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Warsaw: European leaders scrambled to protect their citizens in the Middle East and figure out how to respond to US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday, amid fast-moving developments on the ground.

Germany is holding an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss the situation in Iran. The European Union is evacuating some staff from the region.

The US and Israel launched a major attack on targets across Iran, and US President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to “take over your government” – an extraordinary appeal that suggested they could be seeking to end the country’s theocracy after decades of tensions.

It was unclear whether US allies were given any advance warning of the attacks. The German government said it was only given notice of the attacks on Saturday morning. France’s junior defence minister said France knew something would happen, but didn’t know when.

Responding to the attack, the European Union’s top diplomat called the conflict in the Middle East “perilous” and said she was working with Israeli and Arab officials to pursue a negotiated peace.

“Iran’s regime has killed thousands. Its ballistic missile and nuclear programmemes, along with support for terror groups, pose a serious threat to global security,” said Kaja Kallas, foreign policy chief of the 27-nation bloc, in a post on social media.
“The EU is also coordinating closely with Arab partners to explore diplomatic paths.” She said the EU was evacuating some staff in the region while keeping in place a maritime mission in the Red Sea. The EU recently put fresh sanctions on Iran and its leading figures, which prompted retaliatory sanctions by Tehran.

The German government said it was monitoring the situation in Iran, Israel and the wider Middle East region after being informed about the Israeli strikes on Saturday morning. The German government’s crisis management team is scheduled to meet at noon to discuss the situation in Iran.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz was already consulting with ministers in charge of security and with European partners.

The German government urged German citizens in Iran, Israel, and the wider region to sign up for the official registration system for citizens abroad and follow the instructions of the local authorities regarding the necessary measures for their own protection.

France, whose military has bases and a regular presence in the Mideast, is calling on French citizens in the region to exercise extreme caution.

“A military escalation is underway. … It’s not the time for negotiations, we are in a situation of war,” junior Defence Minister Alice Rufo told France-2 television Saturday, comparing the situation to what happened last June.

“Our priority is the protection of our citizens and the protection of our forces in the region,” she said.

Asked if French forces were involved in the US and Israeli strikes or targeted in retaliatory strikes, French military spokesperson Col. Guillaume Vernet said Saturday: “The French armed forces continuously adapt their posture to threats and implement measures to ensure the surveillance and protection of military installations where French soldiers are deployed.”

He would not elaborate.

“Our military presence guarantees France’s independent assessment of the situation,” he told the AP.

Italy’s government urged Italians to exercise the utmost caution and follow instructions provided by its embassies in the region. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said the prime minister would be in contact with the region’s allies and leaders within the next few hours to “support any initiative that may lead to a de-escalation of tensions.”

“Italy reiterates its support to the Iranian civilian population, who courageously continue to demand respect for their civil and political rights,” Meloni’s office said.

Switzerland called for full respect of international law and urged “all parties to exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.”

Samsung Electronics officially launched the Galaxy S26 series on February 25, 2026, at its Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco, introducing the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra as its most intuitive AI-focused smartphones yet. Pre-orders began immediately, with general availability scheduled for March 11, 2026, across major markets including the United States, Europe and Asia.

The lineup emphasizes refined design, powerful performance and expanded Galaxy AI capabilities, building on the foundation of the Galaxy S25 series. All models run Android 16 with One UI 8.5, promising seven years of major OS upgrades and security patches.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra stands as the premium flagship, featuring a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz), Vision Booster for enhanced outdoor visibility and peak brightness up to 2,600 nits. It measures 78.1 x 163.6 x 7.9mm and weighs 214g — 0.3mm thinner and slightly lighter than its predecessor for improved ergonomics. The device includes rounded Armor Aluminum corners, IP68 water and dust resistance, and an integrated S Pen stylus.

Power comes from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 customized for Galaxy, delivering claimed improvements of 19% in CPU, 24% in GPU and 39% in NPU performance for AI tasks. Configurations offer 12GB or 16GB RAM with 256GB, 512GB or 1TB storage options (no microSD expansion). The 5,000mAh battery supports up to 31 hours of video playback, with a major upgrade to 60W wired charging (up from 45W) and 25W wireless charging, plus reverse wireless charging.

