North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has secured a landslide victory in the country’s 2026 parliamentary elections, where the ruling party is reported to have won almost all seats. According to the official election commission, the Worker’s Party of Korea and its allies secured 99.93% of the votes, resulting in the election of all 687 members to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly. The voter turnout was reported to be 99.99% on March 15, which is an unusually high figure.
The ruling Worker’s Party has re-elected Kim Jong-un as the general secretary of the National Congress. According to official statistics, only 0.0037% of voters were unable to cast their ballots due to being abroad or at sea, while only 0.00003% refused to vote. Interestingly, the state media has acknowledged that 0.07% of voters cast their ballots against the candidates, which experts have described as a propaganda tactic to give the impression of a democratic process.
The newly elected assembly is scheduled to convene on March 22, where it is expected to consider amendments to the Socialist Constitution, including a tougher stance against South Korea. It is also expected that Kim Jong-un will be re-elected as the head of the State Affairs Commission, further consolidating his power.
Experts have noted that North Korea’s elections are distinct from traditional democratic systems, where the results are predetermined and the ruling party’s grip on power is strengthened. A joint statement has been issued, condemning the attack on the United Arab Emirates as a violation of sovereignty and international law.
In other news, a plane carrying 101 passengers, including pets, landed safely at Athens Airport in Greece. Yousuf Al-Otaiba has stated that the UAE will continue to collaborate with the United States and invest in the country. Natan Sharansky has expressed his efforts to close all avenues for Trump to negotiate a ceasefire and subsequent talks with Iran.
A joint statement has been issued by Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan condemning the attack on the Strait of Hormuz, while expressing their commitment to maintaining the stability of energy markets. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has claimed that the Israeli power plant in Haifa was targeted, resulting in a power outage in various areas of the city.
Captain Hancock has stated that the plane landed safely and the pilot’s condition is stable, as investigations into the incident continue. Gas prices have reached a record high in Britain and Europe, following the conflict in Iran. The Iranian media has reported that the Israeli military’s communication system has suffered significant security breaches, disrupting war operations.
The Bangladesh Islamic Foundation has announced that the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations will take place on March 21, as the Shawwal moon was not visible in the country. Natan Sharansky has expressed his efforts to close all avenues for Trump to negotiate a ceasefire and subsequent talks with Iran.
In Pakistan, Lieutenant General (R) Abdul Qayyum has stated that the country is in an ideal position to broker a ceasefire, citing the lack of leadership in the Muslim world. During a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, Trump was asked why he did not provide prior notice to Japan, to which he replied that they did not want to give too much warning, instead opting for a sudden and decisive action.
In Karachi, heavy rainfall has been reported in various areas, including Gulshan-e-Maimar, Liyari, and Clifton. Saad Al-Kaabi has stated that the Iranian attacks have affected facilities that produce 17% of the country’s exported LNG.
