Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Australia on February 9, 2026, for a four-day official visit with Prime Minister Albanese to commemorate victims of the Bondi Beach shooting in December 2025. The attack during Hanukkah killed 15 people and injured dozens, marking Australia’s deadliest hate crime in nearly 29 years.

Herzog laid a wreath and met victims’ families at Bondi Beach. He also met leaders and Jewish cultural and religious institutions, reiterating a joint stance against terrorism and hate, noting that antisemitism is rising globally and Australia is not immune.

Pro-Palestinian groups and human rights organizations held large protests in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, and Adelaide, criticizing Israel for civilian casualties in Gaza and accusing the Australian government of ignoring Palestinian perspectives.

Police and some protesters clashed in Sydney’s city center. The NSW government, under newly enacted “major events” laws, restricted protest areas and deployed significant police resources to maintain order. Supporters of Herzog argue the visit symbolizes democratic solidarity and condemnation of hate. Both Israeli and Australian leadership framed the visit as promoting anti-hate unity and strengthening diplomatic and social ties.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces the most serious political crisis of his premiership after appointing Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the US in 2024. Recently released documents reveal Mandelson’s ties to the late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer’s government has faced significant trust issues both in Parliament and publicly.

Documents indicate Mandelson had email and financial exchanges with Epstein in the 2000s and may have provided sensitive government information while serving as Business Secretary. Following the revelations, Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords, leaving his diplomatic post early. Starmer apologized to victims, admitting he “trusted Mandelson’s judgment” and that he would not have approved the appointment had he known the full situation.

Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigned, taking responsibility for the nomination error, followed by communications chief Tim Allan, signaling escalation of the scandal. Several Labour MPs called for Starmer to resign, questioning his leadership and weakening Labour’s support ahead of upcoming elections. Starmer vowed to continue governing and release review documents to increase transparency while asserting commitment to ongoing reforms.

Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison on February 9, 2026, at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court, marking the harshest penalty under the Hong Kong National Security Law to date. He was convicted on charges of “conspiring with foreign or external forces to endanger national security” and “conspiring to publish seditious materials.”

The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily had long criticized both Beijing and the Hong Kong government. He was first arrested in August 2020, with the case going through years of legal proceedings before his conviction in December 2025. The court found he had used media and international platforms to reach domestic and overseas audiences, soliciting foreign sanctions and blockades against Hong Kong and China. Considering he has already served more than five years in other cases, the court ruled he must serve the remaining 18 years consecutively.

Lai’s family and supporters expressed deep sorrow. His son called the sentence a “judicial collapse” condemning his father to spend his remaining life in prison, while his daughter described him as becoming a “prison martyr.” Human Rights Watch and other organizations highlighted his long detention and chronic health conditions, noting that long-term imprisonment for elderly prisoners is tantamount to a death sentence.

UK foreign ministers and UN human rights officials condemned the sentence, criticizing its political motivation and incompatibility with international law. The US and EU called for Lai’s immediate release, arguing the case undermines press freedom and Hong Kong’s reputation. Hong Kong and Chinese authorities maintain the conviction was lawful and just, asserting Lai’s actions endangered national security and emphasizing judicial independence, while the Hong Kong police’s national security unit stressed the sentence reflects the severity of the case.

Eight other defendants, including former Apple Daily executives and activists, received sentences ranging from six years and three months to ten years. Both local and international observers say the case illustrates intensified suppression of dissent under the National Security Law and raises concerns over Hong Kong’s fundamental rights and future judicial independence.