Global Briefing: Public Ownership, Security, and Budgets Dominate News
UK nationalizes West Midlands Trains. Australia reforms sentencing, road safety. India's budget targets AI, health. Canada deploys warship. Russia marks anniversaries. Nigeria addresses Sahel security. Italy condemns attackers.
NSW Reforms Sentencing, Road Safety, Health, Wildlife.
NSW scraps 'good character' at sentencing, citing victim trauma. Overseas licence rules tighten Feb 1, 2026, requiring tests for drivers 25+ from more nations. $4,000/year health study subsidies open for 4,000 students. $9M boosts wildlife rehabilitators. Deputy Premier returns after 7 months cancer battle.
Sources (5)
- NSW to abolish ‘good character’ at sentencing ↗
Attorney General
NSW abolishes ‘good character’ at sentencing. Legislation amends the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999. Attorney General Michael Daley cited victim trauma and social disadvantage. Reform follows advocacy by Harrison James and Jarad Grice.
- Minns Government reforms overseas driving licence arrangements to keep NSW roads safe ↗
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government; Minister for Roads
NSW tightens overseas licence rules from Feb 1, 2026. Drivers 25+ from more countries need knowledge & driving tests. Builds on 6-month conversion rule. Service NSW adds 320 Saturday test slots. Road safety is key.
- Applications open for 2026 Tertiary Health Study Subsidies ↗
Minister for Health
NSW opens applications for $4,000/year Tertiary Health Study Subsidies. Up to 4,000 students can apply for the Minns Labor Government program, requiring a 5-year commitment to NSW Health. Offers from Feb 2, payments from March 9.
- Wildlife Rehabilitators to get $9 million in funding ↗
Minister for Environment and Heritage
NSW government commits $9 million to wildlife rehabilitators. Following a review led by Trish Doyle MP, the funding will boost training, resources, and mental health support for 8,600+ volunteers rescuing 110,000+ animals annually. The "Wildlife Heroes" initiative will be reinstated.
- Return to work update ↗
Deputy Premier; Minister for Education and Early Learning
Deputy Premier returns after seven months battling breast cancer. She thanks Chris Minns, Courtney Houssos, and medical staff. “Unwavering commitment to deliver for the people of New South Wales” remains.
Canada Deploys Warship, Honors Black History
HMCS Charlottetown sails for Indo-Pacific on six-month mission. Minister Miller launches Black History Month, celebrating Black Canadians' achievements.
Sources (2)
- HMCS Charlottetown departs on Operation HORIZON and NEON ↗
National Defence
HMCS Charlottetown departs Halifax for six months in the Indo-Pacific. The ship supports Operation HORIZON (peace, stability) and Operation NEON (North Korea sanctions). This deployment showcases RCN power and commitment to regional security.
- Statement by Minister Miller on Black History Month ↗
Canadian Heritage
Minister Miller launches Black History Month, honoring Black Canadians' contributions. Theme: 30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance. Highlights initiatives like the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative and Black Entrepreneurship Program.
India Budget 2026 Boosts Healthcare, AI, Youth.
Union Budget 2026 allocates ₹4,408 crore for AYUSH, promoting traditional medicine. Budget 2026-27 offers a tax holiday until 2047 for AI data centers, launches Semiconductor Mission 2.0 with Rs 1,000 crore. PM Modi visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan. Indian Navy Half Marathon saw 24 countries participate. Bhupender Yadav called the budget youth-centric, balancing growth with ecology.
Sources (5)
- Union Minister Shri Prataprao Jadhav hails Union Budget 2026 for strengthening holistic healthcare and promoting traditional medicine ↗
AYUSH
Union Minister Shri Prataprao Jadhav praised Union Budget 2026 for a ₹4,408 crore boost to AYUSH. The budget aims to strengthen holistic healthcare, promote traditional medicine, and establish three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda.
- Budget 2026-27 lays strong foundation for AI Data Centres and Semiconductor Ecosystem ↗
Ministry of Electronics & IT
India's Budget 2026-27 boosts AI data centers with a tax holiday until 2047. Semiconductor Mission 2.0 launches with Rs 1,000 crore. Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme gets Rs 40,000 crore.
- Prime Minister visits Dera Sachkhand Ballan ↗
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Punjab today. He described the visit on Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji's Jayanti as a "very special feeling."
