Under threat of an imminent invasion of the campus by Mexican federal police and Oaxaca state law enforcement, activists representing the Popular People's Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO) formally turned over control of Radio Universidad Nov. 30 to the state university rector Francisco Martinez Neri. The rector announced at a press conference that none of the station's equioment was damaged or missing. (Noticias de Oaxaca, Nov. 30) The following morning, the university, which had been APPO's principal stronghold, re-opened its doors to regular classes. El Universal reported that "for the first time in over five months, this state capital awoke with no barricades in sight," and an "eerie calm" reigned over the city. (El Universal, Dec. 1)

Sarah Ferguson writes for the Village Voice, Dec. 1:

The two Oaxacan town officials accused of gunning down Indymedia journalist Brad Will were released from prison today after a state judge claimed there was a "fading of evidence" against them.

Over the issue of the US harboring a terrorist, the headline fails to note. From AP, Dec. 2:

Chavez snubs US overture for dialogue

President Hugo Chavez snubbed a US overture for dialogue, saying he is always willing to talk but he doubts Washington sincerely wants to improve relations.

Here's a glimmer of hope. Emad Mekay writes from Cairo for IPS, via South Africa's Mail & Guardian, Nov. 30:

'I thought Islam told us to do so'

Om Samar didn't believe the news. "Muslim scholars banning [female] circumcision? This must be a joke," she said.

From the Jerusalem Post, Dec. 2:

A hitherto unknown group calling itself the Just Swords of Islam issued a warning to Palestinian women in the Gaza Strip over the weekend that they must wear the hijab or face being targeted by the group's members.

Still think freedom's on the march in Afghanistan? Or, for those of you on the other side of the coin, that the Taliban insurgents are heroic anti-imperialists? From The Independent, Nov. 29:

Disembowelled, then torn apart: The price of daring to teach girls
The gunmen came at night to drag Mohammed Halim away from his home, in front of his crying children and his wife begging for mercy.

We wonder if a year from now the big semantic debate in the US media will be whether there is a "civil war"...in Mexico. From The Scotsman, Dec. 2:

MEXICO CITY — Felipe Calderon took the oath of office as Mexico's president yesterday in a lightning-fast ceremony before congressmen who exchanged punches and insults over the conservative leader's narrow victory.

From AP, Nov. 29:

MEXICO CITY — A Mexican court reinstated an arrest warrant for former President Luis Echeverria on Wednesday, just four months after a federal judge dismissed the same charges of genocide in a 1968 student massacre.