Controversy continues over the Israeli president's visit | Evening News Bulletin 9 February 2026

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Controversy continues over the Israeli President's visit; Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in jail; and in sport, Seattle Seahawks win a second Super Bowl title.


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TRANSCRIPT

  • Controversy continues over the Israeli President's visit
  • Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in jail
  • Seattle Seahawks win a second Super Bowl title

Israel's President, Izaac Herzog, has laid a wreath at Bondi Beach to honour the 15 people killed in the terror attack that targeted members of Jewish community in December.

Describing antisemitism as a global emergency, he says the Bondi attack also showed the best of humanity as bystanders offered their help.

"They attacked the values that our democracy's treasure: the sanctity of human life, the freedom of religion, tolerance, dignity and respect. This is how terror operates all around the world."

Mr Herzog's was invited to visit Australia by the Albanese government, but his presence has also prompted protests, after a UN Commission in September last year found he had incited the commission of genocide.

Mr Herzog has strongly denied allegations that his remarks amount to incitement, saying they were taken out of context.

Israel denies it has committed genocide in Gaza, with the International Court of Justice yet to make a final ruling.

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In Sydney, a Supreme Court hearing continues into the Palestine Action Group's bid to overturn a police decision restricting protest against a state visit by Israeli President Izaac Herzog.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says it is important the protest is managed appropriately.

"For the protest organiser to say that Hyde Park is out of sight I think is completely wilful in the circumstances. That is obviously the park in the middle of Sydney's CBD. And that is what police have offered, both today and for the past 100 weekends of protests in the middle of Sydney, and it's been good enough in the past."

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A court in Hong Kong has sentenced media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison, after he was found guilty of national security offences in December last year.

The 78-year-old was convicted for using his media outlet to produce seditious materials against Hong Kong and China, and colluding with foreign forces.

Jimmy Lai has always denied the charges against him.

Rights groups - including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International - have condemned the prison term as unjust and cruel.

Defenders of the Hong Kong democracy activist say the case was politically motivated and used by China to silence dissent.

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Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has vowed to build a border wall with Cambodia, after claiming victory in the country's general election.

Mr Anutin replaced his predecessor just months ago, and the snap vote has been shaped by a border conflict that has killed several dozen people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

In Sydney, Rak Kanit told SBS Thai, the border conflict had a big impact on the election and the result.

"In light of the outcome of Thailand’s election, I think the approval ratings are more a consequence of the Thai–Cambodian conflict. During a period like this, we know that within the first three months, leaders usually need a clear plan to win public support. In this case, they managed to do that through policies such as not opening border crossings and taking a more aggressive approach which helped them gain public backing."

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And to sport,

The Seattle Seahawks have defeated the New England Patriots 29 to 13 - to win the Super Bowl.

Demarcus Lawrence says after a decade in the league, he feels privileged to be able to help the team win its second Super Bowl title.

"Special, these guys here are irreplaceable man. The type of group and bond that we committed to this yea. It is a special unit. It is a special group. I think it is our journey man. We have so many ups and downs throughout this season. You know overtime games and losses. That we thought we should have won. It is just gold. Our fundamentals are playing one play at a time, and just keeping at it!."

One of the most watched annual sporting events globally, the NFL's championship game is broadcast in over 130 countries in more than 30 languages.

The NFL says last year's game had 62.5 million global viewers outside the US - including in Mexico, Germany and the UK - representing a 10 per cent increase on the year before.

In a move designed to attract a bigger Spanish-language audience, Puerto Rican music star Bad Bunny made history at the Super Bowl half-time show, by becoming the first musician to perform at the event entirely in Spanish.

US President Donald Trump criticised the performance, calling it an "affront" to the nation.

In a post on social media, he said nobody understands a word Bad Bunny is saying, even though official government data indicates that more than 41 million Americans speak Spanish.


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