- SECOND EDITION OF INDIAN NAVY HALF MARATHON IN NEW DELHI ↗
Ministry of Defence
Indian Navy Half Marathon held Feb 1, 2026, in New Delhi. Overwhelming response across three race categories. Chief of Naval Staff flagged off 21.1 km race. Minister Mansukh L Mandaviya started 10 km run. Event celebrated fitness, discipline, national pride. 24 countries participated.
- Shri Bhupender Yadav commends Union Budget 2026-27 as Youth-centric, advancing a Developed India by Balancing Economic Growth with Ecological Sustainability ↗
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Bhupender Yadav hails Union Budget 2026-27 as youth-centric, balancing growth and ecology. Highlights include International Big Cat Alliance, turtle trails, rare-earth corridors, and ₹20,000 crore for Carbon Capture. Aims for a developed India by 2047.
Meloni calls Askatasuna attackers "organized criminals."
Italy's PM Meloni visited two officers injured in clashes at the Askatasuna centre. She called the attackers "organized criminals" and their actions "attempted murder." Meloni expects the judiciary to act firmly. A meeting on public order is scheduled.
Sources (1)
- Clashes over Askatasuna social centre eviction: statement by President Meloni after visiting the two officers hospitalised in Turin ↗
Italy's PM Meloni visited two officers injured in clashes at the Askatasuna centre. She called the attackers "organized criminals" and their actions "attempted murder." Meloni expects the judiciary to act firmly. A meeting on public order is scheduled.
Tinubu Celebrates Fela, Courts Taraba, Tackles Sahel Security
President Tinubu honored Fela Kuti's Grammy award. He welcomed Taraba Governor Kefas to APC, pledging development. Nigeria also urged an inclusive CT strategy for the Sahel, citing poverty as a root cause.
Sources (4)
- PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES APC LAGOS PUBLICITY SECRETARY, OLUSEYE OLADEJO, AT 60 ↗
President Tinubu congratulates APC Lagos Publicity Secretary Oluseye Oladejo on his 60th birthday tomorrow, February 2. Tinubu praises Oladejo's dependable service, articulate engagement, and commitment to progressive politics, wishing him more years of impactful service.
- FELA LIVES: PRESIDENT TINUBU ON FELA’S GRAMMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ↗
President Tinubu celebrates Fela Kuti's posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He calls Fela a fearless voice, revolutionary, and the first African to receive the honor, affirming his global influence on music. Fela lives.
- NATIONAL STATEMENT AT THE CONFERENCE ON SECURITY SITUATION, OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AND FUTURE RISK TRAJECTORIES IN WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHEL, ACCRA, GHANA ↗
Nigeria calls for inclusive CT strategy in West Africa/Sahel. Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu stresses root causes like poverty, unemployment. Supports frequent high-level engagements to build trust.
- PRESIDENT TINUBU RECEIVES GOVERNOR KEFAS INTO APC, PLEDGES DEVELOPMENT TIE WITH TARABA ↗
President Tinubu welcomes Governor Kefas and Taraba State into APC. VP Shettima pledges development partnership, calling Taraba key to Nigeria's food and energy security.
Putin Honors Church, Yeltsin on Key Anniversaries
Putin met Patriarch Kirill on Feb 1, 2026, marking the 17th enthronement anniversary. He also called Naina Yeltsina for Boris Yeltsin's 95th birthday. The calls highlight Putin's focus on national unity and historical continuity.
Sources (2)
- Meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia ↗
Putin met with Patriarch Kirill on February 1, 2026, congratulating him on the 17th anniversary of his enthronement. Putin praised Kirill's managerial talent and the Russian Orthodox Church's role in strengthening the nation.
- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Naina Yeltsina ↗
Putin called Naina Yeltsina on February 1, 2026, marking Boris Yeltsin's 95th birthday. The call honored the first Russian president.
West Midlands Trains now publicly owned from Feb 1, 2026
West Midlands Trains now under public ownership via DfT Operator Ltd (DFTO) from February 1, 2026. This move aims to improve passenger experience, reduce subsidy, and boost innovation ahead of Great British Railways creation.
Sources (1)
- West Midlands Trains services transferred ↗
DfT Operator Limited
West Midlands Trains now under public ownership via DfT Operator Ltd (DFTO) from February 1, 2026. This move aims to improve passenger experience, reduce subsidy, and boost innovation ahead of Great British Railways creation.