A synagogue in downtown Melbourne was set ablaze on Friday evening in what authorities have labeled a politically motivated and potentially antisemitic attack. Around 8 p.m., a man ignited the double doors of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation while approximately 20 worshippers were gathered inside for a Shabbat meal.
Early vote counting in Australia’s general election suggests a narrow path to victory for the ruling center-left Labor Party, which appears on track for a second term—though a final result may take days or even weeks. The Australian Electoral Commission projected Labor with 70 seats, ahead of the conservative opposition coalition at 24, out of 150 total seats in the House of Representatives.
In a notable display of maritime reach, three Chinese warships have been detected operating approximately 150 nautical miles off the coast of Sydney, Australia.
On February 11, 2025, former Australian Liberal MP Kevin Andrews was honored by political leaders and colleagues, who praised his unwavering dedication to public service. Andrews, who represented the Menzies electorate in Melbourne for over three decades, played a significant role in shaping conservative policy in Australia. He passed away on December 14, 2024, at the age of 69, following a battle with cancer.
Grace Stanke, nuclear engineer and former Miss America, is on a national tour in Australia advocating for nuclear power. Her visit coincides with rising political tensions ahead of a national election, where the opposition Liberal Party proposes building seven nuclear reactors by 2035.
A shocking arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne is now being investigated as a potential terror incident, underscoring a troubling surge in antisemitism in Australia.
