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Arms deals, Ukraine aid and Strykers; ECB exit buzz; Excel-to-PowerShell malware; fuel, fraud and football drama
Elbit Systems lands $277 million export deal for 30 mm turrets
Elbit Systems said on Feb. 18, 2026, it secured contracts worth about $277 million from an international customer to supply 30 mm turrets and associated munitions. The multi-year deal is a fresh export order in the company’s land combat systems portfolio.
Drivers say fuel prices still top their worries, despite “Fuel Finder”
A survey found 36% of motorists say rising petrol and diesel prices are their biggest worry for the year ahead, even after the Government launched the “Fuel Finder” scheme. New CMA-backed rules require forecourts to share pump prices with a central database for near real-time comparisons, ministers claim this could save households about £40 a year. Other concerns included insurance costs (32%), pothole damage (23%), plus maintenance, road tax and new-car prices, with the fuel duty freeze due to end in September adding uncertainty.
Sweden ranks third globally in military assistance to Ukraine in 2025
Sweden ranked third worldwide in military assistance to Ukraine in 2025, both by total support and by the share of GDP devoted to the aid, according to data cited by Sweden’s Embassy in Ukraine from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. The embassy said the level reflects strong political commitment.
Ex-HSBC asset management executive banned from trains after “doughnutting” fraud
Former HSBC Global Asset Management executive Joseph Molloy has been banned from Southeastern trains for a year after admitting fraud tied to a “doughnutting” ticket tactic used to avoid paying part of his commute from Orpington to Canary Wharf. Prosecutors said he did it at least 740 times over 11 months, saving £5,911 by using smartcards obtained with false details and claiming discounted fares. He received a 10-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, 80 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £5,000 compensation.
Bulgaria takes delivery of first Stryker armored vehicles
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense said five Stryker armored vehicles arrived at the port of Burgas on Feb. 14, 2026. The shipment begins deliveries under the country’s military modernization program and is the first phase of a larger international procurement effort.
Report, Lagarde weighing early exit from ECB post
Christine Lagarde is reportedly considering stepping down as President of the European Central Bank before her term ends in October 2027, with sources saying the move could be intended to secure a successor ahead of France’s upcoming elections.
US ambassador says Trump team pushed Europe to get proactive
US Ambassador Andrew Puzder told Euronews the Trump administration and its team urged Europe to stop “hitting the snooze button” and become more proactive.
Researchers spot malware campaigns reusing the same Excel-to-PowerShell infection chain
A report on tracking malware campaigns with reused material describes an infection chain using a malicious Excel attachment exploiting CVE-2017-11882 to download an HTA, which launches PowerShell and ultimately a DLL. The PowerShell stage retrieves a PNG image hiding a Base64-encoded payload between “BaseStart-” and “-BaseEnd” markers, which extracts into a .NET binary. A similarity search found hundreds of related images with the same thumbnail, and a YARA rule was created to help track campaigns reusing the material.
Vinicius speaks out after Real Madrid vs Benfica match suspension
Vinicius spoke out after a Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica was suspended for 10 minutes, with both teams leaving the field. Benfica denied that any racist incident took place.
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This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.
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