AMD's RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture will continue to span the APU lineup till 2029, but premium SoCs will feature new RDNA 5 iGPUs. AMD RDNA 3.5 iGPUs For Mainstream APUs, RDNA 5 iGPUs For Premium APUs, Claims Insider AMD's APUs haven't seen a major architectural innovation since the launch of RDNA 3. While RDNA 3.5 brought a decent upgrade, it was mostly an optimized version of RDNA 3, and AMD h...
AMD's RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture will continue to span the APU lineup till 2029, but premium SoCs will feature new RDNA 5 iGPUs. AMD RDNA 3.5 iGPUs For Mainstream APUs, RDNA 5 iGPUs For Premium APUs, Claims Insider AMD's APUs haven't seen a major architectural innovation since the launch of RDNA 3. While RDNA 3.5 brought a decent upgrade, it was mostly an optimized version of RDNA 3, and AMD has since released its newer RDNA 4 architecture for discrete GPUs. This new architecture offers better AI and RT cores, & also supports FSR Redstone. So there are quite a few nice updates that AMD could go for if it had released RDNA 4 for its APU family. But AMD's most recent APU launch, the Ryzen AI 400 "Gorgon Point", still relies on RDNA 3.5 with higher clocks. Meanwhile, AMD's Strix Halo and Gorgon Halo "Ryzen AI MAX" families also use the same RDNA 3.5 architecture, but in bigger configurations, offering up to 40 compute units versus the maximum of 16 CUs on the mainstream family. AMD is dividing their APU roadmap into: a) Products targeting lower end markets or markets that don't need good iGPU performance (i.e office laptops, and also laptops using high-end dGPUs). These will continue to use RDNA 3.5 until 2029. b) "Premium" iGPU products with RDNA5. https://t.co/dfPw4G2Ee9 — Kepler (@Kepler_L2) January 24, 2026 According to Kepler_L2, it looks like the RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture will be part of AMD's current and upcoming APU family for a good while. It is stated that AMD APUs will continue to leverage RDNA 3.5 until 2029, which aligns with recent information shared by industry insiders such as Golden Pig Upgrade. The difference is that after some time, RDNA 3.5 iGPUs will be segmented into the entry-level & mainstream APU designs. AMD's next-gen Medusa Point "Ryzen AI 500" family is expected to be the last major family to receive the RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture for iGPUs. After this, AMD will skip RDNA 4 entirely & move to RDNA 5. As per Kepler, the RDNA 5 i...
Key Points Amazon stock has underperformed the broader market over the last five years. Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and automation look poised to power sales and margin gains for the company. 10 stocks we like better than Amazon › Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) currently has a market capitalization of approximately $2.5 trillion and ranks as the world's fifth-largest company. The tech giant lea...
Key Points Amazon stock has underperformed the broader market over the last five years. Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and automation look poised to power sales and margin gains for the company. 10 stocks we like better than Amazon › Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) currently has a market capitalization of approximately $2.5 trillion and ranks as the world's fifth-largest company. The tech giant leads the market in categories including e-commerce and cloud infrastructure services. It also operates a fast-growing digital advertising business. Despite the company's many strengths, Amazon has actually significantly underperformed the broader market over the last half-decade. The company's share price has risen roughly 44% over the last five years, but the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite have risen 79% and 73%, respectively. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » While Amazon stock has been a market laggard over the last five years, there's at least one big reason to think things will be different over the next five. Amazon is likely in the early stages of tapping into an incredible profit driver Amazon Web Services (AWS) continues to be Amazon's biggest profit generator. The company's market-leading cloud-infrastructure service boasts impressive margins and has kept growing at an encouraging pace. AWS revenue increased 20% year over year in last year's third quarter, and it accounted for $11.4 billion of the company's $21.7 billion in non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) adjusted operating income (almost 53%). Meanwhile, the AWS segment accounted for just $33 billion of the company's $180.2 billion in Q3 revenue (about 18%). Amazon's e-commerce business continues to generate the large majority of overall sales, but the high costs associated with the online retail business mean that profit margins remain far below what the comp...
