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• At least 80 killed in Tamil Tiger Territory
• EPA Scientists Under Political Pressure
• Blackout in Gaza Averted
• Petraeus to Head Centcom
• Iran Widens Nuclear Talks
• Chileans Protest Emergency Contraceptive Ban

• Activists Settle for $2 Million with NYC
• Fallout from Musharraf Resignation Continues in Pakistan
• Taliban Attacks in Afghanistan Intense and Focused
• Russia Shows Signs of Troop Withdrawal from Georgia
• WA Primaries First Test for State's New Election System
• College Presidents Call for Examination of Current Drinking Age
• Fay Weakens to Tropical Storm as it Moves Across Florida

In Ecuador's Amazon rainforest, a coalition of residents and indigenous nationalities are suing US-based oil company Chevron-Texaco. They say that 30 years of the company's oil exploitation has resulted in severe environmental and health damages in the region, including 428 cancer deaths. A recent report issued by a court expert determined that Chevron might have to pay up to $16 billion in damages. FSRN's Daniel Denvir traveled to the Ecuadorian Amazon to file this story.

Hurricane Ike took its toll in Haiti this weekend – the small nation has been ravaged by four brutal storms in as many weeks, leaving about 650,000 people stranded, and claiming some 600 lives. Haiti has yet to recover from April's food riots, a result of demonstrations against rising basic food prices that turned violent – and women and children are some of the hardest hit. As aid workers attempt to make their way to help with relief efforts, they are finding that essential infrastructure such as roads and bridges have literally been washed away. We hear from Diana Duarte, Media Coordinator for MADRE, and international human rights organization...

Since the September 11 attacks 7 years ago today, thousands of Ground Zero rescue and recovery workers have fallen ill due to inhaling toxins at the cite. The New York City Police Department honored its members in May who died after the attacks on its Wall of Heroes. Now, some within the Big Apple's Fire Department are asking for the same. Ari Paul has more from New York.

For months, the Department of Interior has also been criticized for what many say are destructive policies. Environmentalists have been trying to halt exploratory drilling for uranium near the Grand Canyon. The price for uranium has soared in recent years, and now the Department of Interior wants to open the region up to mining companies. Africa Jones reports.

Today we end our newscast by remembering long-time activist and independent politician Peter Camejo, who died this weekend in Folsom, California. A child born to Venezuelan expats in 1939, Camejo was raised in both Venezuela and the US… He participated heavily in the anti-war and civil rights movements in the 60s, and eventually joined the Socialist Worker's Party. He ran for California governor on the Green ticket three times, and as the Reform Party's Vice Presidential candidate, along with Ralph Nader, in 2004. Peter Camejo died early Saturday morning, with his wife at his side. He was 68.

We always encourage listeners to write in with their comments – and many of you did during the recent political conventions. One was Gina Carudcci, a listener who podcasts FSRN daily on her commute from Manhattan to Brooklyn, New York where she resides. Gina wrote:

"I'm an avid FSRN listener. I have to say, however, I'm surprised FSRN didn't cover the torture of the RNC protestors, especially Elliot Hughes. It's not too late to cover the story & follow the struggle for justice. This is really important and shockingly unreported."

While it was daunting to cover so many stories from the DNC and RNC, we should have talked about Elliot Hughes. 19-year-old Hughes says that after being arrested and sent to the Ramsey County Jail, he was knocked unconscious by police officers who then dragged him to a separate detention cell, where they hooded him and then beat him severely. Today we play audio from Hughes.

As the global economy attempts to make sense of one of the largest shake ups in the market, questions are swirling especially about how heavy this crisis will grow. The bankruptcy of Lehman brothers and Bank of America's take over of Merrill Lynch is nothing new this year. The government bailed out housing giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae two weeks ago, and it peddled a buy out of Bear Stearns just before it went under. To make a bit of sense of this, Washington Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell spoke with Nomi Prins, former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and a Senior Fellow at the Public Policy Center Demos.

• Republican Chambliss Winner in GA Senate Run-Off
• UAW Considers Concessions to Help Auto Industry Secure Loans
• Subway Restaurant Agrees to Work with CIW on Farm Wages
• Protesters Crowd Mumbai in Fallout to Terrorist Attacks
• Conditions at Texas Mental Institutions Blasted by Justice Department

• Car Makers Plead for More Aid
• Activists Oppose Change in Mountaintop Removal Rule
• People's Inauguration Ball Planned
• Judge Considers Early Release to Relieve California Prison Overcrowding
• Troubled India-Pakistan Relations Threaten Region
• Peace Talks Continue in Congo Amidst Rwanda Threat

• Joblessness Hits New High
• Hybrid Advocates Weigh in on Auto Industry Bailout
• Activists Call for Ending Afghanistan Military Strategy
• Zimbabwe Faces National Health Emergency
• NOLA Activist Malik Rahim Runs for Congress
• Blackriders Say They Were Targeted by Police

We continue our series on human rights today, by heading to a kingdom in South Asia, Bhutan. The tiny Himalayan nation has a lot to celebrate this year: Bhutan successfully transitioned to Democracy in March, its monarchy is celebrating a centenary, and a fresh-faced, charismatic new king ascended to the throne last month promising a new era of democracy and equity throughout the country. But with the emergence of democracy in Bhutan, cracks of discontent are beginning to show in the walls of this little-known Shangri-La. Don Duncan reports from Bhutan.

• Bail Out Stalled in the Senate
• Obama Announces Health Care Team; Advocates Pleased
• Bush Midnight Regulations Spotlighted
• Chicago Workers See Victory; Re-evaluate Strike Tactics
• Africa Jones - Day Without A Gay
• Mothers of Plaza de Mayo Continue their Annual Protest
• Pakistan Truck Convoys Targeted