http://kuow.org Benedict XVI Leaves The Vatican, Headed To Retirement http://kuow.org/post/benedict-xvi-leaves-vatican-headed-retirement Transcript <p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>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.<p>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. Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:04:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 8959 at http://kuow.org Sequester Politics In The News http://kuow.org/post/sequester-politics-news 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? Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:40:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 8873 at http://kuow.org