• Republicans Kill Legislation to Get US Troops out of Iraq
• European Court on Human Rights Rules a Person Cannot be Deported into a Torture Situation
• Women along Pakistan's Western Border Disenfranchised by Fundamentalist Tribal Leaders
• Palestinian Authority Withholds Pay for 40,000 Military and Civilian Personnel
• Community Program in Pittsburgh Helps Inmates Reintegrate into Society

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• Breakthrough in Kenyan Mediation
• Madhesis in Nepal End Shutdown Strike for Equal Rights
• "Virtual Fence" Delayed Due to Technical Problems
• Teachers Continue Strike in Puerto Rico
• Nader Names Running Mate

Two-point-three million people are currently incarcerated in the United States Prison System.  With the prison population continually growing, many are questioning the lack of rehabilitative and educational services for inmates both during and post incarceration.  But a new study released by the University of Pittsburgh shows some promising steps are being made.  It found a community collaborative at Pittsburgh's Allegheny County Jail reduces recidivism rates and helps former inmates reintegrate into society.  FSRN's Andalusia Knoll reports:

On this third day of Senate debate on the Iraq War, Republicans have blocked a troop withdrawal measure from going to vote.  Democrats knew the measure would not pass.  So they used the debate time on the floor to highlight the war's failures and skyrocketing costs.  Republicans highlighted the war's successes.  All the while President Bush held a news conference today chastising Congress and the Democratic Presidential candidates on a variety of issues.  FSRN's Washington Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Today the European Court of Human Rights ruled in the case of a former terror suspect from Tunisia.  Italy acquitted Nassim Saadi of terrorism charges in 2005, but in his absence, Saadi was sentenced to 20 years in Tunisian jail for similar charges.  The European court ruled that it would violate Saadi's human rights for Italy to deport him to his home country, because there he would allegedly face torture in jail. Diletta Varlese reports from Rome.

The number of dead in Gaza continues to rise in the wake an Israel-imposed economic blockade. A series of Israeli air strikes on Gaza over the past 48 hours has claimed the lives of 25 Palestinians, including seven children. In the eight months since the border was closed, public life in Gaza has been almost paralyzed. Israel continues to call for Hamas to stop homemade rocket fire onto nearby Israeli towns. Adding to the internal stress on Gaza's residents, the Palestinian Authority has been withholding the pay of thousands of military and civilian personnel. FSRN's Rami al-Meghari looks at reasons why.

In Pakistan, about 45 percent of the country's 160 million people went to the polls for parliamentary elections earlier this month.  A portion of the population boycotted the elections to send a message to the ruling powers.  But others were not permitted to vote. Hardliner Pakistani tribal men prevented thousands of women from casting their ballots in the tribal areas near the Afghan border. They hung posters in cities warning political candidates not to bring their female supporters to the polls. Zack Baddorf has the story from Pakistan.