What Is The Govt Saying

$38.3 million to upgrade TAFE NSW campuses on the Central Coast. Gosford gets a health hub, Ourimbah new salons and fitness facilities, Wyong trades upgrades. Works start early 2026.

Sydney Trains welcomes 96 new apprentices, hitting an all-time high of 270. This boosts the NSW Public Sector Apprentices and Trainees Program, with a 45% increase in new apprentices. Female and Indigenous participation is up 50%. 225 Bert Evans scholarships awarded.

NSW Fair Trading disqualifies strata agent Ms Carah after she stole over $2 million from 66 strata schemes. Her license was canceled in December 2025. This action is part of broader reforms to protect consumers.

NSW launches 2026-2028 Cyber Security Strategy. Focus: critical infrastructure, supply chains, AI threats. Jihad Dib states NSW must be more resilient. Marie Patane highlights interagency collaboration.

Northern Beaches Hospital opens a Planned Surgery Centre July 1, 2026, adding 5,000 surgeries annually. The hub targets ophthalmology, orthopaedics, ENT, general surgery, and gynaecology to cut waitlists. The hospital returns to public ownership mid-2026.

Brazil government met with Jewish community leaders to discuss combating antisemitism. VP Geraldo Alckmin and ministers met with academics, rabbis, and activists. Alckmin: "We owe a lot to the Jewish community."

Lula in Panama: Latin America can forge an autonomous international path. Brazil-Panama trade surged 78% in 2025. Signed Investment Facilitation Agreement. Lula received Panama's highest honor.

Lula at Latin America Forum: "The only war we need to fight is against hunger and inequality." Brazil saw record foreign capital, $629 billion trade in 2025, and 17.4 million rose in class since 2023.

$6.4 million invested in Halifax Regional Municipality for flood protection. Project upgrades stormwater management in Upper Bissett Run watershed, decommissions piping, restores natural watercourse. Federal government contributes $2.56 million.

Minister Sean Fraser to announce federal housing support in Atlantic Canada. Event is Jan. 29 at UNB's Offsite Construction Research Centre in Fredericton. Media availability follows. Register by 10 AM Jan. 29.

Canada's Cyber Centre released its Ransomware Threat Outlook 2025-2027. Attacks are growing, evolving with AI and crypto. Basic cyber hygiene and collaboration are key defenses. Attacks will remain a significant threat for the next 2 years.

11 nations condemn Israel's Jan 20 demolition of UNRWA HQ in East Jerusalem. They urge Israel to halt demolitions, uphold UN premises' inviolability, and facilitate aid to Gaza.

Canada funds six community-based dementia projects with $1.5 million. Projects aim to improve care and support for Canadians living with dementia and their families.

Germany's Cabinet approved the annual economic report, projecting 0.2% growth in 2025 and 1.0% in 2026. Reforms target bureaucracy reduction, innovation, lower energy costs, and labor supply to boost exports amid geopolitical challenges.

India and the EU concluded financial services FTA talks. This milestone boosts $83 billion services trade. New provisions cover digital payments and fintech.

India's new Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, effective April 1, 2026, mandate four-stream waste segregation at source. Bulk waste generators face new responsibilities. Environmental compensation applies for violations.

President Murmu addressed Parliament, highlighting India's rapid development and rich heritage. She noted celebrations for 150 years of Vande Mataram, 350th anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, and Bhagwan Birsa Munda. She emphasized social justice, stating 25 crore citizens escaped poverty, 4 crore houses built, and 10 crore households received LPG.

India and the EU concluded a historic Free Trade Agreement. PM Modi stated it's India's largest FTA, offering benefits to 1.4 billion people, easing market access, and creating jobs. The deal strengthens economic ties and cooperation.

India's Health Ministry amends NDCT Rules, 2019. Non-commercial drug manufacture now needs prior intimation, not a license. Drug development timelines cut by 90 days. Test license processing reduced to 45 days. Low-risk BA/BE studies require only online intimation. Reforms boost ease of doing business.