Hong Kong civil servants have been urged to exercise greater caution and refrain from accepting any offers in the workplace, as stakeholders called on authorities to explain how the head of a government office became embroiled in a bribery case. Ricky Cheng Chun-sang, former director of the Tianjin Liaison Unit, was dismissed last week and placed under criminal investigation for accepting advantag...
Hong Kong civil servants have been urged to exercise greater caution and refrain from accepting any offers in the workplace, as stakeholders called on authorities to explain how the head of a government office became embroiled in a bribery case. Ricky Cheng Chun-sang, former director of the Tianjin Liaison Unit, was dismissed last week and placed under criminal investigation for accepting advantages without permission, after posting on social media about perks such as an upgraded private ferry cabin during a trip to Macau. Federation of Civil Service Unions chairperson Leung Chau-ting told the Post on Sunday that civil servants should always steer clear of situations that might appear to involve improper benefits. Advertisement “Workers in non-local offices are more prone to such situations, as work cultures are different in various regions with different definitions of advantages,” he said, adding that those involved in trade-related work should be particularly alert. “The incident has sent a clear message that civil servants are subject to Hong Kong’s anti-bribery law and the Civil Service Code, regardless of where the incident takes place.” Advertisement A day after Cheng posted photos of himself holding a glass of champagne in a spacious ferry cabin, he was dismissed and accused of breaching the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) provisions relating to civil servants accepting advantages without permission.
Don't overthink the AI boom. This year's AI winners are sitting in plain sight. It's been a little over three years since artificial intelligence (AI) became the hottest topic on Wall Street. Nothing lasts forever, but it's hard to envision the AI boom ending this year. At least, not while billions of dollars continue to flow into data centers, chips, and other AI infrastructure. So, how is the AI...
Don't overthink the AI boom. This year's AI winners are sitting in plain sight. It's been a little over three years since artificial intelligence (AI) became the hottest topic on Wall Street. Nothing lasts forever, but it's hard to envision the AI boom ending this year. At least, not while billions of dollars continue to flow into data centers, chips, and other AI infrastructure. So, how is the AI space shaping up for 2026? Consensus estimates from Goldman Sachs indicate that AI companies could spend more than $500 billion on capital expenditures this year. That would be an increase of more than $100 billion from 2025. In other words, the AI train is chugging along faster than ever. Which stocks will benefit the most from all this AI spending? Recent developments point to some familiar faces. Here is why I predict that Nvidia (NVDA +1.53%) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM +2.29%) will be this year's big AI winners. The top AI GPU company is launching a new chip Nvidia has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years. Its GPU chips are the hardware of choice for AI hyperscalers, utilizing Nvidia's CUDA programming to build massive data centers where thousands of GPU chips work together as clusters to train and operate AI models. The company's Hopper GPU architecture helped it capture the AI data center market early on. Since then, Nvidia's customers have mostly stuck with its GPUs, which have a reported market share of 85% to 90%. It's why Nvidia's revenue surged by 1,000% over the past five years, and the stock has performed similarly. Expand NASDAQ : NVDA Nvidia Today's Change ( 1.53 %) $ 2.83 Current Price $ 187.67 Key Data Points Market Cap $4.6T Day's Range $ 186.82 - $ 189.60 52wk Range $ 86.62 - $ 212.19 Volume 143M Avg Vol 187M Gross Margin 70.05 % Dividend Yield 0.02 % So, why is Nvidia still a big winner this year? AI companies have already laid extensive groundwork, building primarily on Nvidia's hardware. It's hard to see that changing...
Where The US Has Military Footholds In Europe Since the beginning of his second term one year ago, President Trump has escalated his public campaign regarding his plans for acquiring Greenland , framing the autonomous Danish territory as a "national security necessity" due to its Arctic location , while the island is also rich in untapped mineral resources. Trump's rhetoric has ranged from offers ...
