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NPR's Rob Gifford reports that China's largest corruption trial begins today in four cities in the southeastern province of Fujian. President Jiang Zemin, who heads the 61 million-member Communist Party, has declared clean government a goal of his rule. But the Fujian scandal has tainted members of the elite ruling circle, among them one of Jiang's proteges.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports on the decision by the European Union to lift diplomatic sanction against Austria. Austria's 14 EU partners imposed the sanctions seven months ago, after conservative Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel formed a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party then led by Joerg Haider.

Tom Rogers of member station WILL reports that in Decatur, Illinois, news that some defective Firestone tires may have been produced at a local plant is another blow to a town swamped by negative news in recent months.

NPR'S Julie McCarthy reports from London on the continuing campaign of protests against high fuel prices in Britain. Protestors are blockading nine refineries, and panic buying is depleting gasoline supplies at the pump. Prime Minister Tony Blair said his government has told oil companies to get their tankers moving -- and ordered police to protect drivers from intimidation.

Some of the highest gas prices in the United Kingdom are in Wales. Some people are stocking up on groceries, fearing that later, they may not be able to get to the store by car. Robert talks to BBC Wales Correspondent Wyre Davies about the effect the prices are having there. He joins us from Cardiff, the Capitol of Wales.

Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush campaigned again today in Florida, but his appearances were dominated by questions about a television ad being run by his party. The ad includes the word "rats," which appears on screen for less than one second, while the ad is talks about government bureaucrats. Bush said today the ad was not an attempt to send a subliminal message, but he added that it would not air again. NPR's Steve Inskeep is traveling with the Bush campaign and filed this report.

NPR's Madeleine Brand examines the controversy over the Republican ad that criticizes Vice President Gore's prescription drug plan and which critics charge contains a "subliminal" message. The split-second appearance on the screen of the word "RATS," in large capital letters, then becomes part of the word "bureaucrats." The ad lambastes bureaucracy. Brand looks at the effectiveness of so-called "subliminal" advertising -- in selling candidates as well as other products.

A new government review of the federal death penalty shows serious racial and geographical disparities among those on death row for federal offenses. Death penalty experts disagree on whether the review will influence the federal courts, which hear the appeals of those inmates. NPR's Tovia Smith reports.

John Ydstie of NPR News has a report on the differing budget proposals of Democratic Presidential Candidate Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush. Economic prosperity in America has brought a sharp debate over what to do with a projected budget surplus. Gore says his first priority is paying down the national debt. Bush says the surplus should mean tax cuts first.

Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain. His book, Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir (Harper Perennial) is now out in paperback. He'll discuss his years as a POW, his bid for the presidency, and his endorsement of George W. Bush.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports that Iraq appears to be violating a United Nations program that allows it to sell oil and buy food and medicine for needy citizens. There's evidence that Iraq is re-exporting some of the food and medicine to other countries. Iraq refuses to allow UN inspectors to evaluate living conditions 10 years after the UN imposed economic sanctions. And it refuses to allow UN weapons inspectors into the country.

NPR's Chris Arnold reports on the high cost of rental property in the San Francisco Bay area. One Internet company that is laying off workers and planning to move out of Silicon Valley to escape the high cost of doing business there.