Italy's NRRP steering committee met to finalize EUR 30 billion in projects managed by local authorities. Minister Tommaso Foti announced a new working group to ensure timely completion and reporting, emphasizing clarity, transparency, and cooperation with the EU.

PM Meloni surveyed Sicily after Cyclone Harry. She visited Niscemi, where 1,500 evacuated due to a landslide. Meloni pledged €100 million emergency aid, promising swift action and a follow-up meeting.

Italy sends 78 industrial boilers and generators to Ukraine for energy emergency. Commitment made by PM Meloni to President Zelensky. More boilers coming, heating 90,000 homes. Generators aid critical infrastructure.

VP Shettima says Nigeria will shape Africa's future via inclusion, investment. Launching initiatives like Business Coalition for Education, Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion Platform. Government alone cannot solve Africa's challenges.

President Tinubu mourns Otunba Adekunle Ojora, 93, a renowned industrialist. Ojora, a former journalist and UAC executive director, made significant contributions to public and private sectors. His passing is a loss to Nigeria.

President Tinubu condoles with Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi on his father's death. Sunday Ndidi died in a Tuesday road accident. Tinubu called him an inspiration.

VP Kashim Shettima visited Gbong Gwom Jos, urging tolerance and peaceful coexistence. He stated Nigeria's potential hinges on unity. Shettima praised traditional rulers and the APC's realignment in Plateau State, predicting more development and peace.

Türkiye targets $5 billion trade with Nigeria, up from $2 billion. President Erdogan met President Tinubu, discussing investment, energy, and defense. They agreed to establish a Joint Economy and Trade Committee. Türkiye will share counter-terrorism experience.

Yelena Shmeleva reports to President Putin on Sirius Centre cooperation with Kazakhstan. A Sirius international school and talent centre are being built in Almaty. Kazakhstan is the first post-Soviet nation to replicate the Sirius model.

Putin met with Rabbi Berel Lazar and Alexander Boroda on Jan 28, 2026. They discussed Holocaust Remembrance Day, noting over a million Soviet/Russian Jews died. Lazar praised Russia's mutual respect among faiths.

Putin met Syrian President al-Sharaa in the Kremlin on January 28, 2026. Talks focused on bilateral ties, economic cooperation (up 4%), and the Middle East. Putin praised Syria's efforts to restore territorial integrity.

Putin to host UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on January 29. Talks will cover bilateral cooperation, Middle East issues, and international affairs.

Putin spoke with CAR President Touadera, congratulating him on his Dec. 28, 2025 election victory. Touadera thanked Russia for its contribution to CAR's sovereignty. They discussed cooperation and reaffirmed bilateral ties.

UK and 10 other nations condemn Israel's demolition of UNRWA HQ in East Jerusalem on Jan 20, 2026. They urge Israel to uphold UN conventions, support UNRWA's mission, and facilitate aid to Gaza.

UK and Italy reaffirm justice cooperation. New Prisoner Transfer Agreement signed to improve rehabilitation. Both nations commit to fighting crime and supporting the rule of law, including efforts for Ukraine.

UK MoD launches £20M fund for small defense tech firms. Aims to boost innovation, speed contracts for startups. John Healey MP: "Britain the best place to grow defense business." £2.5B more for SMEs by 2028.

UK Health Security Agency partners with Sleep Cycle app for 12-week study. They'll analyze anonymized sleep data (Jan 2023-Jan 2026) to detect respiratory disease trends like flu, RSV, COVID-19. Aims to enhance early warning systems.

ACMD advises ketamine remains Class B. Greater support needed for police/healthcare to tackle ketamine harms. Review found acute harms align with Class B. Focus on public health approach, not reclassification.

U.S.-ROK Business Travel and Visa Working Group met Jan. 28 in Seoul. Co-chaired by Jonathan Fritz and Kim Sun-young. Focused on ROK investments in the U.S., worker travel, and training. Highlighted the Korean Investment and Travel Desk.