The camera system leads with a 200MP wide main sensor (f/1.4 aperture for better low-light performance), 50MP ultrawide (f/1.9), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4) and 50MP 5x periscope telephoto (f/2.9). It enables up to 10x optical-quality zoom via adaptive pixel technology, improved Nightography and Super Steady video stabilization. The 12MP front camera supports enhanced selfies.

A headline feature is the world-first built-in Privacy Display, which limits visibility from side angles to prevent shoulder surfing in public settings while remaining clear from the front.

The Galaxy S26+ features a 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 12GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage. It weighs 190g at 7.3mm thick with a 4,900mAh battery offering 31 hours of video playback and faster charging. The rear setup includes a 50MP wide main, with similar AI enhancements.

The base Galaxy S26 sports a 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the same processor, 12GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage. It measures 7.2mm thick and weighs 167g with a 4,300mAh battery supporting 31 hours of playback.

Pricing reflects adjustments amid component costs: the Galaxy S26 starts at $899.99 for 256GB (up $100 from the S25), the S26+ at $1,099.99 for 256GB (also up $100), and the S26 Ultra holds steady at $1,299.99 for 256GB. Higher tiers reach $1,799.99 for the Ultra’s 1TB model. Pre-order promotions include up to $900 trade-in credit or $150 accessory discounts on Samsung.com.

Galaxy AI enhancements across the series include advanced contextual awareness, proactive suggestions, improved photo editing, real-time translation and Bixby upgrades for more natural interactions. The custom chipset optimizes on-device processing for efficiency and privacy.

Availability spans carriers, retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, and Samsung Experience Stores. Colors vary by model and region, including Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow and Pink Gold.

Early hands-on impressions highlight the Ultra’s slimmer profile, brighter display and faster charging as meaningful upgrades, though some note incremental changes from the S25. The privacy screen and AI refinements position the series strongly against competitors like Apple’s iPhone lineup.

As pre-orders roll in, the Galaxy S26 series arrives at a pivotal time for Samsung, emphasizing AI integration and user privacy in a crowded premium smartphone market.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of DUOL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Iran fired ballistic missiles at multiple Gulf Arab states on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in retaliation for joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian leadership and military sites, killing one person in Abu Dhabi and prompting widespread air defense activations, airspace closures and emergency alerts across the region.

The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defence confirmed the country was subjected to a “blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles,” with air defense systems intercepting several projectiles with high efficiency. Debris from the interceptions fell in residential areas of Abu Dhabi, including Saadiyat Island, Khalifa City, Bani Yas, Mohammed bin Zayed City and Al Falah, causing material damage and resulting in the death of one civilian of Asian nationality, according to state news agency WAM and the ministry’s statement. No additional injuries were reported in the second wave of missiles, which UAE defenses also neutralized without casualties.

The fatality marked the first confirmed civilian death on Gulf soil from the escalating conflict, which began earlier Saturday with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior figures in Tehran. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the retaliatory launches, stating they targeted U.S. military assets across the region and vowed operations would continue “until the enemies are defeated.”

Multiple countries reported incoming threats. Bahrain confirmed missiles struck near the U.S. Naval Support Activity in Juffair, Manama, with thick smoke rising and residents evacuated from nearby areas. Qatar intercepted at least one projectile, with explosions reported in Doha. Kuwait and Jordan also activated defenses against Iranian missiles, while Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh experienced blasts amid heightened alerts. Explosions echoed in Dubai, leading to a full suspension of operations at Dubai International Airport and disruptions at other regional hubs.

The UAE strongly condemned the attacks as a “dangerous escalation” and “cowardly act” threatening civilian safety and regional stability. The Ministry of Defence affirmed the nation’s categorical rejection of targeting civilian objects and reserved its full right to respond. Authorities issued emergency text alerts urging residents to shelter in place, avoid military sites and monitor official channels.

The strikes extended the conflict beyond Iran and Israel, drawing in Gulf states that host significant U.S. military presence, including Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi and facilities in Bahrain and Qatar. Analysts described the Iranian response as unprecedented in scope, targeting American allies to deter further involvement and signal resolve amid regime threats from Washington and Jerusalem.