Where The US Has Military Footholds In Europe Since the beginning of his second term one year ago, President Trump has escalated his public campaign regarding his plans for acquiring Greenland , framing the autonomous Danish territory as a "national security necessity" due to its Arctic location , while the island is also rich in untapped mineral resources. Trump's rhetoric has ranged from offers to purchase the territory from Denmark, including a direct payment to its residents, to veiled threats of military intervention, having notably stated in early January: "We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor". That rhetoric appeared to peak last weekend and then drifted back into more diplomatic discussion after his flip-flop on possible kinetic action during his speech in Davos. This push follows a pattern of assertive U.S. foreign policy, including the recent military raid in Venezuela to capture the country's President Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. already operates a permanent military base in Greenland: Pituffik Space Base, a Cold War-era installation now staffed by about 200 personnel, down from a peak of 10,000. The base is critical for missile defense and space surveillance, but Trump argues that full U.S. control is needed to deter Russia and China, despite existing defense agreements with Denmark that allow for expanded U.S. military presence. As Statista's Tristan Gaudiat notes in the map below, the U.S. also currently maintains over 50,000 troops across around thirty permanent bases in Europe (area of responsibility of the United States European Command), with important air hubs like Keflavik (Iceland), Ramstein (Germany) and Lakenheath (United Kingdom), or naval stations like Rota (Spain) and Souda (Greece). These bases are not only tools of NATO deterrence but also leverage points for U.S. power projection a...
Don't overthink the AI boom. This year's AI winners are sitting in plain sight. It's been a little over three years since artificial intelligence (AI) became the hottest topic on Wall Street. Nothing lasts forever, but it's hard to envision the AI boom ending this year. At least, not while billions of dollars continue to flow into data centers, chips, and other AI infrastructure. So, how is the AI...
Don't overthink the AI boom. This year's AI winners are sitting in plain sight. It's been a little over three years since artificial intelligence (AI) became the hottest topic on Wall Street. Nothing lasts forever, but it's hard to envision the AI boom ending this year. At least, not while billions of dollars continue to flow into data centers, chips, and other AI infrastructure. So, how is the AI space shaping up for 2026? Consensus estimates from Goldman Sachs indicate that AI companies could spend more than $500 billion on capital expenditures this year. That would be an increase of more than $100 billion from 2025. In other words, the AI train is chugging along faster than ever. Which stocks will benefit the most from all this AI spending? Recent developments point to some familiar faces. Here is why I predict that Nvidia (NVDA +1.60%) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM +2.21%) will be this year's big AI winners. The top AI GPU company is launching a new chip Nvidia has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years. Its GPU chips are the hardware of choice for AI hyperscalers, utilizing Nvidia's CUDA programming to build massive data centers where thousands of GPU chips work together as clusters to train and operate AI models. The company's Hopper GPU architecture helped it capture the AI data center market early on. Since then, Nvidia's customers have mostly stuck with its GPUs, which have a reported market share of 85% to 90%. It's why Nvidia's revenue surged by 1,000% over the past five years, and the stock has performed similarly. Expand NASDAQ : NVDA Nvidia Today's Change ( 1.60 %) $ 2.95 Current Price $ 187.79 Key Data Points Market Cap $4.6T Day's Range $ 186.83 - $ 189.60 52wk Range $ 86.62 - $ 212.19 Volume 31K Avg Vol 187M Gross Margin 70.05 % Dividend Yield 0.02 % So, why is Nvidia still a big winner this year? AI companies have already laid extensive groundwork, building primarily on Nvidia's hardware. It's hard to see that changing ...
Saudi Arabian developers’ shares jumped the most in four months as the kingdom began implementing new laws allowing foreigners to own a wider range of local real estate assets, including in the holy cities of Mecca and Madinah. The Tadawul Real Estate Management & Development Index rose 4.5% on Sunday, with every one of its 17 members in the green. Makkah Construction & Development Co. led with ga...
