The people of 9 February

Iranian police arrest several senior figures from the Reformists Front, including Mohsen Aminzadeh, Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, and Azar Mansouri, while additional members receive summonses to appear before prosecutors, with no formal charges publicly disclosed.

Crime & Justice · 9 Feb · with Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, Azar Mansouri

Hong Kong opposition figure Jimmy Lai is sentenced to 20 years in prison for violating a national security law following a two-year trial. Eight others, including six former Apple Daily executives and two pro-democracy activists, are also sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.

Crime & Justice · 9 Feb

United States vice president JD Vance visits Armenia, becoming the highest ranking U.S. official to have visited Armenia in its history. Vance meets with prime minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss implementing a peace agreement to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

World · 9 Feb · with Nikol Pashinyan

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla condemns the ongoing U.S. blockade as "cruel", accusing U.S. president Donald Trump of trying to "break the political will" of the Cuban people. Russia also calls for an immediate end to the blockade to avoid a humanitarian crisis, and says it will explore ways to help the country.

Business · 9 Feb · with Donald Trump

Swedish migration minister Johan Forssell announces the implementation of stricter naturalization requirements from June 6, extending the residency period from five years to eight, imposing a minimum income threshold of 20,000 kr (US$2,225), requiring language and civic knowledge tests, and lengthening waiting times for applicants with criminal records.

Politics · 9 Feb

Protests against Israeli president Isaac Herzog's state visit, following the 2025 Bondi Beach shooting, are held in cities across Australia. In Sydney, protests occurred amid a ban by the state government on hate speech grounds, resulting in police making 27 arrests and deploying pepper spray.

World · 9 Feb

The Public Ministry of Venezuela says Juan Pablo Guanipa, who was released and later abducted on Sunday, broke his parole's terms and that a request has been made to place Guanipa under house arrest, while not specifying if the government has him in custody.

Crime & Justice · 9 Feb