U.S. President Donald Trump, in earlier statements, confirmed “major combat operations” against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, urging Iranians to overthrow their government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the initial strikes as pre-emptive to eliminate existential threats. Both nations indicated multi-day operations, with sources suggesting additional waves possible.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry denounced the U.S.-Israeli aggression as violations of sovereignty, accusing the attackers of striking defense infrastructure and civilian areas during ongoing negotiations. Tehran reported dozens killed in its territory, including claims of civilian deaths at an elementary school, though independent verification remained limited due to blackouts and restricted access.

Regional airspace closures compounded the chaos. Airlines including Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, British Airways and IndiGo suspended or diverted flights to and from the Middle East. The former Iranian crown prince, in exile, called for nationwide protests, labeling the moment a “destiny” for regime change.

Oil prices surged more than 15% on fears of disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, with global markets opening lower and defense stocks rising. Humanitarian organizations prepared for potential mass casualties, while the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session. Russia and China condemned the initial strikes as “illegal aggression,” urging de-escalation.

Eyewitness accounts from Abu Dhabi described loud explosions, smoke plumes and sirens as residents sought shelter. Video footage shared on social media showed dark clouds over the capital following interceptions. The UAE emphasized stability, with authorities monitoring developments around the clock.

The attacks underscored the rapid spread of the conflict, transforming a bilateral U.S.-Israeli operation into a multi-front crisis involving Gulf monarchies. Diplomats warned of risks to global energy supplies and broader instability if retaliation cycles continued.

As sirens persisted in parts of the region and defenses remained active, the Gulf’s relative safety — long a hallmark amid Middle East turmoil — faced its most severe test in years.

Wordle players faced a formidable challenge on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with puzzle #1715 delivering a word that stumped many and earned a “very challenging” rating from The New York Times’ WordleBot analysis. The daily brain teaser, hosted by the Times since its acquisition from creator Josh Wardle, continued its streak of testing vocabulary, logic and persistence as enthusiasts worldwide logged in for their morning ritual.

The solution to today’s Wordle is **HYDRA**, a five-letter noun rooted in Greek mythology. According to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, it refers to a multi-headed serpent slain by Heracles (Hercules) in one of his famous labors, or more broadly to any persistent problem that multiplies when addressed. In modern pop culture, HYDRA also names a secretive villainous organization in Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, known for its motto “Cut off one head, two more shall take its place.”

WordleBot reported that the puzzle took testers an average of 5.3 guesses out of six in easy mode — bordering on the game’s upper difficulty threshold — with some players hitting the limit or failing entirely. Hard mode scores averaged slightly better at 3.9 to 4.0 attempts for skilled solvers, but the word’s uncommon letters and lack of repeats contributed to the frustration.

Hints circulated widely across gaming sites and social media to guide players without spoiling the answer outright. Mashable offered a subtle clue: “A mythological creature.” Parade described it as “the many-headed serpent slain by Heracles in Greek mythology.” CNET noted it could refer to “a mythological serpent” or “a batch of Marvel Comics bad guys.” Tom’s Guide and other outlets emphasized structural details: the word starts with H, ends with A, contains one vowel (Y acting as a sometimes vowel) and no repeated letters.

Additional tips included the absence of double letters, a consonant start and an ending vowel. Forbes contributor Erik Kain shared his solving path, starting with STALE (leaving 202 possibilities) before narrowing it down, joking about nearly choosing HARDY instead. Many players reported luck with openers like SLATE or ADIEU, though uncommon consonants like H and D tripped up early guesses.

The puzzle’s difficulty sparked lively discussion on Reddit’s r/wordle community, where users posted grids and commiserated over near-misses. One thread highlighted the word’s dual meaning, with some solvers arriving via mythology references and others through comic book knowledge. No widespread complaints emerged about unfairness, unlike occasional past puzzles accused of obscure terms.

Wordle #1715 arrived amid the game’s enduring popularity, now approaching its fifth anniversary since launch in October 2021. The Times maintains a streak counter, shareable grids with emoji squares (green for correct position, yellow for wrong position, black for absent) and a simple black-and-white interface that keeps focus on deduction rather than flashy graphics.

For those who prefer strategy, experts recommend starting words rich in common vowels and consonants — ADIEU, AUDIO, CRANE or SLATE — to eliminate possibilities quickly. Hard mode forces players to reuse revealed letters in subsequent guesses, increasing challenge but sharpening skills.