Saudi Arabian developers’ shares jumped the most in four months as the kingdom began implementing new laws allowing foreigners to own a wider range of local real estate assets, including in the holy cities of Mecca and Madinah. The Tadawul Real Estate Management & Development Index rose 4.5% on Sunday, with every one of its 17 members in the green. Makkah Construction & Development Co. led with gains of about 10%, followed by Dar Al Arkan Real Estate . The sectoral rally helped to lift the broader Saudi equity benchmark for a third session and put the index, which is coming off of its worst annual performance in a decade, on course for a gain in January. The moves follow an announcement by Saudi regulators on Jan. 22 that the Gulf nation is now accepting applications for foreigners interested in owning local property. That includes in Riyadh and Jeddah, in addition to Mecca and Madinah, where ownership had mostly been limited to Muslim citizens and Saudi companies. “This is a market that’s hungry for good news,” said Fadi Arbid , founding partner and chief investment officer at Amwal Capital Partners . “Obviously the opening of the market for real estate, especially in Mecca and Madinah, is a good thing.” Saudi Arabia Opens Property Market as MBS Courts Overseas Buyers Saudis Focus on ‘Wiser’ Spending as Oil Slide Crimps Revenue Saudi Arabia, Olympic Council Delay 2029 Asian Winter Games While there were few new details around the foreign ownership rules, the most recent Saudi statement indicates that the kingdom is proceeding with plans to allow foreign ownership of residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial properties. Under the new law, non-Saudis can also acquire land. Saudi Arabia approved an overhaul of its property ownership law in July as it aims to draw an influx of foreign buyers into the Gulf’s largest economy, while accelerating a build-up of infrastructure needed to help diversify the economy away from oil. The kingdom is also due to open its ...
Listen on the go! A daily podcast of Wall Street Breakfast will be available by 8:00 a.m. on Seeking Alpha , iTunes , Spotify . yalcinsonat1/iStock via Getty Images Up for a challenge? Test your knowledge on the biggest events in the investing world over the past week. Take the latest Seeking Alpha News Quiz and see how you stack up against the competition. The coming week will put Big Tech earnin...
Listen on the go! A daily podcast of Wall Street Breakfast will be available by 8:00 a.m. on Seeking Alpha , iTunes , Spotify . yalcinsonat1/iStock via Getty Images Up for a challenge? Test your knowledge on the biggest events in the investing world over the past week. Take the latest Seeking Alpha News Quiz and see how you stack up against the competition. The coming week will put Big Tech earnings and the Federal Reserve firmly in focus, with markets bracing for key signals on growth, inflation, and policy direction. Apple ( AAPL ), Microsoft ( MSFT ), and Meta Platforms ( META ) headline a heavy earnings calendar, alongside results from Tesla ( TSLA ), Boeing ( BA ), Visa ( V ), Mastercard ( MA ), Exxon Mobil ( XOM ), and Chevron ( CVX ). Microsoft’s report will be closely watched for updates on AI-driven Azure growth and margins, while Apple’s results should offer insight into iPhone demand and its slower-moving AI strategy The Fed’s interest rate decision midweek is expected to be the macro centerpiece, with investors parsing Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference for clues on the timing and pace of future easing. Markets will also track consumer confidence, durable goods orders, jobless claims, PPI data, and the Chicago PMI for confirmation on the inflation and growth outlook Beyond earnings and the Fed, catalysts include several fintech IPOs, key M&A shareholder votes, and notable Investor Days, adding to what shapes up as a potentially volatile week for markets Earnings spotlight: Tuesday, January 27: Boeing ( BA ), UnitedHealth ( UNH ), Texas Instruments ( TXN ), RTX Corp ( RTX ), General Motors ( GM ). See the full earnings calendar . Earnings spotlight: Wednesday, January 28: Microsoft ( MSFT ), Meta Platforms ( META ), Tesla ( TSLA ), IBM ( IBM ), AT&T ( T ). See the full earnings calendar . Earnings spotlight: Thursday, January 29: Apple ( AAPL ), Visa ( V ), Mastercard ( MA ), Caterpillar ( CAT ). See the full earnings calendar . Earnings spotlight:...
watch now VIDEO 1:51 01:51 What parents need to know about 'Trump Accounts' News Videos Soon, parents and guardians can open a Trump account for their children — and a number of large employers are piling on the incentives to get set up. For starters, babies born in 2025 through 2028 may receive a one-time $1,000 contribution from the Department of the Treasury . There are no income requirements, ...
