International

US lawmakers threaten reprisals to the ICC if it issues orders against Israel

The president of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has described as “shameful” and “illegal” the arrest warrants of Israeli officials that are allegedly prepared by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and several Republican Party legislators work in retaliation by the legislative way against the court.

That international court, based in The Hague (Netherlands), has been investigating since 2014 the allegations of war crimes committed by Israel’s military forces and Palestinian militias and could issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials for his role in the death of civilians in the Hamas offensive in Gaza.

Johnson, in a press release, advocated that the Government of President Joe Biden oppose those orders, which he considers “shameful” and “illegal,” and that he “use all available instruments to prevent such an abomination.”

The Louisiana legislator maintained that if the U.S. Government does not oppose the alleged arrest warrants, “the ICC could create and assume unprecedented powers to issue arrest warrants against U.S. political, diplomatic and military leaders.”

The chairman of the Committee of the Lower House for Foreign Affairs, Republican Michael McCaul, assured Axios that they are working on a bill to sanction ICC officials investigating the United States and its allies in this international court that pursues serious violations of international humanitarian law.

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White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday that Biden’s government does not support the ICC investigation and does not believe that that court has jurisdiction in this situation.

The ICC, founded in 2002 under the Rome Statute, has more than 123 members and in 2000 the Government of then Democratic President Bill Clinton signed the statute, but did not submit the pact to Senate ratification.

In 2002, the Government of Republican President George W. Bush withdrew the signature and indicated that he would not proceed with the ratification of the Rome Statute.

Representative Brad Sherman, a California Democrat, was quoted by the Axios platform saying that “the United States should consider whether we continue as signatories” of the Rome Statute.

“We have to think about discussing with some of the countries that have ratified (the Statute) and see if they want to support that organization,” he added.

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International

Spain’s irregular migrant population rises to 840,000, study finds

The number of migrants living in Spain without legal residency status continues to rise and has reached 840,000 people, with 91% originating from the Americas, particularly Colombia, Peru and Honduras, according to a report by the Spanish think tank Funcas (Foundation of the Savings Banks).

An estimated 17.2% of the non-EU foreign population living in Spain is in an irregular administrative situation. The estimate is based on the gap between the number of foreign residents effectively living in Spain, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE), and those who hold a residence permit, benefit from international protection, or are in the process of obtaining it.

The data, as of January 1, 2025, point to a notable and sustained increase in irregular migration since 2017, when the estimated figure stood at around 107,000 people, representing 4.2% of the non-EU population residing in Spain.

By origin, migrants from the American continent stand out, totaling around 760,000 people, or 91% of all irregular migrants. Colombians account for nearly 290,000, followed by Peruvians with almost 110,000, and Hondurans with about 90,000. Migrants from Africa (50,000), Asia (15,000) and Europe (14,000) trail far behind.

The figures predate Spain’s latest immigration regulation reform, which came into force in May 2025 and introduces measures to ease access to legal status through residency ties. According to Funcas, the reform would, in principle, tend to reduce the number of migrants in an irregular situation.

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International

Historic snowstorm paralyzes Toronto after 60 centimeters of snow

Toronto, Canada’s largest city and the fourth most populous in North America, was largely paralyzed on Monday after a historic snowstorm dumped up to 60 centimeters of snow and sent temperatures plunging to -15 degrees Celsius, authorities said.

Late Sunday, as the scale of the snowfall became clear, city officials declared a climate emergency, triggering extraordinary measures including parking bans on several major streets to facilitate snow removal operations.

Toronto’s public transit authority reported that while some buses remain immobilized, subway and streetcar services are operating with relative normality, though localized disruptions may occur.

A similar situation is affecting the city’s commuter rail network, which remains operational but is experiencing significant delays on its main routes due to the severe weather conditions.

International

Venezuela frees at least 80 political prisoners, NGO says

At least 80 political prisoners were released on Sunday across Venezuela, human rights group Foro Penal reported, as the broader process of detainee releases continues at a slow pace under the interim government.

Foro Penal’s director, Alfredo Romero, wrote on social media platform X that verified releases took place nationwide and that the figure could rise as more confirmations are completed.

Attorney Gonzalo Himiob, also from Foro Penal, said the excarcelations occurred during the early hours of the day and emphasized that the number is not yet final pending further verification.

The releases are part of a series of steps announced by Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, who took power after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation on Jan. 3, 2026. Rodríguez has pledged a significant number of liberations but has been criticized by opposition groups and rights organizations for the slow and nontransparent nature of the process.

So far, the Venezuelan government reports that 626 detainees have been freed since December, though independent counts by human rights groups suggest the number of actual political prisoner releases is lower and that many remain behind bars.

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Families of those still detained have maintained vigils outside prisons, hopeful for further releases even as broader concerns about political imprisonment and due process persist.