The daily reset occurs at midnight local time, with the puzzle accessible free at nytimes.com/games/wordle. No login is required for basic play, though a Times subscription unlocks additional games like Connections, Strands and the Mini Crossword.

As February draws to a close, Wordle continues delivering bite-sized mental workouts that unite millions. Saturday’s HYDRA proved a fitting capstone to the month, blending ancient lore with modern gaming in a puzzle that rewarded persistence and broad knowledge.

Players who missed it can still practice similar words or await Sunday’s challenge. The game’s design ensures one puzzle per day worldwide, preventing spoilers through timed release and share restrictions.

In a digital era of endless distractions, Wordle’s simplicity — five letters, six tries, no ads — remains its strength. Whether HYDRA felled your streak or boosted your confidence, it reminded fans why the game endures: the quiet thrill of cracking the code, one guess at a time.

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena BMPS -6.76%decrease; red down pointing triangle pledged to return around 16 billion euros ($19 billion) to shareholders over the next five years and detailed targets for higher earnings as it progresses with the integration of recently acquired peer Mediobanca MB -6.24%decrease; red down pointing triangle.

The Italian group, which is considered the world’s oldest bank in operation and is still partly state-owned following a bailout, pursued its Milanese peer in a bid to marry Mediobanca’s heft in investment banking and wealth management with its own retail banking strength. The tie-up, which created the country’s third-largest lender by assets, is among the largest in a wave of consolidation sweeping the European banking sector.

Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Although Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned net buyers in February, picking up Indian equities worth Rs 22,615 crore during the month, Friday’s sharp sell-off has cast doubt on the sustainability of that trend reversal. With the Iran-Israel conflict escalating over the weekend, risk appetite could take a back seat, prompting foreign investors to adopt a wait-and-watch approach before committing fresh flows to emerging markets.

The conflict in the Middle East has triggered a risk-off situation in financial markets. It remains to be seen how the conflict will evolve and impact crude and currency markets, Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments said, commenting on the crisis. In his view, FIIs are likely to wait and watch how things evolve before making further commitments in emerging markets.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Nachiketa Sawrikar, Fund Manager at Artha Bharat Global Multiplier Fund said he expects broad selling of risky assets across both the developed and emerging markets against the backdrop of a USA-Israel attack on Iran.

He said trading activity appears increasingly tilted toward US securities, with a parallel shift in flows toward bullion, signalling the possibility of capital moving out of emerging markets. “We would expect the ongoing rally in USA treasuries, oil, gold, and silver to extend,” the expert added.

Sawrikar also sees a deeper impact of war on India, accelerating the foreign capital outflow because of its reliance on imported crude oil. “Higher crude oil prices could widen the current account deficit, stoking domestic inflation, pressure the rupee,” he warned.

Vijayakumar said FIIs buying on most days in February indicated a clear shift in their investment strategy towards India. “There are variations in sectoral investments in February. FPIs had sold heavily in IT stocks due to the Anthropic shock and the continuing weakness in this segment. But they were buyers in financial services and capital goods,” the Geojit analyst said.
While FPIs invested Rs 19,782 crores in the secondary markets, around Rs 2,832 crores was pumped-in the primary market.On Friday, FII sold shares worth Rs 7,536.36 crore, triggering a massive sell-off. The benchmark indices Nifty and the BSE Sensex, ended with deep cuts on Friday amid selling pressure across the board. Auto, financials and FMCG were major laggards while the IT sector saw selective buying action. In a volatile session, the broader Nifty edged lower by 317.90 points, or 1.25%, to close at 25,178.65, while the 30-share Sensex plunged by 961.42 points, or 1.17%, to settle at 81,287.19.

FPI trends
February recorded inflows after a sharp January exodus of Rs 35,962 crore. FIIs are still net sellers in 2026 at Rs 13,347 crore.

In 2025, the FII buying trends remained patchy, but the overall trend was bearish. They took out Rs 1,66,286 crore from Indian markets as trade deal delay and premium valuations weighed on the sentiments.

FIIs were net sellers in December, offloading domestic shares worth Rs 22,611 crore.

April–June period of 2025 witnessed inflows totalling Rs 38,673 crore. Meanwhile, massive selling to the tune of Rs 1,16,574 crore happened during the January–March quarter.