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Akram challenges the system, and a new arrival at Brookfield shakes the tree.

The UK is considering significant increases to its military spending, to three per cent of the public national income within the next three years. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, made the announcement at the Munich Security Conference at the weekend. This would mean additional spending of up to $19bn a year. Also: Supporters of the late Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, have laid flowers at his grave in Moscow while five European countries say they have evidence that Russia poisoned Mr Navalny with a rare toxin linked to the poison dart frog. And why the former US president Barack Obama thinks that aliens exist.

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.

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The US entertainment giants Disney gets tough with ByteDance over alleged copyright infringement.

Disney accuses the Chinese tech firm ByteDance of stealing its intellectual property by training its new AI tool, Seedance, on Disney characters and images of real-life actors. ByteDance says it will address Disney’s concerns.

Cuba cancels a prestigious cigar festival in a worsening fuel crisis caused by the US blocking oil from reaching the island. We examine the chequered history in relations between Cuba and the US.

And Dave Stewart, one half of British eighties pop duo, The Eurythmics, talks to the BBC about his new business venture

Presenter: Gideon Long

Senior Producer: Craig Henderson

The US entertainment giant accuses ByteDance of stealing its intellectual property by training its new AI tool, Seedance, on Disney characters and images of real-life actors. ByteDance says it will address Disney’s concerns. Plus, Cuba cancels a prestigious cigar festival in a worsening fuel crisis caused by the US blocking oil from reaching the island. And Dave Stewart from the British eighties pop duo, The Eurythmics, talks about his new business venture.

Presenter: Gideon Long

Senior Producer: Craig Henderson

European leaders and military chiefs make the case for increasing defence spending. A former head of the British military tells us investment is needed across the board, and that Europe is – and must be - able to defend itself without the US.

Also in the programme: Israel's cabinet votes in favour of beginning a process of land registration in the West Bank, a move condemned by Palestinians as ‘de-facto annexation'; and a row breaks out over potential cheating in the curling - at the Winter Olympics.

(IMAGE: Dutch Navy ship Johan de Witt heads to Arctic for NATO exercise, Den Helder, Netherlands - 16 Feb 2026/ CREDIT: Dingena Mol/EPA/Shutterstock

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An investigation by Reuters news agency has revealed that Ethiopia built a secret training camp for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - a group involved in the Sudan war. Satellite images released by Reuters show that the camp is located in western Ethiopia near the border with Sudan. Experts say this is the first time Ethiopia has been directly linked to the war between the RSF and the Sudan Armed Forces. We look at Ethiopia's alleged involvement, alongside other countries like Chad, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. And, a look at the life and legacy of Ebo Taylor, the Ghanaian Highlife musician who died recently. We speak to Ghanaian artist, Gyakie on growing up listening to Ebo's sound.

An investigation by Reuters news agency has revealed that Ethiopia built a secret training camp for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - a group involved in the Sudan war. Satellite images released by Reuters show that the camp is located in western Ethiopia near the border with Sudan. Experts say this is the first time Ethiopia has been directly linked to the war between the RSF and the Sudan Armed Forces. We look at Ethiopia's alleged involvement, alongside other countries like Chad, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

And, a look at the life and legacy of Ebo Taylor, the Ghanaian Highlife musician who died recently. We speak to Ghanaian artist, Gyakie on growing up listening to Ebo's sound.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna

Producers: Bella Twine, Keikantse Shumba and Mark Wilberforce

Technical Producer: Herbert Masua

Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga

Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Sometimes we ignore advice. Sometimes things go wrong and this programme is about those times. Phil and Feifei teach you how to use the expression to learn something the hard way.

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Have you ever spoken in English, and the other person didn’t understand?

In this episode of our new series, Georgie and Hanan talk about accents and pronunciation.

With Jennifer Jenkins, Emeritus Professor of Global Englishes, University of Southampton.

WATCH – Find Georgie’s video with tips to improve your speaking here https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/beating_speaking_anxiety/being_understood-video

TRANSCRIPT – Read along with this podcast and learn useful vocabulary https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/beating_speaking_anxiety/being_understood-podcast

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Mystery over illegal sign in Newry continues.