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As the war with Iran continues, Tehran’s Assembly of Experts — the powerful clerical body responsible for selecting Iran’s next supreme leader — has reportedly reached a majority consensus on a successor to the late Ali Khamenei. Although the name hasn’t been officially announced, multiple sources say Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain leader, is being touted as the most likely candidate to assume the country’s highest political and religious authority.

Guwahati: The proposed pre-poll alliance between the Congress and in Assam appears to have hit a deadlock after prolonged seat-sharing negotiations failed to produce a consensus, with the regional party attributing the breakdown to the Congress’ refusal to concede the Dhing Assembly constituency in Nagaon district.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi said repeated rounds of discussions between the two parties had failed despite the regional party progressively reducing its seat demands in an effort to reach an agreement.
According to Akhil Gogoi, Raijor Dal had initially proposed contesting 27 seats but later brought the number down to 20 and subsequently to 15 in order to facilitate a compromise with the Congress. The Congress eventually agreed to allocate 13 seats, though only four of them were from the list of constituencies proposed by Raijor Dal. Even after indicating its willingness to accept most of the Congress’ conditions, the party insisted on retaining the Dhing constituency, which eventually became the principal sticking point in the negotiations.
Raijor Dal also expressed dissatisfaction over a joint press conference held on March 6 by the Congress along with three other opposition parties from which it was excluded, stating that the development had hurt the party’s self-respect.
In the statement, the party further alleged that it had repeatedly made concessions to help build a united opposition front against the BJP but claimed that the Congress had attempted to pressure it into accepting its terms.
Despite the apparent deadlock, leaders in the Congress indicated that efforts to revive the alliance were still under way. Dispur Congress candidate Mira Borthakur said Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi had travelled to New Delhi on Sunday to consult the party’s central leadership on the issue.
She said the APCC leadership remained keen on forging an alliance with Raijor Dal and expressed hope that discussions with the All India Congress Committee leadership would help resolve the differences. She added that a final decision would be taken after consultations with the party’s central leadership.
Meanwhile, Raijor Dal’s candidate for the Jalukbari constituency in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district, Ramen Borthakur, said he would reconsider contesting from the seat if the alliance with the Congress does not materialise. In that case, he indicated that he may instead contest from the Dispur constituency, reiterating the party’s commitment to defeating the BJP in the state.

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Kuwait has been targeted with ballistic missiles, with its air defenses intercepting and destroying three incoming projectiles. Prior to this, drone attacks targeted fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport. Civilian infrastructure sustained damage from debris resulting from the defensive measures. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia reported intercepting and destroying drones in the east of its capital, Riyadh. Israel’s Response and International Reactions
Israel has launched another wave of attacks against Iran, targeting what it describes as the ‘military infrastructure of the terror regime’ across multiple locations within the country. This escalation follows previous strikes and underscores a rapidly deteriorating security landscape.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has criticized the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, stating that power does not grant the right to act with impunity and warning against a return to a ‘law of the jungle’ global order. Speaking in Beijing during the National People’s Congress, Wang called for a ceasefire and an complete to the conflict, characterizing the situation as a war that benefits no one. Succession Concerns in Iran
Within Iran, the Assembly of Experts is reportedly nearing a consensus on the succession of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Although, some hurdles remain in the process, specifically regarding whether a physical meeting of the assembly is required for a final decision. The Widening Regional Impact
The recent exchange of attacks highlights the potential for a broader regional conflict. The involvement of multiple nations – Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait – demonstrates the interconnectedness of security concerns in the Middle East. The Gulf States are facing a critical juncture in their efforts to defend against Iranian actions. The Role of Drone Warfare
The increasing apply of drones in these attacks signals a shift in modern warfare tactics. Drones offer a relatively low-cost and accessible means of delivering attacks, posing a significant challenge to traditional defense systems. The attacks on Kuwait’s airport demonstrate the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to drone strikes. Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the current escalation? The recent attacks are part of a cycle of retaliation following prior incidents, with Israel responding to Iranian actions.
What is the Assembly of Experts in Iran? It is a body responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader of Iran.
What is China’s position on the conflict? China is calling for a ceasefire and an end to the war, criticizing the attacks by the US and Israel.
Are civilian areas at risk? Yes, damage to civilian infrastructure has already been reported in Kuwait due to debris from intercepted missiles. Pro Tip: Staying informed about geopolitical events is crucial for understanding global market trends and potential risks. Regularly consult reputable news sources and analysis from experts.
Explore further: For more in-depth analysis of the Middle East conflict, visit The Wall Street Journal.
What are your thoughts on the escalating tensions in the Middle East? Share your perspective in the comments below!

American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DCH ) by 8.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,942,565 shares of the auto parts company’s stock after acquiring an additional 364,180 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. owned 4.17% of American Axle & Manufacturing worth $29,705,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in DCH. PSquared Asset Management AG boosted its holdings in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 99.9% during the 2nd quarter. PSquared Asset Management AG now owns 369,395 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $1,507,000 after buying an additional 184,570 shares in the last quarter. AXQ Capital LP bought a new stake in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing in the 2nd quarter valued at $291,000. Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC acquired a new position in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing during the 3rd quarter valued at $346,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 594.0% during the 2nd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 343,006 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $1,399,000 after acquiring an additional 293,580 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in American Axle & Manufacturing by 615.8% during the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,879,668 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $7,669,000 after acquiring an additional 1,617,069 shares in the last quarter. 91.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from $12.00 to $10.00 and set an ‘outperform’ rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing in a report on Thursday, February 19th. They set a ‘buy’ rating and a $10.35 price objective on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from $7.00 to $8.00 and gave the stock a ‘hold’ rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley set a $7.00 target price on American Axle & Manufacturing in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on American Axle & Manufacturing from $8.50 to $10.50 and gave the company a ‘buy’ rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of ‘Hold’ and a consensus price target of $10.12. NYSE DCH opened at $5.57 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.31 billion, a P/E ratio of -30.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.31, a current ratio of 2.95 and a quick ratio of 2.57. American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $3.00 and a 12-month high of $9.25. American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:DCH ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 13th. The auto parts company reported $0.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.09. American Axle