Miami, FL – Protesters from many cities converged in Miami on Jan. 9 to demand that the U.S. government close Guantanamo Bay torture prison. The protest coincides with the 14th anniversary of the first transfer of detainees from the so-called “War on Terror” to the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (Gitmo).

Iran’s FARS News Agency is reporting, Dec. 31, that Iran is planning a response to U.S. plans for new sanctions against companies and individuals that are allegedly working to develop Iran’s missile capacity.

The Syrian Arab News Agency reported Dec. 26 that Cuba is ready to meet Syria’s needs for medicine.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

PFLP: Imprisonment of Jarrar an attempt to terrorize Palestinians and target leaders

Chicago, IL – Palestinian icon Rasmea Odeh; Black youth leaders Veronica Morris-Moore and LaCreshia Birts; Black Liberation Movement veteran Frank Chapman and Eric Koene, a striking worker from the Kohler plant in Wisconsin, appeared together on the stage of the 24th Annual People’s Thanksgiving.

Houston, TX – Students and anti-war activists at the University of Houston rallied in solidarity with Syrian refugees on Dec. 4. They also protested the U.S. war in Syria that is driving millions of Syrians out of their country. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott recently said in a letter to President Obama, “Texas will not accept any refugees from Syria.” Governor Abbott filed a lawsuit against the federal government in an effort to prevent Syrian refugees from resettling in Texas.

Grand Rapids, MI – Twenty people gathered at a busy West Michigan street corner holding signs that read, “Stop war, not refugees!” and “Refugees are welcome here,” featuring an image of the Statue of Liberty. They gathered in response to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s anti-refugee comments.

Caimanera, Cuba – On Nov. 25, the fourth International Seminar for Peace and Abolition of Foreign Military Bases concluded its gathering by sharing its final declaration with the residents of Caimanera, the town closest to the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo province.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency is reporting that 4 Israeli warplanes were tracked flying over wide areas of the country, Nov. 27.