watch now VIDEO 1:51 01:51 What parents need to know about 'Trump Accounts' News Videos Soon, parents and guardians can open a Trump account for their children — and a number of large employers are piling on the incentives to get set up. For starters, babies born in 2025 through 2028 may receive a one-time $1,000 contribution from the Department of the Treasury . There are no income requirements, and all U.S. families are eligible for the initial seed money. But, in some cases, that is just the half of it. To help fund these savings accounts from the outset, a growing list of companies, including SoFi , Charter Communications , BNY , BlackRock , Investment Company Institute, Robinhood and Charles Schwab , announced they will match the federal $1,000 contribution for employees' children. Read more CNBC personal finance coverage Therapists see more workers anxious about AI: It's 'a fear of becoming obsolete' Major winter storm may affect over 170 million Americans — how much it could cost you As federal ACA subsidies lapse, blue states offer their own In an affordability crunch, Gen Z adults lean on their parents for financial help How a smaller IRS, budget cuts may impact tax filing: 'Buckle your seatbelts,' expert says 'Will Social Security run out?' is the wrong question, economist says. What to consider Trump says inflation was 'defeated.' Some economists disagree Trump touts 'big beautiful bill' tax breaks at Davos. Here's how they work Trump floats idea to extend business tax break to homeowners Student loan collections pause offers borrowers time to get current Senior 'bonus' is a 'valuable opportunity,' CPA says: How to make the most of it Unexpected expenses take 10% of retirees' income, on average, research shows More employers worry about workers' financial wellbeing, research shows Republicans want to end the 'marriage penalty' for this childcare tax credit Education Department to delay collections on defaulted student loans CNBC's Financial Advisor 100: B...
Investors who want exposure to a high-growth industry might want to take a closer look at the intersection of financial services and technology. A company you might not have heard of within this sector is Nu Holdings (NYSE: NU), which has found tremendous success in overseas markets. This fintech stock trades 25% off its peak price from November, which might worry some people. But is it a smart bu...
Investors who want exposure to a high-growth industry might want to take a closer look at the intersection of financial services and technology. A company you might not have heard of within this sector is Nu Holdings (NYSE: NU), which has found tremendous success in overseas markets. This fintech stock trades 25% off its peak price from November, which might worry some people. But is it a smart buying opportunity right now? Here are three reasons I think it is. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. See the 10 stocks » Growth Nu should be on your radar because of the simple fact that its growth is so impressive. The company generated revenue of $2.9 billion in Q3, up 38% year over year. This number was more than 500% higher than the same period in 2021. Nu's growth is definitely noteworthy. But it's important to highlight just how the business is gaining rapid adoption. This is a digital-only bank, offering various products like checking and savings accounts, credit cards, insurance, and brokerage services. By not operating physical branches, management is able to focus more on its technological foundation, which works to provide consumers with an exceptional user experience. After adding 5.2 million net new customers in Q3, Nu has 109.7 million. The vast majority of these are in Brazil, the company's home market. Nu started targeting customers in Mexico and Colombia in recent years. Entering new countries in the future could definitely provide more growth opportunities. Latin America offers lots of expansion potential. According to Latin America Reports, 70% of the population is unbanked or underbanked. As one of the largest digital banking platforms in the world, Nu is in an advantageous position to attract more customers in the region. This will lead to more revenue growth. Profitability With such a huge opportunity in front of it, it makes sense that Nu has historically prioriti...
Ellads/iStock Editorial via Getty Images We have consistently maintained a supportive view on Novartis ( NVS ) ( NVSEF ), repeatedly highlighting upside in our analysis, which has been validated by the company’s successive upgrades to guidance. Here at The Lab, it was clear that " following the spin-off of its eye care business ( Alcon ) in April 2019, and its generics unit ( Sandoz ) in October 2...
Ellads/iStock Editorial via Getty Images We have consistently maintained a supportive view on Novartis ( NVS ) ( NVSEF ), repeatedly highlighting upside in our analysis, which has been validated by the company’s successive upgrades to guidance. Here at The Lab, it was clear that " following the spin-off of its eye care business ( Alcon ) in April 2019, and its generics unit ( Sandoz ) in October 2023, Novartis is a pure-play innovative medicines business focused on oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular conditions. " The company valuation and margins were set to increase. This was combined with solid execution and the right capital allocation priorities: 1) acquisition and 2) a $10 billion share buyback (Fig. 1), maintaining its dividend payment and a solid balance sheet. Given the recent positive stock price performance, we believe Novartis is fairly priced. On a numbers basis, the company reached our target price, so we moved our rating to neutral. Mare Ev. Lab Rating Update Fig. 1 Why are we now neutral? We do not view Novartis as a poor investment; however, valuation remains a critical consideration. Before turning to the group's value, several points are worth highlighting: Starting at the macro level, after the sharp share rally across EU pharma and Novartis, we are more constructive on sector fundamentals. Even if we see less risk around US drug pricing and the Novartis CEO expects to eliminate US tariff exposure by mid‑2026 , we believe this optimism is broadly priced in. Here at the Lab, we believe there might be a sales deceleration in 2026, as reported in our January 2025 analysis ( Strong Execution With A P/E Discount ), we are less concerned about the medium-term top-line sales target. There are multiple patent expiries, which, over time, will be partially offset by the medium-term ramp of newer assets such as Pluvicto and Rhapsido. Still, these new drugs will carry execution risks. We expect Kisqali and Scemblix to maintain strong momen...
Andrii Dodonov/iStock via Getty Images Millions of Americans are likely to see larger tax refunds this year due to changes in tax law. That sounds like good news, but it may also mean too much tax is being withheld from paychecks, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday. Refunds are expected to be about $1,000 higher on average, according to Piper Sandler. Some upper middle income taxpayers with...
Andrii Dodonov/iStock via Getty Images Millions of Americans are likely to see larger tax refunds this year due to changes in tax law. That sounds like good news, but it may also mean too much tax is being withheld from paychecks, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday. Refunds are expected to be about $1,000 higher on average, according to Piper Sandler. Some upper middle income taxpayers with large state and local tax deductions could see refunds jump by $10,000 or more. Last year’s average refund was $3,167. A larger refund means you paid more during the year than necessary. Instead of waiting for a lump sum next spring, you could keep more of your money now. A $1,000 refund spread over a year equals about $45 extra per paycheck for someone paid twice a month. A $10,000 increase works out to roughly $450 per paycheck. Considerations for extra income Ideally, tax withholding would match what you owe so your refund is close to zero. That rarely happens. Withholding doesn’t always reflect changes in tax law or income shifts such as freelance work, investments or donations. Some tax law changes apply retroactively to 2025 returns now being filed. However, withholding tables were not updated last year, and most workers never revise their W-4 unless they change jobs. That mismatch is a major reason refunds are rising. New withholding tables For 2026, new withholding tables are in place. To benefit, workers must submit an updated W-4. The changes include new deductions for seniors, tips and overtime income, along with a higher cap on the state and local tax deduction, which rose to $40,000 from $10,000. If these apply to you, adjusting withholding could better align your paycheck with your tax bill. Some people prefer a large refund as a forced savings plan. Others would rather keep the money and earn interest themselves. Most employers withhold taxes automatically, which is why many filers get refunds. But underpaying can lead to penalties. The IRS now charges 7% in...
Iraq’s parliament will meet on Tuesday to elect the country’s new president, who will then appoint a prime minister, which is expected to be Nouri al-Maliki after he was endorsed by the Levantine country’s largest Shiite bloc. By convention, a Shiite Muslim holds the post of prime minister, the parliament speaker is Sunni and the largely ceremonial presidency goes to a Kurd. Parliamentary speaker ...
Iraq’s parliament will meet on Tuesday to elect the country’s new president, who will then appoint a prime minister, which is expected to be Nouri al-Maliki after he was endorsed by the Levantine country’s largest Shiite bloc. By convention, a Shiite Muslim holds the post of prime minister, the parliament speaker is Sunni and the largely ceremonial presidency goes to a Kurd. Parliamentary speaker Haibat al-Halbussi announced on Sunday that the new parliament will convene on Tuesday to elect a president. Advertisement The president will then have 15 days to appoint a prime minister, who is usually nominated by the largest Shiite bloc formed through post-election alliances. On Saturday, the Coordination Framework alliance – whose Shiite factions have varying links to Iran – endorsed former prime minister and power broker Maliki as the country’s next premier. Advertisement The alliance, to which Maliki belongs, spoke of his “political and administrative experience and his record in running the state.” Kurdish parties have yet to agree on a presidential candidate, who must be endorsed by other blocs and win a two-thirds majority in parliament.